The NFL has no plans to compel players to stand for the US national anthem, but will rather present a possible solution on how to end the controversial protests when it meets with team owners next week.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, along with the head of the NFL Players Association, will meet with the owners from October 17 in New York where the issue of player protests during the anthem is expected to command much attention.
"(Goodell) has a plan that he is going to present to owners about how to use our platform to both raise awareness and make progress on issues of social justice and equality in this country," NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
"What we don't have is a proposal that changes our policy, we don't have something that mandates anything. That's clear. If that was the case I doubt the head of the NFLPA would have put a joint statement out with us."
The statement released on Wednesday said Goodell invited NFLPA executive Ddrector DeMaurice Smith to the meetings and that the agenda will be a continuation of how to make progress on the important social issues that players have vocalised.
The protests, in a league where African-Americans make up the majority of players, have continued through the current season, with some players kneeling and others standing arm-in-arm in solidarity.
The gesture is intended to call attention to what protesting players see as a pattern of racism in the treatment of African-Americans by US police.
The issue was exacerbated when President Donald Trump said last month that players who did not stand during the anthem should be fired.
Lockhart said the discussions will focus on how to use the broad platforms of the NFL, players and clubs to try and make progress on issues of equality, social justice and criminal justice reform.
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