BALTIMORE (AP) — Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon criticized the timing of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s assertion that the league believes “black lives matter,” saying Monday that the message should have been delivered long ago.

In the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck, Goodell said on June 5, “We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter.

“It’s not when Roger Goodell said black lives matter that now everybody can say it,” Judon said.

“I think we should have been questioning why Roger Goodell didn’t say black lives matter when he was born, or when he became commissioner or when he was re-elected commissioner.

“We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” Goodell said.