The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline performer, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, reaffirming a decision to put the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage that led to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

Goodell addressed the Bad Bunny controversy at his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. It is the first time he has commented on the move announced in late September that garnered worldwide attention, including an increase in streams of Bad Bunny’s music, along with backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

The 31-year-old born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has been vocal in his opposition to Trump and his policies. He decided to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the mainland U.S., citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

He performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said, acknowledging there could be more talent added to the lineup along with Bad Bunny. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if Trump plans to be there, though he has made appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his second term in the White House.

Trump in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”

Banning the tush push has been tabled … for now

Echoing what senior VP of football operations Troy Vincent said Tuesday, Goodell said there has not been much discussion about the tush push quarterback sneak since an effort to ban it narrowly failed to pass in the spring.

Vincent said the primary concern is how tough it is to officiate the maneuver that the Philadelphia Eagles have successfully executed so often. It was not on the formal agenda at this meeting, though owners did get an update on penalties and other football matters.

“It’s something we will continue to monitor on all phases, just like we do every other aspect of the game,” Goodell said. “We don’t have any proposals to bring it back up. It wouldn’t surprise me if something does evolve. But it’s not something we’re really focused on during the season.”

More from Roger Goodell at the NFL owners meeting

Asked about replay reviews and the length of time they are taking, Goodell said game times are actually down through the first seven weeks compared to last season, despite a surge in kick returns after an adjustment was made to the so-called dynamic kickoff.

“That’s quite remarkable when you add the number of kickoffs,” Goodell said. “You’re going to get more fouls. You’re going to get different sets of fouls. You’re going to have a little bit (more) length of the game.”

Goodell said he had breakfast with interim Players Association executive director David White before one of the league’s international games this season but expects any talk about a move to an 18-game regular season and other collective bargaining discussions to wait until the union chooses its long-term leader.

The current CBA runs through the 2031 league year. White told The Associated Press last month that an 18-game season was not inevitable.

“The negotiations will be a lot more than just simply the 18 and two (exhibition games),” Goodell said. “There are a lot of issues that we are going to raise and I’m certain that the players will raise, and that’s what it should be. That’s what collective bargaining is all about. They’re going to need time to make sure that they’re prepared, that they’re ready for the negotiations (and) they have their priorities straight, and then we can begin negotiations.”

Goodell said work is being done to choose sites for the Super Bowl to cap the 2028 and ‘29 seasons and expects an announcement on those next year.

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The San Francisco 49ers will relocate to Arizona for the next three weeks after new coronavirus regulations put in place by officials in Northern California forced the team to find a temporary new home. The 49ers (5-6) announced they will host the Buffalo Bills next Monday night and Washington on Dec. 13 at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, because they won’t be able to practice or play games at home in Santa Clara County for three weeks.

A person familiar with the team’s plans also said a decision has been made to start practicing later this week in Arizona and remain based there until at least Dec. 21. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there hadn’t been an announcement. The team was forced to move because the rules imposed by Santa Clara County prohibit any practice or games for contact sports and will require the players to quarantine for 14 days any time they travel more than 150 miles.

Niners CEO Jed York said the team had offers from San Diego and Arizona, but playing at the Cardinals’ home proved to be the best option. He thanked Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell and officials in Arizona for their help in “these unprecedented times.” “The Cardinals organization, State Farm Stadium and League officials have been supportive and accommodating as we work through the many logistical issues involved in relocating NFL games,” the 49ers said in a statement.

Santa Clara County announced rules Saturday that include a three-week ban on practices and games for contact sports starting Monday. The Niners were on a plane getting ready to travel to Los Angeles, where they beat the Rams 23-20 on Sunday, when the players and coaches heard about the new rules. Now they will likely head on an even longer road trip while trying to make a late-season playoff run. San Francisco is currently one game out of a playoff spot. “The biggest thing for me is us all leaving our families,” coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. “We’re all human just like everyone else. It’s a big deal to leave your family for the whole month of December.

A huge deal, as everyone knows. This virus is a huge deal.” Shanahan said it was “extremely disappointing” the players and coaches learned about the new rules on social media as they were on the plane. The county said the dramatic rise in cases required “quick action” and the priority was making sure there is enough hospital space to deal with the coronavirus and any other health issues. “The 49ers are one of the thousands of organizations impacted by our most recent actions,” the county said in a statement. “The County of Santa Clara has been in regular communication with the 49ers both before and after the announcement of the revised mandatory directive affecting all contact sports.

We continue to do everything we can to support the 49ers, as well as all local businesses, affected communities, and families impacted by the pandemic.” The Niners have road games scheduled at Dallas on Dec. 20 and then again on Dec. 26 at their temporary home in Arizona against the Cardinals. They finish the season with a home game against Seattle on Jan. 3, which could be played at Levi’s Stadium if the ban is lifted as scheduled Dec. 21. “We just got to have that open mind and positive attitude and make sure that first and foremost that everybody’s safe,” said running back Raheem Mostert, whose wife gave birth to the couple’s second child during the season back home in the Cleveland area. “That’s the main goal.” The AFC East-leading Bills (8-3) will return to Arizona for the second time in a little over three weeks, following a heartbreaking 32-30 loss to the Cardinals.

The game was decided by DeAndre Hopkins’ leaping catch of Kyler Murray’s 43-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left. The catch was immediately dubbed the “Hail Murray,” and came 32 seconds after Buffalo pulled ahead on Stefon Diggs’ 21-yard touchdown reception. Buffalo squandered a 23-9 lead before heading into its bye week. The Bills are coming off a 27-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. “It doesn’t matter,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “I mean, wherever they tell us to play, that’s where we’ll go to play.

We can’t control that and so it’s a home game for San Fran any way we look at it, and we’re the road team. That’s how we roll.” The rules also will impact the San Jose Sharks of the NHL and college teams at Stanford and San Jose State. There is no start date yet for NHL training camp but some Sharks players have been taking part in voluntary rehabilitation and training in a socially distanced setting at the team’s facility in San Jose.

The team said those will have to be modified to comply with the health order. “We are reviewing what options may be available locally to allow these players to receive rehabilitation treatment and continue their training for the upcoming season,” the team said in a statement.

-JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer

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No other region in the US has seen as much shuffling of the teams as California has over the last few years and it has led to unique situations where teams like the Los Angeles Chargers are still struggling to find a fanbase, and the Raiders have been shipped off to Las Vegas to become the city’s first professional football team. Let’s take a look at and review California’s teams before the start of the NFL season. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are certainly the favorite team in California at the current moment. With the Raiders gone, the 49ers are left as the legacy team in the state and have a massive fan base behind them. As the defending NFC champions, they have big expectations heading into the 2020 season. Luckily it feels like their offense will be as good as the previous year, though they may have a slow start. 

Analysts are already counting the squad as one of the top 10 offenses in the NFL. What’s interesting is that they give them that ranking despite their relatively thin talent at the wide receiver position. Deebo Samuel has been the go-to receiver, though he currently faces some injury issues. On that note, the injuries seem to be piling up, with Tavon Austin as one of the latest receivers to be placed on reserve with a knee issue. While the 49ers need to figure out this situation, there is still a lot of talent to carry the team in the meantime. 

At the tight end position, the 49ers are looking well equipped. The free agent Jordan Reed was recently added, bringing a veteran to the position. He will help guide rookie player Charlie Woerner who was picked up in the 6th round of the draft. Along with Ross Dwelley, the 49ers are clearly stacked at this position. When we look at the running back position, we can see they still have a lot going for them here as well. Jeff Wilson Jr. will be the starter, backed up by Raheem Mostert. This was the correct call to make as Wilson Jr. seems a better fit in their offensive scheme and is more consistent. 

Injuries aside, the 49ers have everything they need to be great again this year. They begin their season on September 13th, when they are the overwhelming -303 favorites versus the Cardinals. With a big win to start off, it will certainly help to keep momentum going while some key players rest up to heal their injuries. Overall, the 49ers are still a dominant force in the NFC. 

Los Angeles Rams

By any stretch, the Rams have it rough in the NFC West. The Seahawks have remained a challenging team since they signed Russell Wilson, and competing in the same division as the 49ers means not only do they have to compete against a top-tier team, they’re also failing to gain any fans in California. Against the odds, the Rams have grown to be a solid squad. 

The 2019 Rams were a very hard team to understand, and that is likely to continue until they find where they excel. As a 9-7 team, they were certainly middle of the road, but they showed great strength in some areas. After a promising 3-0 start, they dropped off and lost their next three. This seems to be the recurring story with the Rams; they get destroyed by the Ravens 45-6 one week to turn around and blast the Cardinals with a 34-7 victory the next. If they can get their offense going, the Rams have sky high potential. 

Jared Goff may be an average quarterback in the eyes of some analysts, but he can play steady and consistently on offense. Receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods have been great for the Rams and both have been demonstrating their skills in practice. While they play adequately in coach McVay’s strict offensive scheme, they aren’t known for being huge down-field threats.The Rams reportedly have the 3rd youngest roster in the NFL with an average age of 25.1 years old. While there could be huge potential, it’s unproven as of yet. The story here is that while the team may have a group of talented athletes, they lack stand-out playmakers, at least from what we can see.

As far as the defensive picture is concerned, the Rams still have a one-man wrecking crew in Aaron Donald. The importance of a good defense cannot be overstated, and everyone knows what this defensive tackle is capable of. Opposing teams regularly adjust their entire scheme to compensate for this star player. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey has also shown that he can cover any receiver in the NFL. Defensively, the Rams are still strong heading into the 2020 season, but there needs to be some new energy on offense to reinvigorate the squad. 

Los Angeles Chargers

There’s no getting around the fact that the Chargers did not live up to their abilities in 2019. With a paltry 5-11 record for the season and the departure of veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, the team has nowhere to go but up. Competing in the AFC West against defending champions the Chiefs, as well as their old rivals the Raiders, they will have to get their footing quickly if they want to make something happen this year. 

The fact is, Philip Rivers was a much better quarterback than he was able to present. He had ample opportunities on the Chargers, but they have since moved past him and Tyrod Taylor has been announced as the starter over rookie Justin Herbert. Taylor has become something of a journeyman at this point. He was the backup to Joe Flacco for years on the Ravens before becoming the starter in Buffalo, where he had moderate success but was more of a mobile threat than a deep-field passer. The Chargers appear to want someone that can run a consistent offensive scheme that they can build around.

The Chargers 2020 draft class seems to suggest that the team is looking to move away from a pass heavy offense to more of a running game. In this light, it makes perfect sense to start Taylor. His offense on the Bills was very similar, and his ability to use his speed to make plays will be tested. You can anticipate a lot of run-pass options, and pistol formations. There is a good amount of depth in the running back position with players like Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, and Joshua Kelley. Of the three California teams, the Chargers need the most improvement, but are also in the best position to get a fresh start this season with a lot of changes on offense. Let’s check back around mid-season and see how things have progressed in the Golden State.

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(Former San Jacinto Football Star)

In middle school, you could find Kishawn Holmes participating in dance battles behind San Jacinto High School’s football bleachers while the team was playing. When he came into the system as a freshman, Kishawn made varsity, and his presence was felt immediately. After Kishawns Freshman season his parents moved him into West Valleys school district where he became a Mustang for a season and made the varsity squad there too. Kishawn Holmes then moved to Murrietta and ended up going to Vista Murrieta High School. His junior year of High School was big for Kishawn. He racked up over 1,100 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He was ranked the 26th running back in the nation and 7th in California. He received plenty of college attention from his play and showed outstanding skills at invitation-only camps around Southern California. 

It appeared that Kishawn was primed and ready to explode his senior season. Many were talking about the possibility of him playing in UCLA blue in gold the following year. Kishawn’s senior season fell apart before it ever got started when two fellow students accused him of raping them. Kishawn was booked in September 2013, causing him to miss his senior year of high school and many colleges decided to go a different direction. 

Since the charges in that case were in Juvenile court, records were not made public. Kishawn Holmes would resurface in 2015 playing football for Cerritos Junior College where he dominated the competition He finished his career there as the number one ranked Juco running back, and it seemed like his past was left behind as scholarship offers were coming in the mail every day. In March of 2016 Kishawn was accused of rape by a fellow student at Cerritos College. This student was a Student Physical Therapist for the school and worked closely with the football team. The student accused Kishawn of inviting her into his apartment and taking her into his room to rape her.

The jury took less than a day and found Kishawn guilty of rape. Kishawn Holmes was always adamant that he didn’t do it. To many outside of the situation, it seemed that the woman who was the victim was using Kishawn’s past and celebrity to promote her own image, she later filed to sue Kishawn and Cerritos Junior College. 

Kishawn Holmes got lucky; he found the rarest public defender in the state who believed his side of the story and wanted to get the truth out there. His lawyer didn’t just move on to the next case, but took an interest in Kishawn’s case and made it a point to prove his innocence. 

Kishawn Holmes was exonerated of all charges in Aug of 2019; the District Attorney dropped the case. Kishawn Holmes walked out of the courtroom one hundred percent a free man. The “Me Too” movement is real, and they’re certainly are many women who need to come forward when they are forced into a situation that they didn’t sign up for. However, that doesn’t mean that every man is guilty until proven innocent. That’s not the way the forefathers designed our country. Hearsay trials aren’t enough for a jury to convict a young man to spend the next fifteen years of his life behind bars, for him to miss out on achieving his life dream of playing football at the highest level, for his name to be tarnished and drug on the ground, and for him to be away from his family. 

In the last couple of years, sexual harassment and misconduct claims against athletes and celebrities have become prominent across mainstream media. Are all these men innocent? Certainly not, but they aren’t all guilty ether, and we need to get back to “You Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty,” that this nation was founded on.

Kishawn Holmes is an example of someone’s life who was on the way up but was knocked down by someone else’s envious nature. Now he has to start all over, but he still has the NFL in his sights and is willing to put in all the work necessary to hear his name called on Sunday mornings.

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