Several Eagles players say they'll skip White House visit

Several Eagles players say they'll skip White House visit

Several Eagles players say they'll skip White House visit As cleanup from the celebrations in Philadelphia continued Monday, some Eagles players had business of their own to handle, declaring they would not visit President Donald Trump at the White House. Several Eagles players have said they will not attend the traditional Super Bowl champions' visit to the White House. Defensive end Chris Long, who skipped the White House visit last year as a member of the Patriots, had already said he would not go this year, either. Running back LeGarrette Blount, who like Long moved from the Patriots to the Eagles this season, skipped last year's White House ceremony. Wide receiver Torrey Smith also indicated he'll skip the ceremony, while also getting back at fans who'd trolled him on social media recently. There has long been precedent for athletes skipping championship commemorations at the White House; Celtics legend Larry Bird once passed on a visit with President Ronald Reagan at the White House, saying, "If the president wants to see me, he knows where to find me." Yet they've become more common, and source of controversy, during President Trump's time in office.