A group of almost 30 NFL players, owners, and league and union representatives met at the league offices in New York Tuesday to discuss national anthem demonstrations and social activism.

But the meeting did not result in changes to the league’s policy on the anthem. Players still “should’’ stand for the anthem, per the league’s game manual, but are not required to do so.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the owners never asked the players to commit to standing for the anthem.

“Today owners and players had a productive meeting focused on how we can work together to promote positive social change and address inequality in our communities,’’ the NFL and the NFL Players Association said in a joint statement.

“NFL executives and owners joined NFLPA executives and player leaders to review and discuss plans to utilize our platform to promote equality and effectuate positive change. We agreed that these are common issues and pledged to meet again to continue this work together.

“As we said last week, everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem, and our military. In the best American tradition, we are coming together to find common ground and commit to the hard work required for positive change.’’

The meeting was held in conjunction with the NFL owners’ quarterly meetings, which continue through Wednesday. Tuesday’s session was attended by Goodell; NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and president Eric Winston; 11 NFL owners including Robert Kraft; and 13 players, including recently retired Anquan Boldin.

It was the third time in as many weeks that the league office invited players to speak about the anthem issue and how they can serve their communities. Patriots safety Devin McCourty participated in one of those discussions, but he did not make the trip Tuesday to New York.

One player who was not officially invited to participate was Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback who initiated the wave of demonstrations last year during the national anthem. Several players who attended had hoped Kaepernick would join them, but the NFL never extended an invitation, according to Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos.

Kaepernick filed a lawsuit against the NFL last week alleging collusion among teams to keep him unemployed.

“Colin Kaepernick was not invited to attend today’s meeting by any official from the NFL or any team executives,’’ Geragos said in a statement. “Other players wanted him present and have asked that he attend the next meeting with the goal of forging a lasting and faithful consensus around these issues. Mr. Kaepernick is open to future participation on these important discussions.’’

While the NFL is concerned that the anthem demonstrations are offending a large portion of fans and could upset the league’s advertisers, it has said it supports the players’ goal of effecting positive social change in their communities.

Demonstrations during the anthem had mostly died down this year until President Trump inflamed the issue at a campaign rally last month. He continued to attack players who didn’t stand for the anthem and urged NFL owners to fire players who disobey the league rules.

The NFL game manual states that the league can punish players with fines or suspensions, but so far it has declined to punish any player who has not stood for the anthem.

The only concrete result from Tuesday’s meeting was a letter sent by Goodell and Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017. The bill seeks to reduce and restrict enhanced sentencing for prior drug felonies, place limitations on the application of 10-year mandatory minimum sentences, and create mandatory minimum sentences for domestic violence offenses, among other things.

“The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act would address many of the issues on which our players have worked to raise awareness of over the last two seasons,’’ Goodell and Baldwin wrote. “This bill seeks to improve public safety, increase rehabilitation, and strengthen families. If enacted, it would be a positive next step in our collective efforts to move our nation forward.’’

Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin.