Godell should say: “We play this before games to memorialize fallen soldiers and vets, no other political reason. Anything else you want to add to that purpose, ok, but keep it to yourself. If you don’t stand arms at side or hand on heart, you don’t play that game. If the players union votes against this, we stop playing the song.” They won’t vote that way because the NFL would wither away. If they do, let it.
Goddell has already come out in support of the players. Until the owners (Goddell’s bosses and the players’ employers) take a stand, this will continue. Cut the troublemakers and watch how fast this crap stops.
But then again, they wouldn’t allow players to wear cleats honoring the 9/11 victims. Hat tip to NY Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz. They told the NFL to go ahead and fine thim; but they wore the cleats anyway.