Giants news, 5/24: Snacks rips anthem policy, and some football

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here are your Thursday headlines, topped by reaction to the NFL’s national anthem policy.

Anthem policy reaction

NFLPA statement on new anthem policy

The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new “policy.” NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.

The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL’s Management Council John Mara about the principles, values and patriotism of our League.

Our union will review the new “policy” and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.

Damon Harrison blasts policy

Giants’ defensive tackle Damon Harrison blasted the league’s anthem decision via Twitter, then spent some time responding to folks who wanted to argue with him. Here is the tweet that started it.

NFL’s gutless anthem decision doesn’t solve anything
The most interesting aspect of the national-anthem controversy that enveloped the NFL last season was this: Both sides had an excellent argument in the...

The NFL’s national anthem policy is terrible for everyone, including itself | SB Nation
The NFL wants to keep their focus on the game. Wednesday’s implementation of a policy forcing players to stand for the anthem does the opposite.

More headlines

NY Giants: Inside Chris Mara's quest for the Triple Crown with Justify
NY Giants personnel executive Chris Mara owns a stake in Justify, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner that will race for Triple Crown at Belmont

William Gay 'needs another Super Bowl ring bad and soon,' and thinks Giants' Eli Manning is right for job | NJ.com
'Old Man' William Gay went into free agency with 2 thoughts: He wanted an organization with Super Bowl pedigree and a Pro Bowl QB. He picked the Giants.

Tiki Barber welcomed back into Giants fold by new coach Pat Shurmur | Newsday

Barber said he never felt like he had a rocky relationship with the Giants.

“It’s not really the organization, it was really just Coughlin,” he said of his former head coach. “It was Tom, not the organization. I have a really good relationship with John Mara and Jon Tisch and really everyone there. Ronnie Barnes and everybody in the front office. It was really Tom. We just never patched anything. It was still kind of hanging out there.”

Now, though, Barber seems to be back in the good graces of the only team he ever played for, the team for which he holds just about every rushing record there is.

“It’s meaningful,” he said. “The Giants do a really good job, and I remember this from when I was playing, of embracing their history. Carl Banks and those guys, Gary Reasons, all those guys were always around. Even Frank Gifford. Some of the coolest conversations I had were with Frank Gifford just hanging out. He would just come around. So to be back in that fold is kind of neat.”

Collins, Apple, Giants Visit Puerto Rico Post Hurricane | SI.com
Landon Collins led a contingent of Giants teammates to the mountains of interior Puerto Rico. They lifted spirits in areas that, eight months after the storm, still lacks electricity, water and medical supplies, and they served as a reminder that the Puerto Rican people haven’t been forgotten