NFL commi sioner Roger Goodellis talking about Colin Kaepernick, kneeling, the national anthem and the American flag again. Christian Kirksey Jersey This time, he's doing it with a former NFL player. And he's expre sing more regret about the way the league has handled those i sues.

Goodell sat withEmmanuel Acho for Acho's YouTube series "Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man." Part 1 of thetalk was posted Sunday night andPart 2 is scheduled to be posted Monday.

Acho's earlyquestions were about the movement Kaepernick started in Nick Chubb Jersey 2016by sitting, and then kneeling, during the national anthem prior to 49ers games to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Achoasked Goodell what he would say to the free-agent quarterback if Goodell were to apologize for his and the league's response tothe protests.

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"Well, the first thing I'd say is that I wish we had listened earlier, Kap, to what you were kneeling about and trying to bring attention to," Goodell said. He Eric Murray Jersey also saidKaepernick was invited several times to "have the conversation" with the league regarding the protests, but"we never did."

"You know, we would have benefited from that, absolutely," Goodell added.

The commi sioner wasmore direct as he agreed with Acho that players' actions are not intended to disrespect the flag or themilitary.

"It is not about the flag," Goodell said. "The me sage here is that what our players are doing is being mischaracterized. These are not people who are unpatriotic. They're not disloyal, They're not against our military. In fact, many of those guys were in the military, and they're a military family. What they were trying to do is exercise their Austin Seibert Jersey right to bring attention to something that needs to get fixed.

"That misrepresentation of who they were and what they were doing was the thing that really gnawed at me."

Kaepernick that his protests were not about the flag or military, but many of his critics didn't, and still don't, believe him. They cite the anti-police"pig socks" and the T-shirt of the lateCuban dictator Fidel Castro he worein 2016 as evidence he hates America.

President Donald Trump believes the protestsdisrespect the flag and military, and he regularly criticizesKaepernick and other players who kneel Trevon Coley Jersey . The president has criticized Goodell for his move in the past few months toward the players' position.Trump will have a national forum this week to rip Greg Joseph Jersey both men again: TheRepublican National Convention begins Monday in Charlotte, N.C.

After what Goodell told Acho in Part 1, ishe ready to moveall the way to the players' side?Acho asked, and heteased Part 2 of hisvideo withthequestion:

"Will you support players if they were to peacefully protest during the national anthem this season?"