Jerry Jones Wants to Meet with Cowboys Players Before Deciding Plan for Anthem

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones intends to meet with his players before the 2020 season begins to determine how they will approach potential protests during the national anthem. 

Per ESPN's Ed Werder, Jones spoke about "the need for grace in these times" when discussing a potential anthem policy for his team. 

"Everyone understands where I stand with the flag, but everyone understands where I stand with backing my players," Jones added.

Prior to the 2018 season, NFL owners voted to approve a policy that would require players and league personnel to stand during the national anthem prior to games. 

The league would have the authority to fine teams if any player violated the policy. 

The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to freeze the anthem policy after a leaked memo from the Miami Dolphins received backlash. The memo classified protesting during the anthem under "conduct detrimental to the club," which would have made players subject to fines and/or suspension.

Five days after that agreement, Jones told reporters the Cowboys had their own anthem policy: "Our policy is that you stand at the anthem, toe on the line."

Jones has been called out by some NFL players, including Cowboys defensive tackle Dontari Poe, for remaining silent as the protests against police brutality and systemic racism were happening across the U.S. 

"I hope he comes out and shows his support," Poe told B/R's Kalyn Kahler. "… You are an owner of an NFL team—you get what I'm saying? The majority of this team are these people that are being oppressed. So even if you are not going to be in the forefront, we need to know we have your support in that type of way."

The Cowboys haven't had a player take a knee during the national anthem, though Poe told Kahler he is "definitely leaning toward" doing so this season.