"If there are changes to the policy that put players in a position where they could be disciplined or fined, we are going to do what we always do — fight anything that encroaches on players' rights to the end," Atallah said.</s>After being under fire for the last two seasons for players protesting the national anthem, the NFL decided to mandate what players and team personnel can and can’t do during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The NFL’s proposed new national anthem policy, which was announced Wednesday by league commissioner Roger Goodell during the NFL’s spring meeting in Atlanta, gives players and team personnel a choice to either stand for the anthem out of respect for the flag or wait in the locker room for the anthem to be finished.

The new policy was unanimously adopted by the teams and those who do not oblige will receive a fine from the league.

Goodell also holds the right to impose “appropriate discipline” for those who don’t stand and “show respect” for the flag and anthem, according to the new policy.

“We want people to stand,” Goodell said. “We do believe that moment is important to focus on.”

The anthem protests have been quiet gestures stemming from Colin Kaepernick’s protest in 2016. The former 49ers quarterback took a knee to protest against police violence, specifically against African-Americans and people of color.

Many other NFL players have decided to join the movement last season by taking a knee or sitting for the anthem, including Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and defensive end Khalil Mack, Eagles lineman Michael Bennett and Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane.

The protests received a lot of attention and even reached the White House. President Donald Trump continuously criticized players and teams for disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the anthem last season. He also went so far as to call on the league to suspend a player after he knelt during the anthem.

The NFL Players Association said it will challenge any part of the new policy that violates the collective bargaining agreement.

Here’s a list of the six principles for the NFL national anthem policy, per the NFL:

1. All teams and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and anthem.

2. The game operations manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem.

3. Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the anthem has been performed.

4. A club will be fined by the league if its personnel are on the field and do not stand show respect for the flag and the anthem.

5. Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles regarding its personnel who don’t stand and show respect for the flag and anthem.

6. The commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and anthem.</s>NFL owners passed a resolution on Wednesday that allows players to remain in the locker room during the national anthem but those who are on the sidelines will be required to stand. Teams -- not players -- will be fined for any actions deemed disrespectful.

In a statement, commissioner Roger Goodell said, "all league and team personnel shall stand," and added, "It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case."

You can read the entire statement below:

The policy adopted today was approved in concert with the NFL's ongoing commitment to local communities and our country -- one that is extraordinary in its scope, resources, and alignment with our players. We are dedicated to continuing our collaboration with players to advance the goals of justice and fairness in all corners of our society. The efforts by many of our players sparked awareness and action around issues of social justice that must be addressed. The platform that we have created together is certainly unique in professional sports and quite likely in American business. We are honored to work with our players to drive progress. It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case. This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem. Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room until after the Anthem has been performed. We believe today's decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it -- and on our fans who enjoy it. The 32 member clubs of the National Football League have reaffirmed their strong commitment to work alongside our players to strengthen our communities and advance social justice. The unique platform that we have created is unprecedented in its scope, and will provide extraordinary resources in support of programs to promote positive social change in our communities.

Goodell also outlined the new anthem-policy rules as agreed upon by the owners:

The membership also strongly believes that: 1. All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem. 2.The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the Anthem. 3. Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the Anthem has been performed. 4. A club will be fined by the League if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem. 5. Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem. 6. The Commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

In response, the NFLPA released its own statement:

The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new "policy." NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about. The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL's Management Council John Mara about the principles, values and patriotism of our League. Our union will review the new "policy" and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

NFL Network's Judy Battista called it a "compromise," though the players would almost certainly disagree. As does the NFLPA's George Atallah.

The protests were never about "disrespecting" the anthem, a point made repeatedly last season. The protests were about drawing attention to social inequality, which was the reason Colin Kaepernick protested during the anthem for the first time in August 2016.

In October, in the wake of constant criticism from President Trump and pressure for the NFL to mandate players stand for the anthem, then-Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said he would continue to sit during the anthem and added that any negotiation between the league and its players as it relates to the anthem should happen only after an NFL team signs Kaepernick who, depending on who you ask, has been blackballed for his decision to kneel during the anthem last season.

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In related news, the NFL is currently in the middle of a collusion case brought by Kaepernick.

And while some owners have sided with the players' right to protest, other owners know that the anthem issue is a political hot potato and one that angered many fans last season. In fact, during the owners meetings last October, Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN the Magazine reported that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told his colleagues that they needed to seriously consider the impact the anthem issue was having on the league's bottom line, and to some in the room Jones was building toward an mandate that would require players to stand during the anthem, similar to the NBA's rule.

Around that time, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to all 32 teams.

"Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem," he wrote. "It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us. We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players."

By late November, the NFL had agreed to donate $89 million over seven years to "address social issues considered important to African-American communities." Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, who served as the unofficial spokesman for the Players Coalition, a group of players who negotiated directly with the league office on these issues, wrote at the time that, "What the NFL has done is a good first step – it's not going to solve the massive problems we have in our cities and states across this country, but it's a start."</s>ATLANTA — NFL owners approved a new policy Thursday aimed at addressing the firestorm over national anthem protests, permitting players to stay in the locker room during the "The Star-Spangled Banner" but requiring them to stand if they come to the field.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the change was approved unanimously by the owners at their spring meeting in Atlanta, but it was met with immediate skepticism by the players' union.

"We want people to be respectful of the national anthem. We want people to stand," Goodell said. "That's all personnel, and to make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That's something that we think we owe. We've been very sensitive on making sure that we give players choices, but we do believe that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on."

In a sign that players were not part of the discussions, any violations of the policy would result in fines against the team — not the players.

The NFL Players Association said it will challenge any part of the new policy that violates the collective bargaining agreement.

The owners spent several hours addressing the contentious issue — which has reached all the way to the White House.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, a quiet but powerful protest against police brutality and racial inequities in the justice system.

Other players took up the cause, and the gesture carried on during the 2017 season even after Kaepernick left the 49ers and failed to land a job with another team.

President Trump turned the anthem protests into a campaign issue , saying the NFL should fire any player who takes a knee during "The Star-Spangled Banner." The NFL hasn't gone that far, but Kaepernick has yet to land another job and one of his former teammates and fellow protesters, safety Eric Reid, is also out of work.

Both have filed collusion grievances against the NFL.

While the owners touted the change as a compromise and noted it was approved unanimously, the players' union made it clear it was not part of the discussions.

"The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new 'policy,'" the NFLPA said in a statement. "NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about."

The statement added, "The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL's Management Council John Mara (co-owner of the New York Giants) about the principles, values and patriotism of our League."

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry

For more AP NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL</s>(CNN) — This season, NFL players must stand during the National Anthem, team owners decided Wednesday in Atlanta — a reaction to fierce backlash against some who took a knee in symbolic opposition to the systemic oppression of people of color, including by police.

A statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said team owners unanimously agreed that the NFL can fine a team whose players protests on the sidelines during the National Anthem, but that each team will set will its own rules regarding players who want to kneel.

Players cannot be fined by the league. They also will be allowed to remain in the locker room while the anthem is played.

Previously, there had been no rule that prevented players from protesting.

“It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic,” Goodell said. “This is not and was never the case.”

Scores of players have joined in silent protests, initiated by quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the 2016 NFL season, to draw attention to what many describe as the systemic oppression of people of color, including by police.</s>CHICAGO (CBS) — Many fans were divided when a number of NFL players, in protest of police brutality against people of color, began kneeling during the National Anthem.

CBS 2’s Vince Gerasole reports the NFL will now fine teams whose players do not stand.

It began with Colin Kaepernick and caught on with NFL players, each choosing to kneel during the National Anthem.

“We want people to be respectful to the National Anthem,” said Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner. “We want them to stand – that’s all personnel – and make sure they treat the moment in a respectful fashion.”

The NFL has decided players must stand or teams will be fined. Players have the option to remain in the locker room during the National Anthem.

Chicago residents, including sports fans and those who are not, shared their thoughts on the issue.

“I don’t think they should have to stay in no locker room because that’s how they feel,” said Chicago South side resident, Michael Hoskins. “They should be able to come out like the other players.”

“I think everyone has the right to express their first amendment rights,” stated Kathy Klawitter.

The American Civil Liberties Union says that it’s not necessarily true in the workplace.

Ed Yohnka of ACLU Illinois said, “Employers can limit the speech of employees while on work time.”

In spite of that statement, the ACLU has supported players’ rights to demonstrate their opinions.

“Whether or not they have a legal right, they have a moral right to express themselves,” said Yohnka.

The Bears have locked arms in protest in the past. Linebacker Sam Acho says some players will look for a different way to protest.

“Just because you are not protesting the National Anthem doesn’t mean someone can keep you for standing up for those treated unfairly,” stated Acho.

There are many who support the NFL in this matter. Their thoughts echo those of Claudia Bertacchi who posted on Facebook: “Patriotism wins. Thank you NFL for being true patriots and showing our flag the respect it so deserved.”</s>"It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case," the league also said in a statement announcing the new policy.

The union representing players lashed out at the league's decision, tweeting that it was not consulted about the rule change.

"The NFL chose not to consult the union in the development of this new 'policy,'" the NFL Players Association said in its statement. "NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about."

Goodell claimed hundreds of players were asked for their input.

The controversy over players kneeling during "The Star-Spangled Banner" has raged since 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first refused to stand as a lone protest against police brutality and racial oppression.

Eventually, some teammates joined him. Other players didn't kneel but raised their firsts in silent solidarity.

"To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," Kaepernick told NFL Media in the late summer of 2016. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

The take-a-knee movement has been criticized by President Donald Trump, who said in September that he felt "ashamed" by "disgraceful" NFL-wide protests and the disrespect being shown to U.S. military members.

And Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday afternoon tweeted a news report about the policy change with only the comment "#Winning."

The NFL had previously suggested that players should stand, but stopped short of enforcing fines.

Kaepernick, who has been free agent without a team since the 2016 season, filed a grievance against the NFL earlier this month claiming owners colluded to keep him out of the league.

The new league policy says that clubs can still develop their own work rules for players and personnel who don't stand for the flag and the anthem, but they must be "consistent with the above principles."

That means teams could choose to pass along fines to players.</s>"It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case," the league also said in a statement announcing the new policy.

The union representing players lashed out at the league's decision, tweeting that it had not been consulted about the rule change.

"The NFL chose not to consult the union in the development of this new 'policy,'" the NFL Players Association said in its statement. "NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about."

Goodell claimed hundreds of players were asked for their input.

The controversy over players kneeling during "The Star-Spangled Banner" has raged since 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first refused to stand as a lone protest against police brutality and racial oppression.

Eventually, some teammates joined him. Other players didn't kneel but raised their firsts in silent solidarity.

"To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," Kaepernick told NFL Media in the late summer of 2016. "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

The take-a-knee movement has been criticized by President Donald Trump, who said in September that he felt "ashamed" by "disgraceful" NFL-wide protests and the disrespect being shown to U.S. military members.

And Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday afternoon tweeted a news report about the policy change with only the comment "#Winning."

But not everyone was in support.

Former Giants defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton tweeted that the NFL remains majority black, so the power is in the players' hands: "If united and didn't take the field at all, it would upset a lot of people and a lot of executives."

Sage Rosenfels, an NFL quarterback from 2001 to 2012, mocked the league's decision by tweeting that fans shouldn't be allowed to buy stadium concessions while the anthem plays.

The NFL had previously suggested that players should stand, but stopped short of enforcing fines.

Kaepernick, who has been free agent without a team since the 2016 season, has filed a grievance against the NFL claiming owners colluded to keep him out of the league.

The new league policy says that clubs can still develop their own work rules for players and personnel who don't stand for the flag and the anthem, but they must be "consistent with the above principles."

That means teams could choose to pass along fines to players.</s>NFL team owners are taking action against players who choose to kneel during the national anthem.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday that owners who gathered for the league’s annual spring meeting in Atlanta voted to fine teams with players who do not stand while on the field or sidelines during “The Star Spangled Banner,” according to .

In one concession to protesting players, the owners voted to change the rule requiring players to be visible on or near the field during the national anthem — instead allowing them to remain in the locker room without penalty.

“This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem,” Goodell said in a statement. “Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed.”

According to the , individual teams would determine how players who violate anthem-related rules would be disciplined, but all teams would likely face a fine from the league if any players are visibly not standing during the anthem. The change is expected to go into effect next season.

The NFL national anthem controversy began in August 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick declined to stand for the national anthem when it was played before games. President Trump fueled the controversy in a series of tweets, and stated that NFL owners should fire players who don’t stand for the anthem.

Wednesday’s policy was agreed upon without input from the NFL Players Association, according to , and the group said they are issuing a statement reviewing the new policy. It also noted that “th NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”

The reports that NFL owners, players and executives met to discuss the anthem issue last month, and while the players wanted to discuss the Kaepernick issue specifically, owners had concerns about the publicity surrounding the anthem issue.

Even Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a longtime friend and supporter of Trump, spoke out about his concerns about the kneeling controversy.

“The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that I don’t feel is in the best interests of America,” Kraft reportedly said, per an audio recording the received of the meeting. “It’s divisive and it’s horrible.”</s>ATLANTA — NFL players this season must stand during the National Anthem, team owners decided Wednesday in Atlanta, a reaction to fierce backlash against some who took a knee in symbolic opposition to the systemic oppression of people of color, including by police.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a news conference that team owners unanimously agreed that the NFL can fine a team whose players protest on the sidelines during the National Anthem but that each team will set will its own rules regarding players who want to kneel. Players will not be fined individually by the league and will have the option to remain in the locker room while the anthem is played.

Previously, there had been no rule that prevented players from protesting.

“We want people to be respectful to the National Anthem,” Goodell said in a statement. “We want people to stand, that’s all personnel, and make sure that they treat this moment in a respectful fashion that’s something I think we owe. We’ve been very sensitive in making sure that we give players choices, but we do believe that that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on.”

The NFL Players Association, which was not included in the talks with owners, said the union will review the new policy “and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.” Owners discussed the topic for two hours on Tuesday and one hour Wednesday, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said.

“The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL’s Management Council John Mara about the principles, values and patriotism of our League,” the association said in a statement.

The move by owners stems from the silent protests that began in 2016, when then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem to draw attention to injustice.

It also brought the wrath of President Donald Trump, who in 2017 said players’ kneeling showed “total disrespect for our great country.”

In recent months, the league has worked toward a reported $90 million social justice partnership with the Players Coalition, using the NFL’s platform to highlight players’ efforts to curb injustice and to use political connections to push for legislative change.

The conversations in Atlanta came as two free-agent players, Kaepernick and Eric Reid, have filed separate grievances against the league, citing collusion in denying them jobs. Kaepernick and Reid both kneeled during the National Anthem when they were 49ers teammates, and Reid continued his protest last season. Kaepernick has been a free agent since March 2017.
The NFL announces a new policy regarding kneeling for the anthem, requiring any players on the sidelines to stand. Thus, players will now be allowed to remain in the locker room while the Star-Spangled Banner is played, fining players who refuse to stand on the sidelines.