NFL now makes it mandatory for players to stand during the National Anthem

USA Today

Everyone here knows that a few years ago, Colin Kaepernick starting sitting down during the US National Anthem. After speaking to a former servicemember, he decided to kneel instead of sit as a compromise to continue his protest. Other players started to join in on the protest.

Fast forward to last year, and after remarks made by President Trump insulting players that were kneeling during the anthem, more than 200 players sat or took a knee during the national anthem. The mass protest caused fans to split between honoring the National Anthem and standing with players protesting.

Today, the NFL announced that any team that has players that kneel during the National Anthem can be penalized for their actions. Players that do not want to stand are permitted to stay in the locker room in lieu of standing in the field. They have also given teams the leeway to add their own penalties to players that kneel, to include fines.

The NFLPA was not happy with the decision, especially since they were not given a vote in the decision:

It seems that the NFL may be caving to pressure over people upset with the kneeling and sitting. What do you think about the policy?

*Before anyone says this violates the First Amendment, the First Amendment only prohibits the government from forcing you to stand for the flag. That does not extend to private employers, who can set their own rules (assuming that they don't violate discrimination or other labor laws) and penalize employees that don't follow their rules.

@ad1x2: NFL is doing the right thing.

Especially considering the reason why the anthem is being played.

Also a good way of avoiding another case of Trump or the few active far-leftist in the NFL highjacking the sport.

Way to (symbolically) crap on the sacrifices all those who gave their lives to grant people the ability to NOT kneel if they choose to do so. Sure, they are private and have the right to do this, but it’s no less of a disgrace to the memory of those that fought and bled for their ability to do so if they wished it.

Lol, this is going to come back and bite them.

Forced patriotism isn't patriotism.

So basically they're saying, "Entertain us and don't make anyone think about actual problems in our country. We want your phyiscal prowess, your stories perhaps, your ability to look good so we can sell products and tickets, but we don't want your minds."

mmm. forced patriotism

the best kind

No, what they are saying is "Don´t use a moment that is dedicated to honouring the men and women who fight for our country to further your own political ideas, use your status as a star and do it on your own social platform"

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree and move on.

That is debatable. While I would never kneel, I know that there are others that desire to, and this is really going to piss off the people that are for allowing them to kneel. Several media outlets have shown that they are upset, and a few people even went as far as calling them racist.

Forced patriotism isn't patriotism, but it's obvious that this rule was put in place due to the people protesting the fact that the NFL didn't make any attempt to stop players from disrespecting the National Anthem, especially when a lot of people watch football to forget about politics and the kneeling after Trump's speech was in direct defiance of him.

But at the same time, they are still exercising their right as a private employer, just like if you worked for McDonald's and walked in there with a Wendy's shirt, they could fire you if you refused to change. In neither case, you are being threatened with arrest.

well I imagine someone will sue them or something

Sue them for what?

NFL is not a public organisation.

Jets owner has already stated he will not be fining any of his players and will happily pay the fines himself. I want to see how many just stay in the locker room.

@Jacanuk: Are you aware that the military PAYS the NFL for the right to perform the anthem before games? That doesn’t sound like they are honouring anything when the NFL is only doing it to fatten up their wallet.

That doesn't mean they can't be sued. Since the Players are looking into it, i they don't like it then I imagine they will try to sue the NFL

its time for the NFL players to walk out and quit and form a new football.... being forced to do something isn't right and i can't wait till goodell steps down or retires after the NFL collapses

Again sued for what?

And no not liking a private organisations policy is not a reason.

It is if they decide it violates their collective bargaining agreement

That will be King Combovers next rallying cry to take the attention away from his many legal problems.

Please link to that and a credible link that confirms that the only reason the national anthem is played is that they are paid.

And while you find that link let´s look at the reason

"1945: NFL commissioner Elmer Layden said, "The playing of the national anthem should be as much a part of every game as the kickoff. We must not drop it simply because the war is over. We should never forget what it stands for.""

The NFL will return $723,734 it was paid by the Defense Department to honor the military at games, Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter to Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/19/nfl-returns-723734-paid-honor-military/84592204/

This is old news. All of the American pro sports leagues do this and accept money.

Is it the only reason? Maybe not. The NFL also gets good PR from it and projects that they are "pro-military".

Well, as I put it began as a tribute to the troops and even though greed has gotten a hold of the tradition, it does not take away from the tribute.

@Jacanuk: I think it does take away from the tribute.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please rise as we honor our troops, present and past..... because they paid us to."

@Jacanuk: surely though requiring people to stand during the national anthem takes away from it. As others have said, forced patriotism is not patriotism. This act goes against everything that the anthem allegedly stands for.

I say we just stop using the national anthem at football games altogether. That will keep people from kneeling.

@Serraph105: That’s a good idea. Only North America seems to play the anthem before domestic league games. In Europe they don’t do that.

Yes perfect solution. Most national anthems aren't even that catchy anyway.

Jesus who gives a **** if they kneel? Half of the people use the anthem time to go take a shit.

Christ people are so triggered over anything.

Well, how do you know what people feel? but as the Green Baret on CNN said to him and his comrades who actually have served it´s a tradition that means a lot to them.

And considering the number of troops America has and the amount we send overseas, I do not think it´s too much to ask that people stand for the few mins the national anthem plays.

And the players can just stay down in the locker room if they do not want to pay tribute.

Change "anthem" to a name of a sports team or a cartoon character

It´s funny when the left is offended you call it an outrage and something has to change, but when it´s things you do not agree with, people are just getting "triggered" and should get over themselves.

@Jacanuk: There have also been veterans that have stated they are not offended by kneeling and it is in fact part of what they fought for. So how is one green berets opinion any more valid than theirs?

Your first sentence says it all. One's employer can make the worker(s) do things within reason.

My impression of professional sports was always of it being ridiculous and unimportant. Far too much emphasis is placed on games. The NFL doesn't give a hoot in hell if any one sits or stands. All the league cares about is money and apparently it was negatively impacted by these political protests to the point where the league and owners suddenly address the situation.

It certainly seems like it.

This isn't about the national anthem. It's about preventing protest on the companies dime. It's about losing viewers who are offended. Lots of men and women serving overseas watch football. It was a bad time to pick to protest police brutality/equality. The message got messed up because of the timing of the protest. Back to this being a business, and they need to protect that part of it. I watch a lot of hockey and this never seems to be an issue there, not to mention they also sing the Canadian anthem if it's a Canadian team playing a US one. Maybe we'll see some pig socks from the few players that think that's a cool thing to do this year. Players should look at JJ Watts on how to raise awareness, off the field. Looking forward to this season without the drama of "Who's gonna be taking a knee today?? Ooooo".

Which is more offensive? A police state? Or NFL players kneeling?

@joshrmeyer: I got a good laugh out of you essentially telling black people when it is and isn’t okay for them to protest. Very American of you.

No I don't. Don't write fiction. Both sides do this.

You're being a SJW for a Flag.

@perfect_blue: Black people? Are you racist? This is business.

@joshrmeyer: The black players are the ones out protesting. How do you not know this? Did you think Colin Kaepernick is a white guy?

This is exactly what you said: “It was a bad time to pick to protest police brutality/equality.” If that isn’t telling black people when it’s not okay to protest, I don’t know what is. It was a racist thing to say but I’m sure you’re going to double down on it now.

Greg Hardy nearly beats his pregnant wife to death on a pile of guns and it's all "oh, let's sign him, he deserves a second chance," but players kneel to make a political protest and owners are all of the sudden like "we NEED to put a stop to that." If I hadn't already stopped watching years ago I'd stop watching now.

^this x1000.

And any interest I had in the NFL is dead. This is what helps normalize dictatorships.

I don't have an issue with this. This is causing a PR issue for the league, and any company would do what they can to mitigate that with it's company representatives on company time.

The fact that we are STILL talking about this shows how successful it's been, though. As with most protests, those against it have been the ones who have given it oxygen. If the players continue to believe this is something worth protesting, then they'll continue to do so in one way or another. And if those efforts continue to get pushback then their efforts will receive more attention. A controversial sacrifice always garners more attention than a passively acknowledge gesture.

@mattbbpl: It's going to cause negative PR either way. People keep talking about how many NFL viewers are in the army, but how many are black? How many agree with the political message behind the protests? There's no hedging their bets here, they're bound to piss off one segment or another. I hope the players keep kneeling. What I find funny is that it's not the players who get fined, it's the teams. Keep kneeling and watch the owners who are trying to make you stop lose money by fining each other, where's the downside here?

@theone86: I agree that they're in a no-win situation at this point.

Stop playing the national anthem before games. Problem solved. In fact, all national anthems should be banned from sports.

How about we stop wasting tax dollars paying teams for that.

Good move by the NFL......if the players don't want to respect the flag and the country that opened up the doors for their success, they can stay in the locker room the whole game for all I care.

@perfect_blue: Both Kaps parents are white. His skin is black I guess but he was raised in a traditional white household. Not understanding why that matters if he's black or white? I knew it was mostly(or all) black players doing the protest, but I figured that's because majority of football players are black. Wasn't there some white players doing it too? Or at least supporting it? Like Aaron Rodgers? Why can't white people kneel in protest of cops inequality? Didn't know you had to be black to be part of the protest or awareness message. You sound extremely racist. You can't argue the fact that these players are employees, and they are at work when they're on the field for game day. It's like any other private business. Has nothing to do with race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. I'm sure all those players have an off day or two that they can do a protest off work hours. And I'm sure they all have plenty of money to help their cause. Kneeling during the anthem sent the wrong message to the country/world. It was a show of defiance during something that many hold as important. Kap was a great QB and had the platform available to use in the right way to get his message out. His pig socks ruined most of his credibility though. It was a distraction before the game, when players should have been 100% focused on the game plan. It's one game a week that he had to play. As a QB he's also a leader on offense. Head needs to be in the game. There's also a ton of off season to promote his awareness program. Again, why during the anthem?? He didn't have to put his hand on his heart or salute the flag or recite the anthem, he just had to stand there for 30 secs. His message is ruined now. Lesson for other players trying to pull this crap. And FYI, I think Kaps heart was in the right place, he just didn't think though what the general response would be and the consequences of it. FYI, Kaps birth mother was White, father was Black. Does that qualify him as Black? Sounds mixed to me. Again, I don't know why that matters to you. You don't have to be a certain race to protest injustice, or inequality.

What a load of complete and utter bullshit.

How dare they do this. This is arguably one of the most un-American policies I have seen a non-governmental organization implement.

This is going to backfire. I hope the owners and coaches stand with the players, and not the NFL. The sport in general is already on the decline, this just hastens it.

WTF is the NFL even doing taking a stance on a subject like this, anyway? Kneel, sit, stand...who cares? Let the players be who they want to be, and let the sport and fans sort them out.

Yeah, this too. Between the national anthem--which I have no idea why it's played--the flyovers of Air Force jets, paratroopers landing during half time, recruiting stations, and the constant enlistment commercials shown during games, it's pretty obvious the NFL has a nice little propaganda contract with the US military.

I hope they do something else, then, instead of kneel.

Maybe they can stand and hold up their middle finger. Or a raised fist.

Or, screw it, do a Wakanda forever