NFL REFUTES TRUMP CLAIM THAT GOODELL IS DEMANDING PLAYERS STAND FOR ANTHEM
The NFL on Wednesday refuted President Donald Trump’s claim that league Commissioner Roger Goodell is “finally demanding” that players stand up during the national anthem.
“Commentary this morning about the Commissioner's position on the Anthem is not accurate. As we said yesterday, there will be a discussion of these issues at the owners meeting next week. The NFL is doing the hard work of trying to move from protest to progress, working to bring people together,” the league said in a statement.
The NFL’s clarification came one day after Goodell said he would meet with the league’s 32 owners to address how to move forward amid a national debate about anthem protests. Dozens of NFL players have conducted demonstrations, including kneeling during the anthem or skipping it altogether, since Trump called on owners to fire any player who fails to stand.
Goodell said the league believes “everyone should stand for the National Anthem,” but stopped short of mandating that players stand. The commissioner added that the league would consider forming an “in-season platform” to allow players to promote social justice efforts.
“We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us. We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players,” Goodell said.
Earlier Wednesday morning, Trump wrote on Twitter that it was “about time” that Goodell enforced a standing policy for the national anthem amid league-wide player protests.
“It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem – RESPECT OUR COUNTRY,” Trump said.
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“It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem – RESPECT OUR COUNTRY,” Trump said.
I guess Trump thinks the First Amendment only applies to him and, his base.
I like Jerry Jones take on the first amendment.
Jerry Jones told players to stand during the anthem or sit during the game
He's allowing them to practice their first amendment. And he exercising his authority as a coach. As far as I'm concerned, they don't like it they can quit.
No, he is repressing their right to free speech. Believe me, this won't end until it goes before a judge and, I think the NFL players have more money than the owners now. Who do you think will win that fight? The Constitution vs. Trump, I think the Constitution will win.
Goes both ways. Players exercise their freedom just as the owner is.
The owner of the team does not have the right to tell the players, "You can't express yourself or, your opinions." that is repression of a Constitutional right.
I didn't say the owners were doing that. What the owners are exercising is the authority of their position.
For about the millionth time, this is not a First Amendment issue. The government is not doing anything to these people for their expression. The president, like all citizens has the right to express his opinion about other people's behavior.
The president doesn't have the right to tell American citizens that they cannot express one of their Constitutional rights and, that is what Trump is doing.
Goodell said the league believes “everyone should stand for the National Anthem,”
Pretty much speaks for itself. Ok, so Trumps take on it is a little different than what it actually says, so what? Maybe Goodell emailed Trump and said something different?
The fact is, players will be standing, because the NFL just lost a shitload of money.
Money is, usually, the bottom line.
Yep, money is usually the bottom line but, remember, the NFL and, the team owners hate to be sued, especially when it is every player on the teams who are suing them. Who do you think has more money right now, the team players (combined), or, the owners?
Good question.
My son and I were talking about it today. It is in the directives on standing for anthem, but how far does it go?
Also, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys has made it clear what he expects.
We shall see.
Ok, we will see what happens this weekend during the games.
The players should drop the anthem protest and all wear armbands that say 'Trump is a moron' on them, and wear them every game until we come to our senses and turf the basket case.
Football League no longer deserves National as part of it's name
I don't know what the facts are on this but I doubt the league wants to go to war with the players union over it.
I think they will all bide their time until Trump self-implodes.
Conversely, if you're a player, why would you go to the mat over a thing like standing for the national anthem? None of these guys ever had a problem standing for anthem before about a year ago, and 90% of the ones kneeling a couple weeks ago hadn't done that at all before Trump spoke up.
So, you really think these guys are going to risk their contracts so they can flip off the president at work? Who does that?
Do you really think the owners are going to risk firing EVERY SINGLE PLAYER THAT KNEELS at a game? You think they are going to get rid of every A list player they have over something like this? Really??
The NFL's policy allowing players to kneel, sit or otherwise protest during the national anthem before games will remain in place for the time being, according to a joint statement from the league and the NFL Players Association on Wednesday.
"Commissioner Roger Goodell reached out to NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith today and both he and player leadership will attend the League meetings next week. There has been no change in the current policy regarding the anthem," the joint statement read.
"The agenda will be a continuation of how to make progress on the important social issues that players have vocalized. Everyone who is part of our NFL community has a tremendous respect for our country, our flag, our anthem and our military, and we are coming together to deal with these issues in a civil and constructive way."
Did you all know that it wasn't until 2007 or 9 that the players stayed off the field until after the Anthem?
It is all a bunch of crap.
BTW,,,,,I don't care of they kneel, squat or whatever. It is on them! Their protest means nothing to me insofar as racial inequality, etc.
It's not about race so much, although there is a racial element to it. It's about police overstepping their authority and abusing/killing people without just cause. Remember when four cops beat a homeless man to death while he begged for his life and cried for his father? The victim was white, and the murdering bullies all walked.
Which is misguided. If they looked at the actual numbers they would know that. But instead they are going off a flawed perception.
That is not what I am about either.
Take your protest somewhere else.
I am over your protests! They mean nothing to me.
I will tune you out! And, there are so many like me. Keep pushing us!
Protest? Pushing you?? What are you talking about? How am I 'pushing you' Mango? I never even addressed you. I simply stated an opinion, you're the one protesting and pushing, I'm afraid.
Sorry, I used "you" meaning the ones protesting.....not you, personally. My apologies!
what flawed perception?
the one where more cops engage in physical confrontations with black motorist. the fact that black motorist are stopped at a higher rate then white motorist when 3/4 of some cities has a white majority of citizens? or the perception that unarmed white guys live in physical altercations more then blacks do(cough cough)
Sadly folks like you dont have to deal with it in your own personal life, so what is flawed to you.
it is not to some minorities that know of others who have gotten the bad end of the stick or fist or arrest by a bad or racist acting cop when no other reason is realistic for that officers conduct.
You just stated it. THOSE are the flawed perceptions I referred to.
aah yeah ok. you must have meant these ones.
or these ones
or maybe this one,
my point is that there is not one entity that exists in most white peoples life where it is a constant reminder of what could happen.
sadly this inability to have that type of experience from birth to death really is the disconnect that makes this topic so annoying to interact with someone. mainly because people cant be honest about what they dont have to deal with.