The NFL Players Association has retained multiple law firms to research the options for fighting the NFL's new national anthem policy implemented by the owners last month, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
Three weeks ago at their spring meeting, NFL owners changed the policy without input from or discussion with the NFL Players Association. It now mandates that all players not in in the locker room stand for the anthem and any player who wants to protest during the anthem must remain in the locker room.
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Following the lead of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, several NFL players kneeled or raised a fist during the playing of the anthem last season to protest racial inequality and police brutality. It sparked a controversy and drew sharp criticism from President Donald J. Trump.
The owners' new rule drew the ire of the NFLPA and its members, including Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty, who called it "dumb."
More from Florio's report:
One potential challenge would come in the form of a “non-injury grievance” under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The deadline for filing the grievance would come in late July, and the argument would be that the NFL failed to engage in good-faith bargaining with the union before taking away a right that the NFL had previously given to the players, and that the NFL had confirmed on multiple occasions.
New England Patriots
Other forms of litigation are possible, according to Florio, including an action based on First Amendment protections in the U.S. and various state constitutions.