NFL: Owners won't vote on anthem rule change, but will discuss issue

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart confirmed Friday that team owners won't have a formal rule proposal regarding player protests during the national anthem to vote on at the league meeting Tuesday, but added that the issue will be discussed, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

"We don't have a proposal that changes our policy, we don't have a proposal that mandates anything," said Lockhart, according to Albert Breer of MMQB.com.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the NFL and team owners will consider a rule change to make it mandatory for players to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner," but Lockhart insisted this was inaccurate.

"You're speculating," said Lockhart, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "Those reporting it as fact are reporting it incorrectly."

Lockhart added there's been "unprecedented dialogue" between the league and the NFL Players Association regarding how to handle the anthem, according to Breer.

"Everyone is frustrated that we're not talking about the underlying issues that the players put on the table," said Lockhart.

Copyright (C) 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.