National Football League

Bills' McCoy to invite police to game; SF, Kaepernick next

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:58 p.m. ET

foxsports

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Bills running back LeSean McCoy said he is inviting 15-20 Buffalo police officers to an upcoming game at a time when the 49ers visit Buffalo next and quarterback Colin Kaepernick is protesting police and the treatment of African-Americans and minorities.

McCoy said the gesture was not a direct response to Kaepernick's kneeling protests during the national anthem, and that he has no problem with his protests. Kaepernick is set to start for the first time this year on Sunday against the Bills. McCoy said it has yet to be determined if the police officers will attend this weekend's game or Buffalo's following home game on Oct. 30 against New England.

''Just an appreciation type of thing,'' McCoy said. ''Cause they're taking so much heat right now. There's things that are happening that's definitely wrong but I just feel like there's bad people, there's bad cops and there's good cops.''

McCoy revealed the invitation when asked about the attention surrounding Kaepernick and his protests.

''Nobody's perfect and a lot of cops are getting a bad rap for something that bad cops are doing and they're still good cops,'' McCoy said.

McCoy's gesture comes after he was involved in a fight with off-duty police officers at a Philadelphia nightclub in February. No charges were issued.

''You guys know about the cops, the situation I had,'' McCoy said. ''For me to say that, that's genuine.''

The plans to invite the police officers to a Bills home game had been in the works through McCoy's foundation.

''I reached out to them,'' McCoy said. ''Like I said, it has nothing to do with Kap or the situation. I think that he might be doing the right thing because everybody's opinion, there's never a wrong opinion. I think he's right for what he's saying we need to do something about what's going on because it is wrong. Then again, there's good people and there's bad people. There's good cops and bad cops. So I'm just trying to show appreciation.''

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