Earlier this week, the NFL Player Association revealed it filed a grievance challenging the league's new national anthem policy. But cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones wants players to find another way to protest that doesn't’ involve kneeling during the anthem. “I'm all for standing for the anthem," Jones recently told TMZ. "I have a couple of family members that have been over to Iraq."
Back in 2016, Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against black people and other social injustices across the country. But Jones argues that “social issues don’t have nothing to do with the national anthem,” so players should “figure out another way” to protest.
To put an end to the growing number of players kneeling before games, NFL owners unanimously approved a policy in May that requires athletes to stand during the anthem or else they will be penalized with a fine. They also have the option of waiting in the locker room during the Star-Spangled Banner.
Per Sports Illustrated, below is the NFLPA’s statement regarding its grievance against the new policy:
"Our union filed its non-injury grievance today on behalf of all players challenging the NFL’s recently imposed anthem policy. The union’s claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL’s governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights.
