MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — President Donald Trump praised the owners of the National Football League last week after they passed a rule that will force players on the sideline to stand for the National Anthem before the kick-offs of games.
The decision was voted on and approved by the owners during annual team owner meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Last Thursday morning he shared his reaction in a morning interview with Fox News.
“I think it’s good,” President Trump said. “You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing. You shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”
The growing controversy over protesting during the National Anthem began during the 2016 season when then San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem before ultimately deciding to kneel during the anthem after consulting with U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer. Kaepernick soon after explained in interviews that his kneeling protest was to raise awareness of injustice and police brutality happening to African-Americans and other people of color in America. Since then, Kaepernick, now a free agent, has yet to be signed by a new team and he has filed a grievance against the NFL that alleges team owners colluded to keep him out of the league.
West Virginia native, Minnesota Vikings’ Hall of Famer and Shepherd University Football broadcaster Carl Lee was on Panhandle Live last week on MetroNews affiliate WEPM Radio in Martinsburg. Lee said the ruling will be perceived as way to limit players from protesting for a cause before games.
“We gave a whole bunch of money to this social justice cause. But we want to box you in. We don’t want you to talk about it,” Lee said. “If you’re going to express it, you’re going to have to stay in the locker room. Can anyone yesterday how that can feel if you’re a grown man?”
The new rule will fine players who take a knee in protest. Players will have the option to remain in the locker room during the anthem.
According to reports, the NFL-PA, the player’s union, was not consulted about the new rule before it was announced and has threatened to challenge the policy.
Some say, the developments over the issue could be brought up again down the road when the player’s union begin negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA is scheduled to expire after the 2020 regular season.
Story written by Elias McMillan