My Rant About The NFL
 

I'M SITTING HERE IN MY POST-MIDNIGHT (NIGHT OWL) PHASE WISHING I FELT LIKE GOING TO BED and realizing that few people will see this post due to the timing, but I feel the need to vent a bit about this "taking a knee to protest during the National Anthem" nonsense.

For all the ABSOLUTE IDIOTS who don't know any better, be advised that the First Amendment to the Constitution ONLY guarantees that the GOVERNMENT cannot punish you for anything you say. That is all of the "Free Speech" you get.

YOUR EMPLOYER has every right to circumscribe your speech at work because your employer has a financial interest in how you are perceived by the public. I served in the U.S. Army, three different law enforcement agencies, and was employed by one commercial business. In NONE of them was I free to say absolutely anything that I chose without the possibility of suffering the consequences from my employer, up to and including being fired.

THAT MEANS that whenever we see these under educated, overpaid, spoiled brat, professional athletes DISRESPECTING OUR FLAG AND OUR COUNTRY by refusing to stand for our National Anthem, they ARE subject to discipline both by their individual team ownership and by the National Football League.
Team owners and the NFL are HIDING behind an erroneous understanding of the First Amendment in their refusal to discipline their EMPLOYEES.

As of now, the NFL is DEAD TO ME. Further, I believe it is time to revoke the NFL's status as a non-profit organization, which we all know is a phony designation since it generates millions of dollars in profits for the people at the top.

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I feel the same way, Carl. No more NFL in the KC casa. :cus: And the way my Razorbacks are playing, no more watching the Hogs until the coach and the athletic director are fired. Guess I'll root for the Gators. ;)

Thanks for your service.

Good Night.

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GREAT POST Carl.

You are not alone in your feelings.. I am glad we were born when we were born and lived when we lived. So troubling and sad.

NFL it’s a thing of the past now nothing but commercials and now this nonsense didn’t watch may never watch again just don’t care anymore

Thank you for your post, well said. Thank you for your service.

Very well said! I agree 100%. The NFL and the owners are trying to protect their income and are a bunch of wimps, in my eyes. I will no longer be a fan and support the NFL. The Steelers are the worst along with the 49'ers. (and the Niners were my team forever until they allowed Kaepernick to kneel). What a bunch of uneducated, spoiled, over-paid BRATS. Never really watched my college football but I'm thinking I will be a Gator fan!

Thank you for your service. Great post. I stopped watching the NFL last year. College football is much better.

Again thanks

More time for Sunday golf!

I am really starting to enjoy college football. GO Gators! Bye NFL.

Totally agree

Beautiful words Mr. Carl. Thank You for your service and for the words They Are Dead To Me. Can't make it much more clear than that. Beautiful post as usual.

:highfive:Thank you Carl.

:read: NFL fines William Gay, DeAngelo Williams for uniforms publicizing domestic violence, cancer - TODAY.com

:confused: Does Goodell have a clue?

amen!!!!!!

I do not watch NFL :) can everybody still call me human ;)

Sure. You are human...but weird. ;)

Free Speech Rights: Offensive Speech Can Get You Fired, Not Jailed by Feds | National Review

The government cannot punish you for offensive speech, but your boss can fire you.

Actually there are many limitations on speech-- offensive or otherwise.

At a football stadium the the police would come down very hard on you if you yelled "terrorist", "bomb", and or anything like that. That applies to pretty much any where right now. And saying things in front of kids will get you arrested depending what it is. You could get arrested while mailing something if you answer their questions wrong. There are hundreds of situations like depending when, where, and how you say things or write them.

:confused: Does Goodell have a clue?[/QUOTE]

Of course Goodell and the owners have a clue. There is a Collective Bargaining Agreement looming on the horizon. They "have the players' backs".

They are all a bunch of low lifes. Goodbye, NFL.
I didn't wear the uniform for 8 years to support these turds.

So, you think college FB or BB is better, IMO wrong! it's still about the money, they just offer free rides instead cash at least what they want us to believe. IMO I bet maybe half of the top free ride players even get degree, but just stepping stone to NFL or NBA. We talk the talk, but can we walk the walk? doubt it will change anything anyway the children we raised expect it. protesting is out of control disease, which is norm now.

Thank you Carl,
And I do believe a protest of withholding support,
that hits tha NFL in the pocketbook can be very effective!

You guys just don't get it and likely never will. Since you watch the NFL from your TV set and not from a $150 seat, the NFL probably doesn't care much what you think. The proof of the pudding is in paid admissions.

The real proof is not paid admissions , but TV ratings. As long as those remain high (people watching) and the advertisers are willing to pay $millions for 30 sec .

No, we get it, maybe you don't, since the $150 seats don't generate
anywhere near the vast amount of income for the NFL
that the TV advertising revenues do!
So no viewing or buying sponsors products makes good sense!
How would you like a 10,15 or 20% reduction in your income?

First, :bigbow: thanks for your service.

Add me to the list of people who agree 100% with your post. I am looking at cancelling my NFL package, and I am also now boycotting Nike for their support of the players.

Absolutely correct, but unfortunately some don't just understand......

What’s Happening Now.
 

After all the craziness of ‘taking a knee’ we decided not to watch NFL for awhile, but haven’t heard much about how it has affected the sponsors or attendance. So we then decided to tune in last evening to the beginning of the Patriots/Tampa game. Seems they decided not to show the playing of the National Anthem & the ignorance that was getting all the attention. Good call. I was trying to figure out which sponsors I need to boycott. We changed channel after that beginning.:BigApplause:

Funny, my father served for 25 years, died three months after getting a medical discharge. My brother served three tours in Nam. Political and social discussions were the norm at our dinner table. Not once did I hear that either served for Old Glory. I have heard they fought for honor, pride, country.

They both stood at attention and saluted our flag with pride. I don't salute, but I stand at attention. So does my daughter. So does my grandson. It is a wonderful symbol of our nation. But that is all it is -- a symbol. It is a symbol of the rights and freedoms our forefathers fought so hard to gain. Freedom to assemble, the right to free speech, the duty to protest, those are the what the flag represents.

Kneeling quietly with head bowed is far more respectful than standing and talking during the national anthem. I've seen more than one athlete scratching his privates during the anthem. I've seen fans standing and chomping on food and guzzling beer during the anthem. And you're calling athletes kneeling and bowing their heads disrespectful???

There are good reasons to boycott football -- both at the college and professional level. Ditto basketball. So long as these sports condone and accept thugs who rape housekeepers, beat wives and girl friends, fire weapons in a public venue, people need to speak up and say this is not acceptable behavior. The Commissioners need to suspend players that behave like thugs. Owners need to bench, suspend and fire the thugs, regardless of the talent. Fans need to speak up and boycott games and advertisers who accept such thugs. But to punish players for peaceful protest? I know that's not what my father and brother fought for. Hopefully, that's true of most active-duty and retired servicemen. I'm sorry that some of you have forgotten that.

The DUTY to protest?
 

First, I'm interested in the new obligation that you've identified: The duty to protest. I can't seem to find it in the Constitution.

Second, you can't justify bad behavior by pointing to someone else's bad behavior. It is disrespectful to "take a knee" during the National Anthem, no matter what others may do.


People have the right to disrespect, even to burn, the Flag. They are not immune from the consequences of their actions.

Well, you go right ahead and boycott any products advertised on the channels showing NFL games. As I said before, you are way out of their demographic range but it remains your right to boycott - even though it makes no difference to the advertisers.

Basically, the kneeling will end soon or spectators will just accept as a norm. No big deal either way. Some may see it as disrespect while others see it as free speech and others just don't care.

The NFL is not going away. However, you do whatever you feel is best. Personally, I like pro football and will continue to watch - but will continue to use the mute button on commercials.

Had our forefathers not protested, there would have been no Revolution. Had Medgar Evans, MLK, Rosa Parks, et al., not spoken out, we'd be even further behind in the civil rights arena. Had Stanton., Anthony,, et al., not marched for women's rights, we females would probably still be stuck barefoot and pregnant. I was taught that we all have a moral obligation to speak when we see a wrong being committed, whether that wrong be in a schoolyard, a pulpit or on a national stage by a government official. We can speak as an individual or as a group, but speak and protest we must. One definition of duty is legal or moral obligation.

Sorry, I totally disagree that kneeling was disrespectful. It was done quietly, with head bowed. I pointed out the other behavior because, to me, that is disrespectful. I may not agree with what someone is protesting, but, so long as it peaceful, I will defend their right to protest. That is why my father, uncle, cousins, brother fought, died and were wounded. Not to silence a protestor whose stance is not your stance or to prevent someone from protesting in a manner that doesn't suit your sensibilities. They served to protect this great nation, to allow those living here to air their grievances, to protect our rights, not just to protect and respect the symbols. And, yes, you have the right to object and protest in whatever form you choose, but I hope that somewhere in you there is some pride that you and others fought to give CK the right to kneel in protest.

I love some of the commercials especially that one with the Kia and the hamster on the baby ward. 2017 Kia Soul Turbo | The Turbo Hamster Has Arrived - YouTube

It has different lengths according to the time bought.

Some of the commercials are a lot better than some of the programs. Especially during the Superbowl.

Thanks for a good and adult post.

It is interesting in a story I call...The Adults in the Room.

A group of vets were silently protesting the NFL protests at a practice last week.A number of Seahawk players went out to talk to them. They exchanged their viewpoints and shook hands before parting.

They are the Adults in the Room....both groups.

I hope I am allowed to say this on here with no trouble. I consider it not only very important but basic.

On a thread about Puerto Rico aid, a completely made up story about Puerto Rico citizens not distributing aid was mentioned. On this NFL issue, a fake picture of Michael Bennett if the Seahawks burying the flag has made the rounds.

When you hear of any kind of bad behavior, mostly on email chain letters, PLEASE VERIFY. It is probably not true. The so called fake news is not from the mainstream but the outliers.

This is not meant to be political...it is so basic, and whynspread hate with such lies.

Sorry if anyone considers it political....if you think seriously, it isnt

Now that is funny. Better than most games

Your point is?

"all that is necessary for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing"
British Statesman Edmund Burke

Great post. It is mature and worthy of Talk of the Villages.

You are very articulate and your posts are always thoughtful and thought provoking.

Thank you.