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N.F.L. can not seem to move away from the issue of the national anthem that divides. Developments this week ensured that despite the league's wishes, the debate over how to handle players who kneel during the anthem would continue to dominate the N.F.L. discussion. Here is what we know.
On Thursday, the Miami Dolphins produced a document, obtained by the Associated Press, according to which the national anthem protests categorized as "a harmful conduct to the club" and saying that they could result in a suspension or a fine. As a result of the criticism that followed, the team denied that the policy was static and stated that "all options are still open."
Shortly after, the N.F.L. and N.F.L. The Players Association has agreed to temporarily halt the implementation of the league's new policy on standing up during the National Anthem (see below). In the meantime, both sides will discuss the issue and try to reach a solution that both parties can adopt.
"In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue," the league and the union said: "We have reached a status quo agreement on the NFLPA's grievance and on the anthem's policy. NFL. No new hymn rules will be published or applied in the coming weeks as long as these confidential discussions are underway.
Why Now?
The current confusion is partly the result of the league's decision in May's anthem policy in itself, as opposed to a negotiated agreement with the players' union. then grieved that the league breached the collective agreement, which triggered talks between the two parties.
The way policy is changed, if at all, is the big question. that the talks can collapse, that the league begins the season with its current policy, that the grievance continues and that the problem spreads from there.There again, the league and the union could find a way to
The fact is that both parties need one of the other.The league does not want to fight with the union during the season when it tries to stay focused on the terrain During the d In recent years, the union sued the league (think Deflategate), creating an endless cycle of memoirs, court appearances and demagoguery that left no one happy except for cable TV channels. and bloggers. The union needs to defend its members, the players, and does not want them to be penalized by their bosses and publicly blasted by President Trump and a few fans.
What is the NFL's policy?
In May, the NFL announced that players on the field would be required to stand respectfully during the national anthem. This allowed players to stay in the locker room during the anthem if they wanted it
If players break the rules, teams may be fined and have the option to discipline the players. players.
At the initiative of a handful of players led by Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, who have knelt during the national anthem over the past two seasons to protest against the economic inequalities and police violence against minorities. with a contemptuous policy. Under these new rules, N.F.L. may or may not fine a team if a player or players protest. At the same time, each team has the autonomy to penalize the players. Or not
This created a situation in which 32 teams would develop 32 policies in real time. Enter the dolphins.
Chris Johnson, general manager of the Jets, said in May that he had no intention of penalizing players who were protesting or developing rules to prevent them from protesting.
Kyle Shanahan, coach of the 49ers, said in June that he had no problem with Protestant players.
"It's a little out of sight, far from the spirit for us," he said. "We do not think that's a big problem, I'm not going to have a whole team meeting to fix everything."
Other teams have taken a different approach. Falcons of Atlanta, said that no matter what his team decided – stay, protest, stay in the locker room during the anthem – the decision would be for all to follow.
From the other owners , including Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, were more strident in their opinions on whether players should defend the anthem.
Last season, some homeowners argued that the protests had to stop because They were harming the affairs of the league … The players needed to understand, according to some owners, that when the finances of the league were suffering, the players too
in a recording of a meeting of the league. October between owners and players obtained by the New York Times, the Buffalo Bills Owner Terry Pegula said that he had lost sponsors because of the protests, and that Trump was forced to reprimand the league.
The league was "under attack", he said. "We are struck by a tsunami."
But Pegula could have stretched the truth. It is true that some sponsors have left the teams and even the league. Papa John's Pizza, for example, cut ties with N.F.L. But the league found a new sponsor, Pizza Hut, almost immediately. The TV ratings slipped, but they were already down. The league also notes that the N.F.L. ratings have held up relatively well compared to other shows on television.
The latest earnings report for Green Bay Packers also suggests that the teams have hardly been touched by protests, supporters and sponsors who say they are offended. On Monday, the Packers – the only public team in the league, and therefore the only one to publish financial figures – said they received nearly 5% more revenue from all sources thanks to new TV offers. Local income has also grown faster. The team's chairman, Mark Murphy, said that the anthem controversy had no impact on the team's finances.
Did we see the end of the protests of the anthem
Jurrell Casey, the star defensive lineman of the Tennessee Titans planned to continue to protest and was willing to pay a fine for doing so. He raised a fist during the anthem last season. The Titans responded that they wanted to talk with Casey, but they did not immediately threaten discipline.
What's going on with Kaepernick and Eric Reid?
After being considered the leader of the nascent protests In 2016, Kaepernick was unable to find a team for 2017. He grieved the teams for collusion against him. This process continues to progress, slowly, with the depositions of the league officials and the team.
Security Eric Reid, another protester, grieved in May alleging that collusion prevented him from getting a job for the coming season. Reid is also a key element of the union's grievance against the new rules
What do people say?
Surprise! The question of the hymn that divides is still polarized.
Nothing yet on the new developments of the President of the United States, who said that the N.F.L. the policy does not go far enough and the players who stayed in the locker room "should not be in the country".
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