The debate over the anti-American anthem protests is about to heat up again.
The unpatriotic displays led to fans turning away from the sport in great numbers, and the media turning Colin Kaepernick into some civil rights folk hero.
But the NFL’s recently announced NFL anthem policy is surely going to enrage liberals.
In order to combat the stampede of fans not attending games, canceling season tickets, and changing the channel in response to the anti-American anthem protests, the NFL has amended its policy.
Players are no longer required to be on the field during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner; they can remain in the locker room until kickoff.
If players choose to go out onto the field during the anthem, they are required to “show respect for the flag and the anthem.”
If the players do not, their team—not necessarily the individual player—is subject to a fine by the league.
From Sports Illustrated:
The policy states that the league will fine teams—not individual players—if players do not “show respect for the flag and the anthem.” When asked to define what respect for the flag and anthem is, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, “The general public has a very strong feeling for what respect for the flag is in that moment,” adding that clubs and the league will be the arbiters of what disrespect for the flag and anthem is.
Team owners can then eat the fines themselves or exact fine money from players for the violation of team rules—and in that instance, the player fined wouldn’t be public knowledge.
All of this is rooted in the idea promulgated Tuesday by Jerry Jones that “our fans want us to zero-in on football, and don’t want to think about—or think we’re thinking about—anything other than football.”
Jones is obviously right. Fans go to NFL games to escape from their daily lives and be entertained by professionals at the peak of their sport.
Fans aren’t monoliths politically, and they don’t need to be. That’s the beauty of sports. The anti-American anthem protests spit in the face of fans who don’t want to be subjected to the politicization of their entertainment.
It didn’t take long for the leftist media to spiral into fury and condemnation:
So if Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid can’t get hired because they won’t commit to standing for the anthem, Wednesday’s uncompromising compromise fashioned by owners who fear a twe…
While new NFL anthem policy makes sense from business & Trump PR perspective and is certainly within league’s rights, there’s just something that feels unAmerican about forcing folks to abide what is, well, the league’s own politics. Feels like a band aid that won’t stick.
First, Pro Football Talk, a site run by leftist sports analyst Mike Florio, completely misses the mark. Players are still free to protest the anthem. The only difference is a fine will be levied. That doesn’t make signing Kaepernick or Reid more palatable.
Second, MSNBC’s Chuck Todd is incorrect because the players aren’t forced to adhere to the league’s politics. They can remain in the locker room. If they want to be on the field, they can still protest, but there will be repercussions.
If Todd thinks it’s un-American for private businesses to set policy, perhaps he should try wearing a MAGA hat during his show and see how well it goes over with his higher-ups.