CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith said the NFL "dropped the ball'' with its new rule that requires players to either stand during the national anthem or stay in the locker room and says it could lead to more problems and protests.
Smith also said the rule, adopted last week at the NFL owners meeting in Atlanta, makes the initial protest by former San Francisco 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick in September of 2016 seem "in vain.''
"When you see reactive policy ... I always think that's a problem,'' Smith said on Tuesday following a voluntary workout.