The Latest on President Donald Trump’s cancellation of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ visit to the White House (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins says NFL players who have been speaking out politically are fighting for racial and social equality Giants Cody Latimer Jersey , not disparaging the national anthem.

Jenkins issued a lengthy statement on Twitter on Tuesday after the White House disinvited the Eagles from an event originally intended to honor the Super Bowl champions. President Donald Trump has framed the decision around the national anthem and his repeated arguments that NFL players should be required to stand on the field when the song is played before games.

Jenkins says the White House made a decision ”to lie, and paint the picture that these players are anti-America, anti-flag and anti-military.”

He says he will ”continue to fight for impacted citizens and give a voice to those who never had one.”

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3:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump has held a ”patriotism” event at the White House in lieu of a Super Bowl celebration for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles that he canceled.

The president said Tuesday on the South Lawn that it’s time to ”explain why young Americans stand for our national anthem.”

Trump sang along to ”The Star-Spangled Banner” and ”God Bless America” during a brief ceremony that included the U.S. Marine Band and the U.S. Army chorus.

Trump did not mention the Eagles. He accused players of abandoning their fans because many had said they wouldn’t show up. Late Monday, he canceled the event because of the anticipated low turnout.

The president says that the nation needs to remember the ”fallen heroes” and that the country stands together ”for freedom, we stand together for patriotism.”

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2:55 p.m.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says it was the Philadelphia Eagles, not President Donald Trump, ”who changed their commitment at the last minute” to a White House Super Bowl celebration. Trump had been prepared to host the Eagles Tuesday, but announced Monday he was canceling the event.

Earlier, the White House said that the team notified the White House last week that 81 people, including players, coaches and managers would be attending. But late Friday, the team tried to reschedule, proposing a time when Trump would be overseas.

In the end, Sanders says the Eagles offered to send ”only a tiny handful of representatives” to the event, ”while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend.”

She says Braden Smith Color Rush Jersey , ”if this wasn’t a political stunt by the Eagles franchise, then they wouldn’t have planned to attend the event and then backed out at the last minute.”

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12:10 p.m.

The White House is blaming the Philadelphia Eagles for President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a planned White House event celebrating the team’s Super Bowl championship.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the team last Thursday notified the White House that 81 individuals, including players, coaches and managers would be attending.

However, the team got back in touch with the White House late Friday and tried to reschedule, proposing a time when Trump would be overseas.

In the end, she says the Eagles offered to send ”only a tiny handful of representatives” to the event, ”while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend.”

She says, ”In other words, the vast majority of the Eagles team decided to abandon their fans,” prompting Trump to cancel.

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11:50 a.m.

Fox News is apologizing for airing footage that wrongly suggested Philadelphia Eagles players knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

Christopher Wallace, executive producer of ”Fox News (at) Night,” says in a statement that during the show’s report about President Donald Trump canceling the Eagles’ visit on Tuesday to the White House to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl win, the show displayed ”unrelated footage of players kneeling in prayer.”

He says, ”To clarify Braden Smith Jersey Elite , no members of the team knelt in protest during the national anthem throughout regular or post-season last year,” adding: ”We apologize for the error.”

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9:35 a.m.

The NFL Players Association says President Donald Trump’s decision to scrap a White House visit for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles led to the cancellation of several smaller community events in the Washington area the Eagles players were to lead.

The players union said in a statement Tuesday that it is disappointed by the decision and that NFL players ”love their country, support our troops, give back to their communities and strive to make America a better place.”

The Eagles plan to resume organized team activities in Philadelphia, though the early practice in preparation for the season is not expected to be open to reporters.

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8:55 a.m.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is criticizing President Donald Trump for canceling the White House celebration of the Eagles’ Super Bowl win and for panning players who refuse to stand for the National Anthem.

Kenney, a Democrat, said of Trump on Tuesday morning on CNN: ”When he had the opportunity to serve his country for real, his father got him out of it, and I think it’s really disingenuous for him to talk about patriotism in any way shape or form.”

The ma This offseason in Minnesota for Kirk Cousins has been shaped by get-to-know-them moments, whether new coaches, plays or teammates with the Vikings.

Kyle Rudolph has made a sharp first impression.

”Boy, he’s a friendly target,” Cousins said one sunny afternoon last month after completing a pass to his strong-handed tight end during non-contact drills when he wore a wireless microphone to allow the team’s video production department to create a brief highlight clip for the website. ”It’s like throwing into a mattress.”

The eighth-year veteran has been happy to oblige his new quarterback, trying to, well Ravens Hayden Hurst Jersey , be the best piece of bedtime furniture he can be.

”That’s a new one for me. I’m OK with it. Try to make sure that he’s always getting a good night sleep, always be there for him. That’s kind of my role around here,” Rudolph said on Tuesday after practice.

Cousins recently described a play in a red zone situation when he looked at his two-time Pro Bowl tight end during his drop-back but sent the ball elsewhere. Quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski immediately offered some insight to the $84 million guaranteed man .

”In that situation, you might want to give Kyle a chance,” Cousins said, recounting what Stefanski advised. ”Even though he looks covered, you have to throw him the ball. He’s open. He can prove you right.”

Having Rudolph available for drills with the first-team offense has been a welcomed bonus for the Vikings, considering he had surgery on his right ankle in February after playing through pain down the stretch of the season. Rudolph said he’s a couple of weeks ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation.

”We have a new offense, a new system, a new quarterback. I wasn’t getting any better over there by myself, so it’s good to be back out there,” he said.

Rudolph is not only the longest-tenured offensive player on the roster, but he and wide receiver Adam Thielen are the only ones who joined the team before Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach in 2014. Thielen was on the practice squad in 2013. In fact, Rudolph, Thielen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs are the only members of the offense who’ve been here more than three years.

Rudolph Wholesale Mark Andrews Jersey , who will turn 29 on Nov. 9, is coming off the most fruitful two-year stretch in the NFL. He had 81 catches for 532 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017 and, just as importantly, played in all 16 games for a third straight season.

He’s endured more than his share of injuries going back to his college days at Notre Dame, and that helped minimize any anxiety that might have come with a procedure done at this stage of his career. Rudolph counted five surgeries in the past 10 years.

”It’s funny when you sit there: The nurses are getting ready for pre-op, and the doctors are talking to you. I honestly feel like I’m in the dentist office getting my teeth cleaned. It’s so routine, at this point,” Rudolph said. ”I think at times, your family and friends are more worried about it than you are.”

With the skills Cousins has in completing play-action passes and new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo’s penchant for using his tight ends in all kinds of spots to maximize their matchup advantages with potentially cornerbacks and safeties, Rudolph is in position for another productive season.

”Obviously, he’s had great success with tight ends,” Rudolph said. ”What he’s able to do with all the playmakers and all of the chess pieces that we have on offense, it’s been a lot of fun to see.”

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