The NFL announced their new anthem policy a few weeks ago, and the NFL Players Association has apparently been preparing a response ever since. Although the union has been mostly quiet since the new rules were put in place, the NFLPA is getting ready to fight the owners in court, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
Florio writes that “the NFLPA has retained multiple law firms to research the options for fighting the new policy.” Florio thinks the union could challenge the anthem mandate as a “non-injury grievance” under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Any such grievance would have to be filed no later than July, so we should know the NFLPA’s plans relatively soon. Another possible route would be to challenge any fines or penalties imposed on players protesting on constitutional grounds, arguing that it violates their first amendment rights, according to Florio. Whatever happens, it’s clear this issue isn’t going away anytime soon.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The anthem issue isn’t the only fight the players union is gearing up for. Florio also reports that the NFLPA is preparing to fight the NFL over leaks that are damaging to players. Florio cites the recent leaking of the news of Julian Edelman‘s suspension before his appeals were exhausted as an example of the type of leaking the union wants to put an end to.
- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was recently seen throwing a football for the first time since his shoulder injury caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. While Luck remained very limited in practice the past few days, the Colts expect Luck to be able to “practice without limitations in training camp”, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Similar claims were made this time last year, but it still seems as of now that Luck will be ready to go by week 1 of the regular season.
- In case you missed it, yesterday Sam Robinson took a look at all of the key 2018 holdouts.
Way too much politics in the NFL nowadays.
Wasn’t until certain players once again think it’s all about them; therefore the stadium & field is their platform. As Belichick says (& I can’t stand him but obviously he has some good work practices), “Do your job!” And I’ll add, “& shut up!”
I dont understand why the players are fighting it … I get that it wasn’t negotiated in the most recent CBA.. but it’s clearly affecting viewership and interest and eventually that will lead to the bottom-line getting hit .. bottom-line hurts, players salaries get hurt ..
The players have zero ground to stand on. The Constitution offers no protections of free speech in the work place. The stadium is their workplace. The Constitution only prevents the government from placing restrictions on free speech. Fines & penalties for not following the new anthem rules are not a violation of the players Constitutional rights. Maybe the players & NFLPA should read up on what free speech actually is before they challenge anything
They are challenging it on First Amendment grounds, they are challenging it as a violation of the CBA. Maybe you should read the article before posting.
Spot on.
While I agree that “free speech” grounds are not strong ground for the union to stand on, collective bargaining agreement do put limits on what employers can do, and implementing penalties without negotiating them with the union can and should be challenged.
They aren’t arguing Free Speech, they are arguing the NFL violates the CBA by imposing a policy without union input.
The penalties are with the “team” not the player. The “team” can choose to fine the player if the “team”’chooses. This benign statement by the NFLPA is just a PR move to appease liberal media.