Anthem rule OK’d with no formal vote

Trump backs NFL’s plan, but irks some with views

The NFL has drawn the line against players kneeling during the national anthem by adopting a policy that will fine teams if players on the field don’t stand during the song.

On Thursday, it was revealed the policy was not approved by a formal vote — or unanimously.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN that the policy change came Wednesday after the league called for a show of hands at the owners’ meetings, which he said is an unofficial process that often is used. No hands went up to indicate opposition, he told ESPN.

“That was considered a vote,” McCarthy said.

At least two owners — the Raiders’ Mark Davis and the 49ers’ Jed York — abstained from the informal vote, however. And Jets Chairman Christopher Johnson said he will not stand in the way of players who feel the need to protest.

Davis confirmed to the Mercury News on Thursday that he abstained, telling the newspaper he would withhold comment until “I have spoken with players.”

NFL Network reported Wednesday that York abstained.

“I think for us, I wanted to make sure we focus on the progress aspect of this, not focus on the protest,” York told reporters afterward.

President Trump addressed the issue Thursday, telling “Fox & Friends” the NFL is “doing the right thing” with its anthem policy.

“You have to stand proudly for the national anthem,” Trump said. “Or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there, maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”

Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall, who attended the University of Nevada with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and was among the first players to join Kaepernick in the national-anthem protests two seasons ago, said players don’t care about teams being fined.

He also called the president’s remarks “disgusting” and said that though he doesn’t like the league’s new policy, he understands it.

“We’ve got freedom of speech, right? Freedom to protest? Just because somebody disagrees or has an issue with something that’s going on in this country, that doesn’t mean that they should pack up and leave,” Marshall said in response to Trump’s comments.

“He’s an idiot. Plain and simple,” Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin said of Trump. “I respect the man because he’s a human being first and foremost, but he’s just being divisive.

“For him to say anybody who doesn’t follow his viewpoints or his constituents’ viewpoints should be kicked out of the country is not very empathetic. It’s not very American-like, actually, to me.”