The NFL and the NFL Players Association have issued a joint statement indicating the league will no longer enforce the national anthem protest policy introduced in May. which required all league personnel to “stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.”
“The NFL and NFLPA, through recent discussions, have been working on a resolution to the anthem issue. In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue, we have come to a standstill on the NFLPA’s grievance and on the NFL’s anthem policy. No new rules relating to the anthem will be issued or enforced for the next several weeks while the confidential discussions are ongoing.
The NFL and NFLPA reflect the great values of America, which are repeatedly demonstrated by the many players doing extraordinary work in communities across to promote equality, fairness and justice.
Our shared focus will remain on finding a solution to the anthem issue through mutual, good faith commitments, outside of litigation.”
The NFL announced its aforementioned anthem policy earlier this year, and it indicated players would longer be required on the field while the anthem was performed. If a player failed to stand for the anthem, his team would then be fined. The new rule also gave commissioner Roger Goodell the power to impose “appropriate discipline” on personnel who violated the stipulations.
The NFLPA subsequently filed a grievance, arguing that the rights of players were being violated, but that suit is now also on hold. The national anthem protests, which have ignited nationwide discussion as well as comments from President Donald Trump, were in the news earlier this week on two occasions. First, Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said he would kneel for the anthem and accept any subsequent fines. And today, the Dolphins caused a fervor after classifying anthem protests under a “conduct detrimental to the club” umbrella.
Here is the solution,either stand or sit your rear end in the stands as a paying customer out of a job.
Hmmm don’t see the players union going for that one.
Aren’t their bigger fish to fry?
Who are you talking to?
Yeah that sounds very American – forced patriotism. Aren’t people like you supposed to hate Communism and Dictatorships?
Just sucks that less than 1 % of players have to cause so much pointless drama. Shut up and play football.
Amen!
Being a fellow Baltimoron, if there’s anyone who should realize it’s not pointless, it’s us who have one of the most corrupt law enforcement agencies in the nation.
Of course it’s not pointless, and I’m sure you wouldn’t dare say that to Sean Suiter’s widow.
I’m not sure who that is but I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t.
Tell me about it. Right now, there’s 30% of Americans running amok calling the rest of us Commies for caring about black folks being shot unnecessarily by cops.
It’s not just “black folks” that get shot ! It’s all races who don’t obey the law
and who don’t respect authority
and think that they don’t have to follow the rules. Criminals are Criminals! No matter what race!
So you advocate shooting people for not respecting authority? That’s why people are kneeling, dude. Case closed!
Last straw for me. Never thought I would say this. Goodnight and Goodbye NFL!
What percentage of people who threaten to boycott the NFL actually will?
I only only of a few and the numbers are small. The NFL is so big it wont hurt and it will drive in.
actually attendance and revenue were hit so hard last year that they knew they had to come up with this policy. so yes a lot of people did protest. Enough to hurt the bottom line.
Wrong. The NFL pulled in record profits last season.
Sure. Keep telling yourself that. It’s almost as if you have to for some strange reason. In the real world? Welp, they’ll just keep rolling in their cash. They actually took home record revenue in ’17.
You know who seems hurt by the boycott last year? The whiners still complaining about players taking a knee as silent protest to cops killing black people unnecessarily in America. If you weren’t hurt by it, and you really boycotted, you wouldn’t be here right now whining about players who want to take a knee to protest black people being shot unnecessarily by cops. Know what I mean?
That’d be ZERO. As in not enough to register as an actual number in the equation. Kinda tells ya something about the comments people have been posting all this time.
I didn’t full out boycott but I skipped every game that wasn’t my team (which means I didn’t watch the SB either).
About 2 years ago, I started watching Australian Rules Football, with earnest (Go Geelong!). It has truly begun to supplant my interest in the NFL. I’ve still watched the Browns games (yeah yeah….I know), but I don’t think I watched another game besides the Super Bowl. I think that the ownership group has caved to the NFLPA, and I know many fans that haven’t seen a game in almost two years.
Bye Felicia!!!
Yawn. F### this story.
Let them protest this is America
I will never watch another games those Communists play
S’all good, you and people like you won’t be missed
Of course they will be. Just like if people you relate too left the NFL ranks. Groups of people matter.
Lol you call them communists but you’re acting like a fascist hiding behind a mask of democracy. Freedom is not being able to express yourself only when it doesn’t contradict others beliefs. Give yourself a shake and go out and do us all a favour and go get an education.
Adios MoFo. And talk about gumption! You’re still here after supposedly protesting so hard last year.
Peaceful protesting is one of the ways that make America great and patriotic. And what happens during the anthem is not even in that category. The anthem protests are symbolic protesting and have my support.
Britain’s premier league manages quite nicely without any national anthem. Different brand of football but the fans over there are no less passionate than those in America. If the NFL’s long term plan to expand into Europe, Mexico and Japan succeeds, the national anthem will probably be dispensed with anyway…so why not just do that now?
How about the networks keep the cameras on a.) the anthem performer b.) the color guard present c.) the large stadium flag d.) the occasional military fly-by.
The player can have the “right” to protest, they do not have to have the “right” to be seen protesting or have their protest promoted.
The networks are losing viewers, this should have been simple to figure out.
I don’t like the protest. I think it’s disrespectful to the flag and our country……
But…..
I totally support the players right to protest. This is America. As much as I disagree with them I will defend their right of free speech and to protest.
If you’re with a private company (the NFL) you don’t have that right.
The NFL who makes profit off of public tax money? That’s nice.
The 1A doesn’t protect your right to protest on tv in the NFL… It means the gov’t can’t silence you. This is way different.
I’m sure the NFL can mandate that its broadcast affiliates stop putting the protesters on camera. That is such a simple solution it boggles my mind why it wasn’t done right away.
Hey, anybody know what Colin Kaepernick is doing with his super-marketable “Management” degree from Nevada, now that he has no athletic skills?
For that matter, what are any of these roided-up idiots capable of doing when they aren’t smashing their skulls together?
Ugh, here we go again. The NFL doesn’t know how to handle this. Knee jerk reactions with the new rule about standing for the anthem. Then when they get backlash from the public and media, it gets put on hold. Then when the NFLPA sues they back down. Idiots. Come up with a rule similar to the NBA and it’ll be ok.
Here’s my take, the players are employees of a private company (their teams and the NFL), therefore while wearing the uniform at work they should follow the rules set forth and stand for the anthem. When they are on their own time do whatever protesting they want for as long as they want. By doing so they can use their star power and fame to get their message as it’s gotten so screwed up by the different players).
I know in my job (government worker) I would be fined, suspended or terminated for my refusal to stand for the national anthem or respect for the flag. Hell in fact up until about 10years ago we weren’t even allowed to actively join or campaign for a political party on our own time and are still not allowed to on work time. That’s not even counting what fellow co workers would say/do!
More police are killed by blacks than police killing blacks. When they going to protest that?
These guys now are only protesting because they’re being told not to. They Are using the wrong platform. It’s been two years and their point is not getting to the appropriate market. The NFL is an advertising agency and if you’re Marketing agency has so many questions after working for you for two years then it’s time to move onto a new agency.
You’re right. It has been 2 years. The point has been the same throughout. You seem to think that an 18th century drinking song takes precedence over the 1st Amendment right to self-expression. No one is hurt by an athlete kneeling during the NA. Not one person has died because of it. Meanwhile, a lot of black people get shot and killed by cops unnecessarily in this country every single day. 2 years of these facts and you still haven’t figured it out. That’s weird, huh?
Look up actual facts about “police brutality” and you’ll find that it doesn’t exist to the extent people think it does, if at all. Thank the liberal media. Hands up don’t shoot was a flat out lie and that was a major start in the blm movement. Time and time again it turns out that the criminal was not cooperating with police or escalated the situation. The media doesn’t want to show that because it doesn’t fit their anti-cop narrative. They only want the black vote. I really hope you don’t think blacks are shot unnecessarily everyday in America by cops. That is so far from the truth. Sadly blacks are shot everyday unnecessarily, but by others blacks. Almost all the time in these “police brutality” stories it’s a person commits a crime, the police tell them to comply with directions, they don’t, the situation is escalated, trained officer shoots criminal to save his own life. Does that sound like a more viable option than claiming a country who elected a black president is full of racist cops/people? Doesn’t add up. I’m not trying to attack, I just want people to see truth.
Well said ! People only want to hear “the facts ” when they fit their agenda or campaign !
How are you denigrating my facts not advocating your own agenda or campaign? I mean, do you know understand how much of a hypocrite you are? Not that it matters, but you don’t really come off as a smart cookie, Chum.
You know so much, and yet, when you write it out, you know next to nothing. Amazeballs.
It’s good man. Don’t bother writing back if you’re just gonna call me stupid. I’m just stating my view on how I see it and want you and others to consider it.
Just like you haven’t figured out that that freedom of speech does not pertain to private entity. If I’m paying you I can tell you what to do.
Have you ever been a boss, Ironman?
No. I can tell you right now as a firefighter, if i don’t do what my superiors tell me to do, i will be replaced by someone who will.
” If I’m paying you I can tell you what to do.” – Ironguy_4eva
Uh, not here in the good ol’ USA! Did I NEED to list legal examples representing just HOW wrong you are? If so, should I keep it under 100? 500? Ya sure your not talkin’ N Korea here? Russia?
Can you tell me a job or profession where you Don’t have to listen to what the bosses say?
Depends on just what it is they’re saying, IronGuy. Not to mention the whys & hows. You seem to be conflating a few different things. If you want we can start small with fruit, as in the difference between apples & oranges. Then we can work our way up.
Im busy riding my unicorn.
Good old fashioned USA fascism. That’s what football blogs with chatrooms bring us. Yeehaw.
Anyone who knows their history knows the NFL did not always have the national anthem played before games. The sky didn’t fall then and they have even more reason to dispense with it now.
Can someone please explain to me what police Brutality has to do with the flag and national anthem. Football players are paid to play a sport. Like any other job, work is work and your off time is your off time to protest what you believe in. The players are being lazy and act like they care by kneeling for 30 seconds on tv when after the game they go to there million dollar homes. On your off time go to the inner city’s and plea your case not durning work hours where your bias is paying you to do your job and work. Don’t forget most these people claiming police brutality are criminals. If a police men tells you something and you don’t agree just follow what he says and later report it and fight it the legal way. My advice don’t break the law and you won’t have to deal with the police. Lol rant over God bless