Frank Reich on Eagles after cancelled White House visit: Don't question their character

Dakota Crawford | IndyStar

Frank Reich is here to defend Philadelphia Eagles players, who have been thrust into national spotlight this week.

President Trump rescinded a White House invitation to the Super Bowl champion Eagles on June 4, about 24 hours before the event was scheduled to begin.

"Only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event," he tweeted. "Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!"

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Naturally, players have been asked for response. Malcolm Jenkins, a safety for the Eagles, put out a lengthy statement June 5 that read: "We've fed the hungry, we've mentored our youth, we've fought to create opportunities for communities and individuals who have been disenfranchised, we've given scholarships, and the list goes on."

On Thursday, as the Indianapolis Colts addressed media at OTAs, head coach Frank Reich spoke up about his former players. Reich was an assistant with Philadelphia last year.

He specifically singled out Jenkins, who refused to speak to media Wednesday, instead holding signs with statistics like this, written with marker: More than 60 percent of people in prison are people of color.

"My experience with those players is the one thing that certainly can't be questioned is their character," Reich said. "Starting with Malcolm (Jenkins). He is of the highest character, one of the true pros I've ever been around in the short time I was with him.

"That whole team was very high character players. I think they're trying to handle their business the right way."

Former Eagles assistant and current Colts coach Frank Reich's reaction to criticism of Eagles' players: pic.twitter.com/Zes0KDPnzJ — Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 7, 2018

This has unfolded weeks after the NFL passed a sweeping new policy addressing player conduct during the national anthem. To confront repeated player protests during the playing of the national anthem over the past two seasons, the league said team personnel present on the sideline “shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.”

You can find IndyStar sports producer Dakota Crawford on Twitter: @DakotaCrawford_.