NFL owners are still debating where they stand collectively on the issue of players refusing to stand for the American national anthem.
At the league meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday, no consensus was reached on how the NFL should handle players who don't want to stand.
ESPN reported that numerous options were discussed, including one that would assess a 15-yard penalty and/or a fine if players don't stand.
Other possibilities apparently include: letting each team set its own policy, clearing the field of all football personnel during the anthem, telling players who won't stand to remain in the locker room during the song, changing contract language to require standing for the anthem, or maintaining the status quo.
Per sources, one anthem idea being discussed: Leaving it up to home team on whether teams come out for the anthem; if teams do come out for the anthem, potential that teams could be assessed 15-yard penalties for kneeling.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 22, 2018
Currently, NFL regulations say that players "should" stand for 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.
The issue has exploded into a national debate the past two seasons.
In 2016, Then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the anthem as a protest against police brutality, and other players followed.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," said Kaepernick at the time.
"To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
Kaepernick and former 49ers team-mate Eric Reid are both suing the NFL for alleged collusion after failing to find new teams upon leaving San Francisco.
Last year, US president Donald Trump attacked players who refused to stand for the anthem, saying he would love to see team owners react by saying "'Get that son of a b***h off the field".
"We have all the interests in every constituency that's involved here," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
"We recognise that with our visibility and the interest themselves, it's taken on a life of its own. With all of that, we have to be measured.
"We tell the world, 'Look at us. Don't turn your head. Look at us. Wait a minute. Look at the NFL, look at what we're doing.' And we understand that when you have some issues, we've asked you to look, now, so let's do as good as we can do."
Jones, New York Giants owner John Mara, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson told USA Today Sports that talks about the subject were to continue today.
Detroit Lions president Ron Wood told the Detroit Free Press, "My preference would be to find a solution that works for everybody and it's done at a league level, so we'll see what happens the next couple days."
Jones said Tuesday night, "I don't want to assess where we are tonight. We'll resume tomorrow. I wouldn't assess right now."
