Jets CEO Says He Will Pay Fines For Players Who Kneel; “I Never Want To Put Restrictions On The Speech Of Our Players”

Jets chairman and CEO, Christopher Johnson, is standing, or kneeling, with his team on their decisions to do what they please during the national anthem.  The NFL released a rule stating that if a player wishes to not stand during the National Anthem, then they must wait in the locker room.  It also imposed the rule that if a player does kneel during the anthem, the team will be fined.

Johnson said he doesn’t care about “club rules”  but he does care about the “players’ commitment to strengthening our communities.”  He told Newsday, “If somebody (on the Jets) takes a knee, that fine will be borne by the organization, by me, not the players.  I never want to put restrictions on the speech of our players. Do I prefer they stand? Of course. But I understand if they feel the need to protest. There are some big, complicated issues that we’re all struggling with, and our players are on the front lines. If the team gets fined, that’s just something I’ll have to bear.”

However, Jets owner, Woody Johnson, is Trump’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, and the administration is celebrating the new NFL policy.  According to the New York Post, the rule change vote was unanimous, with only Jed York, the owner of the 49ers, abstaining.

Do you think this will be another controversy for next years season or are players going to abide?