NFLPA welcomes Bill Belichick’s decision to deny presidential honor

Mike Florio asked a question about PFT earlier today: How should Bill Belichick’s decision to refuse the Presidential Medal of Freedom be received?

Hall of Fame golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player received the same honor from President Trump at the White House last week, a day after the deadly riot on Capitol Hill. Belichick was due to receive his on Thursday.

The Patriots coach released a carefully crafted, declining statement on Monday.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith welcomed the decision and the statement.

“Bill and I don’t share a lot of words,” Smith said in a video conference Tuesday. “I know this is going to be a shock for everyone. But I thought his position was definitely, I think, extremely important at the moment for a person who has an extremely high profile in the National Football League. Frankly, I thought his statement was correct. He referred to the position with the players, referred to the conversations going on in his locker room about social justice, and while acknowledging that this was an award that has honored a number of extremely deserving people in the past. , he felt that at that time, at this point in history that he must decline. I thought his statement was correct.