New York Jets Chairman and CEO Chris Johnson stepped up to the plate by agreeing to pay any fines levied on players who demonstrate during the national anthem, and also pledging not to punish any players who do so. While the new NFL policy authorizes the league to fine teams if a player protests during the anthem, Roger Goodell is authorized to himself discipline or fine players. This is an important and substantive gesture by Johnson, which drew the ire of New York Congressional representative Peter King who quite ridiculously likened the decision to supporting players who would engage in a Nazi salute; however, it is also true that Johnson voted in favor of the policy instead of abstaining like the owners of the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. Still, this is the right move by Johnson, and hopefully, other owners will follow suit.
Article below by Margaret Hartmann at nymag.com.
In response to the controversy over NFL players protesting during the national anthem, which President Trump exacerbated last season, the league announced a new policy on Wednesday that essentially bans players from kneeling during the anthem.
Read the rest at nymag.com.
