Jenkins unsure what Eagles' anthem gesture will entail

Malcolm Jenkins did not yet know what he will do during the national anthem Monday night before the game against the Chicago Bears, but the Eagles safety plans to make some type of demonstration. He ruled out kneeling and locking arms. He does not know how many teammates will join him. And he expects to make the demonstration every week this season.

Jenkins, who is one of the more socially aware Eagles, closely followed how players from other teams made gestures during the national anthem last week to raise awareness of racial injustice. It started with Colin Kaepernick's sitting and eventually kneeling during the anthem, and extended to players' holding fists in the air and some locking arms.

"Whatever I do, it's my way of expressing the same exact message," Jenkins said Saturday, one day after he first disclosed the plan during a radio interview. "You've seen the impact it's had not only throughout the league but around the country with the conversations that were sparked. I stand right next to the same message that Kaepernick's been pushing."

Jenkins made clear that any action would not be anti-police and has nothing to do with the military or the flag. Jenkins suggested that the police are key to the solution. He knew some fans would be upset with a demonstration, but Jenkins has never been shy about doing what he believes. He also thinks that a player of his stature has the platform and the security to take such a stance.

"If you're ever trying to change anything, there's no comfortable way to change it," Jenkins said. "So if somebody gets upset, it's probably because they're not listening. . . . Sometimes you've got to rock the boat to get a little bit of change."

Jenkins made coach Doug Pederson aware of his intentions during the week. The conversation was brief; Pederson appreciated Jenkins' going to him first. He lauded Jenkins, who is active in the community and met with police officials before the season to discuss issues. The first-year coach will not get in the way of Jenkins or his teammates.

"It's going to happen regardless of what I decide or say, and I respect the players' decisions on it," Pederson said. "The biggest thing is I just don't want it to become a distraction to the rest of the team. That's the biggest thing from my standpoint."

Pederson said he "really can't" prevent it from becoming a distraction, but he said it hasn't been that way for other teams around the league. After Kaepernick initially sat, the "shock and awe" went away and an expectation arose that something would happen, Pederson said.

Jenkins agreed with Pederson - he does not want it to divide the team, either. A week ago, the players agreed not to do anything because it was Sept. 11 and first responders were on the field; anything they did would have taken the attention away from where they wanted it. But Jenkins used that as an example of how the league can promote awareness for a cause that isn't strictly related to football.

"Some people like to say anything that's not about football is a distraction from the game, but at the same time, this is the real world," Jenkins said. "You can't ignore things that are affecting the community or what's outside these walls. . . . You can talk about real issues and real topics and still focus on the game."

It was not known which players would join Jenkins. None of the others interviewed committed to doing anything, and Jenkins said there would be more discussions during the weekend. One player said that Jenkins wouldn't be alone. Jenkins admitted that there are "mixed emotions" in the locker room, and that not everyone would participate. Pederson had said that if the team did something together, he would join in as a sign of unity.

Jenkins said that the "end goal is to get some real change," and that kneeling or another demonstration would not create change. But he said the issue is systemic and requires attention at the community level and at the government level. What he can do is raise attention. The fact that microphones surrounded him at his locker Saturday showed that's happening.

"If it comes down to making somebody uncomfortable by speaking the truth, then I'll always make you uncomfortable with the truth than comfortable with a lie," Jenkins said. "This is bigger than football."

zberman@phillynews.com

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