With the NFL and NFLPA meeting to go over the anthem policy, no compromises have been made yetGETTY IMAGES
A joint statement from the NFL and NFLPA said the two sides recently had a "constructive" meeting regarding the league's anthem policy, also noting they were "encouraged by the discussions and plan to continue our conversation," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES (7/28). Steelers President Art Rooney II said of the talks, "For the first time in the last two years of this thing, we have the players’ association willing to sit down and talk with us. I don’t know if that’s our fault or their fault." Rooney said there is "common ground to be found” between the two sides. Rooney: "It’s a positive development, and hopefully we can come up with a uniform policy. ... I am optimistic." However, Rooney said that he "did not participate in Friday’s meeting" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/29). Rooney added, "Of course everybody wants the players to be standing, including most of the players. At the end of last season, we were down to just a handful of players that were protesting at the anthem, so the vast majority of players want to be focused on football, don't want to be getting into politics on the field. If everyone has that mindset, we can work something out" ("Training Camp Preview," NFL Network, 7/28).
FILLING IN THE BLANKS: Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said he "couldn't be happier" that the league and the union are talking to each other. He said, "The players really want to make it clear to obviously the ownership, the league, and to our fans that they are 1,000% supportive of our flag and of the military. ... It's not to the benefit of anybody in the league, players or league or the causes themselves to have that kind of uproar around it and have the President of the United States in the middle of it. My hope and the fact that they're talking now, players directly to the league and the league to the players, etc., is that some sort of compromise will come out of it, that will not compromise us on focusing on issues” ("Training Camp Preview," NFL Network, 7/29). The TIMES' Belson reported players "sounded off" on Friday against Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones’ "demand that his players stand for the anthem." But Blank "took a more conciliatory tone." While saying that his team has "asked the players to stand for the anthem, Blank added that players 'do have First Amendment rights.'” Blank: "It’s far better in my opinion to have somebody make those decisions themselves than to hit them over the head with a hammer" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/28). In Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter noted Blank "doesn’t appear to want to fine players who elect to kneel in protest of racial and social injustices" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/28).
REASON TO BELIEVE? Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam said the league and NFLPA are "working to come up with a win-win solution," noting there is "cautious optimism on both sides that that will happen." Asked if he had any regrets about the aftermath of Browns players protesting multiple times last season, Haslam said that it is that he "failed to talk to his players quickly enough." Haslam: "We should have, and Dee and I will take the responsibility, right away gotten with our players, we waited a couple weeks" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/29). Meanwhile, Lions WR Golden Tate said that his team is "already having internal discussions about how to handle the national anthem issue." Tate: "We have a little time until the first game. That’s something we’re going to handle. ... I’m sure you guys will be informed when we make a decision or come up with a solution" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/28).
NO SIMPLE SOLUTION: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote the chances of finding a permanent solution "remain slim." Florio: "Absent anything other than an agreement by the union that all players will stand for the anthem (and absent a commitment by all players not to defy the compromise), the controversy will linger for as long as politicians aimed at politicizing the issue can score points with their base, create a convenient distraction, or both" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/27). NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King notes he has "yet to hear of a compromise over the anthem issue that might bridge the gap between players and owners," and it is "still an issue that could divide the league worse than it did last fall" (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/30). On Long Island, Bob Glauber wrote it has "become clear that there will be no simple resolution to the problem." Glauber: "In fact, it will continue to be a no-win situation for the NFL." The best-case scenario would be owners and players coming up with a "protocol both sides can live with." Anything "short of a plan backed by the owners and players won’t work." The most expedient plan would be "going back to the previous rules." Given how "infrequent the protests had become by the end of last season, it’s reasonable to expect that would be the case again" (NEWSDAY.com, 7/29). In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote the anthem issue "might wind up as the top item" on President Trump’s sports legacy. Ostler: "Destroyed two professional football leagues. He’s halfway there, and the second half is a work in progress" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/29).
TEAM BREAKDOWN: In Pittsburgh, Mark Madden wrote the Steelers this season "need to keep quiet and stand at attention on the sideline." Madden: "Make no statements. Announce no team policy. ... I just don’t want to see the Steelers sink in that quicksand." The team for the most part has "handled the anthem debacle very well." The players "haven’t knelt, raised a fist or even talked much about the situation" (TRIBLIVE.com, 7/28). In Colorado Springs, Paul Klee asked, "How is it possible this anthem puzzle still hasn’t been solved?" Klee: "If it’s not the most incompetent display of leadership I’ve seen -- from both sides, the NFL and the protesting players -- it’s definitely top three." Broncos players have "decided they will stand for the national anthem," but that does not change the perception that the NFL leadership "doesn’t have a backbone and the protesting players don’t have a clue." Klee: "In trying to appease everyone, the NFL has appeased no one" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 7/28). In Nashville, Joe Rexrode noted Titans DT Jurrell Casey, who has said he will protest during the anthem this season, is a "leader inside and outside the locker room after overcoming a well-documented and difficult upbringing." If a Titans fan were "going to pick one favorite player to support on this team, Casey would seem to be an obvious choice." But "seeing Casey take a villain turn in the past couple weeks is a handy example of how stupid it has all become" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/28).
