NFL notebook: Owners adopt anthem policy, players upset

Players, coaches and personnel on the field must stand when
the anthem is played or they will be fined and disciplined.

The decision could tee up players and owners for litigation. Players maintain
they were not consulted and immediately threatened to challenge the policy.
The NFLPA said it "will review the new 'policy' and challenge any aspect of it
that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement."

Commissioner Roger Goodell said owners unanimously approved the anthem policy,
but at least one owner, Jed York of the San Francisco 49ers, abstained. York
said he felt the need to seek additional player input. Meanwhile, New York
Jets chairman Christopher Johnson said his team's players are free to protest
without fear of NFL or team fines and that he will cover the cost if his
players are fined.

--San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster had his two felony domestic
violence charges against him dismissed by a judge.

Santa Clara (Calif.) County Judge Nona L. Klippen made the decision, citing
insufficient evidence to believe the domestic violence charges rose to the
level of probable cause after listening to the testimony of Foster's
ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis. Ennis testified last Thursday that she initially
lied to police about Foster hitting her on Feb. 11 and did so in an attempt to
ruin Foster's career and "end him."

Foster also had the gun charge against him reduced to a misdemeanor, and the
pretrial for that case is scheduled for June 6. Foster has not participated in
the 49ers' offseason program since he was charged in mid-April. He is
scheduled to appear in court for his marijuana possession arrest in January on
June 20, according to a report from NFL Network, and remains subject to
discipline by the NFL under the league's personal-conduct policy.

--Former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito is being held for
mental evaluation in South Florida after an altercation at a Boca Raton gym,
according to local police.

The alleged altercation, in which Incognito was said to have thrown a tennis
ball and then a dumb bell at a fellow gym patron, was first reported by TMZ.
Incognito was also said to be ranting about the government and yelled at the
man to "get off my (expletive) playground."

Incognito was released from the reserve/retired list by Buffalo on Monday. He
suddenly retired last month, citing health concerns from his personal
physician, but multiple reports indicated his contract played a major role.

--New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters that quarterback Tom
Brady has told him he will be on hand when the team holds its mandatory
minicamp from June 5-7.

"I think he's very excited about the upcoming season," Kraft said at the
owners meeting in Atlanta, per ESPN. "These are voluntary workouts, and I
think he's in great shape. I think he's at an age where -- I was thinking back
to when he joined us -- he's blessed to have three children now and built a
number of businesses and has certain responsibilities. I think it's very hard
for him to fulfill those during the season and the commitment he has to
football."

Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski have not participated in voluntary workouts
this week, although both are expected to attend the mandatory session in June.

--The NFL named Arizona and New Orleans as hosts for future Super Bowls.

With the sites through 2022 already in place, the league picked University of
Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., as the site for Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans will host the following year, the
eighth time it will be held there, a single-venue record.

The owners also awarded the 2019 NFL Draft hosting duties to Nashville.

--Right guard Zack Martin is not taking part in the Dallas Cowboys' voluntary
OTAs for the second straight day as he looks to work out a contract extension,
according to ESPN's Todd Archer.

Martin is in the final year of his five-year rookie deal and was first-team
All-Pro in 2014 and 2016. He is due to make $9.4 million this season.

Martin, the 16th overall pick out of Notre Dame in 2014, has started every
game since joining the team, making the Pro Bowl every season. Martin has been
working out with teammates in the offseason and spent Tuesday working with
strength and conditioning coaches.

--The Pittsburgh Steelers reached agreement on a deal with quarterback Mason
Rudolph, a 2018 third-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.

That leaves the Steelers with only first-round pick Terrell Edmunds unsigned.

News of the four-year deal for Rudolph comes on the heels of a warming in the
relationship between the rookie and longtime Steelers star QB Ben
Roethlisberger, who promised to help mentor Rudolph after practice on Tuesday.

--Nick Foles could make up to $14 million in incentives in his reworked deal
with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Most of that money, however, are dependent on quarterback Carson Wentz being
sidelined either to start the season or during it.

The restructured deal, which includes a mutual option, had been characterized
as a raise for the Super Bowl MVP, but without incentives is actually $1
million less than he was slated to make in 2018. According to the reported
details, Foles received a $2 million signing bonus and has a base salary of $4
million.

--Field Level Media