NFLNational Anthem protests what do you think?

[Erika1487]

I think it is driving away fans in droves and the owners are basically screwed to do anything about it :(

I love pro football but if this keeps up there might not be a game left to watch in the next few years!!

[Ben in LA]

Let them exercise their first amendment rights. Besides, the protest isn’t going on DURING the game, so the game itself isn’t being affected.

[Stavros]

The obvious solution is to stop playing the national anthem before every game, with the exception of the Superbowl. These are just domestic games, not internationals. You don't suddenly become less of an American if you stop playing it, you don't suddenly hate your country. What you have is a football game, which is what the fans want to see. These comments on the anthem at ice hockey matches also argues to drop the anthem-
http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/nhl-could-avoid-controversy-by-just-not-playing-national-anthem-before-games-anymore

[slave2u]

Let them exercise their first amendment rights. Besides, the protest isn’t going on DURING the game, so the game itself isn’t being affected.

indeed - and stop going on about it and let it become part and parcel of the game and it will just soon become something no one comments on. if trump and his alt-right supporters hadn't made such a big issue of it there would have been just a few players taking the knee.

ironically it seems to show those most advocating free speech (alex jones and his pals to name one) are quick to want to shut down protest when they don't agree with it. thus showing the limits of their version of free speech.

[dns4809]

Alex Jones and hannity are not real americans not disrecepting anything so prayer is bad .Im A NYG fan there team sucks and the play of teams this year sucks. this country is so divided with Nazi marching is the street damn my dad would be pissed after 24 missions over germany in WW2 this country has enought problems with out HATE
my 2 cent

[Stavros]

Post the NFL decision to cave in to the Confederate General:

Former NFL quarterback Sage Rosenfels on Wednesday laid waste to the league’s new policy mandating that players either stand for the national anthem (https://www.rawstory.com/2018/05/dangerous-un-american-aclu-takes-nfls-new-national-anthem-policy-woodshed/) before games or wait inside their locker rooms until the anthem is finished. Writing on Twitter, the former player attacked the new NFL initiative by saying (https://twitter.com/SageRosenfels18/status/999346406686121984) that “forced patriotism is the opposite of freedom.”



He also said (https://twitter.com/SageRosenfels18/status/999338242968358913) that, while he had the utmost respect for the men and women in America’s military, “peaceful protests are extremely important for us to remain a free country.”

More here-
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/05/former-nfl-player-lays-waste-leagues-hypocrisy-american-flag-one-perfect-photo/

[Stavros]

Either this:

“The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”

Or this:

Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney replied with his own statement, saying that he is "equally proud of the Eagles' activism off the field" and that the players "represent the diversity of our nation — a nation in which we are free to express our opinions".
Disinviting them from the White House only proves that our president is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend," Mr Kenney said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-philadelphia-eagles-white-house-super-bowl-winners-football-nfl-a8383581.html

[youngblood61]

The funny thing is, the Eagles did not kneel all season.:shrug

[cleats50]

I love to watch the NFL but I support OUR President. The Eagles made it an issue by pulling out just prior to the meeting.

[Stavros]

I love to watch the NFL but I support OUR President. The Eagles made it an issue by pulling out just prior to the meeting.

Why go the White House anyway? Are you saying every successful sporting team must go to the White House? What for? Maybe you should re-think this whole process: for example, scrap the National Anthem at every game; it isn't necessary. And don't have a White House reception for a triumph the team has already celebrated. Separate sports from politics in that way. Winners of the soccer FA Cup in England don't go to a party at Buckingham Palace. Do the winners of American Darts get a photo-op in the Oval Office?

Maybe this is the President who has put an end to all this flim flam, because so many successful people don't want to to be seen in public with him.

[Indiana_2tall]

A.) Fuck all the kneelers. There are MUCH better ways to bring attention to “police brutality”. I still believe that 99% of the police do an admirable job! B.) The kneeling is sure helping to kill the game but the real killer is all the rule changes. C.)It should be an honor for your team to be invited to the White House. I can’t stand my boss or the C.E.O. of my company, but if they want to congratulate me or give me an award, then I will accept and thank them.