"I wholeheartedly agree with the commissioner's statement.  The NFL and its players, more than anything, have been a force for good.  What our country needs right now is a message of unity, civility and mutual respect."

Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."