Ealges S Malcolm Jenkins has been a prominent advocate for the players' causes the past two seasonsGETTY IMAGES
The opening week of the NFL preseason showed that the league's national anthem issue is "showing no signs of fading," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. The "contentious atmosphere makes it even less likely" that the league and the NFLPA will be able to "find a solution that satisfied all sides" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/13). NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King cites sources as saying that there has been "good-faith progress" between the league and the NFLPA in their talks. A source said that the two sides have "had amicable discussions, and that progress has been made, but that no solution is very close." The source "doubts there will ever be a solution that includes all players standing at attention for the anthem, as the NBA has." King asks, "Will there be a solution that features all players standing or the anthem at every game this year? I doubt it" (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/13).
SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: In Miami, Jordan McPherson noted Dolphins DE Robert Quinn and WR Kenny Stills are among several players who said that they will "continue their peaceful protests until a conversation begins and change can start being made." Stills, who knelt during the anthem before the Dolphins' preseason game against the Buccaneers, said, "If you continue to misinterpret what we're doing, reach out to me. Look at my website, my Twitter, all my social media platforms and you can get a better idea of why we're doing what we're doing and maybe you can come to the other side and start supporting us and helping start these conversations" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/11). Dolphins WR Albert Wilson, who also knelt during the anthem, said, "You get a lot of backlash for doing it. Nobody wants to bring that kind of negative attention to themselves, but when you have a platform like this and you're able to speak on certain situations that can cause an effect, you want to do that." In West Palm Beach, Jason Lieser noted Dolphins coach Adam Gase "did not address the anthem with his players prior to the game." Stills said, "I didn't talk to him beforehand, but after the fact, we spoke. He supports what I'm doing." Of the three Dolphins players who protested Thursday -- Quinn raised his fist on the sideline -- "none of them are likely to be deterred" by President Trump's "latest barbs" that he issued on Twitter Friday morning (PALM BEACH POST, 8/11).
COP OUT: In Ft. Lauderdale, Wayne Roustan noted NFL players who take a knee during the national anthem have prompted the Broward County (Fla.) police union to "urge officers to return their discounted Miami Dolphins tickets for refunds." Broward's Police Benevolent Association had "offered its members discounted tickets to games" through a partnership with the Dolphins. The union has "changed its tone" after Stills and Wilson got down on one knee and Quinn raised a fist during the anthem Thursday. The union said that it is "no longer participating in the discount ticket program and was urging its counterpart police organizations in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties to do the same." The Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association "echoed the call with an identical Facebook message" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 8/11).
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell wrote four Jaguars and three Seahawks players made a statement by "staying in the locker room" during the anthem Thursday night, which "represented a new twist in this evolution of NFL protesting." It is "not unreasonable to think that the locker room gestures" by the players will "amount to a trial balloon, with more players around the league potentially following suit in the coming weeks." As the season approaches, "so many NFL players -- at least, so many African-American players -- are prodded to ponder what their personal policy on the anthem will be" (USA TODAY, 8/11).
PLAYERS VS. PRESIDENT: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote the players will "never win this debate" as the situation enters its third year. Hyde: "Not if by 'winning,' the idea is to make people discuss, much less support, their ideas when the conversation was re-directed by President Trump into a referendum on patriotism via the national anthem." At the "heart of the protest is making people uncomfortable and hopefully view things differently." The players have "succeeded at that first point." However, if the protesting players "want the point of their protests to get heard over the anthem free-for-all, do they need another idea?" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 8/12). In Boston, Jenee Osterheldt wrote protests "are meant to disrupt." They are not "supposed to be polite or fun." These athletes are "not protesting for show," they are "creating change in their communities" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 8/10). In Phoenix, Greg Moore wrote when players take a knee, "knowing they face criticism from the president and others, they're channeling patriots who put liberty above appeasement and principle above the status quo." They will not be "dictated to on this issue" (AZCENTRAL.com, 8/10).
LACKING LEADERSHIP: NBCSPORTS.com's King writes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has "done an awful job handling this headache." Strong commissioners "build bridges in times like this," and they "solve problems." However, Goodell has allowed President Trump to "whip up fervor against the players Goodell claims to be solidly behind." He has "looked weak, choosing to ignore the constant and insipid presidential flaying of the league and the players." Goodell had six off-season months to "make this nightmare go away." It "didn't go away," and is "worse now." Goodell "needs to lead now, lead this league out of a controversy that's lasted too long" (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/13).
