From the moment the NFL announced its new national anthem policy at the league’s owners meetings in late May, players began stewing privately about the ongoing efforts to stifle their desire to bring awareness to the causes of social injustice and police brutality.
The NFL Players Association has, in turn, carried the mantle for the cause, and on Tuesday, it released a statement signaling its decision to challenge the policy by filing a non-injury grievance with the league that cited the NFL’s refusal to consult it on the policy. The union also asserts that the policy infringes on player rights and is inconsistent with the current collective-bargaining agreement.