Around the NFL: News and Rumors

[Tank]

i guess it just doesnt seem to be well thought through - the inevitable consequences of this seem to be that they set up an antagonistic relationship between the players and the NFL - that feels like politics is going to become more prevalent not less... but hey maybe im wrong

I’m pretty sure they did their due diligence and it’s a well calculated move. And I think the antagonistic relationship(owners/NFLPA) was raised to high level after the last CBA.

I would guess there may be just as many players that support the new reg as there are that oppose it.

 

[rossihunter2]

I’m pretty sure they did their due diligence and it’s a well calculated move. And I think the antagonistic relationship(owners/NFLPA) was raised to high level after the last CBA.

I would guess there may be just as many players that support the new reg as there are that oppose it.

given that the NFLPA and player leaders (who were consulted on this months ago) have already come out against this, my guess would be that this was not a new regulation that took player concerns into account as much as you would hope

even beyond the pure context and politics of the situation, the principle is something that most players should be against in the sense that they are being bullied as a union to do something that a large portion of their membership actively has done and might want to do in the future

 

[Tank]

given that the NFLPA and player leaders (who were consulted on this months ago) have already come out against this, my guess would be that this was not a new regulation that took player concerns into account as much as you would hope

even beyond the pure context and politics of the situation, the principle is something that most players should be against in the sense that they are being bullied as a union to do something that a large portion of their membership actively has done and might want to do in the future

I really don’t have any hopes or expectations either way, except as a customer I don’t want protests and politics a part of an entertainment medium I otherwise enjoy. And just my view, but I don’t see anything here that could be construed as “bullying”. If you as a player choose not to stand during the anthem just stay in the locker room.

 

[rossihunter2]

I really don’t have any hopes or expectations either way, except as a customer I don’t want protests and politics a part of an entertainment medium I otherwise enjoy. And just my view, but I don’t see anything here that could be construed as “bullying”. If you as a player choose not to stand during the anthem just stay in the locker room.

i mean bullying by the owners in the sense that they are making a show of "power" maybe flexing is a better term than bullying lol

it's not just about the anthem itself and I think that's why this will live on - if it was just purely about the anthem then this really would have resolved the issue but this choice by the owners to enact this plan lacks an acknowledgement of the context and emotion involved in the situation from the other side of it...

and with regards to politics and protests in entertainment idk that i agree personally - i think some of the most memorable and exciting sporting moments in history have been steeped in politics and/or protest or other activisms... i enjoy it when an event means more than just itself but that may just be me

 

[Tank]

i mean bullying by the owners in the sense that they are making a show of "power" maybe flexing is a better term than bullying lol

it's not just about the anthem itself and I think that's why this will live on - if it was just purely about the anthem then this really would have resolved the issue but this choice by the owners to enact this plan lacks an acknowledgement of the context and emotion involved in the situation from the other side of it...

and with regards to politics and protests in entertainment idk that i agree personally - i think some of the most memorable and exciting sporting moments in history have been steeped in politics and/or protest or other activisms... i enjoy it when an event means more than just itself but that may just be me

Give it 15 or 20 years, me thinks you’ll grow to appreciate the value of entertainment just as entertainment. lol

I don’t see it as a show of power for the sake of flexing muscles more of an action to defend the brand. Again, I think the majority of their customers in the US don’t want protests and politics mixed with their sport.

 

[Rusfan]

Here’s the thing about kneeling for the anthem in protest, whatever it is you want to protest about you had to know what kind of a reaction you would get, so you’re not complaining that you didn’t get a reaction, but that it wasn’t the reaction you wanted, which is entirely your fault for choosing that time to protest.

Most other times people would either agree with or not care, but being so stupid as to choose the anthem? Come on you had to know.

It’s not the owners or the leagues job to support your position, but your own, so complaining that they’re the ones not doing enough or focused on the wrong thing is just plain ridiculous.

 

[JO_75]

The 2019 NFL Draft is now set for Nashville, TN which will begin Thursday Night April 25th, 2019. With Days 2 & 3 taking place on April 26th & 27th. No set location has been set yet.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ville-tennessee-titans-to-host-2019-nfl-draft

 

[rossihunter2]

Players union has confirmed they weren’t even consulted on the new national anthem policy and that they will fight it

I just don’t see what the owners were expecting the player response to be that made them think this new rule would ever be aim uncontroversial idea that would put the “focus back on football” as they put it...

 

[Tank]

Here’s the thing about kneeling for the anthem in protest, whatever it is you want to protest about you had to know what kind of a reaction you would get, so you’re not complaining that you didn’t get a reaction, but that it wasn’t the reaction you wanted, which is entirely your fault for choosing that time to protest.

Most other times people would either agree with or not care, but being so stupid as to choose the anthem? Come on you had to know.

It’s not the owners or the leagues job to support your position, but your own, so complaining that they’re the ones not doing enough or focused on the wrong thing is just plain ridiculous.

This........WTF does protesting a symbol of patriotism have to do with bringing attention to police violence. If the NFLPA is really serious about bringing attention to that issue then drop the whole argument about the anthem and focus on solutions to the problem. PSAs, awareness events, community outreach, arranging police community partnering events, etc., etc.. Escalating a pissing match about an irrelevant and stupid method of protest only serves to make their voice invalid to the majority.

 

[rossihunter2]

This........WTF does protesting a symbol of patriotism have to do with bringing attention to police violence. If the NFLPA is really serious about bringing attention to that issue then drop the whole argument about the anthem and focus on solutions to the problem. PSAs, awareness events, community outreach, arranging police community partnering events, etc., etc.. Escalating a pissing match about an irrelevant and stupid method of protest only serves to make their voice invalid to the majority.

because those things already happen and are roundly ignored by national media - you can disagree all you want with the platform but to say that the players are unjustified in using their platform when it has literally opened a national discussion (probably international) about racism and police violence is ludicrous

it was quite clearly an effective protest

and the subsequent protests werent about police violence anyway - nor were they about the anthem - they were about the rights of the players to be autonomous and be allowed to demonstrate and not be victimised for demonstrating - it was about solidarity against criticism from the POTUS...

let's not forget that whole teams only started kneeling after Trump went after the players...

and the fact that the NFL just put in place a rule and the fact that we are still talking about this completely legitimises the players' reasoning for protesting the anthem - because it gets people talking

 

[Tank]

because those things already happen and are roundly ignored by national media - you can disagree all you want with the platform but to say that the players are unjustified in using their platform when it has literally opened a national discussion (probably international) about racism and police violence is ludicrous

it was quite clearly an effective protest

and the subsequent protests werent about police violence anyway - nor were they about the anthem - they were about the rights of the players to be autonomous and be allowed to demonstrate and not be victimised for demonstrating - it was about solidarity against criticism from the POTUS...

let's not forget that whole teams only started kneeling after Trump went after the players...

and the fact that the NFL just put in place a rule and the fact that we are still talking about this completely legitimises the players' reasoning for protesting the anthem - because it gets people talking

You’re going down a road I don’t wish to debate, but I will say the players protest(because of the method chosen) did nothing positive in the way of opening any discussions on the issues mentioned, it only served to create a divide. It is and was the wrong avenue to travel to make a positive impact, or to open any sort of positive dialogue, which should be the focus.

 

[rossihunter2]

You’re going down a road I don’t wish to debate, but I will say the players protest(because of the method chosen) did nothing positive in the way of opening any discussions on the issues mentioned, it only served to create a divide. It is and was the wrong avenue to travel to make a positive impact, or to open any sort of positive dialogue, which should be the focus.

im happy to end the debate too - i will say this though - i think its naive to think this divide was created by the protest - i think all it did was vividly highlight an already established and entrenched divide

but it seems we just disagree

 

[Tank]

im happy to end the debate too - i will say this though - i think its naive to think this divide was created by the protest - i think all it did was vividly highlight an already established and entrenched divide

but it seems we just disagree

It would be naive to think that, and my point was that using the anthem as the method to protest only widened that divide and did zero to help anything or anyone. One would hope that those involved would strive for a positive outcome rather than just creating more issues.

 

[rossihunter2]

It would be naive to think that, and my point was that using the anthem as the method to protest only widened that divide and did zero to help anything or anyone. One would hope that those involved would strive for a positive outcome rather than just creating more issues.

i dont think their concern was about uniting the country though - their concern was about raising awareness and opening a wide dialogue which i think they have

as frustrating as it is, you dont get enough wide ranging support to enable change over an issue unless you open that dialogue
you have to inspire the discussion for anything to happen (and if its something that isnt likely to change without that discussion then there's likely already a significant entrenched divide because otherwise its only spitefulness that isnt changing or affecting the issue to start with)

 

[Deebo813]

i dont think i can support the nfl any longer. I refuse to watch games and buy nfl merchandise if the nfl owners will continue to allow nfl players to excerised their rights by kneeling all peacefully and shit without harming anyone during our national anthem in order to support and make aware the social injustices and police brutality of the minorities in this country! Yes we know that their intent isnt to disrepect our soldiers who fight for the freedom, but we as fans feel they should just take their millions
and just play football .Even though my job pays shit, i have no voice and my platform isnt as big as the nfl, so no one would give a dam if i protested, id get fired with no hesitation.

 

[Somerset Ravens]

i dont think their concern was about uniting the country though - their concern was about raising awareness and opening a wide dialogue which i think they have

as frustrating as it is, you dont get enough wide ranging support to enable change over an issue unless you open that dialogue
you have to inspire the discussion for anything to happen (and if its something that isnt likely to change without that discussion then there's likely already a significant entrenched divide because otherwise its only spitefulness that isnt changing or affecting the issue to start with)

I certainly agree with you that discussions need to occur regarding important issues instead of avoiding them. That being said I have no issue with the NFL owner’s new policy regarding the National Anthem.

If an employee while on the job engages in non job related behavior that negatively impacts the employer’s business, the employer has the right to put an end to such behavior.

 

[Willbacker]

Obviusly the owners feel like a great bulk of their lost ratings and revenue are from the kneeling but a 15 yd penalty is freakin stupid. To the players they have so many other forms to voice their protests. They are employees!!

 

[rossihunter2]

I certainly agree with you that discussions need to occur regarding important issues instead of avoiding them. That being said I have no issue with the NFL owner’s new policy regarding the National Anthem.

If an employee while on the job engages in non job related behavior that negatively impacts the employer’s business, the employer has the right to put an end to such behavior.

there's no real equivalency
people dont tune in to watch any random guy in an office building type at a computer

and the replacement level means that the NFL literally could not function without the players - therefore they have an earned pedestal

and they are expected to be role models for their community - the protest is an extension of that - the thing the league wasn't banking on was that the communities the players represent and the communities the owners typically pander to are different with differing views on some fairly significant issues

and while i know there has been a strong outpouring in certain sections of NFL communities that have changed their viewing habits in light of the protests, i dont think there's actually any actual statistics that suggest the NFL is losing money over the protests beyond the broadcast ratings which arent a good statistic for who's watching anyway...

 

[rossihunter2]

Obviusly the owners feel like a great bulk of their lost ratings and revenue are from the kneeling but a 15 yd penalty is freakin stupid. To the players they have so many other forms to voice their protests. They are employees!!

i just think its crazy the ratings are held as such a big deal - it's clear they arent an accurate way to understand how many people are actually watching football (or any tv for that matter)...

people consume all media differently now and the networks are all stalling and not agreeing to allow streams and non-tv-broadcast views into the ratings because it affects advertising revenue (an ad on live tv brings in more income because of traditional tracking methods so it's in the networks' interests to keep the tv ratings separated despite that not being realistic)

but it means that the raw figures look bad and so despite the NFL posting higher profits every year they are worried about the ratings - which naturally means that the NFL are going to want to cater to the audience that counts in the ratings which will likely skew older/more traditional viewers who are likely more conservative and who are likely to feel a particular way on the issue

im not saying i dont understand why the owners made this rule because i 100% do - i just think its an incredibly miscalculated move because for this rule to stick there had to be buy in from the players but the players werent even consulted - the stated reasoning for this rule was 'to bring the focus back to football' but by foisting the players they alienate them and naturally make the issue not about football - they turned an issue that was dying down towards the end of the year anyway and turned it into a labour dispute that basically has become about the right to demonstrate...

no matter what your opinion on the players' rights to protest the anthem etc. i think this was clearly a miscalculation
i guarantee you that this will now be a focus of the first few weeks at least of the season when it could easily have been forgotten in the background of this offseason

but i agree that the 15 yard penalty is stupid (as are the fines on the teams/organisations) because they add other problems...
1) you have to define respect... (is linking arms disrespecting the anthem? what about raising your arm? what about not looking the right amount of proud? - it opens up a pandoras box of problems)
2) how to you adjudicate the fouls if both teams have protesting players?
3) you put the judgement call of respect on the officials...
4) the owners have to pay for the adjudication of their own rule if the fines do happen on the organisation
5) the policy was left up to individual teams to decide which may well create a divide between front office/coaching staffs and the players

i wonder if we're gonna see a whole team not come out for the anthem in week 1...
legally that's allowed but i can bet you there would still be a hoopla about those players not respecting the anthem and should be punished for it


would you personally be ok if the Ravens all stayed in the locker room at M&T for the anthem?

 

[Willbacker]

there's no real equivalency
people dont tune in to watch any random guy in an office building type at a computer

and the replacement level means that the NFL literally could not function without the players - therefore they have an earned pedestal

and they are expected to be role models for their community - the protest is an extension of that - the thing the league wasn't banking on was that the communities the players represent and the communities the owners typically pander to are different with differing views on some fairly significant issues

and while i know there has been a strong outpouring in certain sections of NFL communities that have changed their viewing habits in light of the protests, i dont think there's actually any actual statistics that suggest the NFL is losing money over the protests beyond the broadcast ratings which arent a good statistic for who's watching anyway...

You could also look at it this way. The players wouldn't be making millions if they weren't employed and no they don't truly have a pedestal when they're pissing off customers and causing the employers to lose business.