NFL Owners May Change Rules To Ban National Anthem Protests

No NFL player who has used the national anthem to protest against racism and police brutality has faced punishment from the league. That may soon change. NFL owners are scheduled to meet next week, and a league spokesperson expects player protests "to be front and center on the agenda." Owners are reportedly considering changing the section of the NFL manual that states players "should" stand for the national anthem in order to make it a requirement. "We believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter to teams Tuesday. Owners are said to be concerned about an ongoing fight with the president affecting their bottom lines. The owners reportedly believe that they can make the change without the consent of the players union.