The Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52 this past season. Usually, after a sports team wins a major championship they're invited to the White House to meet the President of the United States. This year is different due to the ongoing tension between players, NFL team owners, and President Trump.

There were a litany of protest throughout this past season, generally, during the national anthem, that stemmed from racial injustices in our country. Former San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick acted as the catalyst for these protest when he decided to kneel during the national anthem two seasons ago. As a result of his actions, Kaepernick wasn't signed to any NFL team last season. He is currently in a legal battle with the NFL over his questionable unemployment.

President Trump was never a proponent of the protests, which circumstantially helped him win his presidency. Trump continues to maintain his disgust with players protesting during the national anthem, which led him to cancel the Eagles White House visit. A handful of Eagles players throughout the season protested, including Strong Safety Malcolm Jenkins who held his fist in the air during the anthem.

The NFL team owners recently introduced a rule that all teams must stand for the anthem, or wait in the locker room until it's over. If a player, or players, does indeed protest during the anthem then they'd be fined. This rule has caused outrage among players because they believe it violates their first amendment rights. Sports analyst like ESPN's Stephen A. Smith believes that Trump has a "vendetta" against the NFL because he was denied ownership of the Buffalo Bills in 2014. Trump has been vocal about his frustration with the NFL allowing protests during the anthem, and for them to create a new rule one year in his presidency is telling.

Keep in the mind that the NFL almost has to show signs of patriotism during its games, because in 2009 it took a lump sum of money from the U.S. Department of Defense to do so. The U.S. government and the NFL are seemingly partners, so Trump's influence over decisions made by the NFL is apparent. Trump denying the Eagles entry into the White House goes to show his control over a Billion dollar sports industry that is the National Football League.Stephen A. Smith Quote