This evening, we have reports that the NFL owners plan on appeasing Donald Trump and anti-protest folks like Clay Travis, Tomi Lahren, and co. by plotting to impose a ridiculous and anti-American 15-yard penalty for having their players kneel during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner (aka the National Anthem) for the upcoming NFL season if teams do decide to come out on to the field that could likely cause more problems than it purports to solve.
This is a misguided and farcical attempt by the cowardly right-wing NFL owners to try to solve the anthem protest issue that’s percolating around the NFL the past 2 seasons that was started by the unjustly blackballed former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick during the 3rd week of the 2016 NFL Preseason in response to racial injustice and police brutality. And if they are foolish and brazen enough to impose a 15-yard penalty for it, then I hope more players defy this anti-American edict designed to discourage protests during the playing of the national anthem by kneeling or raising fists.
Patrick Smith at ThinkProgress:
National Football League (NFL) owners are engaged in discussions regarding how the league will respond to players who kneel in protest during the national anthem, and one of their reported solutions seems likely to only increase tensions between the league and players.
Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday that owners have proposed imposing a 15-yard penalty on teams whose players protest during the anthem. Whether teams are required to come out on the field during the anthem would be left up to the home team. It’s unclear why a protest that takes place before the game would result in a penalty assessed during the game.
This reported move comes from a gathering of team owners in Atlanta, Georgia, where kneeling during the anthem was to be at the top of the agenda. An NFL official previously said their expectation was for teams to set their own policies.
Many players today are kneeling in protest of police brutality and racial inequality. Then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the movement by taking a knee during the 2016 season.
John Breech at CBS Sports:
According to Sports Illustrated, the NFL's owners are considering a two-part rule that would likely face some serous backlash if it were to be implemented. The first part of the rule isn't that controversial: The home team would get to decide if both teams stay in their locker room for the anthem or if both teams head out to the field.
The second part of the rule is where some potential backlash might come in: If the two teams do stand on the field for the national anthem, then any player who decides to kneel would be penalized 15 yards.
That rule would probably feel like a slap in the face to the dozens of players who have been kneeling during the anthem as a way to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Not to mention, it probably wouldn't be a good look for a league that's currently dealing with Colin Kaepernick's collusion case.
The home team decision part isn’t the problem, but the 15-yard penalty proposal is a major problem that makes the issue even more heated than it already is.
Tyler Conway at Bleacher Report:
Protests during the national anthem have been the most polarizing topic in sports since Colin Kaepernick began doing so during the 2016 preseason. Kaepernick began kneeling in protest of racial injustice across the United States, particularly police brutality against African Americans.
A number of other players, including then-teammate Eric Reid, joined in the protest. Kaepernick and Reid are each currently pursuing collusion grievances against the NFL, claiming team owners kept them out of the league because of their protests, which are not currently prohibited under league rules.
President Donald Trump has been one of the staunchest critics of protestors, calling on the NFL to fire or suspend players who knelt. Trump's public rhetoric caused a widespread player protest last September, but league owners, some of whom are friendly with the president, have taken heed of his message.
Kevin Seifert and Dan Graziano at ESPN outlining all the potential national anthem proposals for the NFL:
Among the possibilities discussed, according to sources, were:
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Allow each team to implement its own policy
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Clear the field of all football personnel while the anthem is played
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Instruct players who don't want to stand to remain in the locker room while the anthem is played
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Impose penalties on teams and players who do not stand, including a 15-yard penalty and/or fines
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Add contract language that requires players to stand
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Leave the current policy in place
My take: The NFL should be ashamed of themselves if teams get penalized 15 yards for having players kneel during the playing of the national anthem. And if this cowardly proposal goes through, then that’ll be the end of my NFL-following days (except for fantasy football). I’ve stuck through several crappy Rams teams during the latter years of their time in St. Louis, having my former favorite team relocated back to LA by deceitful owner Stan Kroenke, and countless cheating and biased officiating incidents favoring the Cheatriots, but this may very likely be the last straw if enacted.
Summary on why the NFL’s proposed actions are an insult to America and to NFL fans, from my post back in September 2016 on this issue:
Our 1st Amendment protects the rights of those who express themselves in these manners during the anthem, regardless of whether or not you agree or disagree with such actions. Our military (whether active or retired) fought for our rights as Americans to choose whether we as Americans choose to stand, sit, kneel, or raise our fists for the national anthem.