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NFL Commissioner Says Players 'Not Being Disrespectful,' By Kneeling; Wants To 'Get Back To Football'

Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images

(NEW YORK) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he and other team owners "believe everyone should stand for the national anthem" but left the league's policy about asking players to do so unchanged.

Goodell made the comments in a press conference Wednesday, one day after an annual meeting in which owners and players met at NFL headquarters in New York City. The NFL owners met separately Wednesday morning, where they "spent a great deal of time talking" about the issue and why the players should stand for the anthem, calling it an "important part" of the game.