NFL Anthem Protest Policy

[Lee Borgersen]

    NFL  Policy on Anthem Protests

9 hrs ago
5/7/18

  .....
The NFL is now considering allowing individual teams to make their own decisions on this policy, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.

Although the league has said that players can protest during the anthem, many teams and owners have expressed their displeasure with their players' form of social justice

  .....
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, one of many owners against the protests, said in October there was "no question the league is suffering negative effects from these protests." He also said any player who "disrespects the flag" would be benched.

The league has also discussed allowing players to stay in the locker room or keeping all the players in the locker room until after the anthem. The current policy permits a player's right to protest.

    .....
"My guess is they will leave it up to the teams," a high-ranking official said.
Colin Kaepernick started the protests against racial and social injustice in America and it quickly spread throughout the league. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers in March 2017 and was not signed by any team last season. He remains a free agent.
After receiving backlash from fans on both sides, the  NFL appears to be putting the onus of anthem protests on the owners.

[greatoutdoors]

Perhaps I'm a Dinosaur in this day and age of political correctness, but I believe that certain things should be given the respect deserved, one of these is standing for the National Anthem.   
These days, freedom of speech can be taken to areas never deemed possible by the founding fathers, and I think this "taking a knee" during the Anthem at football games is one of them.   
So, to these gifted athletes I say, if you cannot give the flag and country the respect it deserves for less than 3 minutes every Sunday, or Thursday night-find another line of work.   
There are plenty of warehouse owners looking for fork lift operators and janitors, fast food restaurants looking for cooks, or political offices to be won, etc., etc!!.   
Good luck in your new line of work!   

[Rebel SS]

   

[Steve-o]

Perhaps I'm a Dinosaur in this day and age of political correctness, but I believe that certain things should be given the respect deserved, one of these is standing for the National Anthem.

There are plenty of warehouse owners looking for fork lift operators and janitors, fast food restaurants looking for cooks, or political offices to be won, etc., etc!!.   

Good luck in your new line of work!   

[glenn57]

well GTO, if your a dinosaur..........so am i !!!!!!!!!! i agree 1000%!!!!!! for what that flag represents................gives them the liberty to express there beliefs..............although some beliefs and actions do have consicences!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

well GTO, if your a dinosaur..........so am i !!!!!!!!!! i agree 1000%!!!!!! for what that flag represents................gives them the liberty to express there beliefs..............although some beliefs and actions do have consequences!!!!!!!!!

There, I fixed it for ya. 

[glenn57]

well GTO, if your a dinosaur..........so am i !!!!!!!!!! i agree 1000%!!!!!! for what that flag represents................gives them the liberty to express there beliefs..............although some beliefs and actions do have consequences!!!!!!!!!

There, I fixed it for ya. 

oops!!!!!!

[LPS]

I completely agree with you guys.  They may be trying to make a point that is even a valid point but by not standing during the anthem they are disrespecting someone else.  Those someones risked their lives so we can have the freedom to do things like enjoy a sport.  So stand up you dumb asses....

[mike89]

I agree with all of ya!!!!

[Jerkbiat]

I certainly agree with ya all!!!!

[Rebel SS]

https://www.kaaltv.com/sports/nfl-owners-adopt-new-policy-prohibiting-kneeling-during-national-anthem/4919623/?cat=10151

[Steve-o]

Doesn't look like this will solve anything - in terms of eliminating the controversy. 

Pitchfork Nation (on both sides of the issue) will have plenty of opportunities to take offense at how things are done or not done since it will be left up to each team to police itself.

It could be one team's policy to remain in the locker room for the National Anthem while the other is out there standing.  Or individual players could opt to stay in the locker room while the Anthem is playing.

Whatever happens, everybody is still going to be paying attention to who does what/when.

[Rebel SS]

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/nfl-s-new-rule-against-kneeling-during-anthem-shows-owners-ncna877096

[Steve-o]

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/nfl-s-new-rule-against-kneeling-during-anthem-shows-owners-ncna877096

Ya gotta love Kluwe...

or not!

[LPS]

Ya and Kluwe is a stay at home Dad cuz everyone in the workplace is tired of his big mouth.  Just like Colon.

[Steve-o]

I think Kluwe is a smart dude.  He probably invested his NFL salary to allow himself to be a stay at home dad, and has enough other irons in the fire - like game design consultant and freelance writer - to supplement income nicely.

I just don't agree with his viewpoint very often and I don't appreciate his vitriolic rhetoric.

[Lee Borgersen]

   Some 'star' players consider sitting out until Kaepernick, Reid have jobs.

  .....
As noted here last week, the adjustment to the national anthem policy should remove any impediment to the employment of quarterback Colin Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid, since neither will be able to kneel during the national anthem. Some players reportedly have come to the same conclusion.

Shawn King also claims that the unnamed “star” players hope to get 25 percent of all players to sit out with them.

If they’re truly considering staying away from training camp and/or the regular season, it will get very expensive. Teams can fine players up to $40,000 per day for skipping camp. In addition to any forfeited game checks, players will be susceptible to an attack on any unearned amounts of signing bonuses they previously have received.

And while teams often will look the other way when holdouts arising from contract disputes end, it’s safe to say that owners wouldn’t react well to walkouts based on the status of Kaepernick and Reid.

Besides, if players truly thinking about sitting out at great expense later, why not sit out at little or no expense now? The Organized Team Activities are voluntary, and more than a few players are skipping them for a variety of reasons. If “several NFL stars” are thinking about sending a message later, why not send a message immediately?

  ...
The fact that there’s been no chatter about players choosing not to show up on Tuesday for the next round of OTAs, either due to the new anthem rule or to the ongoing unemployment of Kaepernick and Reid, makes it hard to believe that any star players (or any non-star players) would give up money — and potentially give plenty of money back — all in the name of helping Kaepernick and Reid.

[mike89]

let them sit.........

[glenn57]

let them sit.........

I agree!!! its there paycheck. if there required to be there that's a violation of there contract...………..fire there azzez!!!

[LPS]

I as along with others am a HUGE NFL fan.  I am surprised how many friends that I know that don't watch football due to this BS of the knee deal.  AND if it gets any worse I will shut them off too.  I love the Vikes so it will be very hard for me to not watch but you try to prove a point you may not have a point to prove anymore.   

[Coffee118]

Heres my two cents. Until all stadiums, ball parks and arenas stop selling food, beer, and tee shirts during the national anthem and everyone who says these players should be shot for kneeling while their own asses never leave their lazy boy recliner or bar stool to stand while the national anthem is being played on TV, I don't have a problem with it. I've been to the American legion during games and only once have I seen someone stand while the anthem was being played on tv, everyone just sat there. Unfortunately it is the rights and freedoms they have as Americans.

[Jerkbiat]

Ok, Coffee does make a point there. To me though the other people you talk about are not on national TV thumbing there nose at the flag. And I agree they should not be selling food and bevs during the national anthem. I think what the NFL came up with works, if they don't like it stay in the locker room until it is over.

[glenn57]

i'll take this a little further.............do those players have a right to express there opinions, beliefs.........hell yea. doesnt mean there employers agree and then are required to employee them. no different then any other rules employers have.

look at the rosanne barr fiascal going on. yep she expressed her view............and is no unemployed!!!!!!!!

as far as the bars and living rooms................... not quite the same as these players representing there employers in the product they pay these guys to produce.

and 1 more thing..................it was totally STOOPID  for the NFL heirachy to bring this up, it was going off to the wayside, people were dealing with it.............the commish and owners started this firestorm and you can bet there will be board charges, and lawsuits over this. the best thing the league could do is say.......OOPS we goofed and drop this!!!!!!!

[K.O.W.]

Agree with you all. You're sure at the legion everyone could hear the anthem over Glenn doing root beer barrels and yelling and all ? What caught me by reading every word of this thread is none of you ever addressed the police violence angle that seems to be the root of why I guess they disrespect the country every Sunday. I told my kids look at that selfish coward, look at his hair, look at his expression, you can tell he's always been a crybaby type. My grandpa and relatives etc didn't charge into the line of fire in the Philippines for some punk to disrespect our military on the holiest day of the week. He's not out there leading the nation to police our communities better. He doesn't care as much as he's acting. Something bad happened to that boy at an early age no doubt about it. It's more then police roughing up some African Americans killing some. Like it never happens to a white guy. My final take is Pat Tillman. How dare Colon take a knee, or anyone to purposely be disrespectful. I understand Donald trump on this as far as how dare anyone blatantly spit on our flag. Last take is Colon since you have free time, how about you spend a year doing ride alongside with a black/white cop combination and here's your 12 cities by month. 1.  the night shift in Miami Florida 2. Chicago Illinois 3. Memphis, Tennessee 4. Baltimore, Maryland 5. Fort Worth, Texas 6. Detroit, Michigan 7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8. New York City 9. LA 10. Minneapolis 11. New Orleans 12. Atlanta there you go do monthly ride alongs and report back Colin until you do you have no cred with me because you have never even come close to walking a foot in a police officers uniform or a combat military uni. Your a clown.

[K.O.W.]

You riding with the Miami Dade metro ICE task force yet ? How's it goin on night one ? Get shot at yet ? I'm sure the civilians you're dealing with are so forthcoming with information to that quad homicide. Look out behind you Colin there's been social media threats to shoot officers in this area so being tall isn't great Colin. You getting tired yet it's 2:13AM and shots fired check that automatic weapons shots fired at first and Broadway, back in the car Colin lets go. Colin lets go were only 3 hours into our shift cmon man. Hey is that guy holding a cell phone or a gun ? Idk man he's running your fast Colin you take this guy. We'll go after the others. Dude spit at me kicked me etc Jack him up man no Colin you can't you must act orderly and professional out here. Van's here load em up oh oh Colin get in and hang on its off to the Walmart parking lot there's a gang fight between the Jamaica guys vs the Cuba guys I think we'll let you moderate that Colin ok. Hey Colin boss wants us to pull an extra shift running warrants early AM man 10 4 buddy. Tomorrow night is Friday Colin things get really wild on a summer Friday night so you know what header for home Colin get some rest have sweet dreams were infiltrating a MS 13 known hotspot at dark tomorrow. HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT LAWMENFORCEMENT IS TRULY DEALING WITH IN 2018. My brother in law is a chief of police and I can't believe the stories he has told me over the years it's unreal. What I don't get is this police like want to kill the black man well if that's the case why do some work so long on their job before they do, they can't come out of the academy thinking ok 16 years from now I'm gonna blow away a black guy and get away with it. I truly think some of these cops are in over their heads at times with these situations and do fear for their life etc especially any night shootings and such. Colin needs to become an officer if he wants help change policing.

[K.O.W.]

And PS. I rarely watch pro football anymore. Cheer on these guys ? Nate Newton, Bam Morris, Michael Irvin, Ray Rice, OJ Simpson, Rae Carruth, Michael Vick, Mark Chimera, and there's plenty more. I think Colin had his moment and soon realize I've never been in a police officers shoes before day in day out in cities where murders happen too frequently. None of us know the full story because we weren't there. Instead of trying to divide us Colon try to bring all voices together, I guess that's what comes with aging and maturity. Sunday's are so much fun now without fantasy football tying me down like it used to, I'm free from the NFL stranglehold, I can't afford to go to games anymore so audios is it ? Got a great gig for ya Colin working in Baltimore night shifts just go to Alex tech get that police badge and we'll put you under cover to start out working the kilo's of cocaine that have been streaming in lately, we'll even toss in an extra shotgun for ya in ur squad.

[K.O.W.]

Time for bed lol but not before this oddity. Remember when was it George Teague for Dallas leveled Terrell Owens on the Dallas Star ? TO right and why did he level him ? Yes because he was disrespectful to the game really. No one had a problem with what Teague did right? You see where this is headed. I wish someone would've decked Colon the first time he did the knee. If TO deserved it (with pads on so it did squat) how about Colin ? What's worse cmon. Nice hair colon I hope you keep that lice infested rug forever it looks great on ya man. Just so you know any white player or Hawaiian or whatever kneeling during anthems I get the freedoms to hate you to !

[K.O.W.]

Here we go again. Channel 4 news officers innocent the video is obvious the man runs and runs and the officer gives him every chance so the relatives go nuts at the press conference going as far to threaten the cops and Mike freeman. There the problem. We need all these people to be black so they can get pissed at black people. The body cameras are fine if they show the officer in the wrong if they show the officer in right it's stil wrong. These people need to take their families and move to Canada, it's so unfair here so leave and that goes for anyone if you don't like it MOVE I would what a bunch of losers. There is no black voice Colin K, the black voice should say if you run from the law with a gun in your pocket you are a bad citizen. Get ready for I 94 to be shut down again. Reason to riot and now a few crips will show and start crap at the protests once again. As soon as you run your rights should be gone !!!! Whether on foot or vehicle, move people leave MN we will all be safer and my tax $ can support someone who truly is in need. Time to riot time to blame the cops again, time to blame whoever but black people never on air point the finger at oneself, never it's always someone else's fault that gun is in their pocket and they bolt. The I have a dream is a joke speech. I have a dream young black men pack guns and flaunt the law and then we'll riot and protest. It's the same for white folk also these old speeches ask not what you can do right JFK well that speech fell flat eventually too, us white folk need to riot for once and block highways.

[K.O.W.]

So where is Randy Moss, Randall McDaniel, Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, Shannon Stewart, Byron Buxton, Stefon Diggs, Anthony Barr, Jimmy Butler, Jermaine Wiggins, Carl Anthony Towns ? Where are they if they said they'd like to speak on this shooting there would be 10 cameras and 100 reporters there within the hour. At least one of these people feel the shooting was 100% justified so why won't they speak, they're the answer, they have the power to say Mike Freeman is right but we know it's all yellow belly chicken you what. They're in their Escalades tunes goin jewelry flowin they don't care they certainly aren't chiming in on Kaepernick much like hey that dude is dead on man. No, where are they use your voice now to call it like it is. Ok ok ok gonna chill out and go the other way which there are good and bad people of every color, to side with the black and or any community of people I share this in 2018 basically the answer to this. Cops have 2 guns. 1 legit 9mm the other is called a stun gun. In 2018 how hasn't a bright mind invented a gun that is basically a knockout drop u get shot with it and your toast for a few hours. But you'll survive I'd rather have these goons sit the pen then get killed pay for your mistakes in life. Where's the non lethal bullets ? They could've shot him in the back immediately and knocked him out arrest him, provide care call for backup etc and the guy would easily be alive and in jail. At least give officers 2 options in daylight like that he could've been tranquilized. I also wonder why not shoot low for a bit he'll quit running go down hard and likely lose his weapon and if not then. Who called them I wonder if seemed they knew where they were headed and fast ? Cmon pro athletes stick that neck out would love to see it happen but see even they can't wouldn't dare to chicken way way too chicken.

[LPS]

I agree with a lot of what you say KOW.  Always blame someone else, not their gun toting relative.