Report: Eagles accept White House invitation

The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have accepted an invitation to the White House, according to a published report on Thursday.

Per 6ABC (WPVI-TV in Philadelphia), the Eagles will celebrate their Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots by visiting 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on June 5.

The Eagles released a statement last month that the team was in the early stages of planning a visit.

"We are honored to receive this invitation and view this not only as an opportunity to be recognized for our on-field accomplishments, but also as an opportunity to engage in productive dialogue with the leaders of our country," the statement read, via NJ Advance Media.

White House invitations haven't always been accepted since President Donald Trump has taken office. The NBA's Golden State Warriors were "uninvited" by the President in response to comments made by guard Stephen Curry, but the Houston Astros accepted an invitation to celebrate their World Series championship.

As for the Eagles, there could be some absences during the team's trip to Washington.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins told CNN following the Super Bowl that he plans to skip the visit while defensive lineman Chris Long said on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, "No, I'm not going to the White House. Are you kidding me?"

The New York Times reported in April that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was critical of Trump during a confidential emergency NFL meeting last fall to discuss player protests during the national anthem.

"Another fact I want to throw out there: Many of us have no interest in supporting President Trump," Lurie said, per the newspaper. "Yes, there are some. There are some players who do, too. But this is not where you brandish a group of people because they own assets in a sport we love, supporting what many of us perceive as, you know, one disastrous presidency."

Trump's position earlier last season unified more NFL players to protest before or during the anthem. He said during a political rally in Huntsville, Ala., on Sept. 22 that NFL owners should fire the players who knelt during the anthem.

"We're proud of our country. We respect our flag," Trump said to loud applause at the campaign event in Alabama. "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He's fired! He's fired!'"