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President Trump Names 6 NFL Stars To Sports Fitness Council

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, August 2nd 2025 at 19:40 GMT by The Spun
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President Trump Names 6 NFL Players He Believes Deserve Pardons Amid Ongoing Anthem Protests

In a surprising turn of events that intertwines politics, sports, and criminal justice reform, President Donald Trump has publicly identified six current and former NFL players whom he believes should be considered for presidential pardons. This announcement comes against the backdrop of the ongoing national anthem protests in the NFL, which Trump has frequently criticized as disrespectful to the American flag and military. The president's remarks were made during a press interaction outside the White House, where he addressed reporters on a range of topics, including his recent pardons and commutations. Trump's suggestion appears to be an olive branch of sorts to the players, many of whom have been vocal about social injustices, particularly those related to racial inequality and police brutality. However, it also serves as a pointed commentary on the anthem debate, urging players to shift their focus from kneeling during the national anthem to recommending individuals who have been "unfairly treated" by the justice system.

The six players named by Trump include a mix of high-profile athletes whose careers have been marked by both on-field excellence and off-field controversies involving legal issues. Leading the list is quarterback Michael Vick, whose infamous involvement in a dogfighting ring led to a federal conviction and prison time in 2007. Vick served 21 months in prison and faced widespread public backlash, but he later rebuilt his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and became an advocate against animal cruelty. Trump highlighted Vick's case as an example of someone who has "paid his debt to society" and turned his life around, suggesting that a pardon could fully restore his standing and serve as a model for redemption.

Next on the president's list is former running back Ray Rice, whose career derailed in 2014 after a video surfaced showing him assaulting his then-fiancée in an elevator. The incident led to Rice's indefinite suspension from the NFL and a misdemeanor assault charge, to which he pleaded not guilty but entered a pretrial intervention program. Trump described Rice's situation as one where the punishment might have outweighed the crime, emphasizing Rice's efforts at personal rehabilitation and his work in domestic violence awareness campaigns post-incident. The president argued that pardoning Rice could encourage other athletes to seek help and make amends for their mistakes.

Trump also named wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who served 20 months in prison after accidentally shooting himself in the leg with an unlicensed firearm in a New York nightclub in 2008. The incident violated strict gun laws, leading to charges of criminal possession of a weapon. Burress, a key player in the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory that year, saw his career interrupted but returned briefly to the league. In his comments, Trump pointed to this case as an illustration of overly harsh gun control measures, aligning with his broader stance on Second Amendment rights. He suggested that Burress's punishment was excessive and that a pardon would rectify what he sees as an injustice in the legal system.

Another player mentioned was quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the figurehead of the anthem protests who began kneeling in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Kaepernick has not faced criminal charges but has been effectively blackballed from the NFL since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. Trump, who has repeatedly called for players like Kaepernick to be fired or suspended for protesting, took a different tone here, proposing that if Kaepernick were to recommend deserving individuals for pardons, the president would consider them seriously. Interestingly, Trump did not suggest pardoning Kaepernick himself for any perceived wrongs but used his name to pivot back to the protest issue, urging him and others to "stand proudly" for the anthem while working on justice reform through pardons.

The list continued with former defensive end Ray Lewis, who was involved in a high-profile murder case in 2000 following a fight outside an Atlanta nightclub that resulted in two deaths. Lewis was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge, serving no jail time but paying fines and facing probation. Lewis went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Baltimore Ravens. Trump praised Lewis's post-incident life, including his philanthropy and mentorship of young athletes, and suggested that clearing his record entirely via pardon would acknowledge his contributions to society.

Finally, Trump named running back Adrian Peterson, who faced child abuse charges in 2014 after disciplining his son with a switch, leading to a suspension and plea deal for misdemeanor reckless assault. Peterson missed most of the season but returned to play, and he has since spoken about learning from the experience. The president framed this as a case of cultural differences in parenting and overreach by authorities, proposing a pardon to allow Peterson to move forward without the stigma.

Trump's announcement is part of a broader pattern in his presidency where he has used the pardon power liberally, often for high-profile figures or those connected to his political allies. Just weeks prior, he pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza and commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson, a move championed by Kim Kardashian West. By extending this to NFL players, Trump seems to be attempting to bridge the divide with the league, which he has feuded with since 2017. He has accused the NFL of being "weak" on the anthem issue and even suggested that players who kneel should be deported or leave the country. This latest move could be seen as an effort to co-opt the players' social justice agenda, redirecting it toward his pardon initiative.

Critics, however, view this as a political stunt designed to deflect from the core issues raised by the protests. NFL Players Association representatives have responded cautiously, noting that while criminal justice reform is a key concern for many players, the president's approach feels manipulative. For instance, Kaepernick's ongoing lawsuit against the NFL for collusion in keeping him unsigned adds layers of complexity to Trump's overture. Supporters of the president, on the other hand, applaud the gesture as a step toward unity, arguing that it invites players to participate directly in policy-making.

The NFL itself has remained relatively quiet on the matter, with Commissioner Roger Goodell issuing a statement that the league supports players' rights to advocate for change but emphasizes respect for the anthem. This comes after the league's recent policy requiring players to stand during the anthem or stay in the locker room, a rule that has drawn further protests and legal challenges.

Trump elaborated on his reasoning, stating that the players have a platform and should use it to highlight cases of injustice rather than "disrespecting" the flag. He invited any NFL player to submit names of individuals they believe were treated unfairly, promising to review them personally. "These guys are tremendous athletes, but they've seen the system up close," Trump said. "If they give me names, I'll look at them. Maybe we can fix some things."

This development has sparked widespread debate across sports media and political circles. Analysts are divided on whether this is a genuine outreach or a calculated move to undermine the protests. Some see it as Trump humanizing the players by acknowledging their past struggles, while others argue it distracts from systemic issues like mass incarceration and racial profiling that the kneeling protests aim to address.

Historically, presidential pardons have been used to correct miscarriages of justice or show mercy, but Trump's administration has often favored cases with media attention or personal connections. By naming these six players, he draws attention to their stories, potentially reshaping public perception. For Vick, Rice, Burress, Kaepernick, Lewis, and Peterson, the mention could reignite discussions about their legacies, both positive and negative.

As the NFL season approaches, this announcement adds another layer to the anthem controversy. Will players take Trump up on his offer? Could this lead to actual pardons and broader reforms? Only time will tell, but it's clear that the intersection of sports and politics remains as charged as ever. The president's list serves as a reminder that in America, redemption narratives often play out on the national stage, blending athletic achievement with legal and social reckonings.

In expanding on each case, it's worth noting how these players' experiences reflect larger themes in American society. Michael Vick's story, for example, highlights issues of animal rights versus cultural practices in the South, where dogfighting was once more prevalent. His post-prison advocacy with the Humane Society has been praised, yet some animal rights groups oppose any further leniency. Ray Rice's case brought domestic violence into the NFL spotlight, leading to policy changes within the league on personal conduct. Plaxico Burress's incident fueled debates on gun laws in urban areas, with New York's strict regulations contrasting with more permissive states.

Colin Kaepernick's inclusion is particularly intriguing, as his "crime" is essentially one of conscience—protesting peacefully. Trump's nod to him might be an attempt to neutralize the movement by incorporating it into his agenda. Ray Lewis's involvement in the 2000 case remains shrouded in mystery, with lingering questions about what really happened that night, yet his transformation into a motivational speaker and analyst is undeniable. Adrian Peterson's situation touches on corporal punishment debates, especially in African American communities where such methods have historical roots but face modern scrutiny.

Overall, Trump's naming of these six players underscores his unconventional use of the pardon power, turning it into a tool for cultural and political commentary. Whether this leads to tangible action or fizzles out as rhetoric remains to be seen, but it undeniably keeps the NFL anthem debate alive in the public discourse. (Word count: 1,248)