Players, owners talk social issues
NEW YORK — NFL players and owners held an unusual meeting Tuesday to discuss social issues, a session both sides termed positive and productive.
What was not discussed at any length was the divisive topic of the national anthem and whether the league should prohibit the players from being able to kneel during its playing, a movement started last season by ex-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and one this season that has caught the attention of President Trump.
“We spent today talking about issues that the players are trying to bring attention to,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “That was the entire focus.”
Asked if the players committed to standing during the anthem, Goodell responded: “We did not ask for that.”
A group of 11 owners — including the 49ers’ Jed York — and more than a dozen players — including the 49ers’ Eric Reid — met for more than two hours at the league’s headquarters. Among the topics discussed was enhancing the players’ platforms for addressing social issues.
“We heard what they had to say and they heard us,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. “It’s open talks and that’s a good thing.”
The NFL’s policy on the national anthem was not discussed Tuesday, but could be Wednesday when the meetings resume. That policy states that the players “should” stand for the anthem, and some have suggested the league would seek to change that to “must” stand. Goodell said in a memo to the teams last week that the NFL prefers for players to stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
On Twitter, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora said York — who has been vocal in support of his players’ right to take a knee during the anthem — came out of the meeting thinking “every owner — even the Cowboys’ Jerry Jones — has a greater respect for why players feel compelled to kneel.”
York also said, according to La Canfora, that the NFL “needs to be above” getting “baited” into disputes about the issue.
Reid, in a tweet from Sports Illustrated’s Jenny Vrentas, said, “We started (kneeling) to raise awareness and effectuate change. We're on the path to making the change we think we can make. We just aren’t there yet.” He added, “I don't think they can make a rule change” in regard to possibly forcing players to stand during the anthem.
“Very little of the meeting was about the actual anthem,” Philadelphia safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “We were really more talking about solutions and how we get the results that we want to get.”
Ross called the session “constructive,” and Indianapolis defensive back Darius Butler termed it “positive.”
Goodell spoke briefly before heading to further league meetings. He emphasized the commitment on the part of the players and the NFL “to work together on issues of social justice.”
“Our players are men of great character,” he added, “and they have a deep understanding and tremendous knowledge of the issues going on in all our communities.”
Butler said both sides are headed in the right direction. “I think that’s the most important thing when it comes to these issues is perspective and respecting everyone’s rights regardless of how they feel.”