While most people aren’t aware of this, there is no rule stopping NFL players from taking a knee during the anthem. The problem was the NFL did everything possible to curtail the protesting. They actually started to implement a rule against it, but it was quickly shot down.
Four years later the tide has changed and the NFL won’t actively do anything to discourage players from protesting according to Front Office Sports.
It appears that NFL players will most likely be allowed to take a knee on the field during the presentation of the American flag and playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” according to a top league source. They won’t be fined or disciplined for demonstrating for racial justice this season, said the source.
“We anticipate taking the same approach we’ve taken the last number of years,” the source told Front Office Sports. “No discipline will be enacted. No player has ever been fined.”
It was never disallowed, it was just discouraged.
The problem though isn’t Roger Goodell it is the individual owners.
Until someone like Jerry Jones who threatened players in the past, there is still going to be some pushback. Hypothetically speaking say the 3rd string LB wants to protest but Jerry Jones makes it clear he wouldn’t like too kindly on that. While he can still do it, no one will blink an eye if they cut him.
This is the type of pressure most NFL players are under.
So, until there is a change in mentality with the owners, there still could be an issue.
Flip the page for Jones speaking on banning his players from the anthem.