NFL broadcasters hint at JAW-DROPPING solution for anthem protests

Allen B. West ^ | 30 September 2017

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

Like an offensive coordinator attempting to find the right way to break through a defensive line, the NFL has called for a number of plays in its efforts to accommodate both their players who feel compelled to protest during the national anthem and their increasingly angry fans.

These efforts have ranged from having the players stand together with locked arms during the anthem, to keeping players in the locker room until the anthem is over, and even to having the team kneel before – rather than during – the anthem’s playing. However, none of these tactics have been completely successful, as NFL TV ratings continue to be sacked by viewers who are throwing a penalty flag at the protestors.

Now, according to the Charlotte Observer, the NFL may be ready to call a new play in advance of Sunday’s Patriots-Panthers game. And it’s a bit of a Hail Mary.

While it’s uncertain if Carolina Panthers players plan protests during the national anthem during Sunday’s game at New England, there is a chance that television viewers won’t get to see them as they happen.

In other words, if it offends too many people to either stand for the national anthem or see people NOT standing for the anthem, let’s simply not broadcast it at all.

Eric Shanks, the president of Fox Sports, told Newsday’s Neil Best earlier this week that his crews plan to return to “standard procedure” this week for NFL broadcasts. That doesn’t include showing the national anthem live for most games because the network normally airs commercials then.

Shanks left the option open, however.

“So I think we’re going to pay attention to events,” Shanks told Newsday. “… A lot of time is happening between now and then.”

[Molon Labbie]

They fail to render proper honors, the fans should take the field.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

And it’s a bit of a Hail Mary.

That's a great idea, instead of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, the players should stand up and recite the "hail Mary"...or the Lord's Prayer, or maybe the 23rd Psalm

[Mr. Jeeves]

Perhaps the name of the game should be changed too. To something like, “kneel ball”.

It had pretty much devolved into Rollerball before any of this kneeling stuff ever appeared.

[itsahoot]

I am still wondering if this will spread to college football?

It has spread to high school games already. Getting them while they are young.

[cherry]

think about it...the arses should have NEVER EVER given Krapperdick a platform...

no platform...no audience...protest is null and void...

same with all the other perfumed animals....

they can get all their jollies they want with their antics because they mean nothing if nobody gets on tv...

but I won't watch anyway....not missing it...

[Mark17]

Army vs Navy game should be interesting.

Yes, I am sure each one of them is deep in thought. Just exactly what each one is thinking, that is the 64 dollar question. I think, however, kneeling might be against the UCMJ.

[trebb]

They are worse than stupid. I'm down on the MS Gulf Coast and was talking with some folks last night at a social gathering. If the NFL had been eavesdropping they would have discovered that they are losing viewership in droves - gonna be more folks watching golf than football and finding other avenues of entertainment for the short period when football used to be "it".

Until they properly honor the Anthem/Flag/Nation/Those who died for their Freedoms, and put it front and center, they will hemorrhage fans.

Watched the President's Cup golf yesterday (and will today too) and noticed the caps of the Americans almost resembled the red MAGA hats made popular by President Trump. Also a lot of fans chanting "USA USA" and none of the announcers thought it was a bad thing....

[ballplayer]

Nothing to see here,move along,don’t forget to send your check!

[GailA]

Not opposed to that, or to giving them to Bible clubs, kids sports leagues if they behave.

But we all tend to forget it is our tax $$ that are paying for those palaces. It took Memphis over a decade to sell their stadium the Grizzlies thought was not good enough for the pampered Prima Donna’s. It’s now a huge Bass Pro.

New stadium is still being paid for by tax payers.

[monocle]

Reduce each player’s salary, who kneels or sits during the National Anthem, by the percent of fans not attending and by the percent loss of TV viewership.

[scrabblehack]

Has an imposed forfeit ever gone to court?

[discostu]

At the onset that was kind of how it was. Remember Colin knelt for the first 2 games of the pre-season and nobody noticed. Don’t let the media put it in your face. I realized in the 80s TV news was a complete waste of time, so they haven’t put anything in my face in 30 years.

[discostu]

That’s because the team owners understand that getting into a pissing contest with their players is a no win. The CBA won’t allow them to do anything about it so they’re riding it out. Maybe next CBA they’ll do something about it, but negotiations for that don’t start for another couple of years.

TV is voluntary. They’re not uninvited.

[Redwood71]

During the 1920’s and 30’s, there wasn’t a firm and formal schedule like there is today, and as such, teams cancelled games all the time.

Some cite that a 1921 game between the Rochester Jeffersons and the Washington Senators was a forfeit. However, under the NFL records, it was just a cancelled game.

Games in the modern era are just rescheduled. But this issue makes it a little different. It now becomes a matter of money only. And the players don’t understand they have reached the top of their line. The only other alternative they have is Canada. It’s either that or start their own lingerie league which has to put a real ugly thought in the main fan base’s mind. Literally.

So if they don’t get paid, their only recourse is court. But to be honest, if it reaches that level, they’re all pretty much unable to handle the costs anyway.

I see where a few of the teams are lawn chairing and are saying they are now going to stand during the anthem. They weren’t “up front” though as they claimed they didn’t know they were disrespecting the flag, country, and those that gave so much for them. In the language of the players, that’s a dammed lie. Before the grass recovered from Colin’s first knee that was the topic. And everyone that owns a TV or radio knew this. So it took them a year plus to figure this out? How did these guys graduate from anything with this lack of gray cells? They knew it. This is their (weak) effort to climb out of the hole they dug for themselves. And the media is going to have to shore up the crumbling walls while they climb.

But, at least, the lying idiots learned one thing, you don’t defecate where you eat. And the numbers, along with their ego, displayed and proved that.

rwood

[jeffersondem]

“That’s because the team owners understand that getting into a pissing contest with their players is a no win.”

But team owners don’t understand that getting into a p****** contest with their customers is a no win?

These billionaire owners suck off the public teat to get taxpayer funds to build stadiums - that I understand. There are words for that - corporate welfare.

What I don’t understand is the NFL business model that seeks to offend the fan base.

Owners must be counting on millions of fans being indifferent to their spitting on American values. Sadly, many fans are.

[discostu]

They’re in a contest with the customers. They’re just waiting for a bad situation to blow over. Because they always do. This one was basically blown over before Trump decided to revamp it.

They aren’t seeking to offend anybody. But there’s nothing they can do. And they aren’t spitting on anybody. Frankly protest is an American value. One of our best. Not many countries actually have it specifically codified that the citizen can tell the government it sucks, and we get the added bonus of a government that always sucks.

[cornfedcowboy]

I am fine with TV not broadcasting national anthem. Just play football. They rarely broadcast college football national anthems. You won’t even notice.

[jeffersondem]

“But there’s nothing they can do.”

A sentence like that must have been written in jest.

Other than confirming I read it, I will ignore it.

[discostu]

It’s not in jest. It’s true. There’s these fun little things called contracts, the anthem isn’t in their contract with the players. Any kind of punishment they tried to levy would be outside the structure of the CBA, the PA would sue, and the PA would win. There’s only one league that contractually obligates players to stand for the anthem, that’s the NBA. Everybody else is just hoping.

[Phil DiBasquette]

They kept it up from week 1 And we kept getting reminded by the media It reminds me of my wife (who is a wonderful person most of the time) when she’s mad rehashing old gripes and adding new ones to a litany Combining justifiable deaths with those that are not In that case they should be reminded 24x7 How many cops they killed How many other races they mugged killed and raped Which party ruled the South and oppressed them Which party/side won the Civil war and defended them Who gave them most times without merit an unConstitutional race based advantage in lending, employment, college admission Who gave them trillions in housing and transfer payments and somehow still live in dangerous squalid conditions of their own making