Roger Goodell sends letter to NFL teams

[Brian37]

I am saying it is stupid and flat out wrong to confuse nods to god after a score, or end zone celebrations for that matter, as to being the same as kneeling during the Anthem. TWO completely different intents.

I didn't say they were the same.  I said instead of doing a celebration, kneel in protest.  Celebrations are silly and unimportant.  Protesting is not silly and very important.  So using that opportunity for protest instead of dance around seems like it'd send a strong message without the baggage the anthem/flag brings.

And I used the amount of coverage Tebow got for kneeling to make the point that the action likely wouldn't lose exposure by going from during the Anthem to during the game.

Um no, I see what you are saying now, but no, it would not bring the same attention to the same degree as kneeling during a ceremony that is supposed to unite and be inclusive. 

If I had my way, the national anthem would NOT be played before sporting events, and only be used during national holidays and STILL be voluntary, but since we are already doing it, making the point that inequality exists under a government that is supposed to treat everyone equal, if you insist on doing that, then kneeling DURING the national anthem would be far more effective, which it has been. 

Fleebow was not protesting that Christians were being discriminated against, he was PROMOTING a religion. Still a huge difference. Black players also point to the sky and kneel after a touchdown too, and they are like FLEEBOW promoting their religion. 

The protesting during the Anthem is about racial inequality, not thanking a deity for making a touchdown.

[rexbeccarox]

The other night, I watched a documentary about the history of the KKK. I had never before delved into it, and it was terrifying the number of parallels with current events. It does give me hope that now we can finish overcoming the discriminatory injustices we find ourselves mired in today, though.

This current protest is eye-opening (or should be), if nothing else. That, to me, is a very good thing.

[The Grand Nudger]

There are rules against those sorts of offensive displays.  Wouldn't want to have the chains moved back, now would we?

They've actually become more lenient recently. You can't do anything considered "offensive" (like grabbing your crotch) but most short celebrations are allowed now. I think one team last week mimed hitting a home run.

I read a story about that today..should be cool to see them having fun again.  Nevertheless, if players start using that to protest..............

[chimp3]

Sports dramas do not concern me. I can not care less.

Holy lack of reading comprehension BATMAN!

It isn't about liking or not liking a pro sport. GO BACK AND RE READ........

YOU regardless of liking the sport are STILL AFFECTED. Why should tax payers be blackmailed into paying for buildings that 32 billionaires could pool their own money? TAX PAYERS, including those whom don't watch the sport.

SECONDLY and again, this is about ALL big businesses and the GOP and their long term shitting on labor, and using race and class to protect corporate welfare. The NFL is merely ONE big business, but not the only.

Walmart is another big offender. They will use the law of eminent domain, which was not intended for businesses, but for things like public schools, fire stations, police stations or highways, they use that law, to bully the middle class and working poor off of their property, then because they are so big, they will go into a local, and crush even mom and pop businesses.

And even with the NFL, I could give a shit less if you want to falsely assume 100% of 4,500 players are all millionaires, not true, most are NOT. But Million, is still a SMALLER NUMBER that BILLION. The owners are far richer regardless.

It amazes me how far too many in America are convinced that the top 1% have their best interest in mind. NO, they don't, they have their shareholders and CEOs in mind. If you value a pluralistic class system, a stable society, than you are a fool to simply blindly let the top do whatever it wants.

It still effects you because like it or not, you pay for the OWNERS stadiums through YOUR taxes, and you pay for their tax breaks. Just like you have to compensate for what companies like Exxon or Walmart don't pay in taxes. The money that the top does not pay adds up over years, and what they don't pay you and I have to make up for.

Billionaires DO NOT need more tax breaks. Billionaire sports team owners can pool their own profits to build their own buildings. They will not end up eating cat food if they pay their own way.

---

I have a mostly empty strip mall across my street, the middle section was a former grocery store. only 4 of the 12 units are being used. The former grocery store has sat empty for 8 years. You know why those units stay empty? Because the bank or real estate company that owns it, wont lower the rent, and they get to write off the losses for the empty unites as a tax write off. GUESS WHO pays for that? THE REST OF US.

THAT is the bigger picture, the  players are being targeted by 45 as a vile political tactic to protect corporate welfare.

I don't live in a city. We do not have professional sports out here. City dwellers should get out and vote.

Walmart however has put a lot of small, locally owned shops out of business. But, I don't have to stand for the anthem at walmart.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

The NFL is big business and relies on its fans' financial support. Evidently, the larger majority of its fans have spoken and the NFL has lost this dispute.

Fans' financial support means fuck all of you don't have players.  One owner (don't know who, don't know the team, don't much care) said he's going to sit any player who doesn't stand.  Suppose his entire team doesn't stand - is he going to sit them all and forfeit?  For every game?  If players can show even a modest amount of unity over this issue, the owners are going to cave so fast the air will crackle.

Boru

If people unite against the bully they could easily defeat him.  The problem is that a lot of people are cowards and will always support the bully.  So when the bully (the team owners) say that they will penalize any player who goes against their wishes, most of the players will cave.  

The owners are trying to implement a new work rule that's not in the players' contract.  The National Labor Relations Board should support the players.

[Aegon]

NFL is a private organization and they can implement thus rule if they want. But I'm incredibly disappointed the caved to they caved to Trump, who is clearly overstepping his boundaries.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Can't protest?

If we have to start calling Trump "Dear Leader," that's going to be very awkward.

Private organisations can decide to what extent personal political are acceptable during business hours. It only becomes a problem when organizations are selective about which viewpoints are acceptable and which are not. It's bad for business to offend and alienate large segments of your customer base for reasons totally unrelated to the business.

[John V]

NFL is a private organization and they can implement thus rule if they want. But I'm incredibly disappointed the caved to they caved to Trump, who is clearly overstepping his boundaries.

They didn't cave to Trump, they caved to the fans. People cared about the flag well before Trump was in office.

[Brian37]

No, they caved to assholes who swallow 45s bullshit.

[The Grand Nudger]

Maybe black people should start wearing flags.