So After The Big Meeting, NFL Still Doesn't Know What To Do About Player Protests

Monica Sanchez | October 17, 2017
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The National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) issued a joint statement on Tuesday after meeting with team owners and player leaders on the league's controversial National Anthem protests.

The statement indicates that they will all be meeting again “to continue this work together,” meaning they could not reach a definitive conclusion on which approach to take.

“Today owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities,” the statement reads. “NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change.

“We agree that these are common issues and pledged to meet again to continue this work together.”

The NFL and NFLPA in the statement asserted that “everyone” who is part of the NFL “has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military.”

“As we said last week,” the statement continues, “everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military. In the best American tradition, we are coming together to find common ground and commit to the hard work required for positive change.”

Amid fan upset and declining ratings, team owners have taken it upon themselves to address the protests, including Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones who said that players will be benched if they disrespect the flag.

It was reported that NFL executives and team owners would decide during the meeting whether it is within teams’ rights to compel players to stand for the anthem.

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart last week said that such reports are merely speculation.

Lockhart said that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would have a plan to present to team owners "about how to use our platform to both raise awareness and make progress on issues of social justice and equality in this country." 

The plan would not include any change of league policy that would require players to stand.

Monday Night Football, despite a close game between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts last night, experienced a season low in ratings. 

ESPN did not air the National Anthem during its Monday night broadcast.

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