NFL players will be fined if they kneel during national anthem, new league policy says
According to a new mandate ordered by NFL owners, players are required to stand for the national anthem if they are on the field while it is being played. However, the announcement on Wednesday gives them the option to stay in the locker room if they prefer to kneel down.
The new policy dictates that any player or other team personnel who does not show respect for the anthem should be penalized. That means any attempt to sit or kneel would make them liable for a fine issued by their team. Dozens of players have knelt to protest police brutality and racial inequality in the past two seasons.
"We want people to be respectful of the national anthem," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We want people to stand -- that's all personnel -- and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That's something we think we owe. [But] we were also very sensitive to give players choices."
Barring San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York, who said he abstained from the voting process, Goodell informed that the vote was unanimous among all owners. The policy, supported by the owners, is not subject to collective bargaining as it is going to be a part of the NFL's game operations manual, reported BBC.
That being said, a statement was released by the NFL Players Association saying that it will review the new policy and "challenge any aspect" that is not in line with NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement.
It is still unclear as to what the players would be fined in specificity along with the definition of "respect for the national flag" according to the league.
"To make a decision that strong, you would hope that the players have input on it," Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "But obviously not. So we have to deal with it as players, for good or a bad thing.
"I think the main thing out of all of it is that each ballclub is having open communication with the players and ownership about the issues that are going on in the community and trying to change it."
On Wednesday, DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFLPA, unleashed a series of tweets voicing his displeasure with the new policy approval.
"History has taught us that both patriotism and protest are like water; if the force is strong enough it cannot be suppressed. Today, the CEO's of the NFL created a rule that people who hate autocracies should reject," Smith tweeted.
