Good point Remoh. NFL is a joke. Dont bother watching it.

Because it might offend somebody remoh, the fake news media. I’ve just about lost all respect for the NFL

This is all  on the incompetence of Roger Goodell to handle social issues as they arise..This policy should have been articulated as soon as Kaepernick got in the "kneeling" position, and nipped right in the bud..The President knows he has won this battle, and that's why he throws  a little more fuel on the fire from time to time..The fans want the players on the field, standing and respecting the flag and the anthem, without any power "salutes " too..

Advertisers, sponsors, vendors, cripes the owners , all want the players standing..and yet here we are going into year 3, its mind boggling this is still an issue, and a testament to Goodell's incompetency..No wonder Jerry Jones led  a group to unseat him..Speaking of Jones, kudos to him for coming out with  a policy that his team will be on the field, and standing..He's  a businessman, he knows when people are fed up..

ESPiN radio is claiming that Jerry and the Cowboys policy is unenforceable because it hasn't been cleared by the NFL.

they’re making it harder and harder to turn on a NFL game. I use to watch every Falcons game but last year I only watched a few, I may even cut a few back to none.

Time reported on this over a year ago, so it hasn't really been ignored.  The issue is the section where it says the word "may", which basically gave the league an out to not fine or discipline anyone. Now that players are actually doing it, of course it's become a debate. It's not really "against" the rules if the NFL is allow to ignore it.  Or so the argument goes...

Kinda like the NBA... they have a more forceful policy in place regarding the anthem, yet no player has decided to kneel so it's not talked about. In fact, we actually had coaches like Steve Kerr saying "I'm proud to be in a league that understands patriotism in America is about free speech," while ripping the NFL's policy.  Even though the league he coaches in (NBA) actually HAS A STRICTER POLICY.

ROTFLMAO

Do they even show the anthem on TV? Honestly, maybe I just come in a bit to late to see it?

Honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about on the left.  Yes, I can be liberal sometimes but this isn't a free speech issue IMO.  If you are employed by someone, your employer has the right to tell you how to behave while at work. PERIOD.

Of course there are religious and decency exceptions to that, but standing for a national anthem isn't burdensome to anyone. Especially when part of your employment is about presenting a positive image to the customer.

When these arguments come up, I just SMH because many liberal just don't seem to understand what free speech is...  It's protection from the government, not a blank check to say or do anything you want at work.

Exactly Roam, the NFL players think the media is their friend and they’re not. The liberal nut bag media would love to see the NFL go under. IMO I think the media is trying to destroy the tv ratings of the NFL, they know exactly what they’re doing.

Why does everything have to be a right or a left thing? Why is there no middle ground anymore?

Well, this is a pretty black and white issue PSUWVUNCSU...  Either the NFL has the right to force their employees to stand for the flag, or they don't.  Only middle ground I can think of is the NFL saying do what you want, and the players realizing it's probably a good thing to stand.

My problem with players protesting is this: Their argument consists of having someone else pay for their platform. They all say they have the right to protest, but want someone else to pay for their stage. Yes, they have a right to protest... what they don't have a right to do is force the NFL, or a team to pay for their airtime.  And to me, that's exactly what they are doing.

They can protest at home. Go to Congress. Speak out on social media. Protest in their communities. Etc. etc. etc. Those are great, more power to them. However, at a football game they are making money from an employer, and that employer has the right to enforce a code of conduct on them. Their employer isn't saying they can't protest, they are saying they aren't going to pay for them to do it at work.

My problem is with the dichotomy. Left or Right. Black or White. Bad or Good. Everything has to be placed into one of two categories. There are no shades of gray in our society, but that is a larger problem. Things are rarely that simple. We demonize one group and turn as many as we can against them as possible.

Part of the NFLs problem is their poor relationship with their union. The NBA has a much better relationship with their union and that is why they both agreed to not have these sorts of things happen. They have both agreed that such disturbances are bad for business. But the NFL has, as one commentator described as, a "plantation" mentality over many years. That makes it more difficult to sit  down with players/union and solve a problem. Jerry Jones is indicative of that mentality. He says stupid things and then looks silly when things go in a different direction.

Also, they've let a twice rejected applicant for team ownership turned politician bully them into a corner. The problem was actually going away before that happened.

As far as the legal situation, I've heard that if any of the other NFL teams were going to sign Colin Kaepernick but were pressured not to do so by the league or other team owners then that opens them up to discrimination. The courts will make that determination.

As far as making money, the NFL made more money last year than it did the year before. They made $14 B in 2018 which is a $6 B increase from 2010. Roger Goodell's target is to hit $25 B by 2027.

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The NBA has a good relationship with the union????  They had a lockout only 6 years ago and had the policy of players must stand for the Anthem long before the NFL did.  NBA players routinely complain about dress codes being racist, and the owner of the Clippers was a known outright racist for years before the league decided to do anything about it.

To say they have a good relationship with the union is....  Interesting.

However, I agree with you about shades of gray.  We've lost the ability to empathize with others and see things from a different perspective

I have lost all respect for every arm of the media. Not sure why but I continue to occasionally tune in Radio, I did it briefly today and they just can't keep themselves from stoking the anthem debate flames. They don't talk about it Non-Stop but no matter what they are talking about they continuously bring it into the conversation.

That was suppose to say occasionally tune in to espn radio

Greetings Gentleman! I hope all of you are well and congratulations to Bill on the purchase of his website .. Here is my take on this national anthem thing... A lot of people over the past 242 years for everybody to express themselves, protest and speak their mi ds as long as they don't bring any personal harm to anyone else. The real question that I feel should be asked is why don't these guys want to stand for the national anthem? I am sure I am in the minority here but I ask all of you as to what makes the USA different than Russia, China, North Korea and all the other tyrannical countries around the world that force their citizens to stand at attention and worship statues and portraits of whoever the leader of that country is. When we start forcing our citizens to stand for our national anthem we are no different than those aforementioned countries. The issue to me isn't whether or not they choose to sit, kneel or stand but why do they feel this way? The day we start forcing people to conduct themselves a certain way out of patriotism it will be the end of our system of democracy .. The goal should be that everyone should WANT To stand at attention and not feel they were forced to... Just my 2 cents fellas... Great site....nice to not have to deal with Penn Live anymore .. Be well everybody.

Nice to see you back FD. I agree with your thoughts. If they don't want to stand, that's up to them, provided it's not against the "company rules".  On the other hand, I don't need to watch NFL any longer either.

Glad our government isn't doing that either, because it is the company they work for that is doing it.

When you get paid for your time, you don't have the right to do whatever you want and still get paid for it. Don't want to stand?  No problem... You just don't get money for it.

Here's my take in the nutshell. I spent 30 years 4 months and 15 days supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and I did then and still do bear true faith and allegiance to the same. My personal choice, like it it not, don't give a shit, I will always stand for our flag and national anthem! With that said, EVERY US CITIZEN has their right to peaceful protest! That is what this is about, it's not about free speech, or employers, its about peaceful protest.

I have no ill will about anyone peacefully protesting however, with that said, I don't have to agree with it nor do I have to like how or the manner in which they choose to do it. But, they are not going to impact my life or the things that I enjoy, whether it be watching Pro football or anything else. The only caveat to this is, if in your protest you choose not to do it in a peaceful way and you pose a threat to me or my family, stand the fuck by!! That's pretty much it.

I agree with everything you said Navylion…  However, my point is and always has been that while you have the right to peaceful protest, you do not have the right to make your employer pay for it.

You can't flip off your employer, call it a peaceful protest, and expect them to give you a paycheck. Same thing goes for this, if they want you to stand for the flag... you stand. If not, you don't have to work there. I am all for peaceful protests and it's one of the things that makes our country great, but this isn't a freedom of speech issue. It never was. Just like the government doesn't have the right to censor your speech or jail you for it, no one has the right to force a person or company to pay for their platform.

This is what the Supreme Court has said time after time throughout the years. Not sure why people think it's changed.

So good to hear from you FD, we worried about you and missed your comments. I agree with you. While I myself was never served, I’m thinking those that do and did, especially those that paid the ultimate price did so to preserve Americans right to freely express themselves. Do I like kneeling during the national anthem? No! But I don’t agree with POTUS suggesting backwash for doing so. Having said this, Roam is correct in that it is the hands of the employer and terms of the players contract if they can kneel and not expect some kind of repercussions.

So that is my wishy washy, styraphoam backbone stance on that. However, I am really happy to see you back. How long have you been reading without replying anyway?

I respect our right to protest but have a simple question. Why can't people in their position as celebrities find an avenue to stage their protest without shitting on our flag? I'm going to the Steelers Monday night game in Tampa this year but as long as this flag crap continues I'll most likely not watch or attend any other games.