The players’ union is filing a grievance against the NFL’s new anthem policy, the NFLPA announced on Tuesday. The union argues that the new policy violates the rights of players. 
“Our union filed its non-injury grievance today on behalf of all players challenging the NFL’s recently imposed anthem policy,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “The union’s claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights. In advance of our filing today, we proposed to the NFL to begin confidential discussions with the NFLPA Executive Committee to find a solution to this issue instead of immediately proceeding with litigation. The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon.”
Earlier this year, the NFL’s announced that it will require players to stand for the national anthem if they are on the sidelines, but will allow players to wish to abstain to stay in the locker room while the anthem is played. Under this policy, teams get fined rather than players, but owners have the option to pass the fines along to players.
The league can’t win here, anything they do will put them in a bad situation with either fans or the players. As someone who doesn’t mind the protests but understand why it bothers some I was hoping allowing players to stay in the locker room would be the best middle ground.
No… players can’t win. They were given the choice to not stand. Screw them. Let them take a knee at a normal job and see what happens
Are you saying that a normal job would fire me for speaking out against police brutality? I’ve got a Constitutional right to speak my mind. Even if my job played the National Anthem before I start my shift, they can’t fire me for sitting down or kneeling.
That’s what would happen, Champ.
If I was your boss and I told you what to do and you didn’t do it I believe that I can fire you
What normal job plays the National Anthem at the beginning of every work day? The NFL has never and will never be a normal job.
Of course they did. I hope it ends up in litigation and they lose.
Is it really worth it? Amazing how most people have to adhere to management …. the people who write the checks, who go out of there way to keep there business in a good light. But also a lot of people pay very high to watch these games with there hard earned money…. who are very tired of seeing it! I know I am…
LISTEN >> I am not adhering to management!! I am saying that obedience stands, disrespect and selfishness kneels. I am coming from a Christian background, most are not. Most are selfish human beings and disrespectful!!
Judge not lest ye be judged. Your opinion does not make fact. YOU believe obedience stands and disrespect and selfishness kneels. You sir, Christian or otherwise, are forcing others to conform to your definition of what the flag means to you. Your are distorting someone’s actions to fit YOUR narrative, deflecting the message of social injustice and making it about “patriotism”. Hate to break it to you, but that’s not very Christian
I have heard that ‘judge not’ rhetoric many times. I go by the Book, the Bible, God Word – What do you go by sir, the Koran or some other stupid religious belief …
Wow
It’s selfish for palyerd to protest unarmed black kids getting shot by cops? ok then
You work for the fans or clients like any other business. Employee satisfaction is a distant 1c behind shareholder return 1b on the priority list
Called a business
Why shouldn’t grown men and people respect the country in which they live? Sure, we do not like all that politicians are doing Dem or Repub, BUT should it be taken out on the flag. NO!! absolutely NOT!! The first initiators of our Constitution meant for ”all” to respect the flag, a symbol of freedom. IF you do not support standing for the Anthem and Freedom >> Move to North Korea and Rocket Man will not tolerate much!!
The problem is that people like you only cry about “disrespecting the flag” in circumstances like these while no one bats an eye about other every day violations of flag code such as the use of the flag in clothing or alcohol advertisements. You can’t pick and choose when you want to enforce flag code, as doing so makes you a hypocrite.
Hey, I am not talking about the wrong use of the flag–agreed 500%. But I am talking about standing during the anthem. What’s wrong with that??? Trouble is, alot of people want their own say in everything–it is a selfish world–people do not want to be told what they should do–we are in a rebellious world–have you read what Jesus said about obeying the authorities, or what apostle Paul says about obeying the powers that be [in Romans, the Bible sir–read what it says]!!! BUT the majority of people are godless and going to hell–I am not–I do what Jesus and Paul says!!!
You are the hypocrite sir!! I am only saying let your pride go by the wayside and stand!!! PRIDE KNEELS, RESPECT STANDS AT THE ANTHEM!!!
So you want forced patriotism like in North Korea? If the founders meant for all to respect the flag, they forgot to write it in there as the word “flag” does not appear in the Constitution.
How does kneeling for the anthem while protesting disrespect the flag more than wearing “Flag” undergarments?
These men do respect the country. It’s sad that your country’s worth up in a freaking song.
A boring one, by the way. A real snoozer in the history of national tunes.
But I digress. How is it hating your country if you don’t want people dying at the hands of police? How is being angry about these silent protests not a sign of hating black people so much that it’s okay when they get shot unnecessarily by cops?
.
If I pointed a gun at you what would you do to me?
The NFL has the right to impose this type of rule as an employer. Doing so, however, makes it abundantly clear that the league cares more about its viewer ratings than the social issues that the players are protesting to begin with. It certainly does seem like a no-win situation for the NFL but it’d be nice to see some effort on their part to work with the players that are protesting to support their cause instead of simply mandating their compliance with a policy
Possibly true. Here’s a thought… owners make a rule. If players don’t like it…. let them find a new occupation. Or a new country to live in. They have that right. I say screw them. Let the players find another job where they can make the money they make that allows them to be more vocal. That’s fine. They have that right.
Big Jon …. Agreed 🙂
Enjoy the upcoming strike everyone…
Would rather have a strike and no football than these players kneeling and disrespecting the people who fought and died to give them this right
Who would have ever imagined that showing a sign of respect for our country’s colors would be the demise of this great sport?
The demise?? That’s a Huuuuuuuuuge LOL
I thought all these anti-demonstration patriots gave up on football last season over this. It started the season before, right? And everyone was still mad last year? And yet, all these tough talking patriots still have no gumption and will not simply boycott the sport.
Fascists, man. They’re loud, stupid, and have no real cajones.
Just stand for the anthem its that damn simple! Dont be an idiot like that douchebag who cant find a job in the nfl.
You guys do know that not a single athlete who has kneeled for the anthem stated that their intent was to be disrespectful to the anthem/flag/military? That belief only arose when politicians were basically telling their supporters that the players are kneeling because they’re disrespectful to the country…which is 100% false. The viewpoint that kneeling for the anthem is disrespectful is not a widely shared opinion obviously as many veterans support the players (citing that they fought so people, and the players, could protest as they are doing) while many veterans are against kneeling (citing that the least the athletes could do is stand for the anthem). Whatever stance you have, at least make sure you have the full facts before so staunchly attacking or defending one side. Don’t just read/listen to one side, gather opinions and information from both sides and then figure out where you stand. It may not affect your stance but it should at least make you more informed.
Realistically though, kneeling during the anthem doesn’t effect the game nor does it disrupt it. Before Kaepernick started kneeling during the anthem, the anthem was barely played on TV and I doubt most fans were paying attention to the players on the sidelines (let alone see them if you’re sitting way up in the stadium). Kaepernick first started kneeling in the second preseason game of 2016, yet it wasn’t even news until the fourth preseason game. If you want all the talk/news about the anthem policy to go away, just ignore the media that is talking about it. News channels/newspapers only cover it so much because its so controversial and it draws viewers. If people just ignored it, the media would stop covering it, and it would turn into an afterthought for most fans.
At the end of the day, the players should be expected to follow whatever the rules of their job are and owners are allowed to hire/fire players based on their stances. Is it stupid to do so? Probably, but the owners are the ones writing the checks. At the same time, unless the league writes the rule to specifically lean one way or the other, there is no reason to argue about it. Its all a moot point. The league won’t fully go pro-kneeling at the risk of alienating fans (and losing money) but they won’t fully go anti-kneeling at the risk of potentially alienating the players (which might result in a worse product, which the fans won’t want to see, which results in losing money). So what’s the solution? Either ignore the players kneeling and just watch the game (and all of this should go away) or stop watching football all together. Expecting the league to come to a hardline stance one way or the other (as the league, its fans, and its players are in wayy too deep now) is unrealistic.
Is not the fact that the majority of veterans (yes, the majority), find the kneeling disrespectful to their service and the sacrifice of millions while fighting for our freedom a sufficient reason to find another means of protest? I know it is not the intent of those who kneel to offend our veterans but it does and to say ‘you shouldn’t feel that way’ is truly demeaning. Is the protest still about police brutality or has it turned into something else? At what point does it stop? When police brutality stops? How would that be measured? There are ALWAYS cameras that will be catching something and there will ALWAYS be bad apples (although a huge minority) amongst law enforcement.
Why don’t we have a rule that everyone in attendance must stand as well?
If it’s good enough for players it should be good for all
No running to restroom or snack areas. No walking into stadiums while it’s played
Just a sidenote anybody can check the facts. The department of justice release statistics for all people killed by law-enforcement in 2017
44% we’re Hispanic
30% were white
18% were. black.