NFL
NFLPA Files Grievance Against NFL’s New Anthem Policy
On Tuesday, the NFL Player’s Association filed a grievance over the league’s policy of the new protocol for the National Anthem, claiming it “infringes on players’ rights.” The NFLPA made this aware to the general public with their post on Twitter yesterday.
NFLPA’s Full Statement
“Our union filed its non-injury grievance today on behalf of all players challenging the NFL’s recently imposed anthem policy. 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.”
“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 NFLPA recited in the statement. The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon.”
https://t.co/BRb8lgNIgW pic.twitter.com/sK2zzqFoYh
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) July 10, 2018
The anthem protests these past two seasons created an uproar among fans and owners. The players’ kneeling during the anthem was to grow awareness for the ever-growing inequality and racial prejudice that is prevalent in today’s American society. NFL players know that they have a large platform. They just want to use it to make people aware of this issue.
The League Decided On The New Anthem Policy Back In May
However, this offseason a new anthem policy was put into place. At the NFL owners meeting in May, the league voted in their new anthem policy by majority decision. It gives the option for players to stay in the locker room if they plan on not standing for the anthem. That being said, all players and team representatives shall stand for the flag on the sideline during the National Anthem. Those who break this policy will get a personal fine, as well as one for their respective team as well.
Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that he composed this new policy for a specific reason. It was to diminish the “false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic.” He made it clear that this is not the case at all, and hoped to change this perception immediately.
However, this policy will be altered or even erased with the new grievance that the NFLPA has filed challenging it. Their reasoning is that it “infringes on player rights” and directly violates the union’s collective-bargaining agreement.
NFLPA Is Fighting Back
The NFLPA also argues that peaceful protesting during the anthem doesn’t qualify as “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League.” Most importantly that this conduct is not harmful in any way, shape, or form.
It has been recently made aware that the NFL chose not to consult the union during the development of their new anthem policy. The NFLPA views the players’ kneeling as not “unpatriotic”. They believe that their players are just raising awareness through peaceful demonstrations about issues that are dear to them.
The NFL and NFLPA agreed to immediately hold talks to find a mutual understanding and policy to this problem. They will begin “confidential discussions to find a solution to this issue” as soon as possible. Both parties hope solve the issue before the beginning of the regular season.
NFL television ratings declined by more than 10% last season, their lowest in years. Just as we thought that the controversy involving protests had died down, here it is again. This has just reignited the flame, and I doubt that we won’t see any form of protests next season.
