(USA TODAY Sports) — Devin McCourty hasn't discussed the NFL's new national anthem policy with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft or his teammates as a whole.
But the safety and longtime defensive captain has a distinct distaste for the ruling, saying Thursday that it was "dumb" and that he was disappointed by the decision reached by league owners last week.
"I just don't think that was the right way to try to lay the hammer down," McCourty said Thursday, according to MassLive. "The NFL is a group where you have owners and players, but it can work together, you know what I mean? We'll see how that works out, plays itself out."
Under the new policy, players and team personnel who choose to be on the sideline for the anthem must stand and show respect during the song. Those who do not wish to be on the field may remain in the locker room, but failure to adhere to the rule would subject the team to a fine from the league.
McCourty, who was one of the players present for an October meeting with Goodell and NFL owners to discuss protests during the national anthem and other topics, raised a fist during the national anthem last year's season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals.
McCourty said a better solution would be not to have any players on the field for the national anthem. He added that the owners' move could lead to a backlash, as players who did not previously protest could choose not to adhere to the policy.
"Anytime people don't agree, you can take everything else out of it -- protests, reasons -- some people might just say, 'I don't like the rule. I want to do something to go against the rule,'" McCourty said.
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
