This morning, the NFL owners unanimously passed a new policy regarding the Anthem, but not everyone is happy about it.
In part, the statement about the new policy reads: “This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem. Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room until after the Anthem has been performed.” The full statement can be read here.
The biggest opposition to the new policy is apparently the players themselves, and the NFLPA tweeted out a response to the policy change:
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 23, 2018
I’m not sure who crafted that statement and how many players stand behind it, but what more did they want? The new policy doesn’t force anyone to stand for the Anthem, which is something that the NFL—a private business—could have easily done if they wanted to (and I think they should have).
Plus, the NFLPA should be happy that Commissioner Goodell caved into the prevailing “wisdom” from those who kneeled that it wasn’t about disrespecting the flag, as he said in his statement: “It was unfortunate at on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case.”
In fact, that was exactly the case according to kneeling pioneer Colin Kaepernick, who said when he first refused to stand, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
That is quite literally the definition of disrespecting the flag; he essentially says so himself.
So, while the NFLPA is viewing this as a loss, it should be considered a win for them—if certain players don’t want to stand for the Anthem, they don’t have to.
White owners controlling black players again. I guess free speech is no longer in America.
Are you kidding me? You’re using identify politics and making this into a race thing. so only black people kneel?
It shouldn’t be too much to ask players to stand for the anthem. And they can sit in the locker room if not. What’s the problem?
And from a business perspective it’d be stupid not to have this policy.
Stop. I bet 90% of people want players to stand for the anthem.
They are forcing them to stand. Not cool.
Uh not really. They can go in the locker room if they are too upset to stand for this great country.
Good compromise. Either stand or get off the field.
Or take your millions and leave the country.
Only a bunch of spoiled millionaires that think they’re better than average people could be upset at having to stand for the national anthem.
Yup exactly
The annoying vocal minority on Twitter will have you think everyone is on the side of the players.
There is no respect for anything anymore.. bunch of anarchists is my explanation for people that want kneeling
memba when everyone would stand for the anthem?
People that don’t stand for the anthem and support those that don’t stand either weren’t raised right or somehow think they are smarter than everyone else for believing in STANDING
Everyone stand or sit in the locker room. Let’s get back to football.