Zimmer proud Vikings didn't kneel last year

NFL owners have approved a new policy aimed at ending the firestorm over national anthem protests, 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.

The Minnesota Vikings haven't had any players kneel during the national anthem before games, and that's fine by coach Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer has frequently avoided commentary on such non-football subjects, but on Wednesday after practice, he made his feelings known about the controversy. He said he was proud of the team last season for standing during the anthem.

Zimmer said: "I think it's important we represent our country the right way. A lot of people have died for that flag. That flag represents our country and what we stand for."

The decision was announced Wednesday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the league's spring meeting in Atlanta.

In a sign that players were not part of the discussions, any violations of the policy would result in fines against the team — not the players. The NFL Players Association said it will challenge any part of the new policy that violates the collective bargaining agreement.

The owners spent several hours addressing the contentious issue — which has reached all the way to the White House.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick 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.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor learned of the new anthem policy shortly after practice. He was a bit surprised players were not consulted.

Taylor said that "to make a decision that strong, you would hope the players have input on it but obviously not."

Taylor added that "it's what we have to deal with as players, good or bad. But at the end of the day, they call the shots and make their rules and that's what we have to abide by."

Taylor hopes that the focus will now be on "what players and owners can do in the community."

The New York Jets say they will pay any fines and not penalize players if they violate a new NFL policy to stand or stay in the locker room during "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Jets owner Christopher Johnson said Wednesday the team is focused on working with players to advance social justice issues rather than creating club rules or penalties that restrict demonstrations.

The policy leaves it up to individual teams to decide whether to pass that cost on by punishing players directly.

Johnson says he plans to meet with Jets players and coaches to discuss the decision. He says he'll support the players "wherever we land as a team."

Chicago Bears linebacker Sam Acho credits Kaepernick, Eric Reid and Michael Thomas for using their platform to raise awareness of social injustice.

But he sidestepped the questions when asked if he was OK with how the league implemented the changes to its national anthem policy and whether the union should have had more input.

Acho, a union representative, said that "of course, somebody who is standing on the side of the union is going to say yes and people who didn't give the union a say — the owners — are going to say no. And so, what I do think is, I think we're in a really good place, as a team, honestly as a country. Because we're at this point, almost like a point of contrition, right? What do you do now?"

Acho also said the players and league need to continue working together to address the issue. He said that "it's not an us-versus-them thing."

Denver Broncos union representative Matt Paradis says that while he wishes players were consulted on the new national anthem policy, NFL owners have every right to introduce new rules.

Paradis says that "they are the employers, so if they want to create a stipulation, we'll go from there."

Denver defensive end Derek Wolfe agrees with the league's new mandate.

"That's probably the best way to do it. The NBA's been doing it for 20 years and they haven't had an issue," Wolfe said.

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster shrugged his shoulders when asked about the NFL's new policy on national anthem protests, saying in a way, players are powerless.

"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," he said. "You can fight the resistance on that one but, same as we can't smoke marijuana because it's illegal in certain states, it's the same issue."

The guard said, "you have to adhere to the rules and if not, they'll find a way to get you up out of there."

The Steelers botched an attempt last fall to stay out of the national anthem flap by remaining in the tunnel during a game in Chicago.

Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a graduate of West Point who did three tours in Afghanistan before joining the NFL, found himself on the field when the anthem began playing and turned to face the flag. His teammates remained in the tunnel, leading to the stark image of Villanueva standing alone while his teammates remained out of sight 20 yards away.

Villanueva and the rest of the Steelers apologized for what they called a miscommunication.