NFL creates owner-player social justice committee after kneeling protests spark conversation

The National Football League announced on Tuesday the formation of an owner-player committee to further the causes of social justice and equality.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell promised that the social justice committee is only the beginning of the NFL's social justice efforts.

What are the details?

According to Goodell, the committee will focus on issues, including community-law enforcement relations, criminal justice system reform, education initiatives, and economic development.

"We feel that we are going to make significant progress as we have more meetings, as we get more focused on our efforts, it's going to actually come to life," Goodell said during a Tuesday news conference. "And frankly, we will get better as the days go by."

NFL players on the committee include Aeneas Williams, Josh Norman, Chris Long, Kelvin Beachum, and Anquan Boldin.

Team owners on the committee include Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

According to ABC News, Boldin is excited about the committee's formation.

"We're dedicated to making a difference in our communities," Boldin said. "We're dedicated to seeing a difference in our criminal justice system. We're dedicated to educating not only ourselves, but the public as well how there are different biases when it comes to our criminal justice system. We're excited about the partnership and the backing of the NFL that we have now."

Not currently included in the campaign is Colin Kaepernick — the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who propelled the NFL's unofficial social justice movement forward by kneeling during the playing of the national anthem. Kaepernick is not currently on an NFL roster and has not been for the year.

Is there anything else?

The committee will also launch a campaign titled, "Let's Listen Together," which will focus on owner-player dialogue about social justice. The campaign will be featured on television, digital, and social media platforms.

Goodell told Peter King of Sports Illustrated that the committee was formed to give players a voice.

"We created this platform because our players wanted to be heard in social justice issues and equality," Goodell explained.

"The term we’ve used often is protest to progress," he added. "There is a lot of awareness that I learned, listening to the guys, going on listening and learning tours. When you go through that, as some of our owners have done, you understand how we can support law enforcement, the criminal-justice system, bail reform. It’s hard work."