Not only is the NFL moving forward to continue with plans to play the "Star Spangled Banner" before its games this season, it's adding another anthem to the mix prior to its Week 1 games.
According to NFL.com, the league will play "Lift Every Voice and Sing" prior to every game, as well. The song is known as the "Black national anthem," and will be played prior to the national anthem for games the opening weekend of the regular season.
The league also is discussing allowing players to wear patches or decals on their helmets or uniforms honoring victims of police brutality according to the report, though that has not been given final approval.
A separate report from ESPN's Adam Schefter said that the NFL is in discussions with the NFLPA to reduce the size of training camp rosters from 90 to as low as 70. At the same time, discussions are taking place to increase the size of practice squads this season.
As part of the new CBA approved earlier this year, practice squad sizes expanded from 10 to 12 players. There are discussions about increasing that size to 16 to help teams deal with potential positive coronavirus tests.
The move to reduce camp rosters would be made to limit the number of players teams have at their facilities. And with the NFL also reportedly canceling the first and fourth weeks of the preseason -- though that has not yet been made official -- teams won't need as many players to fill out their rosters.
Under the terms of the new CBA approved earlier this year, NFL teams are permitted to report for training camp 47 or 48 days prior to their first regular season game, which means most teams can report July 28. The Chiefs and Texans, who play in the league's Thursday night kickoff opener, are scheduled to report July 25.
The Steelers open the regular season Monday, Sept. 14 against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, so their reporting date, originally set for July 22 when they were scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame game, has been moved back six days.
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