NFL protests: Packers shareholder invites President Donald Trump to annual meeting

GREEN BAY – Steven Tiefenthaler's request to address Packers shareholders during the annual meeting was turned down, so he invited the president to attend.

Tiefenthaler petitioned the Packers to be allowed three minutes during the shareholders meeting to talk about players protesting during the national anthem before games.

"I just want to explain to the Packers what the flag means to me and how deeply the protests hurt the veterans I've spoken to," Tiefenthaler said.

The Brookfield native and San Antonio, Texas, resident sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to call Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy to intercede on his behalf. He included two of his four shareholder tickets to the meeting. He hasn't heard back.

The Packers said Tiefenthaler's subject matter doesn't fit the format of a business meeting.

“We had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Tiefenthaler and appreciate his support of the Packers, but this is a business meeting on behalf of more than 360,000 shareholders,  with several thousand present, and can’t be an open forum," said Packers COO Ed Policy. "We’ve had other shareholders ask to address the annual meeting on a variety of topics over the years, but we routinely have denied those requests.”

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In addition, the NFL has issued a policy on the protests that can see teams fined for violations. It's up to the teams to discipline players if they ignore the policy, which says players should stay in locker rooms if they do not want to stand for the national anthem. The NFL Players Association has challenged the policy. 

Tiefenthaler acknowledges Trump's role in escalating the controversy last fall. Before his comments in September, when Trump called players SOBs and said they should be fired for protesting, fewer than 1 percent of NFL players were kneeling or sitting during national anthems. After his comments, the majority of players reacted, either kneeling, sitting, staying in the locker room, raising a fist or locking arms in solidarity. 

"I think he was instrumental in a good way or a bad way in making this come to a head," he said of the president. "I think it might have died out, to tell you the truth. I wish he would have handled it in a more gracious way."

Tiefenthaler is disappointed the Packers won't allow him to speak, but not bitter. He said he had several good conversations with Policy, including one of more than an hour.

"I don't want to get political," Tiefenthaler said. "That letter to Trump obviously had some political connotations, but I don't want to get confrontational. I wanted to appeal to Packers fans and shareholders."

Tiefenthaler is a former U.S. Air Force and commercial airline pilot who on at least one occasion piloted a Packers team flight. He said he was deeply moved by once flying the remains of American servicemen back to the United States, an experience that stays with him.

"I know there are social injustices in this country and they have to be addressed," he said. "I know players hearts are in the right place, but goodness there are other ways to do it."

He mentioned J.J. Watt's success at raising money for hurricane victims in Houston.

"There's so much good they can do," he said.

The NFL's compromise probably won't work, he said. 

"I think it's putting a Band-Aid on a greater wound. I don't think it's going to go away," he said. "It's got to be talked out. People have to respect other folks that talk about social injustice, but disrespecting the flag is just, just not the way to do it."

If you're going to the shareholders meeting:

• The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lambeau Field bowl, rain or shine. The early forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures in the 70s.
• Lambeau Field Atrium will be open to the public until 2 p.m. After 3 p.m., it will be open only to shareholders and guests with tickets.
• Parking will be available only on the west, southeast and south sides of the stadium. Lots on the north side of the stadium will be taken up by the Packers Experience, which opens Thursday morning. 
• Attendees can enter through the Kwik Trip, Fleet Farm, Oneida Nation and American Family gates.  Attendees with special needs can enter through the Associated Bank gate. Other gates will not be open.
• Seating this year will be on the west side of the bowl. In the past it was on the east side. The switch was made because of concourse construction, but it also will put the setting sun behind attendees.
• Beer sales will be available from 8-9:30 p.m.
• The meeting will be webcast to shareholders. Information on accessing the webcast was included in proxy statements mailed to shareholders.