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

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell signaled last week that a change in policy regarding standing for the national anthem would be approved by team owners at the annual fall meeting next week.

But the players and their allies in the media pushed back -- hard. Now it appears that Goodell and the players union will codify a policy that will allow kneeling or any other protest during the playing of the anthem. And the league will justify it by using the NFL brand as a "platform to both raise awareness and make progress on issues of social justice and equality in this country."

In other words, a total, complete cave to the players.

Reuters:

“What we don’t have is a proposal that changes our policy, we don’t have something that mandates anything. That’s clear. If that was the case I doubt the head of the NFLPA would have put a joint statement out with us.”

The statement released on Wednesday said Goodell invited NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith to the meetings and that the agenda will be a continuation of how to make progress on the important social issues that players have vocalized.
The protests, in a league where African-Americans make up the majority of players, have continued through the current season, with some players kneeling and others standing arm-in-arm in solidarity.
The gesture is intended to call attention to what protesting players see as a pattern of racism in the treatment of African-Americans by U.S. police.
The issue has been exacerbated after U.S. President Donald Trump said last month that players who did not stand during the anthem should be fired.
Lockhart said the discussions will focus on how to use the broad platforms of the NFL, players and clubs to try and make progress on issues of equality, social justice and criminal justice reform.
“These are issues that are important to our clubs, issues that are important to our players, issues that are important to the communities in which we play,” said Lockhart.
”That’s what we are discussing. So for everyone who has speculated over the last few days that somehow there is a proposal that is set for a vote on Tuesday or Wednesday you are speculating.
“Those who are reporting it as fact are reporting it incorrectly.”

And that will be that. The league will bow to the players' disrespect for the flag -- even though they piously claim that's not what they're doing -- and adopt their radical thesis that police are targeting black people and are racist to the core. I think that in responsem police departments in NFL cities should refuse to provide any security for NFL games. After all, we wouldn't want the delicate nature of 350 lb. men to be affected by having all these racist police in uniforms making it possible for fans to enjoy the games in safety.

The inmates are in control of the asylum. The National Football League cares more about the radical political views of its players than the feelings and patriotism of its fans. They have apparently resigned themselves to having to live with this controversy for the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, they will continue to lose fans who attend games and watch on TV. Other revenue streams like merchandise will also be negatively impacted.

So much for "America's Game."

After being a fan of the NFL for about 50 years, I began to gradually lose interest with the increasing and more flagrant "demonstrations" following, first, a touchdown, and then later, a good catch, and then, still later, a sack or clean tackle.

All the while, I'm thinking, "Hey, that's what you get paid to do. Nothing special, just doing your job."

Then came the never-ending conversations about "concussion protocol" every time a quarterback was touched.

And finally, for me anyway, came Colin Kaepernick. You see, I was not only a fan for 50 years, I was, more specifically, a 49er fan for all these years. That was the final straw.

I saw a pampered, child-man, influenced by a BLM girlfriend, blow up his career before my very eyes. The child-man was going to earn in excess of $100 million, which would have given him a king's life and had plenty left over to help others. I knew, from the very first keeling down, that he was turning his back on his white parents (who adopted/rescued Colin and gave him a good and safe childhood), his teammates, and his country. His comments following the first or second kneel-down confirmed that he was SPECIFICALLY rejecting his country.

As a Vietnam veteran, I felt I had to make a choice. The world was far from perfect in 1968 when I enlisted in the navy, but I was brought up to believe that service to country was part of the price for the freedoms we enjoy. From about the 2nd grade I had been taught how to honor the flag, and all that it represents, in particular, the sacrifice paid for all to be free.

The NFL is a league of multi-millionaires (average salary $2.44 million), who now want to cry foul, something they failed to do when they were getting free college educations and being treated like divas, most beginning in junior high school.

So, for me, the choice was easy. At this point (turning 70 in a few weeks), my decision is a permanent one. I no longer care what the NFL decides or does. If anything, I'm cheering for their demise, but irregardless, this veteran will NEVER watch another NFL game.

as season ticket prices drop next year, more of the people who support taking a knee will be able to afford them.

Doubtful...

You can replace the players, but not the fans. Once the fans move onto something else, you've got to have a real game changer to get them back and since women make up the fastest growing segment of the fan base, I don't even think nude cheerleaders will help.

Add to that the number of cities and states talking about rescinding tax breaks for NFL franchises and it's going to be a blood bath for the owners.

Who'd of thought that the NFL would implode in the course of just a few seasons?

And the league will justify it by using the NFL brand as a "platform to both raise awareness and make progress on issues of social justice and equality in this country."

Well. Well. Well. All these years I thought that the NFL brand was to play football and temporarily get away from the daily drumbeat on issues of social justice. Now there is no getting away from many crazy and unjustifiable claims of injustice.

Goodell and the NFL have decided to wait this out and hope for the best for their brand.

Will the fans continue to pay to see football when it is second to the perceived social justice issues of some players? Good luck with that!

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