In all of my years I never would've thought that the few minutes devoted to the National Anthem before a sporting event would be such a divisive topic. That's because in all of my years it never appeared to me that very many people even cared that the National Anthem was being played. Most in attendance were doing everything but respecting the flag and song. In 40-plus years of attending sporting events I only saw the patriotism that the NFL owners are now demanding of the players was during the games following 9/11. Standing for and respecting the National Anthem after that horrific event started to wane by November and it was back to the usual "disrespect" the next season.
The league's decision-makers don't like that NFL players have been protesting social inequality and injustices in this country during the playing of the National Anthem. The unfortunate thing about that dislike for the player's action is that it's simply because Goodell and his rich friends are worried that the protests might cost them a slight fraction of their billions. They aren't concerned about the player's concerns. They are concerned about their money. They are also worried about an unhinged individual in the White House barking to his masses. The league felt that they had to do something even though there was growing evidence that they didn't have to do a thing. Rumblings from the players leading the protests were that they felt that their actions over the last two seasons had the desired impact and that they could move on from the protests to greater, coordinated action in the communities. Their days of Anthem protesting were probably done. Instead of doing something positive by not doing anything at all the league decided to put the players in their subservient place. Again. This idiotic 6-Point Plan told the players how to be patriotic. That's not patriotism. Goodell said that the plan was a compromise. A compromise with whom? Not with the players. The NFL Players Association wasn't consulted or contacted. It was a unilateral decision that forces the players to be patriotic in a manner that the owners deem patriotic. Again, that's not patriotism. Goodell also said that it was a move to get the attention back on football. It did the opposite. He might have triggered a new round of protests.
Here's the NFL's 6-Point Plan
1. All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
2.The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the Anthem.
3. Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the Anthem has been performed.
4. A club will be fined by the League if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
5. Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
6. The Commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.
#6 is the kicker. The top talking-point upon release of this plan was that punishment of the players for being "unpatriotic" would be up to the individual teams. #6 contradicts that. It sure looks like Goodell will once again be the ultimate judge, jury, and executioner. Nothing has changed. Actually, a lot has changed. Instead of players being able to protest, as the Constitution allows, without threat of fine, punishment, and league banishment (Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid might have something to say about that last one) Goodell can wield has random brand of punishment.
It's looking more and more like the next CBA negotiations will be a complete nightmare. Before those fun days hit Goodell and his rich friends might have inadvertently helped the collusion suits of Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid.
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