NFL team owners are taking action against players who choose to kneel during the national anthem.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday that owners who gathered for the league’s annual spring meeting in Atlanta voted tofine teams with players who do not stand while on the field or sidelinesduring “The Star Spangled Banner,” according toThe New York Times.In one concession to protesting players, the owners voted to change the rule requiring players to be visible on or near the field during the national anthem — instead allowing them to remain in the locker room without penalty.“This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem,”Goodell said in a statement. “Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed.”Michael Dwyer/APAccording to theWashington Post,individual teams would determine how players who violate anthem-related rules would be disciplined, but all teams would likely face a fine from the league if any players are visibly not standing during the anthem. The change is expected to go into effect next season.The NFL national anthem controversy began in August 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterbackColin Kaepernickdeclined to stand for the national anthem when it was played before games.President Trump fueled the controversyin a series of tweets, and stated that NFL owners should fire players who don’t stand for the anthem.Wednesday’s policy was agreed uponwithout input from the NFL Players Association, according toSports Illustrated, and the group said they are issuing a statement reviewing the new policy. It also noted that “theNFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”TheTimesreports that NFL owners, players and executives met to discuss the anthem issue last month, and while the players wanted to discuss the Kaepernick issue specifically, owners had concerns about the publicity surrounding the anthem issue.Even Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a longtime friend and supporter of Trump, spoke out about his concerns about the kneeling controversy.“The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that I don’t feel is in the best interests of America,” Kraft reportedly said, per an audio recording theTimesreceived of the meeting. “It’s divisive and it’s horrible.”
NFL team owners are taking action against players who choose to kneel during the national anthem.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday that owners who gathered for the league’s annual spring meeting in Atlanta voted tofine teams with players who do not stand while on the field or sidelinesduring “The Star Spangled Banner,” according toThe New York Times.
In one concession to protesting players, the owners voted to change the rule requiring players to be visible on or near the field during the national anthem — instead allowing them to remain in the locker room without penalty.
“This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem,”Goodell said in a statement. “Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed.”
Michael Dwyer/AP
According to theWashington Post,individual teams would determine how players who violate anthem-related rules would be disciplined, but all teams would likely face a fine from the league if any players are visibly not standing during the anthem. The change is expected to go into effect next season.
The NFL national anthem controversy began in August 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterbackColin Kaepernickdeclined to stand for the national anthem when it was played before games.President Trump fueled the controversyin a series of tweets, and stated that NFL owners should fire players who don’t stand for the anthem.
Wednesday’s policy was agreed uponwithout input from the NFL Players Association, according toSports Illustrated, and the group said they are issuing a statement reviewing the new policy. It also noted that “theNFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”
TheTimesreports that NFL owners, players and executives met to discuss the anthem issue last month, and while the players wanted to discuss the Kaepernick issue specifically, owners had concerns about the publicity surrounding the anthem issue.
Even Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a longtime friend and supporter of Trump, spoke out about his concerns about the kneeling controversy.
“The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that I don’t feel is in the best interests of America,” Kraft reportedly said, per an audio recording theTimesreceived of the meeting. “It’s divisive and it’s horrible.”
source: people.com
