If you are looking for the NFL to create a strict policy on national anthem protests, this latest development might be music to your ears.
Just don't expect outspoken players to sing along to the same tune.
Giants co-owner John Mara told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport he expects the league to reach a resolution Wednesday on how to handle player protests during the national anthem.
Mara is the chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee, and NFL owners are gathered in Atlanta this week for the NFL's Spring League Meeting.
Select players kneeling and/or raising fists during the anthem to bring awareness to social injustice, including racism and police brutality, has been a hot-button issue beyond just football.
One proposed solution during the closed-door three-hour discussion of sensitive issues is to impose a 15-yard penalty on teams whose players kneel, according to SI.com's Albert Breer.
It would be up to the home team to decide on a game-to-game basis whether both teams come out of the locker room for the national anthem. If they come out, they are subject to the penalty -- the yardage equivalent of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty -- for kneeling.
It is unclear if raising fists or other less demonstrative forms of protest would be subject to penalty. Either way, the proposal seems contradictory to other rule changes discussed for safety reasons.
The NFL is being sued by two former players, 49ers teammates Eric Reid and Colin Kaepernick, who claim they are unsigned free agents because of collusion on the part of the teams/owners.
Kaepernick started the protests with his refusal to stand for the anthem in August 2016. Reid was the first to join him.
While Kaepernick's play might not warrant another NFL contract, Reid remaining unsigned is more alarming because the 26-year-old safety started 69 games over the last five seasons and is a former Pro Bowler (2013).
The players are represented by attorney Mark Geragos, who has not returned multiple phone and email messages left by NJ Advance Media.
Mara met with Giants players before the 2017 season opened to ask that they stand for the anthem.
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The appeal lasted two weeks -- until President Donald Trump's harsh criticisms -- and then Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison and Landon Collins protested in Week 3, with Vernon continuing for the rest of the season.
Mara -- who called it "crazy" that Kaepernick would be blackballed -- and fellow Giants co-owner Steve Tisch reportedly were asked to turn over pertinent records as part of the discovery process in Kaepernick's lawsuit.
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
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