All NFL Personnel on Field Must Now Stand for National Anthem

[Common]

They should have done this 2 yrs ago


National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said at a press briefing today at the NFL’s Spring League Meeting that the NFL teams have unanimously agreed to adopt a rule that all NFL personnel must stand for the National Anthem before NFL games.
Players will have the option of remaining in the locker room during the anthem if they do not have to stand, and teams will be able to craft their own procedure for how the rule is enforced.


Clearly our objective as a league and to all 32 clubs—which was unanimous---is we want people to be respectful at the National Anthem,” said Goodell. “We want people to stand. That is all personnel. And make sure that they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That is something that we think we owe.”


https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article...ational-anthem

[gamewell45]

That seems like a fair enough compromise. Protects the first amendment rights so there should be no further issue.

[Peter1469]

I would just return to the old practice of the teams not taking the field until after the anthem is over.

While the anthem continued to be a game-day fixture, NFL players typically stayed in the locker room for it.

There were exceptions, of course -- players observed the anthem after 9/11, and during Super Bowl games. But it wasn't until 2009 that players were mandated to be on the field for the song.

[Tahuyaman]

That seems like a fair enough compromise. Protects the first amendment rights so there should be no further issue.

It wasn't a first amendment issue to begin with. The NFL is not government.

[Peter1469]

It wasn't a first amendment issue to begin with. The NFL is not government.

It is a business issue. Those kneelers were causing loss of profits for the owners.

[gamewell45]

It wasn't a first amendment issue to begin with. The NFL is not government.

I agree the NFL is not government, however your rights to freedom of speech as a citizen shall not be impinged regardless of whether you are government or not. The only issue remaining is whether or not the NFL violated the labor contract by their actions.

[Mister D]

You don't have free speech at work and there was no compromise here. The players were told they simply will not make a spectacle of themselves. Period.

[Tahuyaman]

I agree the NFL is not government, however your rights to freedom of speech as a citizen shall not be impinged regardless of whether you are government or not. The only issue remaining is whether or not the NFL violated the labor contract by their actions.

It’s not a first amendment issue.

[Tahuyaman]

You don't have free speech at work and there was no compromise here. The players were told they simply will not make a spectacle of themselves. Period.

They can choose to stay off the sidelines during the playing of the anthem.

The NFL should have done this much earlier.

[NapRover]

It's an owners & player's union issue. If they don't mind losing markets and $$, they can fight all they want. I quit watching last year and don't intend to go back.