Faced with the prospect of another wave of sideline demonstrations at N.F.L. games this weekend, the league’s owners and players are wrestling with how to plot a path forward from one of the most divisive weekends it has seen.
As they do so, they are weighing the players’ desire to rebuff criticism from President Trump and to kneel or lock arms during the national anthem to raise awareness of social injustice, while accommodating fans who would prefer football to just be about football.
Even as the president continues to fire almost daily barbs, league officials and a group of players met this week to discuss how to proceed.