NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said that the league "did not take a formal roll-call vote when it passed its new national anthem resolution that will take effect this season," according to ESPN.com. McCarthy said that the league "called for a show of owners' hands to test support of the new policy -- an unofficial process that is often used." He added that there were "zero nays." McCarthy: "That was considered a vote" (ESPN.com, 5/24). Steelers President Art Rooney II said, "We went around the room and everybody spoke their piece. It wasn't like anybody didn't have their chance to express where they stood on this" (TRIBLIVE.com, 5/24). ESPN's Seth Wickersham said NFL owners have been "talking about some sort of resolution since September." He noted when owners have "official votes. there's a process that they go through, (but) with this one, they knew how people were going to vote." Wickersham: "They had essentially polled it, and they didn't do an official vote" ("OTL," ESPN, 5/24).
NOT ALL OWNERS ON BOARD: In San Jose, Jerry McDonald notes Raiders Owner Mark Davis confirmed that he "abstained from a vote of NFL owners attempting to compel players to stand for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner." When asked for clarification, Davis in a text message said that he "would not comment until 'I have spoken with players'" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 5/25). Wickersham: "I was also told that Mark Davis was actually one of the most eloquent speakers" ("OTL," ESPN, 5/24). 49ers CEO Jed York also said that he abstained from the vote (THE DAILY). ESPN's Jeff Darlington noted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's job is to "protect the owners" and by announcing the anthem vote was unanimous was "trying to take the heat for 32 owners, whichever way they are going to go, to keep them from having to go out on the ledge with their locker rooms and players." Darlington: "While trying to protect them, he also forgot the fact that there will be guys who are going to say, ‘Wait a second, just because I didn't say yes doesn't mean that I really wanted this.’ It was clumsy” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 5/25).
SEEKING COMPROMISE: Rooney said, "The fans in this day and age have become accustomed to the teams being on the field standing for the anthem and I don’t think that’s too much to ask." He added that owners "tried to reach a compromise between players’ rights and those who want to see them stand at attention for the traditional pregame playing of the anthem." Rooney: "Over the last year, we’ve listened to voices over all different parts of the spectrum, including our players. I think we attempted to strike a balance between respecting the right of a player not to be forced to stand for the anthem on one hand while acknowledging the vast majority of fans who attend or watch our games who don’t come to see a political protest, most particularly the members of our military and veteran communities." In Pittsburgh, Ed Bouchette notes Rooney acknowledged the new policy, just like the old one, will "have its critics and won’t satisfy everyone." Rooney did "take issue with a report that stated he said linking arms during the anthem would be a show of disrespect." Rooney: "I don’t think that’s a sign of disrespect. I think a lot of teams wound up doing that last year as a show of unity, and so I certainly don’t have an issue with that" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/25).
LOST TRUST: NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said the league "clearly chose not to involve the players' union and player leadership in coming up with the rule." He added the fact that the policy "appears that it was haphazard at best suggests to me that this was more of a desperate attempt by a group of owners to simply 'get back to playing football' rather than to honestly -- and with a sense of what America means -- sit down and figure out what is the right thing to do." Smith: "What I think they did was they sat down and tried to figure out what they can get away with as quickly as possible" ("Get Up!," ESPN, 5/25). NFL Network's Steve Wyche said there is a "long way to go from here to training camp where the owners have to bridge that gap with the players because we've seen the immediate reaction." Wyche: "Right now, there's definitely some lost trust" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 5/24).
PLAYERS WEIGH IN: Broncos LB Brandon Marshall, responding to President Trump's comments about those who protest during the anthem, said, "We have freedom of speech, right? Freedom to protest? Because somebody decides to protest something, now have to be kicked out of the country?" Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin said of Trump, "He's an idiot. Plain and simple. I respect the man because he's a human being, first and foremost. But he's just being more divisive, which is not surprising" (ESPN.com, 5/24). Buccaneers G Ali Marpet said of owners and the anthem policy, "It's an interesting move, considering that they made a stance earlier and they changed it. That seems a little bit odd. There's a little bit of question regarding the legality of it, I think, regarding worker's rights." He added, "From my understanding, it's questionable if a team or the NFL could legally fine a player for protesting" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/25). Lions WR Golden Tate said that he "expects the team will discuss 'a solution to stand for justice in America.'" Tate: "We've got time to kind of brainstorm some ideas on how we could stand for justice and what we can do" (AP, 5/25).
WHAT ABOUT THE NEW GUY? In Charlotte, Rodrigue & Person cite a source as saying that Panthers team captains and leaders "met with new owner David Tepper on Wednesday" in the city. Among the topics addressed was the new anthem policy, which states that players "may remain in the locker room during the anthem if they choose." Tepper "can't vote on NFL policy until July when the sale closes and he officially assumes control of the team." He has previously been "outspoken against Trump, but details of his conversation with Panthers players have not been disclosed" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/25).
