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he team in a lesser role,” Reynolds sa |
With no deadlines to meet and a monthlong summer break coming up Devin Hester Bears Jersey , NFL teams are in no hurry to formulate a policy on demonstrations during the national anthem.
One day after league owners mandated that players must stand for the ”Star-Spangled Banner” – they now have the option of remaining in the locker room for the playing of the anthem – few of the 32 teams had done more than preliminary work on the issue.
The NFL gave teams the option of developing their own workplace rules, which many players interpreted as a backhanded way of subjecting them to fines, suspensions or loss of jobs should they carry on with the protests.
For now, other than New York Jets owner Christopher Johnson’s decision to pay any fines doled out by the league without passing punishment to the players, each franchise’s approach is uncertain.
After all, once mandatory minicamps end in mid-June, teams don’t get together again until training camps open in late July. The opening preseason game – the first time the anthem would be played before an NFL match – is Aug. 2 when Baltimore and Chicago face off in the Hall of Fame game.
”I’m sure it’s something that will be addressed, by the players and by the coaches, collectively,” Lions receiver Golden Tate said Thursday. ”But right now, we don’t play a game until August, and that’s when it’s going to be applicable in football stadiums. So we’ve got time to kind of brainstorm some ideas on how we could stand for justice and what we can do.”
What some teams have done in the past likely indicates how they will handle disciplining players for demonstrations during the anthem – regardless of the intent. Owners Jerry Jones of the Cowboys and Robert McNair of the Texans have been among the staunchest advocates of no exceptions to standing during the anthem.
Others have taken a less stringent stance, emphasizing working together with the players in their communities rather than focusing on how the message about social injustice is being delivered.
”I have always believed it is the responsibility of sports teams to be very proactive in our communities Baker Mayfield Jersey Elite ,” says Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
”In this great country of ours, there are so many people who are hurting and marginalized, which is why I am proud of our players for continuously working to influence positive change. Their words and actions have demonstrated not only that they have a great deal of respect for our country, but also that they are committed to finding productive ways to fight social injustice, poverty and other societal issues that are important to all of us.
”We must continue to work together in creative and dynamic ways to make our communities stronger and better, with equal opportunities for all.”
One certain thing: The uncertainty about how each team will deal with players who defy the NFL’s mandate will last for weeks.
Not so for any league personnel such as game officials, sideline crews, et al. They will be disciplined for any violations of the anthem policy, though the exact punishments have not yet been determined by the NFL.
One organization, the National Action Network, will march on league headquarters Friday to ”advocate for players’ right to kneel and call on NFL owners to reverse (the) dangerous decision violating players’ First Amendment rights by imposing fines for not standing during the national anthem.”
Such protests could become more prevalent if teams decide to strongly discipline players who demonstrate during the anthem. But some franchises aren’t sure they need their own policy. Or if that is even the proper description.
The Falcons‘ position is any players on the field will stand, so no need to make plans for any other outcome.
Team spokesman Brian Cearns suggested it’s too strong to say they have a team policy: ”The word policy sounds like it was mandated. It was discussed as a team and agreed upon as a team Blake Martinez Packers Jersey ,” Cearns said in an email to The Associated Press.
Defensive linemen Dontari Poe and Grady Jarrett knelt during an early season game at Detroit last year.
Coach Dan Quinn said that was a ”one-off” and, sure enough, after that game all players stood together on the sideline, with arms interlocked, the remainder of the season.
”Was every player who stood last year against social justice?” Lions guard T.J. Lang tweeted ”Or just the guys who do it this year because there is now a rule? Asking for a friend.”
Buffalo linebacker Lorenzo Alexander doesn’t expect his team ”to do anything.”
”I understand where they’re at. And it’s hard,” Alexander said. ”And I understand that from a business perspective trying to be socially responsible. And people can act like it’s in a vacuum and say you have to pick a side. But it’s not that simple. It’s a very complex situation.
”And so I respect them, because I was a business owner and I understand it. It makes a big impact. I’m in this to grow the business, grow their brand, and us doing this does have an impact, whether we say it or not. That’s what we want, because we’re trying to bring attention to it. But they have to have a foot over here, a foot over here. It’s hard.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton and Sports Writers Charles Odum, Paul Newberry Mike McGlinchey Jersey Youth , John Wawrow and Noah Trister contributed.
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The Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings were already looking to the future before their season finale even started.
For Houston, that comes this weekend with the start of the playoffs. For Sacramento, it’s once again wait until next season.
Willie Cauley-Stein had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help the Kings finish the regular season with a 96-83 victory over the short-handed Rockets on Wednesday night.
”We have a positive direction that we’re going as a franchise,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. ”Our guys feel it. Our guys are going out and competing on a regular basis and showing our fans we’re coming. I don’t know how long it will be, but we’re going to go out there and compete and keep getting better.”
With Houston (65-17) already having wrapped up the best record in the NBA, coach Mike D’Antoni opted to rest most of his top players, including starters James Harden, Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza and Clint Capela. The top-seeded Rockets will open the playoffs at home this weekend against Minnesota.
”We have to get ready,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. ”They’re a good team and they fought their way into it. Good for them. We have to play our game and be ready.”
The Kings took advantage of Houston’s depleted lineup and ended another disappointing season off by snapping a seven-game skid against the Rockets. Sacramento finished with a 27-55 record in coach Dave Joerger’s second season, its worst mark since going 24-58 in 2010-11.
The Kings never trailed after the first quarter and coasted to the win.
Gerald Green scored 31 points and R.J. Hunter added 19 to lead the Rockets.
TIP-INS
Rockets: Harden won his first career scoring title, averaging 30.4 ppg, second in franchise history to Moses Malone’s 31.1 in 1981-82.
Kings: Sacramento now has the NBA’s longest current playoff drought after Minnesota earned the eighth seed in the West with a win Wednesday. The Kings have missed the playoffs for 12 straight years.
LATE ADDITION
Houston added a new player in Aaron Jackson Aaron Rodgers Packers Jersey , who spent the past seven seasons playing overseas. Jackson arrived just before game time and didn’t even have his name on the back of his No. 55 jersey, which had belonged to the recently released Tim Quarterman. Jackson scored eight points in 34 minutes.
”It was surreal. I was at a hotel with my girlfriend for her birthday, then my agent called and said, `How fast can you get to the airport? You’re playing with the Houston Rockets for the rest of the season,”’ he said. ”I packed my bags as fast as I could. Hopefully I can do whatever it takes to try to help them win a championship.”
SIDELINED
Houston forward Luc Mbah a Moute will likely miss at least the first round of the playoffs after dislocating his right shoulder Tuesday night against the Lakers. D’Antoni said Mbah a Moute will likely miss two to three weeks with the injury. Mbah a Moute missed 15 games in December and January after dislocating his right shoulder.
”It hurts,” D’Antoni said. ”That’s why we have depth. As the door closes for somebody, it opens for somebody else. That’s why we went and got Joe Johnson and we have Ryan (Anderson) coming back in here. You hate to lose Luc. I hate it for him personally. It’s not something that anyone would want. He’ll be back. We just have to hold on until he’s back.”
STEPPING AWAY
Longtime Kings television analyst Jerry Reynolds called his final game for the franchise. Reynolds, a former coach and general manager for the Kings, has decided to step down after 20 years in the booth at age 74. He got a lengthy ovation after a video tribute in the first half.
”I’ll still be involved with the team in a lesser role,” Reynolds said. ”I’m not totally retiring and I’m not dead. As far as I’m concerned, that’s pretty good.”
UP NEXT
Rockets: First round of playoffs vs. Minnesota.
Kings: Season ended.
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