First NFL team institutes policy to suspend anthem protesters - report
Miami Dolphins players who protest on the field during the national anthem could be suspended for up to four games under a team policy issued this week.
The “Proper Anthem Conduct” section is just one sentence in a nine-page discipline document provided to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the policy who insisted on anonymity because the document is not public.
It classifies anthem protests under a large list of “conduct detrimental to the club,” all of which could lead to a paid or unpaid suspension, a fine or both.
Miami’s anthem policy comes after the NFL decided in May that teams would be fined if players didn’t stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner” while on the field.
The league left it up to teams on how to punish players. None of the team policies have been made public.
The NFL rule forbids players from sitting or taking a knee if they are on the field or sidelines during the national anthem, but allows them to stay in the locker room if they wish.
The new league rules were challenged this month in a grievance by the players union.
The NFL declined to comment. Team officials had no immediate comment.
The Dolphins’ new policy comes on the heels of Tennessee Titans star Jurrel Casey saying he would willingly accept a fine to protest the “the flag.”
“I’m going to protest during the flag,” Casey said. “That’s what I’m going to say now.”
Casey, who just signed a multi-year contract with $40 million guaranteed, seemed nonplussed about any potential fine.
“I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” Casey added.
Unsurprisingly, considering commissioner Roger Goodell’s track record, Casey echoed a familiar refrain from a player base that isn’t afraid of the commissioner.
“It is what it is,” Casey elaborated. “I ain’t going to let them stop me from doing what I want to do. If they want to have these battles between players and organizations, this is the way it’s going to be.”
This is the first major deterrent laid forth by an NFL team to stop anthem protests. A slap-on-the-wrist fine was never likely to do much to stop multi-millionaire NFL players.
Anthem protests began in earnest in 2016, when Colin Kaepernick first began kneeling for the anthem. Many other players joined his movement in the two years since.
The players claim to be protesting social injustice, but have still upset many Americans who find the act disrespectful to the military and armed services.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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