NFL Announces ‘No Change’ in Anthem Policy for Veterans Day

By Epoch Newsroom
November 12, 2017 Last Updated: November 12, 2017
Members of the Dallas Cowboys take a knee before the start of the national anthem at an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sept. 25, 2017. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Amid protests during the national anthem before NFL games, Veterans Day weekend is here, and many are wondering what will happen.

The NFL announced that it will make “no change” in its national anthem policy for Veterans Day weekend, according to the Washington Times in a report on Saturday.

The NFL and NFLPA said on Saturday that “there has been no change in the current policy regarding the anthem,” saying NFL players “should” stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It, however, doesn’t make a requirement for them to stand, the Times reported.

The Times reported that a “half-dozen Seattle Seahawks players who have sat during the national anthem stood up for the flag at Thursday night’s game.”

Boycott the NFL, a Facebook page with more than 227,000 followers, called on fans to turn the games off on Saturday “in solidarity with veterans around the country,” and other conservative watchdog groups asked fans to do the same.

Commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell visits SiriusXM NFL Radio. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

“We’re sending the National Football League, its corporate sponsors, and the television networks a message this Veterans Day weekend!” said conservative group 2ndVote. “Americans are sick of the disrespectful National Anthem protests that the NFL has not only allowed to continue, but has institutionalized in pregame ceremonies.”

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alejandro Villanueva, the only player who stood for national anthem for the Steelers several weeks ago, reportedly gave each one of his teammates an Army patch for their helmets on Sunday, IJR reported.

Alejandro Villanueva of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands by himself in the tunnel for the national anthem prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 24, 2017. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

During next week’s NFL meetings, Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said they’ll discuss social matters.

Members of the Detroit Lions take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

“Today owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities. NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change. We agreed that these are common issues and pledged to meet again to continue this work together,” a statement reads, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“As we said last week, everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military. In the best American tradition, we are coming together to find common ground and commit to the hard work required for positive change.”