NFL Commissioner Caves to Players: Will Not Require Standing for Anthem

PJ Media ^ | 10/14/17 | Rick Moran

[GailA]

German Soccer Team Hertha BSC Kneels In Solidarity With NFL Anthem Protests
https://deadspin.com/german-soccer-team-hertha-bsc-kneels-in-solidarity-with-1819471440

The NFL is attacking an America that has treated it very well. Time to end the tax breaks
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/10/15/nfl-is-attacking-america-that-has-treated-it-very-well-time-to-end-tax-breaks.htmL

THEY LIED, THEY ARE JUST NOT TELEVISING THE PROTEST OF THE ANTHEM OR BLACK POWER FIST BUMPS!
Limbaugh Predicts NFL Touchdown Celebrations Will Become American Flag Protests
http://dailyrushbo.com/limbaugh-predicts-nfl-touchdown-celebrations-will-become-american-flag-protests/

NFL Anthem Protests Hit Fox As Verizon, Networks Consider New Deals
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2017/10/13/nfl-anthem-protests-hit-fox-as-verizon-networks-consider-new-deals/#16ae36e155b1

[GailA]

Mine too, we are a Ret. Military family.

VETERAN'S DAY TOTAL BOYCOTT OF JERK LEAGUE

[Alberta's Child]

The league has full authority over what happens on the field of play, and full control over what the players may or may not wear on the field. I’m sure the national anthem conduct will be covered in the next agreement, since it apparently is not mentioned at all in the current one.

[frog in a pot]

The league has full authority over what happens on the field of play...

One would certainly hope so. Let's define "field of play" by reference to the fact that at one time a player who ran out of the end zone and spiked the ball or threw it into the stands after the play could be fined; i.e. behavior outside the white lines such as kneeling at the sideline as we see with the protests.

Which leads me to question as you suggested upthread that "every lawyer that has looked at it", says the league cannot take disciplinary action. Unless, of course, such provisions have been negotiated away (and why would they have been?)

[Alberta's Child]

The lack of any specific provisions in the NFL-NFLPA is what gives the players this leverage. If the NFL or any owner tried to fire or suspend a player without pay over these protests, the player would file a legal challenge and would win a clear victory over it. That's pretty much been acknowledged by every lawyer who has weighed in on it. In cases of ambiguity in a labor agreement, the law will always come down on the side of the employee whose job is at risk.

The NBA went through the same thing in the 1990s. The addressed in their next collective bargaining agreement with the union.

[frog in a pot]

The difference in our views may be that you are speaking in terms of “fire” and “suspend”. While I do not immediately disagree with your comments in that regard, I speak in terms of “fining” and “discipline”. {;^)

[Alberta's Child]

The protso old for levying fines in the NFL are just as clear as they are for suspending or firing players. The only “discipline” that can be imposed here is to bench players — without any financial penalty.

[frog in a pot]

Well, perhaps we are half way there, you concede the owners can bench a player and I suspect they have the right to do even more.

How about fines? Is it your view fining is no longer an available device?

Even better, perhaps you can send me a link that you have found that will help me understand the matter? Thank you in advance.