NFL owners have lost their minds
Sunday, Sept. 24, was Gold Star Mother’s Day in the United States, during which mothers of fallen soldiers are honored for their sacrifice.
As grieving mothers all over America proudly held the flags given to them at their children’s funerals, NFL players throughout the league put on a disgraceful display of dishonoring the flag of the country for which these children perished.
President Trump said during a recent campaign speech: “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that SOB off the field right now — he’s fired.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell whined that what the president said was “divisive” and “disrespectful.” Yet Goodell doesn’t think kneeling during the national anthem is divisive or disrespectful.
NFL players who also had no problem with fellow players dishonoring America inexplicably became offended and chose loyalty among their misguided teammates as more important than loyalty to the country that has given them so many amazing opportunities.
It was especially painful to listen to these players try to make their hypocrisy about free speech – or worse, racism.
If this was a free-speech issue, why did the NFL refuse to let Dallas Cowboy players wear a logo on their uniform for one “pre-season” game to honor the five Dallas police officers murdered during an ambush last year? Is that not free speech?
The NFL believes honoring slain police officers is inappropriate, but if a player chooses to dishonor our national anthem, that is totally appropriate.
If this was about racism or inequality, why did NFL players from the Ravens and Jaguars kneel for America’s national anthem while in London, yet all stood for “God Save the Queen”?
If these players knew their history, they would have understood England’s long history of tyranny included those years the colonies were battling England to form their own country.
What these coddled millionaires forget is that they are employees who are paid to show up and do their job, wear a uniform to represent their company. Their salaries are paid by their customers.
Yes, they have every right to free speech, but they should do it on their own time like every other employee.
If any other employee continually mouthed off to his employer and showed disrespect, he would be fired. But in the NFL, this shameful behavior is actually encouraged and defended.
Jim Brown is a legend in the NFL. He was fighting for civil rights before most of today’s spoiled athletes were born. Recently, he wisely said, “I’m an American. I don’t desecrate my flag and my national anthem. I’m not going do anything against the flag and national anthem.
“I’m going to work within those situations. But this is my country, and I’ll work out the problems – but I’ll do it in an intelligent manner.”
Ultimately, the fans will decide who is right on this issue. I’m with Jim Brown – and based on the dropping ratings, attendances, and revenue for the NFL, so is most of America.
The NFL lost its soul a long time ago. Today, it seems its leaders have lost their minds as well.