Will NFL owners cop out on protests?

When the Sons of Riches, the NFL team owners, meet this month, they will get down to some serious verbal mudwrestling. It will be a great opportunity for Jed York, the 49ers’ CEO, to take a stand.

At their spring meeting, the owners will discuss what to do about the national-anthem protests, which, as you know, have led the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation.

One strong possibility, according to the Washington Post, is that the owners will vote for a team option — each team allowed to establish its policy on protests.

This would be the league’s cop-out. Hey, don’t blame the NFL if one or two rogue teams allow their players to disrespect America.

A certain president would love that. Most team owners fear loss of revenue because of fan anger at protesters, so most owners will opt to demand that their players stand. Players who don’t behave will be fined, fired or sent to patriotism school.

Another possibility: The league, or various teams, will vote to keep the players in the locker room during the anthem. Insanity. Anti-protest fans will demand that players publicly demonstrate their patriotism. And what happens if some players demand their right to enter the stadium and stand for the anthem? Will they be suspended for defying team rules? What type of America-hater defies team rules?

Chaos. The only workable rule is no rule. Free individual choice. Forced patriotism is freedom denied.

This is York’s chance to lead. He already climbed out on a limb by strongly supporting Colin Kaepernick. York has adopted a thoughtful, openminded approach to the protests. He’s no raving lefty, but has said that his conservativeleaning mind has been expanded by exposure to Bay Area culture.

Last year, York said, “We need to respect First Amendment rights, regardless of our personal feelings of the actions involved.”

York might get avalanched by the other owners. But he will have his say.

If it winds up that each team is allowed to decide how to handle protesters, York might get the opportunity to stand alone for freedom.