Posted on 10/10/2017 3:23:40 PM PDT by Hojczyk
NFL boss Roger Goodell says all players should stand for the national anthem In a letter to the league’s 32 teams concerning players’ protests against police brutality, Goodell urged them to ‘move past this controversy’ and ‘honor our flag’
All NFL players should stand during the national anthem, the football league’s boss, Roger Goodell, said on Tuesday, as the controversy over protests against police brutality by players and their dispute with Donald Trump rumbled on.
In a letter to the NFL’s 32 teams, Goodell said a plan was under way to “move past” the debacle.
“Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem,” the commissioner wrote. “It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us.”
Pence follows Trump order and walks out of 49ers-Colts after players kneel
He added: “We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues.
“We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.”
Although Goodell did not specify if and how the league plans to ensure that players stand during the anthem, his letter suggested the issue will be discussed during a series of regularly scheduled NFL meetings set to take place next week. Under current NFL policy, it is recommended that players stand during the national anthem but not required of them.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
““Should”. “Urged”. Doesn’t sound mandatory.”
I was trained in writing documents for the fed government during my career with uncle sugar. Should, could, might, may, is not will, shall, must, required to. He’s using contract jargon to side step the issue and keep himself from being committed to a decision. He doesn’t want players going after him as he probably has as much to hide as any of the other owners.
The owners do have the authority to force the players not to take a negative action that can tarnish the league image. There are two parts of every players contract that display this,:
2.EMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES. Club employs Player as a skilled football player. Player accepts such employment. He agrees to give his best efforts and loyalty to the Club, and to conduct himself on and off the field with appropriate recognition of the fact that the success of professional football depends largely on public respect for and approval of those associated with the game.
11. SKILL, PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT. Player understands that he is competing with other players for a position on Club’s roster within the applicable player limits. If at any time, in the sole judgement of Club, Player’s skill or performance has been unsatisfactory as compared with that of other players competing for positions on Club’s roster, or if Player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club, then Club may terminate this contract.
These two points are consistent within the contracts of all NFL players and have been reviewed and approved by the NFLPA. (Players union)
The owners of the teams, who are the NFL, could have released any of their employees of the team that tarnished the league with actions inconsistent with a proper positive representation of the team they sign with.
So, until the SCOTUS determines their contract void by being unconscionable, the contract stands as written and the requirement to keep from the actions taken and allowed by the players and coaches is joint, owner and player.
rwood
“Goodell did not specify if and how the league plans to ensure that players stand during the anthem”
Then not good enough.
No, it is going in the tank because you are focusing on Trump.
You should have either taken this stand a year ago or said that while the NFL frowns on such behavior you don't feel comfortable taking a stand and blah, blah, blah.
Instead you decided to "show Trump".
You somehow did not grasp that you were not "showing Trump" you were flipping the bird to the nation and your fans.
I can not believe that you were that stupid.
But now that you are losing money you want to reverse yourself. Showing that you are a money grubbing little worm.
I wish that this would hit you personally in the pocketbook but it probably won't.
By all means have them stand now. It won’t make a difference. People know their real feelings regarding this.
I believe I saw a Trump tweet where he said he’d told Pence to leave if this the playets did this.
problem is that we are not NFL fans any more. u have shown your true colors already, NFL. Sorry but not sorry. This ain’t going away cause you stand for the flag now.
Not the players, the owners are scared.
Didn't you, or your kids, or your grandkids, grow up watching Sesame Street, and this gruesome character?
 Old SNuFfLe-uphisass |
Hey! NFL, this year’s a wash,
And next year isn’t looking so good
How about players SHALL stand
He said “should” stand, not “must” stand. So many will continue to kneel.
What I understand is this: Pence walked out. Then leftists howled about how much Pence's travel and Secret Service protection cost for a "political stunt"; then Trump stepped in to take some of the heat by saying that he ordered Pence to leave if the flag was disrespect.ed
I could be wrong. No inside knowledge.
Goodall throws in the towel. Trump wins.
Tax the NFL!
“Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem,”
It is hard to imagine a stronger and more decisive statement coming from the NFL front office.
/////////////////////////////
Talk is cheap (read that bullshit).
Fire Goodell. He is responsible for not enforcing policy on Anthem.
Apologize to American people for allowing these irrelevant, irreverent protests to ruin our sport.
Pledge that henceforth no politics of any kind will be allowed to corrupt the athletic purity of our game for the customers, employees, and employers
The above is the only “statement” that will bring fans back eventually.
The above will also trigger radical leftist protests enflaming the revolutionary marxists actually responsible for the protests. At that point government must insure peaceful protests are allowed outside the arenas. no violence can be tolerated anywhere and no protests can be tolerated inside the venues. When this succeeds in restoring the league to greatness the lawyers will sue the league into bankruptcy due to bogus concussion law suits.
RIP NFL football!!!!!!!
“I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country,” Trump wrote. “I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen...”
It sounds made-up. Newsweek quoted The Guardian, reporting Twitter:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/08/mike-pence-leaves-nfl-game-protests
Pictures of the President's tweet appear genuine. :(
I’ll forgive them next year. This season needs to end at a net loss and black hole in the books to serve as an unambiguous lesson for what happens to the criminally stupid.
Looks like he had a wake up call...too bad many of us will express our displeasure for at least the rest of this season.
Go ahead. I pretty sure I did.
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