National Football League

Rams dispute police claims team apologized for 'hands up' gesture

Published Dec. 1, 2014 10:32 p.m. ET

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UPDATE (Monday, 11:15 p.m. ET): Kevin Demoff, executive vice president of football operations and chief operating officer of the St. Louis Rams, has denied ever apologizing for five Rams players' "hands up, don't shoot" gesture before Sunday's game, contradicting what the St. Louis County chief of police claimed earlier in the day after a phone call with Demoff.

According to FOX Sports NFL Insider Mike Garafolo:

Also during his talk with Garafolo, Demoff confirmed he did not apologize, stating: "We respect and understand the officers weren't happy. We wanted to have an honest conversation. No one in our organization wants law enforcement to feel slighted, however we do believe it's possible to support our players' First Amendment rights and law enforcement as well."

Demoff declined to address whether he has or will tell the players to handle it differently going forward, considering the stir it caused.

Original story:

Apology: "expression of regret for not being able to do something" @kdemoff: "I regretted any offense their officers may have taken."
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) December 2, 2014

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher did want to go into many details with the media Monday about Sunday's "hands up, don't shoot" protest by five of his players.

Fisher, instead, directed media members to the team's VP of football operations, Kevin Demoff. Demoff apologized to St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas.

Belmar sent out an email to his staff, detailing the conversation

Here is the copy of the email, via the Post-Dispatch:

Members of the Department,

I received a very nice call this morning from Mr. Kevin Demoff of the St. Louis Rams who wanted to take the opportunity to apologize to our department on behalf of the Rams for the "Hands Up" gesture that some players took the field with yesterday.

Mr. Demoff clearly regretted that any members of the Ram's organization would act in a way that minimized the outstanding work that police officers and departments carry out each and every day. My impression of the call was that it was heartfelt and I assured him that I would share it with my staff.

Thank you for your hard work, ... one night to go. Stay safe.

Belmar

On Monday night, the Rams released a statement of their own.

"We had positive discussions today with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson, St. Louis County Chief of Police Chief Jon Belmar and representatives from the St. Louis Police Officers' Association and St. Louis County Police Association during which we expressed our respect for their concerns surrounding yesterday's game. What has transpired over the past four months is a tragedy that has impacted our entire community.

"Together we are beginning a healing process that will require time, energy and honest dialogue. The Rams will continue to build on what have always been strong and valued relationships with local law enforcement and the greater St. Louis community as we come together to help heal our region."

This gesture by Rams players Stedman Bailey (12), Tavon Austin (11), Jared Cook (89), Chris Givens (13) and Kenny Britt (81) drew the ire of St. Louis police.

Jared Cook, Kenny Britt, Chris Givens, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin made the "Hands up. Don't Shoot!" gesture protesters in Ferguson — a suburb of St. Louis — have been using since a grand jury did not indict police officer Darren Wilson over the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown, who was black. Some witnesses said Brown had his hands up before being shot by officer Wilson. Wilson, who is white, told the grand jury that he shot the 18-year-old Brown in self-defense.

Fisher said Monday that neither the team nor the NFL would discipline the players. He said it was their "choice to exercise their free speech," but he would not comment further on their actions.

"It's my personal opinion, I firmly believe, that it's important that I keep sports and politics separate," Fisher said. "I'm a head coach. I'm not a politician, an activist or an expert on societal issues, so I'm going to answer questions about the game."

Fisher did say he plans to talk with the players, who are all black, but those conversations will remain confidential.

The players made their show of support before running onto the field during pregame introductions.

On Sunday night, the St. Louis Police Officer's Association issued a statement demanding the players be disciplined and the NFL to issue an apology.

The NFL responded with a one-sentence statement Monday from spokesman Brian McCarthy: "We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation."

After the Rams' 52-0 rout of Oakland, the players said they meant no disrespect by their show of support.

"We just understand that it's a big tragedy and we hope something positive comes out of it," Bailey said, following his five-catch, 100-yard performance.

Added Cook: "We help build up the people around this community daily with our visiting schools and talking to kids, so coming out and showing that we're unified with the rest of them, it was key to us."

— The Associated Press contributed to this story