The NFLPA filed a grievance on Tuesday over the NFL's policy on how teams should handle the national anthem at games this season.
The union, which represents all of the league's players, said in a statement the NFL had agreed to hold discussions on the subject hoping to come to an agreement on how to handle the touchy subject. But, in a statement released Tuesday, the union says that did not happen.
"Our union filed its non-injury grievance today on behalf of all players challenging the NFL's recently imposed anthem policy," the statement read. "The union's claim is that this new policy, imposed by the NFL's governing body without consultation with the NFLPA, is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights.
"In advance of our filing today, we proposed to the NFL to begin confidential discussions with the NFLPA Executive Committee to find a solution to this issue instead of immediately proceeding with litigation. The NFL has agreed to proceed with those discussions and we look forward to starting them soon."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced in May that players and league personnel would be required to stand during the playing of the national anthem during pre-game ceremonies. Those choosing not to stand have the option to remain in the locker room.
As part of the new policy, individual clubs would have the power to set their own policies regarding expectations for their players and employees, as well.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said following the commissioner's ruling, which came following meetings with the league's 32 owners, a number of different viewpoints were expressed before the announcement.
“It starts with the fact that over the last year we’ve listened to voices from all different parts of the spectrum, including our players, and I think we attempted to strike a balance between respecting the rights of a player not to be forced to stand for the anthem, on one hand, while acknowledging the vast majority of our fans who attend or watch our games don’t come to see a political protest,” Rooney told Steelers.com.
“And most particularly, (we considered) the members of our military and veterans communities who we’ve heard a lot from over the last year about what it means to respect the flag and the national anthem. We felt like we needed to take some action, and I think what we did try to strike a balance between the views of many different people while not wanting to force the players into a situation that they’re uncomfortable with. That’s where we start.”
The anthem issue became a hot-button topic last season when, prior to Week 3, President Donald Trump said NFL teams that employ players who kneel should, "get that son of a bitch off the field."
At that point, only a handful of players, most notably San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick, had been kneeling during the playing of the national anthem in response to what they said was police brutality against young black men.
But a number of players took offense at Trump's statement and there were widespread instances of players taking a knee during the playing of the anthem that weekend. The Steelers, in a show of solidarity, attempted to stay out of the fray in their game at Chicago that weekend by staying in the tunnel during the anthem, with only Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff going to midfield.
However, that backfired on them when left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, a decorated Army veteran, was visible alone at the edge of the tunnel during the playing of the anthem.