There is a "growing sense" in the NFL that changes will be coming to pregame protocols in an "ongoing attempt to manage the issue of protests during the national anthem," according to sources cited by Jason La Canfora of CBSSPORTS.com. Following last week's league meetings in Texas, many owners "believe the most direct and least cumbersome way" to avoid protests during the anthem moving forward is to "return to the pregame operations schedule used prior" to '09, when players were not mandated to be on the sideline during the anthem for primetime games. Sources said that the potential move "continues to be discussed informally between owners" and is expected to be "more formally entertained at March meetings" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/17).
THE RESULTS ARE IN: In DC, Valerie Richardson noted a new Winston Group Sports Survey showed the NFL "registered the highest unfavorable rating of any major U.S. sport for the third straight month," a hit attributed "in part to the ongoing protests during the national anthem." The poll was conducted Nov. 29-30 and released last week and found the NFL was ranked “unfavorable” by 38% of respondents, the "highest percentage of any major professional sport as well as college football and basketball." The results "offered some good news for the NFL," as the 38% unfavorable figure "represented a slight improvement" from the 40% unfavorable rating registered in September and October (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/17).
