NFL owners spent hours yesterday attempting to repair their national anthem policy, an effort that has exposed deep divisions among franchises and left them struggling to find common ground.
Among the possibilities discussed, according to sources, were:
Allow each team to implement its own policyClear the field of all football personnel while the anthem is playedInstruct players who don't want to stand to remain in the locker room while the anthem is playedAdd contract language that requires players to standLeave the current policy in place
And perhaps the most ridiculous:
Impose penalties on teams and players who do not stand, including a 15-yard penalty
Anyone else think that, while a 15-yard penalty for kneeling would motivate head coaches to prevent players from doing it, it would be for all the wrong reasons?
And really, it would do more harm to the players and fan base than good.
Not to mention, players would probably come up with other ways to express their protests.
And that would do even more damage.
The best bet is to not do a thing, and hope players will do the right thing.