Report: NFL Considering Imposing 15-Yard Penalty for Kneeling During Anthem

Discussions regarding the national anthem are expected to be resolved as soon as today.

Members of the Houston Texans, including Kevin Johnson #30 and Lamarr Houston #58, kneel during the national anthem before the game at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.  (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Members of the Houston Texans, including Kevin Johnson #30 and Lamarr Houston #58, kneel during the national anthem before the game at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Getty Images

During league meetings on Tuesday, NFL owners reportedly discussed the idea of imposing a 15-yard penalty against teams that had players who opted to kneel during the national anthem.

Under the terms of the theoretical rule, the home team would decide if both teams should be on the field for the anthem or remain in their respective locker rooms. If the home team opted to have both teams on the field, penalties would be assessed to kneeling players on either side.

It’s unclear if the penalty – which would be equivalent to a violation for unsportsmanlike conduct – would apply to players who demonstrated by raising a fist or linking arms as some have done.

The NFL has previously discussed the anthem issue and, in a move that was seemingly made to placate protesters, committed $90 million to an ongoing social-justice outreach program.

A rule like this, if it ever came to pass, would seemingly fly in the face of that commitment.

Discussions “regarding the national anthem and social justice” will continue today and Giants owner John Mara indicated he expects a resolution will be coming in the near future.

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