Report: NFL to consider rule change requiring players to stand for anthem

[Betallsports]

<article class="ember-view article-content font-body copy-text" data-no-turbolink=""> NFL owners will consider a rule change that would make standing during the national anthem mandatory, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The rulebook currently only encourages players to stand.
Anthem protests will be a topic of discussion at league meetings next week, commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed in a letter sent to NFL teams Tuesday.

We live in a country that can feel very divided. Sports, and especially the NFL, brings people together and lets them set aside those divisions, at least for a few hours. The current dispute over the National Anthem is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game, and is now dividing us, and our players, from many fans across the country.


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Goodell said the league has developed a plan which it will review with owners at the meeting.


The protests have become a point of contention for the league, leading President Donald Trump to take direct aim at the sport. At the behest of Trump, Vice President Mike Pence left a game early this past Sunday after a collection of players took a knee during the anthem.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday that players seen "disrespecting the flag" won't be allowed to play.


Demonstrations during the anthem have branched off into other sports, as Bruce Maxwell of the MLB's Oakland Athletics took a knee last month and J.T. Brown of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning stood with a raised fist during the anthem last week.


Players in the NBA have also suggested they would protest, but a league rule stipulates they must stand for the anthem.
More than 200 players took a knee or demonstrated in some fashion prior to kickoff in Week 3 after Trump ignited a firestorm at a rally in Alabama, referring to those who don't stand during the anthem as a "son of a b----."
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[HacheMan]

They ate finally waking up...

 

[brendanjack]

Thank God social media has ruined us.

 

[Redagger029]

They are finally waking up...

It hit the owners where it hurts.. in the ratings.

 

[SheriffJoe]

Owners will meet next week to discuss unilateral rule changes, but a league spokesman said that the players' union may not be involved in the decisions

A reading of the existing rule on Monday Night Football revealed a small change to the language of the policy, opening the door for teams to punish protesters

The new language didn't appear on the internet until the last two weeks

Teams can now be docked multiple draft picks if players kneel during the anthem

The new version of the policy removed language saying that punishment would come from the league office, giving teams the ability to punish players directly

The existing NFL policy continues to state that players 'should' stand for the national anthem but stops short of saying they 'must' do so

President Donald Trump has been critical of the NFL, recently calling for the league to lose its tax status if players continue to protest during the anthem

What an awesome POTUS!

cheersgif

 

[HacheMan]

But again, they better also add every other rule they can think of, like that they can't make any gestures or sign language with their hands while standing, and that they must FACE forward, or else they'll be turning their backs.

 

[rolltide]

don't need new rule, just enforce the one on the books. $50k/game fine for every offense should do it followed by a game suspension and loss of that game salary in addition to the fine.

"The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses."

 

[Greenbacks]

Ratings not looking to good commish

 

[HamGlaze]

Kneel? Not a chance in hell.

 

[Willie99]

don't need new rule, just enforce the one on the books. $50k/game fine for every offense should do it followed by a game suspension and loss of that game salary in addition to the fine.

"The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses."

or enforce their EXISTING rules on "Player Conduct"

PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY League Policies for Players 2016 It is a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league office, NFL Films, NFL Network, or any other NFL business.Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must strive to conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL.

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should never have gone this far, should have been snipped in day one


http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/photo/2017/08/11/0ap3000000828506.pdf

 

[roadreeler57]

Sad that they have to make it a rule....Should be automatic to stand & respect your country without having to be told to do it....The kneeling players should be very ashamed & embarassed & ordered to appologise or sit on the bench....

 

[Acebb]

I'm old enough to remember when the left was all "Trump's on the wrong side of this!!!"



[h=1]REPORT: NFL Players Are Now 'Scared' To Take a Knee, 'People Have to Feed They Family'[/h]

 

[rolltide]

or enforce their EXISTING rules on "Player Conduct"

PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY League Policies for Players 2016 It is a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league office, NFL Films, NFL Network, or any other NFL business.Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must strive to conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL.

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yeah but that highlighted sentence is very grey area stuff. they have a specific policy on the books on anthem conduct. start fining then suspending then pulling team draft picks and this shit stops before halloween

 

[rolltide]

Sad that they have to make it a rule....Should be automatic to stand & respect your country without having to be told to do it....The kneeling players should be very ashamed & embarassed & ordered to appologise or sit on the bench....

yes but it's already been a policy...Goodell decided to take the public's temperature for a few weeks and then it spiraled out of his control. now it's too late to enforce the policy on the books so he has to act like he's putting in a totally new rule that will simply mirror what's been on the books for years

 

[Acebb]

[h=1]NFL's brand 'clearly damaged' over anthem flap, says CEO of world's No. 2 ad agency[/h]

 

[KennyB]

It is too late now for the league to backtrack. If they would have nipped this in the bud it wouldn't have become such a problem. The permanent damage to the league has been done. I won't watch their product any longer.

 

[Willie99]

yeah but that highlighted sentence is very grey area stuff. they have a specific policy on the books on anthem conduct. start fining then suspending then pulling team draft picks and this shit stops before halloween

but that's the grey matter Roger has been hanging people with, and we know he has the power to do as he pleases

it's very easy to argue their conduct is detrimental (read eroding) to the public confidence in the league, I actually think it's impossible to argue otherwise

but long term, the players conduct policy would be easier to change AND the commissioner will not have the same power

 

[Seymour]

does anyone concretely know how much ratings are down

 

[slapshot]

Been to a couple different grocery stores and there is No NFL branded displays to be seen

No goalposts standing cardboard cutouts lighted signs nothing

 

[tatehill2000]

Been to a couple different grocery stores and there is No NFL branded displays to be seen

No goalposts standing cardboard cutouts lighted signs nothing

GOOD,,,

Seymore,,, I can godam guarantee you 1 thing,,, its a DICKTON,,, and the REAL number of $$$ lost by END of 2017 will EASILY be 8-9 figures in profits,,, EASILYYYYYY,,,

we probably wont be told the real number anyway,, lol