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NFL owners struggled to retain control after Trump's attacks, rise of player protests
http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/20865444/inside-story-happened-players-took-control-nfl-national-anthem ^

Posted on 10/01/2017 8:55:00 AM PDT by Bigtigermike

"It certainly was my takeaway that the commissioner was looking for a way for the protests to end," Smith said Friday when asked about his 30-minute conversation with Goodell, while declining to offer specifics about what was discussed. Goodell declined to comment, but a league source did not dispute Smith's account. "Knowing the league the way I know the league, they are first and foremost concerned about the impact on their business," Smith said. "That's always their first concern. I mean, who are we kidding?"

Nobody was kidding when many of the NFL's highest-profile owners, including Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, expressed concerns last week that the optics of hundreds of players kneeling, sitting or remaining in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem had alienated many fans at a particularly perilous moment for the NFL. TV ratings for many of this year's games have continued a slide that began last season; some league sponsors have grown skittish about the backlash; and most surveys have shown that a majority of NFL fans are turned off by the politicization of the game.

To the commissioner's suggestion that the protests should end, Smith said, "My only response was, 'I don't have the power to tell our players what to do.' ... At the end of the day, this is a group of players who are exercising their freedom. There is no room for me to snap my fingers and tell our players, 'It's time for you to give up a freedom.' Just the idea offends me.

(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: anthem; drivingawaycustomers; espn; football; goodell; hypocrisy; kneelers; kneeling; lazysonsofbitches; nfl; protest; sports; trump; trumpwins; trumpwinsagain; whiningmillionaires
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To: Arm_Bears
No, Trump successfully trolled the NFL and the league's response has been most instructive on showing how Leftist they really are. Bad idea given the fan base of the NFL is mostly Conservative.
61 posted on 10/01/2017 10:34:17 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's Economic Cure)
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To: Bigtigermike
There is no room for me to snap my fingers and tell our players, 'It's time for you to give up a freedom.'

There is room for Smith, the head of the players union, to tell his players that they must abide by NFL operational rules, which clearly state that players are required to stand respectfully for the playing of the anthem. The NFL can either enforce its own workplace rules like other employers do, or it can refuse to do so and lose its fans.
62 posted on 10/01/2017 10:34:26 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: Bigtigermike

The NFL has the weakest leadership in the history of the world. Every employer on the planet can and will tell their employees what they can and can’t do on the clock. But the NFL is just wringing their hands because they “can’t” do anything. What a joke. If I was an NFL sponsor, the letter from the lawyer ending the relationship would’ve already been sealed and delivered.


63 posted on 10/01/2017 10:38:43 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Liberalism is a social disease.)
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To: Bigtigermike

Today at the Ravens Stadium, the PA asked fans to join the players in prayer for unity for the anthem. They got booed. Yes indeed.

Talk about trying to manipulate fans into kneeling. Wow. Just wow!!


64 posted on 10/01/2017 10:46:43 AM PDT by HollyB
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To: HollyB

Why did those Dixie Chicks fans show up for the game?

Those players kneeled for our national anthem in a foreign country.


65 posted on 10/01/2017 10:50:02 AM PDT by petitfour (APPEAL TO HEAVEN)
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To: KC Burke
You are a Pussy if you watch or go to the NFL.

I'm with you!

No reason to support those that DO NOT support America and its President.

66 posted on 10/01/2017 10:59:53 AM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: Bigtigermike

There were some black power salutes from Browns players during the anthem! There are only two possibilities: (1) the coach has no control over his players or (2) the coach doesn’t give a damn about patriotic values of what’s probably a majority of Browns former fans who pay for tickets.


67 posted on 10/01/2017 11:02:19 AM PDT by grania (Deplorable and Proud of It!)
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To: Bigtigermike

This crap goes all the way back to the strike in ‘87 with the owners.


68 posted on 10/01/2017 11:03:00 AM PDT by wardamneagle
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To: i_robot73

In my humble opinion....President Trump just brilliantly drained yet Another messy, vapid Swamp....another end run by our Blessed President.

Winning on Sunday. With the NFL in the dustbin of history...


69 posted on 10/01/2017 11:10:16 AM PDT by RacerX1128 (Cornered in CA)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
Then there's the glaring number of blacks killed by other blacks. (oh no, can't mention that)

Yep, 'truth' is racist...

70 posted on 10/01/2017 11:12:02 AM PDT by GOPJ (Black men are 6% of the population - - they murder 42% of all cops killed in the line of duty.)
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To: doug from upland

Well done, Doug.

Now that is what I call “unity” and “racial justice”.


71 posted on 10/01/2017 11:54:32 AM PDT by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: chief lee runamok
We need to find a way where Trump doesn’t win.

That is what Hillary said. :-)
72 posted on 10/01/2017 11:56:16 AM PDT by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: Jonny7797
Contract Law.

What an imbecil.

73 posted on 10/01/2017 11:58:36 AM PDT by Salvavida (The Missouri citizen's militia sends its regards.)
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To: VideoDoctor
No reason to support those that DO NOT support America and its President

I am easier to please than you are. I will tolerate that they don't support American, as long as they show proper respect for the Anthem and Flag during its proper observance and display. I don't expect them to support a President they oppose, but they can keep their opposition to themselves or to others privately and don't let it impede their job performance. After California splits (leaving Jim and my brother in free Jefferson) and then succeeds, they can dig up Hillary and make her President with the Muslim Brotherhood in the background if that is indeed what they want.

74 posted on 10/01/2017 11:59:34 AM PDT by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: Bigtigermike

POINT OF VIEW FROM THIS HOME BASE.

Godell and BO’B seem to be two birds of the same feather.

Both agreeing to lead followers with no understanding of what the job description entailed. In Godell’s case, he failed to read the rules which had been written before coming into office. Players and owners took advantage of his ignorance.

In BO’Bs instance, he never knew he was to follow the words written prior to office. Never studied our Constitution, only spoke of how it was deficient. His party took advantage of this in order to set prescient.

In either case, both failed the nation and the people Both unfit and unable to lead.

LESSON HERE: just because you desire something and at long last find your dream does not necessarily mean you have arrived. To keep, it is necessary to be studious and prepared.


75 posted on 10/01/2017 12:15:02 PM PDT by V K Lee (DJT: "Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. ")
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To: Bigtigermike

BS. You have stopped numerous freedom of speech issues before. You are their employer. Not their government. Will it be okay for players to come into training camp grossly over weight and out of shape ?


76 posted on 10/01/2017 12:16:48 PM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: Salvavida

Yep.

He knows damn well the NFL does have the right to tell these players what to do, and they regularly exercise that right when they tell players not to celebrate too much after TDs, shirts must be tucked, cannot wear certain cleats, cant use certain “foul” words on the field, etc.

At the minimum, they could issues fines or penalties for not standing for the anthem. But I prefer to use Trump’s consequence: stand or your fired.


77 posted on 10/01/2017 12:44:48 PM PDT by Jonny7797
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To: Bigtigermike
Fine them and donate proceeds to building the walk. Thisvcrap will end overnight.
The racists will make lots of noise ' But it will end.
The NFL is fast approaching the point of no return.
78 posted on 10/01/2017 12:46:51 PM PDT by HP8753 (Live Free!!!! .............or don't.)
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To: Ronald_Magnus

LOL I remember that game. That was Andre Ellington’s hair.


79 posted on 10/01/2017 1:02:19 PM PDT by ponygirl (An Appeal to Heaven)
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To: mrsmel
They had the power to stop previous expressions of support for the police, the military, and Christianity. So he’s lying. Because they’ve always shut down expressions of support for anything conservative.

Exactly and also it's not the government telling these players they can't protest. That is where freedom of speech applies.

These private organizations can set their own rules of conduct and the NFL has. These darn liberals are trying to muddy up the waters about free speech in order to continue to advance this sick agenda.

CGato

80 posted on 10/01/2017 1:14:42 PM PDT by Conservative Gato (There are NOW 4 kind of LIES; Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics, and the Media.)
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