NFL orders players to stand for anthem

League approves changes to kickoff, ejections

LOS ANGELES, May 23, (Agencies): National Football League owners reached agreement Wednesday on a policy requiring players to stand during the national anthem but giving them the option of remaining in the locker room if they preferred.

The issue of how to handle player protests of kneeling during the pre-game playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” has loomed over the NFL club owners meeting in Atlanta, with the sport anxious to avoid a repeat of the controversy that divided the league last season.

America’s most popular sport found itself at the center of a political firestorm in 2017 after President Donald Trump described players who kneeled during the anthem to draw attention to racial injustice as “sons of bitches.”

The remarks prompted a wave of protests across the league in September, angering some fans and placing several conservative, Trump-supporting team owners in an awkward position.

With the NFL’s leadership reluctant to issue a blanket decree ordering players to stand for the anthem, the deal approved Wednesday represents a compromise.

Under current NFL regulations, all players are required to be on the field during the anthem. The new policy removes that requirement, allowing players who do not wish to stand to remain in the locker room.

Players who do come onto the field for the anthems would be required to stand or teams would be fined.

“This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem,” NFL Commissioner Roger 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.”

Goodell said the NFL would levy fines against teams if players came onto the field and did not stand for the anthem.

“If anyone is on the field and is disrespectful to the anthem or the flag, there will be a fine from the league against the team,” Goodell told reporters. “The team will have its own rules and make their own decisions.”

Goodell took issue with criticism levied at protesting players being called “unpatriotic.”

“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.”

Art Rooney II, the president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, said the policy was the result of extensive

Goodell consultation.

“We’re not forcing anybody to stand who doesn’t feel like it,” Rooney said. “But those that are on the field are going to be asked to stand.

“We’ve listened to a lot of different viewpoints including our fans over the past year and this policy is an attempt to get to a place where we have respected everybody’s point of view as best as we could.”

The new policy received a lukewarm greeting from the NFL Players Association, which was not included in league discussions on how to handle the anthem issue and threatened to challenge the policy if it was deemed a violation of its agreement with the NFL.

“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new ‘policy,’” the players union said in a statement.

“The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by commissioner Roger Goodell and the chairman of the NFL’s management council, John Mara, about the principles, values and patriotism of our league.

“Our union will review the new ‘policy’ and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.”

Philadelphia Eagles Carson Wentz

quarterback took part in individual drills during organized team activities on Tuesday, less than 5-1/2 months removed from surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left leg.

Wearing a brace on his left knee, Wentz, 25, went through the same drills as fellow signalcallers and dropping back, shuffling in the pocket and resetting to throw both left and right. He also threw routes on air with receivers.

Head coach told reporters before practice that Wentz has yet to be medically cleared, but that he would be “involved in a handful of things” as part of his rehab.

Nick Foles, Nate Sudfeld Joe Callahan,

Doug Pederson

In an effort to improve safety, the NFL announced a handful of approved changes to kickoffs following a vote at the spring league meetings. The rule changes will be re-evaluated next offseason.

The changes are designed to limit full-speed collisions, such as players on the kickoff having to be within 1 yard of the point of kickoff to prevent getting a running start downfield, and at least eight players on the returning team having to be in a 15-yard “setup zone” prior to the kickoff so more players are closer to where the ball is kicked in order to reduce speed.

The NFL owners also expanded reviewable plays to include disqualification of players and approved ejection standards to go along with the “use of the helmet” rule. According to the new rule, ejection is possible if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent, provided the contact is clearly avoidable.

Kansas City Chiefs Demetrius Harris

tight end has been suspended without pay for the opening game of the 2018 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the league announced. Harris will miss the Sept 9 contest against the

He can rejoin the Chiefs the following day.

Harris served two days in jail in March, stemming from a marijuana arrest in Bates County, Mo, 12 months earlier. He also received two years probation, was fined $500 and was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and an NFL drug program.

Chargers.

Houston Texans Jadeveon Clowney

Bill O’Brien

J.J. Watt

Watson

individual drills.

Atlanta Falcons Blank

Steelers Mason Rudolph,

Los Angeles

linebacker will not participate in on-field workouts this week while recovering from a 2018 knee injury. According to the Texans, Clowney is not yet medically cleared.

Clowney and the Texans are in talks regarding a long-term contract extension, and head coach

said last month the team would not rush its top two edge rushers – Clowney and defensive end – back from injuries.

Watt was present but not participating, while quarterback

participated

Julio Jones Tom Brady New England Patriots

Bill Belichick.

Deshaun

in

Arthur

owner does not envision anything that will keep from being with the team long term, amid reports that the wide receiver is angling for an updated contract. “I love Julio. He loves me. He loves Atlanta. He’s going to be here forever,” Blank told WXIA-TV from the league’s meetings in Atlanta.

Until practices are mandatory, the obligatory response to questions about absentee quarterback are to be expected

head from coach

“I’m not going to talk about the people that aren’t here,” Belichick said when asked if he’s spoken to Brady. “The guys who are here are improving, they’re working hard. Those are the guys we’re going to focus on.”

Ben Roethlisberger

quarterback is ready to mentor

an about-face considering his astonishment in the aftermath of Pittsburgh drafting his likely heir in last month.

“I’ve never been the type to just be rude or mean to other quarterbacks,” Roethlisberger said while coming off the field after a full team workout. “I’ve had a lot of quarterbacks through here that have been younger than me that I’ve tried to help. I’ll continue to do that.”