He Said, He Said

Rams: No Apology for Players’ Protest

Contrary to police chief’s claim.

Kevin Demoff, St. Louis Rams vice president of football operations, denied he issued an apology to the St. Louis County Police Department for the “hands up” gesture some players made Sunday to show solidarity over slain black teenager Michael Brown. Police Chief Jon Belmar had sent an email Monday night to his staff, telling them Demoff had called him to apologize. Reached by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Demoff said he did speak by phone with Belmar, and met with St. Louis Police Officers Association Business Manager Jeff Roorda and others, but, “In none of these conversations did I apologize for our players’ actions. I did say in each conversation that I regretted any offense their officers may have taken. We do believe it is possible to both support our players’ First Amendment rights and support the efforts of local law enforcement as our community begins the process of healing.”