Only Roger Goodell could bring NFL players and Donald Trump together in agreement.
Days after the president bashed Goodell’s new national anthem policy that players must either stand on the field for it or remain in the locker room — after Trump initially lauded the decision — the NFL Players Association filed a grievance Tuesday challenging the regulation.
“The union’s claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights,” the union said in a statement. “In advance of our filing today, we proposed to the NFL to begin confidential discussions with the NFLPA Executive Committee to find a solution to this issue instead of immediately proceeding with litigation. The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon.”
Under
, which was voted upon by league owners in May, the NFL can fine teams whose players or personnel do not stand on the field during the anthem. Teams are also allowed to set their own rules for discipline.
Since 2016, some players have been kneeling during the anthem to protest social injustice, a motion led by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The issue has been an ongoing source of controversy between the NFL, its players and Trump, who said last week at a rally that the new policy is “worse” while criticizing Goodell.
“I heard this thing, they were so happy, the owners,” Trump said at a rally last week. “This Commissioner, where this guy comes from I have no [idea]. They’re paying him $40 million a year, and their ratings are down 20 percent.”
