The mainstream media lashed-out at the National Football League Wednesday over their decision to punish players who “take a knee” during the national anthem; accusing the new policies of being “un-American” and “racist.”
Left-leaning pundits took to twitter to trash the new guidelines, saying the league was attempting to “hide” protesting players to appease angry fans and re-gain sagging viewership across the United States.
“Standing in the locker room where no one can see you is not protest. It’s erasure. The players cannot accept this,” wrote CNN’s Mac Lamont.
Standing in the locker room where no one can see you is not protest. It’s erasure. The players cannot accept this.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) May 23, 2018
If the NFL players want to resist, they should ALL remain in the locker room during the anthem.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) May 23, 2018
While new NFL anthem policy makes sense from business & Trump PR perspective and is certainly within league’s rights, there’s just something that feels unAmerican about forcing folks to abide what is, well, the league’s own politics. Feels like a band aid that won’t stick.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) May 23, 2018
I’m very curious to see how many NFL players will be on the field for the anthem that first NFL weekend.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 23, 2018
What about showing respect for the flag by not creating a policy that punishes people for peacefully protesting racism? https://t.co/5haSH9GWIA
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) May 23, 2018
The issue was thrust into national headlines last year after the President called for a national boycott until team owners and officials required all players to stand during the national anthem.
BLIND SIDE: NFL 'Mega' Sponsor Suddenly Pulls Ads from League
The controversy surrounding the National Football League continued to take its toll on the organization’s beleaguered bottom-line on Wednesday, after a ‘mega’ sponsor decided to pull its advertisements from future games for the remainder of the season.
In response to player protests during the national anthem, the owner of a New Jersey ‘mega’ car dealership decided to pull its ads for the rest of the 2017 season, or until league officials and owners crackdown on political demonstrations during the performance of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner.’
“The National Football League and its owners have shown their fans and marketing partners that they do not have a comprehensive policy to ensure that players stand and show respect for America and our flag during the playing of the national anthem,” said the owner of Flemington Car and Truck Company. “We have cancelled all of our NFL advertising on the Optimum and Infinity [cable] networks.”
“As the NFL parses the important nationwide issues of ‘social justice’ and ‘freedom of speech,’ it is clear that a firm direction by them is not forthcoming,” he added.
The NFL found itself in the midst of a media firestorm last month, following a string of player protests against the national anthem; prompting a steep decline in ticket sales, merchandise, and television viewership.
h/t NJ.com
END ZONE: Jobless NFL Star Says He’ll NO LONGER KNEEL During Anthem
An NFL star who pioneered “taking a knee” during the performance of the US national anthem at professional football games announced he plans to pursue a “different approach” heading into the 2018 season.
According to ESPN, Eric Reid -who spearheaded the protest alongside teammate Colin Kaepernick in 2016- said during a recent interview that he no longer intends to kneel during the performance of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner.’
“I’m not saying I’m going to stop being active because I won’t. I’m just going to consider different ways to be active, different ways to bring awareness to the issues of this country and improve on the issues happening in this country,” said Reid.
“I don’t think it will be in the form of protesting during the anthem. I say ‘during’ because it’s crazy that the narrative changed to we were ‘protesting the anthem,’ and that wasn’t the case. I think we’re going to take a different approach to how we’re going to be active,” he added.
Reid’s comments come more than a week into his search for a contract, with many team owners and officials opting to stay away from “controversial” players after a disastrous 2017 season.