Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona is currently serving in the Navy ReserveGETTY IMAGES
President Trump has directed Acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to "develop a policy to allow service academy graduates to immediately play professional sports after graduation," according to Brent Briggeman of the Colorado Springs GAZETTE. Trump yesterday "signed a memo" giving Esper 120 days to develop the policy. While the details of Trump’s policy "haven’t been made clear, he insinuated in May that he would like to defer service time for athletes who explore their professional sports options." That would be a "new wrinkle to the shifts in policy in recent years." In '16, the Obama administration "allowed grads to immediately apply to serve their time on reserve status to pursue sports." The policy had "previously required athletes to serve at least two years of their five-year commitment before submitting that application" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 6/27). In DC, Ava Wallace notes select graduates "have been granted waivers" to explore pro options in recent years. Former Navy QB Keenan Reynolds is now a WR for the Seahawks and "serves in the Navy Reserve." Patriots LS Joe Cardona also "serves in the Reserve." More recently, the issue arose again when the Red Sox drafted Navy P Noah Song with the 137th pick in the MLB Draft this month, "making Song the highest selection in Naval Academy history" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/27).
