The NFL announced a controversial new national anthem policy that will force players on the field to stand and “show respect” for the anthem, or have the option to remain in the locker room instead of protesting.  

Some players weren’t having it. Super Bowl champion Chris Long posted that the NFL’s new rule wasn’t about patriotism, but about the fear that President Donald Trump would continue to criticize the NFL. Trump loves the new policy. Long, not so much. 

https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/999408653445795840

While the league will fine teams that have players who protest on the field during the anthem, each organization is responsible for developing its own workplace rules on how it will handle players who violate the new policy. Kind of like a state making its own legislation. This isn’t going to go smoothly.   

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, a co-founder of the Players Coalition who is very active in social justice matters, also expressed his displeasure with the process Wednesday on Twitter.