Steelers' Art Rooney: Anthem policy won't 'satisfy everyone'
Steelers president Art Rooney II understands that the NFL's new policy on the national anthem isn't being universally received.
He's not surprised by it, either.
“I don't think there is a way to satisfy everyone,” Rooney II said Thursday while meeting with three news outlets, including the Tribune-Review. “We're in a time in this country where there is a divisive atmosphere and that makes it tough to strike a balance, but that's what we've tried to do.”
According to the policy announced Wednesday by the NFL owners at the conclusion of their spring meeting in Atlanta, players are required to stand for the national anthem but are given the option to remain in the locker room if they wish to protest.
Rooney said the policy was enacted after NFL owners took input from “all different parts of the spectrum, including our players” and “respecting the right of a player not to be forced to stand for the anthem on one hand, and acknowledging the vast majority of our fans who attend or watch our games don't come out to see a political protest.”
Rooney said input from the military and veterans' communities was gathered as well. Rooney said the policy was never put to a vote at the spring meeting even though NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said all 32 teams were in agreement.
“We went around the room and everybody spoke their piece,” Rooney said. “ It wasn't like anybody didn't have their chance to express where they stood on this.”
NFL owners concluded that all players on the field must stand for the anthem. Those that wish to protest must remain inside the locker room until after the anthem is played.
The policy contains six points, the first of which says players must “show respect for the flag and the anthem.” The policy doesn't state what is constituted as a lack of respect, but Rooney doesn't think further clarification is necessary.
“I'm not sure how that is so hard for someone to figure out,” he said. “To me, standing at attention is not hard to figure out what you're doing there.”
Rooney also clarified a Detroit Free Press report that stated he viewed teammates linking arms as being disrespectful.
“I don't think I ever referred to that,” he said. “I don't think that is a sign of disrespect. A lot of teams did that last year as a show of unity. I certainly don't have an issue with that. I don't think it's that complicated to interpret what action manifests a protest.”
The Steelers were at the center of the anthem controversy last year during Week 3 in Chicago when the players decided en masse to wait inside the tunnel leading to Soldier Field while the anthem was played. Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva was the exception. The former Army Rangers stood outside the tunnel so he could view the American flag.
Teams, not players, will be fined if the policy is not followed. The policy does, however, give teams the right to discipline players who don't follow the guidelines. Rooney said the Steelers will consider instituting a fine system for violators, but he doesn't think it will be enforced.
“I don't expect it to be an issue with this team with the leadership we have on this team and the communication we have in this building,” he said. “We didn't have an issue last year. For some reason, people don't seem to remember that, but we didn't have a player kneel last year.
“I don't expect it will be an issue for us one way or another.”
In a statement released separately by the team, Rooney said the Steelers will implement a “social justice fund” this year.
“NFL players have tremendous power to use their platform to help make a positive impact on their communities,” Rooney said. “(With the fund), I think our players and our organization will be able to have an even bigger impact in our communities.”
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.
