Buccaneers' McCoy expects 'uproar' if players are forced to stand for anthem

NFL owners will discuss how to handle protests during the national anthem next week at its fall meetings and the league is reportedly considering instituting a rule that would make standing for the anthem mandatory.

At least one player believes that would not sit well with the workforce.

"I don't think guys are gonna like it," Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"I think it's gonna be an uproar if that is to happen because you're basically taking away a constitutional right to freedom of speech. If guys wanna have a, I guess you would call it a peaceful protest, I don't think it's right to take that away."

McCoy has always stood for the anthem, but in Week 3, more than 200 NFL players demonstrated during the anthem after President Donald Trump called for owners to "get that son of a bitch off the field" if a player protested. Protests have continued in subsequent weeks, though in smaller numbers.

"I had two teammates who did it, in Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. That's their right to do that," McCoy said. "And if they're gonna do it, they're gonna have support of the whole team."

Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in a memo sent out to all 32 teams on Tuesday that "everyone should stand for the national anthem."