When US President Donald Trump called out the NFL for allowing its players to protest social injustice by kneeling for the national anthem last September, for most people it was just another noise from the Twitter-happy leader.
Owners of the teams, however, seem to have listened. They have agreed a new policy for the 2018 season that will require players on the field to stand during the national anthem, or remain in the locker room while it’s played. While individual teams can create their own policies, a player protesting will result in a fine for his franchise.
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the new rules in a statement, saying: “The policy adopted today was approved in concert with the NFL's ongoing commitment to local communities and our country – one that is extraordinary in its scope, resources, and alignment with our players. We are dedicated to continuing our collaboration with players to advance the goals of justice and fairness in all corners of our society.
“It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case.”
The vote was approved by all the owners without any input from the players or NFL Players Association. That is except for San Francisco boss Jed York, who abstained, citing that lack of input. It was York’s former quarterback Colin Kaepernick that started the movement in 2016 when he chose to kneel.
The reaction from some of the players was instant. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end, Chris Long, who donated his entire 2017 salary to charity, said:
“This is fear of a diminished bottom line. It’s also fear of a president turning his base against a corporation. This is not patriotism. Don’t get it confused.”
Teammate Malcolm Jenkins, one of the leaders of the Players Coalition, which worked with owners last season to create a social justice campaign, was similarly outspoken.
