The NFL is forcing players to stand for a flag that stands for their right not to have to stand for

[Aristus]

the flag.

It's another day in Paradise...

[tazkcmo]

1. I love football

So I don't watch NFL games.

[Aristus]

3. Well said. Exactly.

[tazkcmo]

5. I miss mud.

Sigh

[PoliticAverse]

2. Apparently players are being given the option to not come onto the field for the national anthem. nt

[Aristus]

4. I saw that.

Seems like the only logical thing to do short of dropping the whole idiotic issue.

[livetohike]

9. I remember when the team did not come onto the field

until after the anthem. Since 9/11 it has become overtly militaristic.

[notdarkyet]

14. After 911 the government paid the owners to make them include the anthem at every game.

The owners got paid millions for this. Probably why trump feels he can make them do what he says. As far as I know they are still getting money every year.

[Takket]

6. Link

https://www-m.cnn.com/2018/05/23/sport/nfl-spring-league-meeting-national-anthem/index.html

Time to boycott the NFL. make them see that we can all make way more noise than the MAGA idiots.

[exboyfil]

7. I wonder if it would be more effective

if the concerned players take news stories into the post game interview, and start with an opening statement how this story demonstrates the societal problems we are having. Seems more effective than pig socks or kneeling.

[ieoeja2]

31. I am amazed at the idiocy of the owners on this.

The few people who were angry at the owners for not doing this earlier so much that they boycotted the NFL -- and that has to be a very small number -- are going to continue boycotting because they are still angry at the owners for not doing this earlier.

So all this will accomplish is adding more people to the boycott who are angry at the owners for doing this now.

This move is absurdly stupid.

[dameatball]

8. The national anthem has its place, but it is not at a sporting event.

Most of the "patriots" are stuffing a hot dog in their mouth or getting in line to pee before the game starts.

[EffieBlack]

13. Exactly

This is absolute bullshit.

[MyOwnPeace]

10. This is all SO wrong!!!!

Like the OP says: "the flag stands for their right not to have to stand.............."

THAT is what the owners should be supporting, NOT caring about what ORANGE SHIT-FOR-BRAINS cares!

I know that they have a "product" that they have to protect to continue making their monies, but, really, they are losing a "teachable moment" - but, then again, they don't care!

Like I said, THIS IS ALL SO WRONG!!!!

[Solomon]

27. +1000

[Volaris]

11. I get why this is a big deal, but also don't get why it's such a big deal.

This is a PRIVATE business, with PRIVATE Employees. If Management doesn't give a fuck, why should any of the rest of us, unless those employees are being paid unfairly or discriminated against (legally). The Ayn Rand acolytes should be dancing in the fucking streets over these employees doing what they will since their employers clearly havent cared (to this point). Hooray for the All mighty Free Market, right?

When NFL games get broadcast on PBS, THEN I'll have a different opinion. But until that happens, if the EMPLOYER doesn't like it, it's between the them and the people they pay for work performed. And the rest of us can fuck right off with our opinions.

If I were the employer, I would just stop playing the damn song. Problem solved.

[EffieBlack]

15. This isn't just a private business

Plenty of my tax dollars supplement these billionaire owners.

[Volaris]

25. Not sure that should be the case for any of us, but since it is,

I'll concede the point that you feel you have a legitimate stake in the outcome, AND that your statement raises another set of questions regarding what our tax dollars should be getting spent on. I'm of the opinion that I didn't set the rules. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to let the deplorable off the hook when the rules they've been screaming about for the last half century don't work in their favor.. they (and the opinions of their deplorable president) can suck it.

[avebury]

12. It is all in how you interpret the rule.

Sure they can stand, but there is nothing in the rule that says that they cannot stand and turn their back on the flag.

I would also love it if someone could find a way to blast the Russian anthem loud enough to drown out the US anthem (while revealing the Russian flag.

[elleng]

16. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,

or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[MichMan]

18. Congress passed a law about the NFL and the anthem?

I must have missed it

[LanternWaste]

19. Like you, I'd also pretend to conflate the two to better miss an obvious and valid point.

Like you, I'd also pretend to conflate the two to better miss an obvious and valid point. It's easier to appear clever than to be clever...

[MichMan]

22. Drives me crazy when people dont understand freedom of speech

It is not absolute . It does not mean anyone can say whatever they want at anytime and can't be held accountable.

Go tell your boss what you really think of them or how your wife looks in her new shorts and tell me how it works out for you

[mythology]

24. Actually it's not a valid point at all

There is exactly zero first amendment issue here and obviously so.

[Tipperary]

28. Lol! The irony here is rich.

[mythology]

23. It amazes me how many people misunderstand this

[NCTraveler]

33. Call Congress Right Now!

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice

[duforsure]

17. They just lost this football fan.

If they bow down to trump I'll not watch football anymore.

[MichMan]

20. The players might concede on this........

as a consideration for the formation of the social justice partnership

From Sports illustrated

"The NFL addressed the anthem issue at its meetings in October and March, with plans to further discuss it at this meeting. The league also met with the Players Coalition in October, and agreed to a seven-year, $89 million social-justice partnership.

According to sources, the owners also discussed how to move forward its partnership with the players and finalized the terms of the deal."

[spanone]

21. I've watched my last football game. fuck them.

[vi5]

26. I trust all liberal football fans will stop watching/attending/giving money to the NFL....

....but I won't hold my breath for that.

It's easy for me, not being a football (or sports fan for that matter, but football is a particularly hated sport for me).

[Aristus]

29. I'm the same way.

I can't boycott the NFL, because I don't watch the games or buy any of the merch.

[ecstatic]

30. IMO, they have a choice. They win if they stick together

If most of them choose to be strong-armed by their bosses, it puts the few who resist in a bad position. The choice is theirs, I think. They're already being asked to accept CTE, etc. They should be allowed to voice their views, just like any other person.

[NCTraveler]

32. A rule needed to be put in place.

The flag does not stand for the right to behave how one wants in the work environment.

Kap has been punished when there wasn't even a rule in place. That is what is bullshit.

What Kap did was a protest. This rule doesn't stop anyone's ability to righteously protest.

While I am not big on this rule it is understandable. It is also better than no rule. I personally wish they would have done the NA when the players were in the locker room.

We have gotten in the way of the best football possible. Directing players to stand at certain points. Each coach should be able to decide the teams best pregame routine. The super bowl and playoffs are played at different speeds than the regular season. Making it about statistics and betting over that of the sport. The list goes on.

[Are_grits_groceries]

35. Wait? Wut?

We have gotten in the way of the best football possible???
Who gives a flying fuck? They have every right to protest. They can be punished but I hope Kap wins his collusion case. Eric Reid too.

God help us if your attitude is the best we can do as Dems.

EVERYBODY owns the flag. It doesn’t just belong to the military or to self-professed patriots.

[NCTraveler]

37. "We have gotten in the way of the best football possible??? "

Correct. Those who influence the game and its rules have gotten in the way of the best possible football. This discussion has been going on for over two decades. There is nothing "Wait" or "Wut" about it.

"They have every right to protest. "

I've never claimed otherwise. Not sure what you are arguing there.

"God help us if your attitude is the best we can do as Dems. "

No clue what you mean by that. My position is common sense and clear. Not a single part of it goes against progressive ideology or the Democratic Party.

"EVERYBODY owns the flag."

That doesn't make sense with respect to the conversation.

"It doesn’t just belong to the military or to self-professed patriots."

I never said it did.

[Are_grits_groceries]

34. This is actually an issue that probably has to be bargained.

The NFLPA should be stepping up if it is.

[MichMan]

36. Think they have already discussed with them

From Sports illustrated

"The NFL addressed the anthem issue at its meetings in October and March, with plans to further discuss it at this meeting. The league also met with the Players Coalition in October, and agreed to a seven-year, $89 million social-justice partnership.

According to sources, the owners also discussed how to move forward its partnership with the players and finalized the terms of the deal."