NFL owners, players and NFLPA leaders will gather today in N.Y. prior to the owners' regularly scheduled meetings to "try to find a way to move on" from the national anthem controversy. The "hope for this meeting is that players and owners might at least move toward a solution that will bring most of the protests to an end, while also advancing the players' goals." There is a "belief that most players -- and all the owners -- want to move past the protests, so that the focus can return to the issues" (NFL.com, 10/16). The league and union "both say there will be no change to the current policy that players are not required to stand for the anthem" (L.A. TIMES, 10/17). Colin Kaepernick's collusion grievance also "will be a significant topic of interest" at this week's meetings (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/15).
Dozens of players have been "invited to the meeting" today, among them a group of Dolphins who have "continued their protests" -- TE Julius Thomas, S Michael Thomas and WR Kenny Stills (MIAMI HERALD, 10/17). Seahawks DE Michael Bennett has "accepted an invitation from the league" to attend (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 10/17).
Meanwhile, Titans WR Rishard Matthews for the third time this season "stayed off the field during the national anthem" prior to last night's "MNF" game against the Colts in Nashville (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/17).
