NFL players, coaches grapple with new anthem policy

But restricting NFL players’ activism to locker rooms and penalizing those who decide against standing for the national anthem is no different, especially when the policy is prompted by fear of angering Trump.

Just after the news broke, President Donald Trump told Fox & Friends he felt the rule was a good idea, and suggested that anyone who refuses to stand might not belong in the U.S. According to the new policy, players can choose to remain in the locker room for the playing of the anthem, but if they are on the field, they must stand during the anthem.

More from Yahoo Sports:• Trump: Maybe NFL protesters “shouldn’t be in the country” • Charles Robinson: What did the NFL hope to gain from Kaepernick poll?

The Knife analyzed coverage of theNFL’s new policy on the national anthem, and found some of it was less distorted than other coverage related to the NFL protests that weanalyzed previous year.

“He’s an idiot, plain and simple”, Baldwin said of Trump”. He’s just being more divisive, which is not surprising. It is what it is.

“I feel like the owners of the National Football League are trying to do something to show their support for the United States and the flag”, Stevenson said.

“What NFL owners did today was thwart the players’ constitutional rights to express themselves and use our platform to draw attention to social injustices like racial inequality in our country”. “I thought we were on a good track, and saying that we would be working toward the things we wanted to see”.

The Seahawks receiver had a lot to say Thursday about the continued controversy over the NFL’s stance on the national anthem.

Reports from NY initially indicated that the new Anthem policy was put to a vote and passed, 31-0, with the San Francisco 49ers abstaining. “This has never been about taking a knee, raising a fist or anyone’s patriotism, but doing what we can to effect real change for real people”.

The policy subjects teams to a fine if a player or other team personnel do not show respect for the anthem.

Although the NFL put out a policy of no kneeling for the national anthem this week – pleasing millions of patriotic Americans – the battle over showing respect for the American flag, our veterans, and our nation is far from over. “We chose not to support them (the players), so what I will do on Sunday now is fish”. Let’s not forget, the NBA suspended former Muslim player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf for one game and fined him $32,000 way back in 1996 for refusing to come out and stand for the national anthem. “I think there will be some backlash from their decision”. Anthem protests were turning off the fans, so the owners stopped them. “But I think the guys that want to help the community and help police brutality, they’ll still find a way to continue to do that without having such a controversial way to do it”.

Although the consulting firm asked about other league issues including domestic violence, gambling and player safety, Kaepernick was the only player to be singled out by name.

“I don’t like it, ” said Marshall, the team’s only starting, three-down inside linebacker.