National Football League owners recently approved a new national anthem policy that requires players to stand if they are on the field during the performance, but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer. The policy also subjects teams to a fine if a player or any other team personnel do not show respect for the anthem. What do you think of this new policy?
The NFL lost me with their appeasement of the anthem protesters two years ago. Now they’re providing a safe space for disrespectful multi-millionaires in the locker room? This policy will backfire and the league will look toothless and impotent.
It’s not about NFL patriotism it’s about money. If this decision had been immediate then I would have felt different. I agree with h the decision letting them stay in the locker rooms. I understand the reason behind the protests but kneeling during the anthem was not the way. Some linked arms instead of kneeling & I would have been ok with this because they were showing respect by standing but showing solidarity with the theme of the protest. (I’m sure there are some who will disagree with this and that’s ok because you have the right to your opinions also).
Blacks have come a long way since the 60’s but there is still work to be done. LOCAL community leaders need to step up & work with youth in the low income communities. This should be open to all youth in the community no matter what race or nationality. This is a the only thing that will work & be a better use of federal
funds. Money which had been thrown at these communities for years but have done nothing but make them dependent on public assistance.
There would have to be accountability so there would have to be oversight. If there are no successes then that shows what is being done isn’t working and needs changes to the programs.
By letting players stay in locker room, nobody will really be able to identify the unAmerican players. So who does that help??
No drama in the National Hockey League. Vegas Goldenknights and Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Finals starting Monday!!!! NFL lost me!!
Too little and far too late! When Kaepernick got away with kneeling the first time, Goodell should have been fired for not penalizing him. His blatant disrespect for this nation should have never been tolerated. First the owners and Goodell should have known their fans better and realized that disrespecting our flag would not be good for anyone. But, no, Goodell and the owners coddled the spoiled brats until the reality of the situation hit their bank accounts. They allowed the fans to boycott and learn there really is a life without football and there are other things to do on a Sunday afternoon. Good luck getting them back; no matter what you do.
As for the conference in the locker room and allowing the team to decide to sit out the National Anthem; that won’t work. If they stay in the locker room until the anthem is over, fans will get up and walk out. They won’t be back for the next game either. A 15 yard penalty for each kneeler won’t satisfy fans either. If a player disrespects the flag or anthem in any way it should mean he is instantly FIRED on the spot and sent out of the stadium to never return.
The NFL has lost millions of fans and they will not be lured back by such pathetic attempts to ameliorate them.
No other employee in the USA is allowed to protest anything on company time! Why should the NFL be any different? If a player thinks he has a legitimate gripe, then deal with it on his own time; just like the rest of us must do.
The stupid players still don’t get it! We don’t care about their personal political issues, just play ball and shut the heck up, I don’t want to hear your bull crap
I think the controversy had pretty much died down with fewer and fewer players taking a knee. Time will tell but NFL management may have just poked the hornet’s nest when it didn’t need to. But at least now they have a policy.
It matters to me and I’m glad they did it, but I stopped watching games the first time I saw the first player do the clowning in the end-zone.
The only reason they passed this ridiculous rule was to placate the sponsors. Too late!!
I served for 25 years. Until you’ve experienced flag draped coffins, you’d understand the deep feelings that were trashed by this stunt. The games were an escape from the weekly grind. Just like going to a concert, I don’t pay my hard earned money to have the person or persons I paid to see either sing, entertain or play a game to take away from what I paid for to be subjected to their politics or ax they want to grind on my dime. I didn’t watch a single game last season, not even the playoffs or super bowl. I’ll watch college again this year, until they start the same silliness. It’s difficult to relate to someone who entertains or plays a game and makes millions doing it when we have teachers, first responders and our military giving so much more, some with their lives. It just doesn’t mess.
Not nearly enough! How about suspending the players that protest for the game, and forfeiting a game check. I think you would see their real “concern for social justice”, their wallets.This would also effect the “team” and then the owners and their teammates would handle the malcontents in house!
Pathetic!! Anyone who stays in the locker room should be fired on the spot! Why the hell would they think this is the answer to the problem? Tell em to stay on the field or go home and don’t come back!! That crumb bum Goodell
thinks people will be happy with this policy? He needs to go with his puffed up over paid traitors!
Too little, too late. This is a band aid on a severed artery. I believe any player who demonstrates disrespect for the flag and the national anthem, while on the field, should immediately be pulled from the roster for that game and fined 1/16th of his annual salary. We cannot tolerate highly paid players dissing the nation, the fans, and the owners all so they can play their little social justice warrior games. If they want to play politics, let’em do it on their own time, not ours, the fans.
I looked at a copy of the American Constitution back about 60 years ago. Best I can remember it said something like America should tend to their own business! My question is would these boys be playing games if we had stuck to what is??
The NFL did not take a stand for the nation through this compromise policy. So now we’ll see empty fields, and know that hearts have been unaffected or turned.
The best possible symbol of America is a young woman wearing bluejeans with you American flag sewn across her bottom. Americans can burn the flag. That’s a right. Americans can sit down during the anthem. That’s a right. What Americans do during the anthem is up to them. That’s freedom
Makes me proud that so many AMAC Members realize how Important the National Anthem is and means to Our Freedom !
Memorial Day is to remember All Wo Served and are serving! God Bless America
There are no “do-overs” when it comes to respecting our flag and national anthem. They showed their true allegiance is to their brothers of color, not to our country,. As has been said; “if you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem “. To divide the country in this manner is tantamount to treason. These spoiled athletes earn millions of dollars, just like actors and politicians. They all have lost touch with who pays those obscene dollars. Now that they’ve been reminded they want the do-over. Not just no, hell no!
Fines don’t matter! They have money(our money). America gives them everything-love it or lose it! The only thing that will matter to them is not being able to play and make money – take it all away!
The sad reality is that ALL sports have become gods to the American people (& people worldwide). Sports are good in their place, but God is most important and our idols always disappoint us in the end. I gave up on the NFL when I finally awoke to the reality that we only have a limited set of time in this world . . . and I was personally accountable to Him for my time. Watching sports can be a fun bit of entertainment, but we cannot let it rob us of time that should be spent in service to Him.
Still enjoying college football in our house ! ? NFL games welcomed..
Go ahead, kneel. I stopped watching you.
I think they should fire him if they can’t respect our country and our flag let them go somewhere else
To little to late and if NFL has teeth and holds the line I think players should be fine they make way to much money they are always in trouble.
It’s called a team and for that reason they should show up on the field as a team or not be permitted to play the game at all!
The NFL are a bunch of idiots trying to please the left not realizing that the main support was from the right.
As far as I’m concerned these big paid football players don’t want to stand fire them. I wouldn’t give them the out to stay in the locker room either they just need to go who cares who needs them there’s plenty of players that are patriots
So, this watered-down rule is supposed to correct the outrageous lack of respect flaunted by all those ungrateful, spoiled-brat players and coaches? NO!
The damage is done. We know what they’re about.
One team owner even said he’ll allow his employees to sit or “take a knee,” and he’ll pay the fine.
Do they really think we’re that stupid?
Maybe the National Anthem should be celebrated be fore the teams come out onto the field. Or maybe do not play the National Anthem at all be cause it does not mean as much when it’s played all the time at so many sporting events. The players do not have a ” free speech ” right on this matter as there is no government involved. The US Constitution states that the government shall make no law restricting a persons right to express themselves.
still too little if the players are playing they need to be on the field
I quit watching the National Felons League a few years ago. Nothing but rich, drug infested thugs. “
Staying in the locker room so they don’t have to respect our flag and our people that protect our country and everyday life is still a protest during the NFL games. They still get their own way of protesting to people that pay to see the NFL games and don’t want their political views. We have decided to never watch the NFL games ever again. Sorry great respectable players but it’s called a team so you are on that team.
I walked away from the NFL and MLB years ago after there were a number of strikes, walkouts, etc. I also don’t follow the NBA, which, like the NFL, is overrun with scumbags, thugs and other uglies. I live in NE Ohio and couldn’t care less about what the Cavs are doing. These geniuses, like their Hollywood counterparts, seem to think that since they rake in millions of $$$ that their opinions stands above those of everyone else. They’re morons and have no intelligence or common sense. IF the NFL folded tomorrow, I wouldn’t weep for it.
New policy sucks & here’s why……Each of these guys signs a contract with the NFL AND the owners of the team they join. EACH of those have clauses stipulating that the player must respect the flag & anthem & they are required to stand during the playing of it. When Kaepernick started all of this, the owner of the 49ers should have clamped down immediately & told him he was in violation of his contract. Because this WAS NOT DONE AT THAT TIME, other players followed suit & other owners didn’t address the issue. Not addressing it allowed the whole thing to get out of hand. HERE IS THE REAL ISSUE……were any of these guys in the private sector, they’d have lost their jobs immediately. I have no problem with the issues they are upset about, but they should take those issues and protest in another venue (like during their frequent TV interviews).When I support the NFL by going to a game or even watching it on TV, I AM A PAYING CUSTOMER TO SEE THEM PERFORM. It is an insult to me as a customer that they are projecting their views upon me who is paying them for FOOTBALL. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR CONCERT PERFORMERS…………I could care less what BARBARA STREISAND’S VIEWS (AS AN EXAMPLE) ARE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. That is why i stopped going to her concerts years ago; same now for me for the NFL. NEITHER THE LEAGUE NOR THE OWNERS NOR THE PLAYERS have learned any lesson from this. MY PREDICTION IS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE DECLINING SUPPORT IN MANY ARENAS.
This is a weak and insulting attempt by Goodell and the NFL owners to fool everyone into thinking they have addressed and resolved the issue. They ALL need to quit dancing around the issue, “grow a pair” and establish firm rules (policies, if you will) that require all active roster players to be on the sidelines and standing for the national anthem, period! No warnings or fines issued for violations. First violation results in 8 games suspension (without pay) for the player and 5 million dollar fine for the team/owners with all money (the teams’ fine and the players’ pay) to be donated to a newly formed committee with the responsibility to truly address the issue. Second violation results in the player banned from the NFL for life and a 10 million dollar fine for the team/owners. With no loopholes PERIOD. No reviews, appeals, or whining.
I used to be a season ticket holder for over 20 years and I am boycotting ALL forms of the NFL until this disrespect of our great nation is truly addressed with results I can accept. No window dressing allowed.
The NFL started losing me when they allowed all the pink equipment on the field the entire month of October. While raising the awareness of breast cancer is laudable, the real support was for the Susan G. Komen foundation, a very big supporter and funder for Planned Parenthood. All my letters of objection to this were ignored.
Then came the national anthem protests, Black millionaires protesting the racism and inequality of our country! Really? Look at them! And thank you, Barack Obama, for creating this situation. He made everything about race, as well as Michelle, Eric Holder, and Loretta Lynch, pouring gasoline on the embers of racial intolerance. As the NFL lost viewers and supporters, some of the players had the nerve to say “it isn’t about the flag”. Well if that’s true, then stand for the anthem, show respect for our country, its values, and all those who served to preserve our freedoms, and figure out another way to protest, on your own time and dime!
It is sad that multimillion dollar contracts are handed out like candy to individuals who do drugs, disrespect individuals and disrespect our Country.
Tell the T.V. people to quit showing them. It is not the “I do not see it, so it does not happen” thought, but more of, if no one is shown kneeling and the commentators do not talk about it then they are “protesting” to the people in the crowd not everyone across the nation and world that watch. Also, I can tell you from experience of being at a few games, very few in the crowd are paying attention to the people on the side lines at this time. Take away their limelight to show them that we do not care for their childish behavior and as the end of a movie pointed out (you might as well go away because you do not matter to us)
I have been watching pro football for as long as I can
remember. The players loved playing the game, the fans ( loyal, I might say) would sit in the stadiums by the thousands in any weather, blizzards,torrential rains, or extreme heat. They just loved the game. Then
somewhere along the line things changed. It all became about the money. I do not begrudge anyone the right to earn a lot of money, but not at anyone else’s expense. I have four brothers that fought for this country ( they volunteered) so that we Americans
could be free to pursue our dreams. For the NFL and the players to show blatant disrespect for this flag and our National Athem is unforgivable. The damage can not be repaired. GOODBYE NF…. I am done.
Too little, too late, is exactly what came to my mind, before I had read down to the options. I was already fed up with all the “look at me and see what I did” actions of all those big babies that just gained a half yard and they act like they’re the only thing that counts. Football was a TEAM game when I appreciated it, but now it’s just a bunch of prima donnas, (and might I add, grossly overpaid), who just want to thump their chests, point at themselves, kiss their own body, etc. CK turned me away FOREVER, and what has happened since only serves to disgust me more. The NFL needs my/our support, to survive, but guess what? I/we don’t need them.
If player who does not stand for his anthemand is an American citizen, should be suspended from the league.
Oops…. forgot the “ L “.
Too many hoods in the league. I left watching football long time ago. Don’t miss it.
The issue was addressed by the league strictly as a concern over profit
I will continue to NOT watch NFL games for the rest of my life!! I get more pleasure out reading good book!
Way too late and not enough. I’d have loved to have had a few of these pampered pets with me in the back of my Chinook when it was full of body bags and wounded Americans on the way to the mortuary and hospital in Vietnam. These creeps don’t have a clue what brutality is. Join the military and get your head on straight. And do something for their country and community instead of themselves.
There’s a much simpler solution: all teams remain in the locker room until the CONCLUSION of the National Anthem. The stadium announcer then tells the crowd that the teams “are now entering the field.” I can assure you they’ll be met with “booing” that’l last for minutes.
I refuse to watch overpaid, unpatriotic, crybabies
I refuse to watch unless all players stand for the National Anthem. Staying in the locker room is the same as kneeling.
Is there another country on the planet who would pay exorbitant salaries to a bunch of ‘men’ playing a little boy’s game?
Exactly what are they protesting?
If I showed up at work advertising my ’cause,’ I’d be marched out of the building by security. How do these nitwits get away with it?
No more NFL; won’t watch them, won’t support them.