NFL and Anthem - no change in policy - viewership down 7.5% this year

[SF1900]

Although the NFL was contemplating the idea of making it a rule to stand for the National Anthem, recent reports suggest that nothing of the sort will happen.

http://nypost.com/2017/10/18/nfl-owners-want-players-to-stand-for-the-national-anthem/

NFL players can continue taking a knee during pre-game renditions of the national anthem, the league’s commissioner announced Wednesday.

Team owners met in Manhattan this week, in part to discuss the controversial protests that have captured the president’s ire and ignited a national debate over free speech, but league honchos ultimately opted not to rule on the touchy subject.

“We’re trying to stay out of politics,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “What we’re looking to do is get people focused on football.”

Players kneel during the song to bring attention to institutional racism.

The league is working to bring their numbers “down to zero,” Goodell said.

The commissioner said last week that “everyone should stand for the national anthem” but stopped short of issuing a mandate, instead saying owners would huddle with players this week to hash out “an in-season platform” for players to make social-justice statements.

The NFL Players Association union met with management in Manhattan yesterday for chats that Goodell described as “very productive.”

The groups did not discuss whether individual team owners should punish protesting players, according to Goodell.

President Trump, who waged war with the NFL on the issue last month, has said managers should fire “son of a bitch” players who kneel.

Trump has pressured Goodell to institute a rule change.

“They have a rule, you can’t dance in the end zone, you can’t wear pink socks, one guy’s mother had breast cancer and they wouldn’t let him, you can’t do anything! But you’re allowed to sit down for the national anthem,” he said at a fundraiser dinner, where he raised an estimated $5 million for the Republican Party.

[Nails]

I wish the entire Cowboys team knees, so Jerry Jones is forced to fire every player on the team, then he can hire an entire line up of bums of the street. And they also take a knee.  Nothing but losses or disqualifications by the cowgirls

[SF1900]

I wish the entire Cowboys team knees, so Jerry Jones is forced to fire every player on the team, then he can hire an entire line up of bums of the street. And they also take a knee.  Nothing but losses or disqualifications by the cowgirls

haha lol!

Roger Gooddell stated that NFL players are not trying to be disrespectful to the flag.

Seems like he is trying to get rating backs up.

Yet, viewership is still down:

Through the first six weeks of the NFL season, total viewership of games is down 7.5 percent, compared with the first six weeks of 2016.

An average of 15 million people watched games for the first six weeks this year, compared with 16.2 million people through Week 6 last season, according to metrics from Nielsen.

[Nails]

I still watch football , not always and the always are monday night and thursday night games. It's just to much of pussy sport now.   Everything other play is a hold by the Offensive lineman, or a illegal hit , or 15yeard for 2 hand touching the Quarterback to hard. 

Last week a great Jets TD turned to a touch back.   

The NFL is just as shitty now as the NBA, and the NBA has been really shitty for many years , just keep calling bullshit fouls put them on the Freethrow line to catch up and slow momentum down and making exciting

[Gregor]

To a non-American, what is puzzling is why it is necessary to play the national anthem at all before a professional football game and why reactions to the anthem need to be analysed as evidence of patriotism or loyalty.  It makes sense to include the national anthem in ceremonies or events of national or military significance, or before a sporting event involving teams from different countries, but it has no obvious relevance to a gladiatorial contest between two teams of highly-paid players who are all from the same country.  And why are the political views of sportsmen being treated as being of any special importance? 

[Nails]

Will be great to see what the NBA players do, since 99% of the league is black and they have a rule they all have to stand.   I recall they used to be allowed to wear anything they wanted when they showed up to work , then all the white rich crackers got upset and they forced them young negros to wear suits.


I bet they all stand come season opener

[Hulkotron]

To a non-American, what is puzzling is why it is necessary to play the national anthem at all before a professional football game and why reactions to the anthem need to be analysed as evidence of patriotism or loyalty.  It makes sense to include the national anthem in ceremonies or events of national or military significance, or before a sporting event involving teams from different countries, but it has no obvious relevance to a gladiatorial contest between two teams of highly-paid players who are all from the same country.  And why are the political views of sportsmen being treated as being of any special importance? 

Great questions

[Parker]

To a non-American, what is puzzling is why it is necessary to play the national anthem at all before a professional football game and why reactions to the anthem need to be analysed as evidence of patriotism or loyalty.  It makes sense to include the national anthem in ceremonies or events of national or military significance, or before a sporting event involving teams from different countries, but it has no obvious relevance to a gladiatorial contest between two teams of highly-paid players who are all from the same country.  And why are the political views of sportsmen being treated as being of any special importance?  

If you are European, what do they play before football (soccer) games? Do they ever play the national Anthem at all?
The playing of the anthem gives some semblance of national unity, when it really is a front.

And Colin being as high profiled as he is, his protest of police brutality became a political and social talking point, due to recent high profiled incidents.

[Nails]

Go to any stadium most of them keep pouring beer , putting weeiners in buns, pouring hot cheese on nachos and scanning tickets to get into the stadium,  The anthem matters only in the case of the players, not in the case of money in their pockets

[Megalodon]

To a non-American, what is puzzling is why it is necessary to play the national anthem at all before a professional football game and why reactions to the anthem need to be analysed as evidence of patriotism or loyalty.  It makes sense to include the national anthem in ceremonies or events of national or military significance, or before a sporting event involving teams from different countries, but it has no obvious relevance to a gladiatorial contest between two teams of highly-paid players who are all from the same country.  And why are the political views of sportsmen being treated as being of any special importance?  

There may be a relationship to being called the National Football League and having symbolism of the American Flag in their logo.

[Thin Lizzy]

If you are European, what do they play before football (soccer) games? Do they ever play the national Anthem at all?
The playing of the anthem gives some semblance of national unity, when it really is a front.

And Colin being as high profiled as he is, his protest of police brutality became a political and social talking point, due to recent high profiled incidents.

And as a result of all the bitching, police enforcement dropped dramatically causing a massive spike in crime which continues to this day. Now the fools are in a position of having to call for more law enforcement, which they can’t do as this would be admitting that their cause is bullshit, and that the only way to keep these shit holes from descending into chaos is aggressive policing.




Chicago Police Street Stops Decrease Dramatically Amid Sinking Morale - The Loop - Chicago - DNAinfo

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160113/loop/chicago-police-street-stops-decrease-dramatically-amid-sinking-morale


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-chicago-violence-500-homicides-20170926-story.html

Gun violence continues to savage Chicago. Police say that as of early Friday, the city has suffered 507 homicides. More than 2,800 people have been shot, according to a Tribune tally. The pace of killing is down nearly 8 percent from 2016, the most violent year in two decades. The number of shooting victims also has declined.

[Parker]

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/uncle-luke-kaepernick-exposes-nfls-patriotic-hypocrisy-9752954

[Bevo]

I wish the entire Cowboys team knees, so Jerry Jones is forced to fire every player on the team, then he can hire an entire line up of bums of the street. And they also take a knee.  Nothing but losses or disqualifications by the cowgirls

Never happen cause money talks in the end

Players don’t give a shit in the long run if millions of dollars are on the line

And you are a raiders fan, complete garbage of cholo fans and and a shitty team that’s about to move to Vegas

[Coach is Back!]

Well...Goodell gets his $40mil per regardless, what does he care that the league and teams take revenue losses. What a joke all based on fake “equality” BS.

[SF1900]

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/uncle-luke-kaepernick-exposes-nfls-patriotic-hypocrisy-9752954

If Kapernick does sue, 10-to-1, he will win.

[mphgrove]

It is a business decision and here is what it boils down to with the various stakeholders:
Employees - easier not to force the issue especialky with a union involved
Advertisers - these generally go with the more "liberal" and "progressive" stand; younger demographics, image of tolerance
Fans - split down the middle more than those on this Board realize, although probably more in favor of forcing the issue than not.  For example, Oakland and San Francisco fans tend to feel very differently about this than do Nashville and Jacksonville fans.

Thus the current business decision, which could change.

[jude2]

If Kapernick does sue, 10-to-1, he will win.

In a liberal court, but it might go to the supreme court and he will for sure lose there.

[SF1900]

In a liberal court, but it might go to the supreme court and he will for sure lose there.

Good point.

[rush223]

Look, these players are employees while they are carrying out their duties wearing that companies logo etc.. The owner can at any time tell a player he is to stand or u can beat feet. Period. No 1st amendment when it comes to private employment gentlemen. Arguing 1st amendment and it's wrong and if it went to this court blah blah fuckin blah.                                                                                                   

My favorites now are the racists throwing up Black Power fists. I forgot Trump is the hater. I hope there are some military mates in here to spread a little reality about what our flag is about and their brothers dying for that. For some of you thats what it may take for you to stop watching these idiots that are there making millions black powering your ass and you watch it. Not much difference in telling a fellow military mate to fuck off, that your heroes play football damnit! Boycott the NFL. Period.

[mphgrove]

It is a business so it is totally up to the owners to set the guidelines on what they require in their business. Having unionized employees may complicate it a little bit but it really shouldn't because First Amendment does not apply within a business as it does in a public setting (for example, forcing school kids to recite Pledge of Allegiance). Totally up to the owners on what they want to do and any court is likely to back them up whichever way they go.

[irishdave]

If you are European, what do they play before football (soccer) games? Do they ever play the national Anthem at all?
The playing of the anthem gives some semblance of national unity, when it really is a front.

And Colin being as high profiled as he is, his protest of police brutality became a political and social talking point, due to recent high profiled incidents.

Lol!!! It shows zero semblance of unity! Are you stupid!?? It's dividing your nation even more. You know white Americans snigger at you behind your back and don't consider you really American. Heck, you're not even African. I would never consider a black Nigerian with an irish accent born here Irish...ever. I see it on tv sometimes where libtards interview some of these Irish "citizens" and have a good old chuckle to myself  

[irishdave]

By the way NFL was an exciting game and I'm sorry to see it go down the tubes because of a few spoiled negros from the ghetto. Poor boys. Making 20m a year or whatever. So oppressed!!!

[irishdave]

Look, these players are employees while they are carrying out their duties wearing that companies logo etc.. The owner can at any time tell a player he is to stand or u can beat feet. Period. No 1st amendment when it comes to private employment gentlemen. Arguing 1st amendment and it's wrong and if it went to this court blah blah fuckin blah.                                                                                                  

My favorites now are the racists throwing up Black Power fists. I forgot Trump is the hater. I hope there are some military mates in here to spread a little reality about what our flag is about and their brothers dying for that. For some of you thats what it may take for you to stop watching these idiots that are there making millions black powering your ass and you watch it. Not much difference in telling a fellow military mate to fuck off, that your heroes play football damnit! Boycott the NFL. Period.

Spot on. You are a disgrace to America if you kneel before your nations flag to protest (especially during work hours). They are traitors to their nation. I wonder what military widows think of all of this? Does it bring back the painful images from the funeral where they're handed the folded flag by their husband's military colleague? Can these wives sue the players responsible? You can sue for anything in America sure.

And nobody can DARE call me a racist. I have a gay black friend. He's not only black but a homo as well. So STFU hippies.

[residue]

Spot on. You are a disgrace to America if you kneel before your nations flag to protest (especially during work hours). They are traitors to their nation. I wonder what military widows think of all of this? Does it bring back the painful images from the funeral where they're handed the folded flag by their husband's military colleague? Can these wives sue the players responsible? You can sue for anything in America sure.

And nobody can DARE call me a racist. I have a gay black friend. He's not only black but a homo as well. So STFU hippies.

When someone signs up for the armed forces(correct me if i'm wrong) the pledge the support and defend the constitution, not the flag? The same constitution that supports and defend flag desecration

[Vince G, CSN MFT]