Long: Dolphins' Ross left social justice group at request of Players Coalition
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has been taken off the NFL's committee on social justice, according to former NFL defensive end Chris Long.
In an interview Tuesday with Sports Illustrated's Amy Campbell, Long defended the work of the Players Coalition - which he is a member of - and used the removal of Ross from the league's Working Group Committee as an example of the coalition's positive influence:
"The one thing I really disagree with Eric [Reid] on is that the Coalition hasn't done anything."
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 20, 2019
Chris Long defends the Players Coalition and announces the removal of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross from the working group committee. pic.twitter.com/d6tup52FiH
"The one thing I really disagree with Eric (Reid) on is that the coalition hasn't done anything," said Long. "The coalition is autonomous. We don't work for the owners. In fact, we just removed, or got Stephen Ross to agree to be off of (the) working group," Long said.
Ross came under widespread criticism for hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump's re-election campaign Aug. 9, including from Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills.
Long further detailed the reasoning for asking for Ross' removal on Twitter:
He held a fundraiser for a guy who called protesting players “sons of bitches” + campaigned for them to lose jobs. The working group is directly involved. You can see how that’s a conflict of interest that transcends politics. I respect SR’s work w RISE. Don’t get it? Can’t help.
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) August 20, 2019
In January, the NFL announced a joint player and ownership commitment focused on social justice.
As part of the campaign, Ross and other owners such as Jimmy Haslam of the Cleveland Browns and Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons joined the Working Group Committee alongside current and former NFL players.