New NFL Policy: Players On Field Must Stand For National Anthem

NEW YORK, NY — NFL players on the sidelines before the game now have to stand for the national anthem. The new policy announced Wednesday will not require players to stay on the field during the anthem and those who want to kneel "may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the Anthem has been performed," the policy states.

"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," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "We are dedicated to continuing our collaboration with players to advance the goals of justice and fairness in all corners of our society."

The owners of the teams agreed on the policy Wednesday after the issue gained national media attention last season, especially after President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter at a campaign rally for an Alabama senatorial candidate in September.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag to say get that son of a b***h off the field right now, out, he's fired," Trump said to the crowd. "He's fired!" The president also suggested the NFL implement a rule that prohibits players from kneeling during the national anthem.

After those comments, the issue of kneeling at NFL games became a particularly sensitive issue at games. In the immediate aftermath, more players than usual kneeled during the protests while many chose to link arms as the anthem played and others stayed in the locker room. The protests are to take a stand against racial injustice in the United States, but the White House has painted it as a matter of disrespecting the American flag and military troops.

The White House made it a point to show they were against the kneeling. At a Colts game last year, Vice President Mike Pence walked out of Lucas Oil Stadium after players with the 49ers took a knee during the national anthem. Pence said he left the game because he would not dignify any event that disrespects American soldiers, the flag or the national anthem.

Owners voted to fine teams whose players do not stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the field or sideline, Goodell said. Players had previously been required to be on the field for the anthem.

“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.”

The decision will keep people focused on the game and the athletes, Goodell said, as well as on fans who enjoy it.

Kneeling during the anthem became a fixture at games for NFL players who use the gesture to protest social injustice. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first to kneel during the 2016 season to protest against police brutality and racial inequality. Kaepernick remains unsigned after he began the protests and filed a grievance complaint alleging that he remains unsigned as a result of collusion between team owners.

“It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic,” Goodell said. “This is not and was never the case.”

The NFL Players Association, which represents the players, said in a statement that the NFL didn't consult the union before adopting the new policy. The vote contradicts statements made to the union by Goodell, the group said in a statement. The union is still reviewing the changes and will challenge any parts of it that aren't aligned with the league's collective bargaining agreement.

“NFL 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," the statement said.

The new policy drew criticism from many in the sports arena and from social justice advocates.

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