Why are players allowed to kneel by the NFL

[jimmyz]

I wonder why the NFL league office and Commissioner hasn't told every team and owner that all NFL players must stand for the national anthem? It seems like a no-brainer. IIRC Vince Lombardi told all of his players if they uttered a word or moved from standing at attention during the National Anthem they would be fined.

IMO the kneeling players insult us and the fallen in choosing not to observe traditional etiquette when the anthem plays

[Tahuyaman]

The flag and national anthem represent freedom and equality. It make no sense to protest against those symbols when you oppose the policies and ideas of certain people which are not in synch with American principles. You should be trying to inspire respect for those principles by honoring those symbols of freedom and equality.

When you show disrespect to the flag and national anthem, you immediately cause more than half the people to tune you out. You are not going to be able to get those people to listen to your side of the story. You now put the focus on your disrespectful act.


The NFL is too cowardly to do anything until they start losing revenues. Vince Lombardi could not coach in today's NFL even if his schemes evolved with the game. Today's players would rebel.

[DGUtley]

My guess is that b/c it's not in the CBA the owners are powerless. My guess is that it'll come up in the next contract negotiations.

[jimmyz]

The flag and national anthem represent freedom and equality. It make no sense to protest against those symbols when you oppose the policies and ideas of certain people which are not in synch with American principles. You should be trying to inspire respect for those principles by honoring those symbols of freedom and equality.

When you show disrespect to the flag and national anthem, you immediately cause more than half the people to tune you out. You are not going to be able to get those people to listen to your side of the story. You now put the focus on your disrespectful act.


The NFL is too cowardly to do anything until they start losing revenues. Vince Lombardi could not coach in today's NFL even if his schemes evolved with the game. Today's players would rebel.

Well said

[jimmyz]

My guess is that b/c it's not in the CBA the owners are powerless. My guess is that it'll come up in the next contract negotiations.

Ah... I had not thought about the Collective Bargaining Agreement angle. Good point.

[Tahuyaman]

My guess is that b/c it's not in the CBA the owners are powerless. My guess is that it'll come up in the next contract negotiations.

I doubt that. Their answer will be to eliminate the national anthem being played. I don't necessarily oppose that for a couple of reasons.

I Dont believe there's anything in their CBA which is relative to this issue.

[AZ Jim]

Why not discontinue playing the anthem at football games?

[Tahuyaman]

In accordance with their CBA, the commissioner has a lot of power. If he was of the mind, he could tell all players thst they must stand for the national anthem and take no actions which could be viewed as disrespectful and impose a fine if they violated that directive. He's not going to do that.

[Tahuyaman]

Why not discontinue playing the anthem at football games?

Like I said, I would not oppose that for a couple of reasons.

[Agent Zero]

I wonder why the NFL league office and Commissioner hasn't told every team and owner that all NFL players must stand for the national anthem? It seems like a no-brainer. IIRC Vince Lombardi told all of his players if they uttered a word or moved from standing at attention during the National Anthem they would be fined.

IMO the kneeling players insult us and the fallen in choosing not to observe traditional etiquette when the anthem plays

It may be a foreign concept to you, but it's called "freedom of expression".