Owners can’t come up with ‘answer’ after discussing anthem issue

ATLANTA – NFL owners discussed into Tuesday evening ways to solve their anthem-protest quandary, without resolution.

Although most owners declined when approached to comment once their afternoon meeting at a posh hotel dragged until past 6:30 p.m. EDT, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill told Postmedia he believes owners can come to a resolution by the time the league’s annual spring meeting concludes Wednesday afternoon.

“I think so,” Bidwill said, as he rushed into an elevator. “We’re working on it.”

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones — an audio recorder’s best friend, thank goodness — took reporters’ questions for nearly 15 minutes, on the anthem issue and others.

“We spent a lot of time talking about it,” Jones said.

Since the 2016 preseason, some NFL players have expressed their anger, hurt and frustration with continuing racial and socialjustice inequities in America by kneeling or sitting during the pre-game playing of The

Star Spangled Banne r at

league games.

A Sports Illustrated report

Tuesday afternoon said one solution owners were mulling to end the anthem protests was to leave it up to individual teams to decide if they want their players to remain in the locker room while the national anthem played, or come out and stand at attention. And any players who choose to kneel or sit would saddle their team with a 15-yard penalty to start the game.

“I can’t speak to any reports,” Jones said. “We had discussions (without resolution).”

Were owners mulling a certain number of proposals before owners gather again Wednesday morning?

“I just wouldn’t couch it as proposals, but certainly thoughts,” Jones said.

Did some owners come armed with creative solutions?

“I didn’t hear anybody that had the answer, I’ll tell you that,” Jones said.