Papa John's CEO blames NFL for declining sales

Papa John's CEO John Schnatter said the NFL is to blame for declining sales for the football league's official pizza sponsor.

Schnatter pointed to ongoing protests by football players who kneel during the national anthem.

"The NFL leadership has hurt Papa John's shareholders," CEO John Schnatter said during an analyst call on Wednesday. "The NFL has been a long and valued partner over the years. But we're certainly disappointed that the NFL and its leadership did not resolve the ongoing situation to the satisfaction of all parties long ago.

"This should've been nipped in the bud a year and half ago."

The company's third-quarter net income was up 1.6 percent to $21.8 million on revenue of nearly $432 million.

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