The National Football League finalized a national anthem policy Wednesday in response to various instances last season in which players kneeled for the pre-game anthem to protest racial injustice.
No Minnesota Vikings took a knee, though a segment of the team elected to link arms during the song while others put their hands over their hearts.
Last season, NFL players were encouraged but not required to stand for the anthem. With Wednesday’s new rule, team personnel will have the option of staying in the locker room for the anthem, but those on the field will be required to stand or their team will be fined.
Teams, then, will have the option to fine individual players.
“We want people to be respectful of the national anthem,” commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We want people to stand — that’s all personnel — and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That’s something we think we owe. [But] we were also very sensitive to give players choices.”
The ruling came down while the Minnesota Vikings were at practice during organized team activities.
Head coach Mike Zimmer was notified about the policy while giving his post-practice press conference.
“I was proud of my team last year,” he said. “They stood for the anthem. I think it’s important that we stand for the anthem. I think it’s important that we represent our country the right way, the flag the right way. I probably shouldn’t get on a tangent, right? But a lot of people have died for that flag, and that flag represents our country and what we stand for. I think that’s important.”
The national anthem protests became a divisive issue in America last season as president Donald Trump called for players to be “fired” if they knelt for the anthem. In response, some teams knelt, linked arms or stayed in the locker room during the anthem throughout the following weeks.
“I’m a part of an organization and part of a team, and I always keep that first in mind,” said wide receiver Stefon Diggs. “As a collective unit, I like to keep things that way. I try not to do anything that’s just gonna bring attention to myself at all. I try to fly under the radar. As far as any comment on it, I belong to an organization, so I try to follow that.”
Veteran defensive end Brian Robison saw both sides of the issue, saying he would continue to stand but supports players who don’t.
“I love this country I’ve grown up in. I think we have the greatest country in the world,” said Robison. “I’m going to go out there and stand up for that flag. But at the same time, our military has fought for those freedoms to allow those guys to have that decision.”
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