On Thursday, the NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement about the recent changes to the league’s national anthem policy, stating the two sides had reached a standstill and that no new policy would be officially instituted for several weeks while discussions continue.

A day earlier, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch also addressed the proposed anthem changes and took a shot at President Donald Trump, who has been extremely critical of the league and players, saying he simply doesn’t understand the purpose of the protests.

“Hopefully he’ll have much more going on that he’s going have to deal with and should deal with and must deal with than worrying about what NFL players do,” Tisch told the Hollywood Reporter. “He has no understanding of why they take a knee or why they’re protesting. When the new season starts, I hope his priorities are not criticizing the NFL and telling owners what to do and what not to do.”

Further, Tisch said the Giants have no intention of fining or suspending players who opt to protest during the national anthem in 2018 regardless of what the new league rules, which fellow co-owner John Mara helped construct.

“We support our players,” Tisch said. “They are not going to be punished. There is not going to be any punitive action taking place against them.”

Shortly after the initial rule change was passed, Mara defended the new policy, claiming that standing during the anthem was “the right thing to do.”

“We’ve been supportive of those in the past who have decided to protest, but I think we’ve gotten to a point now where it’s become such a divisive issue that I think it’s important that we come out of here with a policy that everybody can respect and adhere to,” Mara said in May.

“It’s an issue that is very divisive, people on both sides of it. And you have to take the players’ feelings and views into account, as well. So we’re hopeful of coming out of this with some sort of policy that works.”

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur also said he trusts his players to “do the right thing” during the anthem, while vice president of player evaluation Chris Mara said the organization wants their players to stand.

“We want everyone to stand,” Chris Mara told NJ Advance Media. “I’m as big a patriot as anybody. I had three of my best friends die in 9/11. There is nobody more patriotic about the American flag than I am.

“I think everyone is overblowing the whole thing. I think we’ll all come together at some point, and hopefully everybody stands.”

Defensive end Olivier Vernon, who kneeled in 14 of the team’s 16 games a season ago, has vowed to stand this year, but safety Michael Thomas, who protested during his time with the Miami Dolphins, was noncommittal.