PROFILES » NFL owners approved a new policy Wednesday aimed at quelling

Colin Kaepernick and polarized by President Trump Kyler Murray Jersey , permitting players to stay in the locker room during the “The Star-Spangled Banner” but requiring them to stand if they come to the field.Commissioner Roger Goodell said the change was approved unanimously by the owners at their spring meeting in Atlanta, but even that was up for debate.The head of the San Francisco 49ers — Kaepernick’s former team — said his franchise abstained from the vote. CEO Jed York said he wasn’t comfortable with a process that didn’t directly involve the players.“I want to work with my team to make sure everything we do is about promoting the right types of social justice reform and getting to a better America,” York said.The NFL Players Association said it wasn’t consulted about the new policy and would challenge any changes that violate the collective bargaining agreement.Clearly, Goodell and most owners just want to put the issue behind them.“We want people to be respectful of the national anthem. We want people to stand,” the commissioner said. “We’ve been very sensitive on making sure that we give players choices, but we do believe that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on.”In the surest sign that players were not part of the discussions, any violations of the policy would result in fines against the team — not the players. That could be a way to avoid legal challenges from the players’ union, since fines against a team would not be subject to collective bargaining.The league did say teams could impose their own workplace rules for those who fail to show respect for the flag and anthem, but didn’t say what those policies might be. Because the new policy is a change in the terms and conditions of employment that was not collectively bargained, any attempts to fine individual players who continue to protest in public would surely be opposed by the union.The owners spent several hours addressing the contentious issue — which made it all the way to the White House.Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback, began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, a quiet but powerful protest against police brutality and racial inequities in the justice system.Other players took up the cause, and the gesture carried on during the 2017 season even after Kaepernick left the 49ers and failed to land a job with another team.Trump turned the debate into a campaign issue , saying the NFL should fire any player who takes a knee during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The NFL hasn’t gone that far, but Kaepernick has yet to land another job and one of his former teammates and fellow protesters Byron Murphy Jersey , safety Eric Reid, is also out of work.Both have filed collusion grievances against the NFL.While the owners touted the change as a compromise that everyone should get behind, the union expressed immediate skepticism.“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new `policy,'” the NFLPA said in a statement. “NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”The statement added, “The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL’s Management Council John Mara (co-owner of the New York Giants) about the principles, values and patriotism of our League.”York said he intended to meet with his players to discuss the change.“They know I will stand up for them. I’ve stood up for them in past, I will stand up for them in the future,” York said. “I hope we can have a good, respectful conversation: Is it the best policy for us to write a check to the league (for further on-field protests) or can we find a better way to use this money.”The NFL started requiring players to be on the field for the anthem in 2009 — the year it signed a marketing deal with the military. But owners sent a bit of a convoluted message with the new policy, appeasing those who feel the national anthem must be treated with reverence, while allowing some sort of conduit for players to protest as long as they stay out of the public eye.York said other initiatives were in the works, including a suspension of all concessions sales during the national anthem .“If we want to be sacrosanct, if we want to honor the flag Andy Isabella Jersey , we’ve got to make sure we go through a litany of things,” he said. “We’re not going to force people to stand in their seats, but we’re certainly going to make sure we’re not profiting during that two or three minutes of time during the game.”Steelers guard Ramon Foster shrugged his shoulders when asked about the new policy, saying the owners will always hold an upper hand over the players.“If the team says `this is what we’re doing,’ and ownership (does too), you either deal with it or you’re probably going to get cut,” Foster said. “You can fight the resistance on that one, but same as we can’t smoke marijuana because it’s illegal in certain states, or it’s legal in certain states, it’s the same issue. You have to adhere to the rules and if not, they’ll find a way to get you up out of there.”Goodell took a more conciliatory path. He insisted the league met with countless players over the last year to get their input on the fractious anthem debate anthem, which some have even pointed to as a major reason for the NFL’s declining TV ratings.“We think that we’ve come up with a balanced process, procedure and policy that will allow those players who feel they can’t stand for the anthem to stay in the locker room,” the commissioner said. “There’s no penalty for that, but we’re going to encourage all of them to be on field. We’d like for all of them to be on the field and stand at attention.”Goodell was asked who would get to decide what actions would be considered disrespectful to the anthem or the U.S. flag.“Well, I think the general public has a very strong view of what respect for the flag is and that moment Zach Allen Jersey ,” he said. “We have language in our policy that talks about that, standing attention, hats off and focused. And I think the general arbiter will the clubs and the league and we’ll work with our players to get their viewpoint also.”—— PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Diontae Johnson understands parallels will be drawn between himself and former Steelers star Antonio Brown. The third-round pick, however, is focused on forging his own path.The comparisons and serendipitous circumstances that link the two are almost too conspicuous to believe. But this “D.J.” isn’t actively going out of his way to be the next “AB.”As he walked off the field after completing his first official on-field NFL practice session, Johnson was predictably asked to give his thoughts about the ubiquitous comparisons between him and the perennial All-Pro receiver now with Oakland.“It’s a good thing, because he’s a great player,” Johnson said Friday. “Somebody I used to watch. I still look up to him. He’s a great player.“But I can only be myself only.”What the Steelers have been saying they expect of Johnson would be more than good enough — even if it falls short of the level Brown attained as the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver for most of the past decade.Brown was shipped off to the Raiders for third- and fifth-round draft picks in March after he’d publicly clashed with everyone from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to coach Mike Tomlin to Steelers President Art Rooney II since sitting out the final game of the 2018 season. That leaves a gaping, 114-catch-per-year hole of production on the offense. Brown had 686 receptions, 9,145 yards and 67 touchdowns from 2013 to 2018.By no means do the Steelers expect Johnson to make up for that by himself. But Johnson enters the NFL with a similar game and profile as Brown — and he was acquired as the headlining (if underwhelming) return in the trade of Brown.Johnson embraces the on-field similarities with Brown in regards to playing style: “route running, able to catch ball, get out of my breaks, able to run every route in the route tree.” But Johnson politely downplays expectations he can approach the superstar status Brown reached in Pittsburgh.“I’m just trying to come in and contribute and come in and do what I can do,” Johnson said. “Be myself and help out in any way that I can.”It might forever be difficult for Johnson to simply “be himself” with the Steelers, if only because many might always compare him to Brown. A look at the roster shows that about the only way Johnson doesn’t share a strong resemblance with Brown is uniform number. Johnson was wearing No. 18 at rookie minicamp; Brown’s former No. 84 was given to undrafted tight end Milan Richard.Brown stands 5-foot-10 Hakeem Butler Jersey , 181 pounds. Johnson is listed at 5-10, 183.Brown went to Central Michigan, a Mid-American Conference school; Johnson starred at Toldeo, the Chippewas’ MAC rival.Over his final two college seasons, Brown had 2,096 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in being voted all-MAC twice. Johnson, over his final two college seasons: 2,039 receiving yards, 25 touchdowns, two-time all-MAC.Each had great success as a punt and kick returner, too.Johnson might not be Brown but he’s already made an impression on his new teammates.“He has a lot of talent,” said cornerback Justin Layne, a player the Steelers took with another third-round pick. “Fast, quick guy. He is going to help us a lot.”Steelers fourth-round pick Benny Snell has gotten to know Johnson in recent months because they share the same agent and were roommates in Indianapolis at the combine in February.“Diontae is amazing,” said Snell, a running back from Kentucky. “He’s a cool guy Chris Lindstrom Jersey , a cool dude — and he’s got some hands.”Johnson’s hands weren’t as much on display Friday as the Steelers likely hoped; he sat out portions of team drills, then deferred to coach Mike Tomlin, who was unavailable to media Friday, for specifics about any injury. But he allowed that he was “fine.”For his rookie season, Johnson joins a receivers corps led by JuJu Smith-Schuster and also featuring veteran Donte Moncrief, second-year wideout James Washington, and slot specialists Eli Rogers and Ryan Switzer.Where Johnson falls into that pecking order in 2019 is a long way from being determined.“It’s exciting, being able to play football again,” Johnson said, “being able to run routes and catch balls and learn the plays.”