The national anthem will be a hot topic at NFL owners’ meetings.
Don’t expect any big decisions to be made.
Judging by comments Sunday from the Texans’ Robert McNair and the Jets’ Christopher Johnson, the debate among the 32 owners could be contentious.
McNair, who last year made an analogy to the inmates running the prison over players’ protests during the national anthem, remains adamant that everyone should stand up for the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Our playground is not the place for political statements, nor is it the place for religious statements,” McNair said. “It’s the perfect place for football.”
Johnson, interim owner of the Jets with his brother Woody, ambassador to the United Kingdom, took a much different approach.
“I have tremendous respect for the players and their efforts,” said Christopher Johnson. “I think if other teams approached things that way, it wouldn’t be such a problem in the NFL.
“I can’t speak to how other people run their teams, but I just think trying to force players to keep quiet is a really bad idea.”
Although player social protests last season will be a topic here, reaching agreement on the language of the league’s policy regarding behavior during the national anthem is highly unlikely. The owners will meet again in May in Atlanta, and with so much more business to come over the next three days, the playing of the anthem is expected to drag on between now and then.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be a vote or just a new policy,” Giants owner John Mara said. “I think we can’t go much beyond the May meeting before we come to some sort of resolution on this.”
McNair and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones are among the leaders in the push to ban protests during the national anthem. McNair drew heavy criticism from various players after making his “inmates” comment last fall.
“We’re going to handle this in such a way, I think, that people will understand that we want everyone to respect our country, respect our flag,” McNair said Sunday. “And our playing fields are not the place for political declarations.
“The fans are unhappy. The fans are our customers. You can replace the owners and the league would survive. You can replace the players, even if the game won’t be as good. You can’t replace the fans. If you don’t have fans, you’re dead.”
Johnson was more willing to seek answers to the anthem problem while not wanting the players’ messages to be lost. He is not in favor of changing the policy to have players stay in the locker room until the anthem is played, which has been discussed.
“I think it’s a really bad idea,” Johnson said.
What if we changed the language to say that players must stand?
“I don’t agree with that either, but I’m just one of 32 owners,” he added. “I think the Jets had something great last year around the anthem. I think there was an understanding between me and the players that we could use our position – rightly or wrongly, people pay attention to teams and athletes – but we could use our position to accomplish great things off the field. I think we did great things off the field.”
Another off-field topic is the sale of the Carolina Panthers. Jerry Richardson announced in December that he was selling following allegations of workplace misconduct.
“He’s going to sell the team,” McNair said of the 81-year-old Richardson. “He’s had all sorts of health issues. … I don’t know all the details, but I know he has some good potential buyers who seem qualified.”
As for investigations into Richardson’s behavior, McNair defended his co-owner, also citing instances where Texans faced similar accusations.
“I understand what he’s saying,” McNair said. “Sometimes people choose to try to make something go away rather than fight it. I think his regret is not fighting some of these things.
“We’ve also faced this problem, where people allege something, they get a lawyer, and what they do is come out and threaten you. And your legal counsel and your insurers say, ‘Well, it’s going to cost you X million dollars’ to defend that. And if we can fix the problem for that.’
“Well, wait a minute. We’re not guilty. Why would we do that?” That’s the question. Sometimes just to get rid of it, if you can get rid of it, (you) – do it. »
