Nike Ad Featuring Colin Kaepernick Set to be Seen on NFL Opener.
LEMON: President Trump continues to rail against the NFL and now Nike for its new campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. Here is part of ad that's set to release tomorrow night during the first NFL game of the season.</s>COLIN KAEPERNICK, AMERICAN FOOTBALL QUARTERBACK: Don't become the best basketball player on the planet. Be bigger than basketball. Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.</s>LEMON: Joining me now to discuss, Warrick Dunn, a former NFL player and minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. Falcons -- Warren, Atlanta Falcons play in the first game tomorrow night against the Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles. Good evening to you, sir. Thank you for joining us.</s>WARRICK DUNN, MINORITY OWNER, ATLANTA FALCONS: Thank you for having me.</s>LEMON: What do you make of Nike's decision to use Colin Kaepernick as their spokesperson?</s>DUNN: I think it's brilliant. They just raised his profile. And because Kaepernick over the years -- over the last couple of years has been the face of this movement of social justice and to be the first guy to come out and really talk about the issues that black kids and black men are being shot and killed, I commend him. And he is if first guy that stepped out. And I think Nike, you know, they set a precedence that a company have come out and they support him and they're going to raise his profile. So, I think it's a brilliant campaign.</s>LEMON: Do you think it's a financial or you think it's a moral decision?</s>DUNN: It's a moral decision. It can't be about financial -- finances. Just think overall they understand the issues. You have to think too that a lot of their athletes or athlete spokesmen are African- American. So, they have a lot of that demographic. So, I think it's important that they really go after the issues and not necessarily things that are financial.</s>LEMON: President Trump is responding to this new campaign -- Nike campaign. Here is what he posted on Twitter earlier today. He said, "Just like the NFL whose ratings have gone way down, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that that it would be this way. As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch and always will until they stand for the flag. Why do you think the president is continuing his attacks on the NFL? Do you think that he's going to keep it? Yes, of course, he is going to keep it throughout the season.</s>DUNN: Well, yeah. He's definitely going to keep it up. But I mean it's just a deflection. I mean he is just trying to change the subject. And he's not really focused on the issues. I mean these are, in my opinion, are not disrespecting the flag. They are patriots because I looked up the definition of patriotism and it's about love for or to defend your country. And these guys, they love their country. They love their community. And they wanted us to be a better America. So, I think he was just going to use us as a distraction.</s>LEMON: He was back in August the president tweeted that he thought NFL players were, quote, "Unable to define what exactly they were protesting." I mean from your conversations with players around the league, do you think that's the case?</s>DUNN: No, sir. That's not even close. Right now, he is not willing to come to the table and really talk about the issues to see, you know, their point of view. I mean you have to be open minded and willing to listen to the other side. You got to remember -- I mean this guy has probably had a spoon -- silver spoon in his mouth his whole life. He's never been in the communities a lot of these guys have grown up in. So, he can't relate to them. I don't think he really understands them. And of course, who is going to use this to his benefit? And that's what he is going with every issue in his life so far.</s>LEMON: Yes. Let's talk about how the league has struggling to come up with some consistency or consistent policy regarding the anthem. Earlier in the year, they adopted a policy that requires players to stand for the anthem or just remain in the locker room. And then they backed down from that after a challenge from the players union. How would you like to see the league handle protest this season? Would you like to see them just say, listen, we don't tell people what to do. You mind your business and we'll mind our own?</s>DUNN: Well, I think what the league did is put it on that situation because they got a lot of flack. But I think at the same time as players and being ex-player, if you really want to talk about the issues, what are you doing on Tuesdays, how can you prove to all of the fans, all the owners that you care about your community, that you're going out every Tuesday and giving back and then tighten your community. If those guys are doing that, then they have a right to say things. I think so far I have a lot of guys that are going back, getting involved, doing police rights, you know, talking to kids who was really trying to impact their community. So, I think they are moving in the right direction, but they need to continue the conversation but also have action -- have an action plan to go out and definitely give back and affect their community in a positive way.</s>LEMON: I'm glad you mentioned police because the viewers should, Warrick, that you really bring a different perspective to this topic because you're a former NFL player, you're a member of the black community. Tragically, your mother, who was a police officer, was murdered in 1993 while she was off duty. How did all of the different hats that you have worn shape your views on players' protests?</s>DUNN: Well, I can understand it but also understand what police officers go through. My mom had been a police officer. She lost her life in the line of duty and she sacrificed and put her life on the line everyday for her community. But at the same time, my mom got to know the people in her community that she was serving. And I would advise other police officers across the country to get to know your constituents, get to know the citizens in your community that you're serving because that can help bridge the gap. But at the same time, as players, they are looking at -- we have black kids, black men that are being shot and killed and there's no justice at the end. It's like we have issues with that. You know, there are great -- there are good cops and there are also bad cops, but I do understand the players issue and I side with them.</s>LEMON: Thank you, Warrick Dunn.</s>DUNN: I appreciate it. Thank you.</s>LEMON: I appreciate your time.</s>DUNN: Thank you.</s>LEMON: Thanks for watching. Our coverage continues.