The NFL outdid itself today by enacting a policy that punishes players who exercise their constitutional right to protest. Find out what the owners and the Commissioner have to say, including two owners who are trying to distance themselves.
This week, reports stated the NFL owners were meeting to finalize a plan to "handle" players who knelt during the national anthem this upcoming football season. The owners unanimously finalized said plan today, and the policy says teams and players will and can be penalized via fine if players do not stand for the national anthem. The policy also says players who wish to not stand, should stay in the locker room.
Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pic.twitter.com/1Vn7orTo1R
— NFL (@NFL) May 23, 2018
The fact Commissioner Goodell said today that "this is a good opportunity to continue the partnership with our players," is absolutely ridiculous. He said the change the players are looking for, rectifying inequalities in the justice system, will be made through the programs the league is helping to institute in the communities.
"We want people to be respectful of the national anthem," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We want people to stand -- that's all personnel -- and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That's something we think we owe. [But] we were also very sensitive to give players choices."
And then there's this, from ESPN:
Earlier this week, the league finalized an $89 million social justice platform with players to help address "some of the underlying issues" that were under protest, said Mark Murphy, the Green Bay Packers' president/CEO.
Interestingly, two owners are seemingly trying to distance themselves from the decision. 49ers owner Jed York abstained from voting on the NFL's new policy, citing a lack of player involvement in the process. Christopher Johnson, co-owner and chairman of the Jets, said he would cover all fines placed on Jets players who kneel in protest anyway. It's unclear if he abstained as well.
Despite the fact that players who previously invoked their RIGHT to protest were called unpatriotic by the masses, Goodell now says that was a false perception.
"It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic," Goodell said. "This is not and was never the case."
If only he had said this before Colin Kaepernick (atop) and Eric Reid (above) were blackballed and nailed to a cross for kneeling.
We wonder what Meek Mill is going to tell his new bestie, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, now.
As for why the NFL seems so dead set on punishing folks for exercising their right to protest in this particular way, Colin's girlfriend and activist in her own right, Hot 97 host Nessa, posted this reminder today.
Read again. https://t.co/XqaG8DwrZv
— NESSA (@nessnitty) May 23, 2018
The NFL isn't necessairly only doing this for the good of "supporting the military." We all support the military. Plus, many members of the military have spoken out in support of the kneeling protest, saying they fight to protect everyone's freedoms. When money is involved though, certain freedoms get infringed upon.
Photos: Getty
