By now, you’ve probably heard that President Donald Trump had some things to say about NFL players. Specifically, those who exercise their Constitutional right of free speech by kneeling or otherwise standing in protest during the National Anthem.
If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
…our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Prior to those tweets there was this statement in a speech on Friday.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’” the president said at a rally for Republican senator Luther Strange.
“You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they don’t know it [but] they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”
There’s all kinds of ignorant in that statement, but we’re not even going to get into that.
The NFLPA has responded. The league has responded. Hell, even the squarest guy in the room, commissioner Roger Goodell, condemned Trump’s remarks.
“The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture,” commissioner Roger Goodell said. “There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we’ve experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.”
There is now a growing movement for solidarity among all players on Sunday. Some people are calling for everyone to sit during the anthem. This seems to represent the overwhelming sentiment.
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/911404198809493504
Every single NFL player should be kneeling this Sunday. Every. Single. One. Don't let this POS "President" get away w/this shit in silence. https://t.co/PiIRASP9i6
— Andrew Steinthal (@schmooey) September 23, 2017
A number of players across the league have reacted to the comments. Receiver Davante Adams was the first member of the Green Bay Packers to do so.
We'll "stick to football" when we see progress. Our Nations leader can't even set a good example of how it looks to be a great American
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) September 23, 2017
Tight end Martellus Bennett, who has raised a fist during the anthem to support his brother Michael, who sits, also reacted.
https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911689636094910465
https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911690387089186817
https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/911690892184100866
The question now is, what will the Packers do on Sunday?
This is the most image-conscious organization in the NFL. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has said that while he supports guys who protest, Bennett in particular, he will never sit or kneel for the National Anthem.
Of course, that was before this bullshit.
Interestingly, the squarest guy in the Packers’ organization — other than Mark Murphy — Ted Thompson, has expressed support for players who protest.
“This is a free country in my opinion, and free people can do what they like,” Thompson said earlier this year.
Coach Mike McCarthy has expressed a similar sentiment.
In all honesty, I hate talking about politics, but I believe in equality and I believe in the rights that have been bestowed upon us. All of us.
The president is out of line.
I doubt it will happen, but I would be proud if the Packers made a statement of solidarity on Sunday.
The fact of the matter is this. The president talks about respecting the flag and then disrespects a group of people for doing something they believe in.
This is America. Fuck that guy.
I fully understand that the First Amendment is designed to protect speech that I and many others do not like. The problem is that many protesters don’t understand what the flag and the National Anthem represent. There are far worse places to live, North Korea comes to mind real quick. If you disrespect that “government”, you would very quickly find yourself on the wrong side of an execution. We all understand that the United States is far from perfect, but the freedom to disrespect the flag, the anthem, and the country was earned and protected at a great cost. Many of those who gave their lives or remain damaged for life are persons of color, remember the Tuskegee Airmen? Surely those overpaid athletes could show some respect for those brave soldiers.
Freedom isn’t free. America is the land of the free BECAUSE of the brave.
Takes a lot more guts to dodge real bullets than it does to protest during a song that lasts less than 90 sec.
I am a vet and so is my dad. I was his guardian during a veteran’s honor flight a year ago. That day we met a man who was a crew member of a landing craft during the WW2 landing on Iwo Jima. He was the sole survivor of his craft. Everone else died during the battle. The protesters disrespect him and his brethren who gave their lives.
Great post Gort, and thank you for your, and your fathers service and sacrifice.
Gort, I respect the service and sacrifices of you and your father and everyone who has, or is, or will serve.
There is some deceptive — I think self-deceptive — this-equals-that in your comments.
The people sitting or kneeling or raising a fist or whatever during the anthem are trying to draw attention to a difference in treatment that non-whites all too often suffer, a very negative difference, and that we have not fully beaten racism in America and we still have a lot of work to do. That is why they do it. That is the purpose.
You draw false conclusions when you take their actions as meaning they do not respect America or do not respect the flag or do not respect sacrifices made or that their actions mean they think North Korea is not a worse place to live than America or that they think it takes more guts to protest than to dodge bullets. None of those things are true. None of those guys have said that or written that or, as far as any of us can ever tell, thought that.
A true patriot uses free speech (which, of course, goes beyond words to all forms of communication including non-verbal). A practical patriot does it in the most effective manner = that which draws attention to the issue. And a true patriot is against racism. These protests are “against racism”. They are a prime example of patriotism in action in an effective and practical manner, and, yes, it does take bravery. Not dodge bullets bravery but, still, bravery.
Ironically, you condemn this patriotism as being unpatriotic. Bitterly ironic and very unfortunate. Hopefully you will give it some more thought and consideration.
Gort seems like an intelligent man. i’m not so sure he needs you to do his thinking for him.
He’s also a Veteran, as is his Father, i HIGHLY doubt he needs an explanation from you on what the definition of a true Patriot is.
Who the F are you? A trolling internet blogger, trying to explain what Patriotism is to a Veteran? Get the fuck out of here.
I’m not sure about his intelligence but he certainly lacks wisdom. He does seem to need some help as he is comparing non-existent this-equals-that.
I totally do believe he is a veteran and so is his father. I don’t think that is fiction. But that does not mean he is just automatically right about things. He is clearly wrong this time. Since he accused patriots of being unpatriotic, yes, he does need a definition from someone. He needs things explained in a clearheaded manner which is what I did.
Whatcha gonna do, Monty, fire me for telling the truth? Sounds like a Trump move.
I highly doubt Gort needs words put in his mouth by childish loser whose life revolves around a pro sports team. BTW, I thought you were the one getting the fuck out of here forever a few years back. What happened?
Awe, the bear fan is back. So what have we got here, a bear and queen fan spewing their illogical political garbage on a Packers website.
I’m not saying the bears and the queens aren’t important in the NFL. We need these kind of teams to fill out the bottom of the standings in their division. They have a place in the NFL, they are called bottom dwellers. indicative of their fan base.
Doesn’t have a goddamn thing to do with veterans or the military. That’s just simple equivocation. This is the argument pulled out when those opposed to “taking a knee” don’t want to say what they really think.
Management needs to wake up. Those that chose not to respect our country and the people that sacrificed for it, should be benched and put in someone else. There are always players just waiting for a shot to play.
You know what, Monty? You run a great site. The Packers are an amazing team to watch. My wonderful wife is from Green Bay, so as a lowly Jets fan I can’t tel you how great it’s been these last 20 + years rooting for the Pack. Yet, I always felt the Pack was special, the town’s special. The ownership, special, but as special as it all is, I can’t stand for players who won’t stand for our flag. You may say F-you to Trump, but if I watch another Packers game where one of the players chooses to sit in disrespect to the flag my father fought for, my uncle died for, my son served for, I say, F-you and F the NFL. Game over for me. And with jock-sniffers like you encouraging this disrespect this week will probably be the last NFL game I ever watch. Been a great run.
Yeah, everyone makes assumptions. Like because that person has that opinion, I bet no one in his family ever fought. Well, anyone who makes that assumption would be wrong. Nobody fights for a fucking flag. They fight for rights and a way of life. One of those rights that we have is free speech. Go ahead and ask anyone in your family. What did you fight for? A flag that is a symbol of our nation, something that every other nation has? Or did you fight for the rights that we have as Americans? To preserve and guard our way of life? Whether you like it or not, people have the right to say what they want and protest in this country. That has nothing to do with a flag. This isn’t about disrespect for people who put their life on the line. This is about respect for everyone.
I appreciate what you said, my bud, And God knows, I have no idea who in who’s family fought etc. nor does it matter other than to respect those who did. Hey, I’m all about free speech. The KKK, Antifa, et al can be as dumb as they want. The more they speak the more moronic they look. Free speech all the way.
But there’s a MAJOR difference here. You’ve got to remember the Packers are wearing a uniform while at work. They are the Packers football team. They are no longer individuals expressing opinions.
Let’s say I worked for you at Total Packers and went on national t.v. in a Total Packers t-shirt and barfed out with some racist, or bizarre statements. I’d expect you to say, “Hey, wtf. man, I have a brand here. Don’t say that shit when you’re wearing my logo. This is my business. You’re making us look bad. Say what you want, but say it on your own time, and don’t have the name of my company associated with it. Tainting my brand is not cool. ” Am I wrong?
Btw, you don’t have to post this. I truly enjoy your site and just want to open your eyes to the fact that soooo many people like me want to watch a football game to get away from all the political bullshit.
Thanks buddy, and keep up the good work you guys do. It’s always been my Packers go to site.
Now, it’s my choice whether to watch the games. One last thing. If Goodell was anywhere close to being a good commish he would have nipped this crap in the bud. But he’s the worst thing that’s ever come to the league. Go Pack.
Amen Jay Gable…it ISN’T about whether someone has the right or not to protest, regardless of what they are protesting. It’s about representing an employer on their time, during said protest. They all know this, but they act like it’s irrelevant and ignore it like it was never brought up, because they have no answer for it.
We’re being force fed people’s political views, by various sport shows, radio shows, game announcers, halftime host, etc. The viewers simply tuned in to talk about sports, or just to watch a football game. Protest on your own time, not the millions of viewers time. If i wanted to watch political pundits, or see the latest protest and political viewpoints, i’ll tune in CNN, MSNBC, or Fox News. But i just want to watch a football game. I’m fairly certain that’s a majority viewpoint.
Have the NFLPA take out commercial time, have them organize a march, do whatever the fuck you want to do on your time, not our time. But if we don’t like politics mixed in with our sports, we’re then called racist and fascist by the liberal left. Then they wonder why America elected Trump.
Second, when the first tweet they post is from “Talcum X”, Shaun King a white guy who pretends to be black, you have to wonder if Monty is trolling here. But looking over his response, I realized he was not.
Bye Jay. I say F you to people who don’t understand American principles.
Personally I don’t care about the protests…it’s the low quality of play that’s turning me off from the NFL. Tried watching RedZone last Sunday and could only take 10 minutes of it
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/area-world-war-ii-vet-to-participate-in-freedom-honor/article_e523e960-2670-597c-974c-64cabee14875.html
Nothing’s more American than protesting. Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me!!
As a decorated Vet I can tell you surprisingly I support the players right to stand, sit, kneel, whatever during the anthem. I fought for them to have that right. Ive seen a lot of vets who feel the same way.
That being said I think the whole message is misguided. They should be raising their fists in solidarity to bring attention to black on black crime and what the single mother household has done to their race; but hey keep it against whitey so you always have an excuse to act like thugs.
Good post, and thank you for your service Rebel.
Aside what anyone thinks about the protest at someone’s workplace, Rebel reminds me of a couple things. First being that, a good number of the policeman that shot and killed unarmed blacks, are black men themselves. So are they only protesting against the white officers, or the black officers also? If they are protesting against white and black officer killing blacks, then race becomes a non issue. If they are only protesting the white officers while declaring racism, then they themselves are racist.
Lets also not be so ignorant as to pretend that not as many, or more unarmed white men and Latino men, are also killed by police. If the issue is police killing unarmed men, then wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear from the protesters that white and Latino’s men lives matter also.
Now lets shut this door that Monty opened and get back to football.
As a veteran myself, the phrase “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” has always summed it up best. People didn’t die to defend a flag, like the flag my brother sent to me for my birthday that flew in Iraq when he was stationed there. The ideals behind what that flag represents whether I like it or not includes burning it or flying it upside down as a form of protest. I wouldn’t do that, and I feel it is more divisive and disrespectful than anything, but that’s me.
Whether we like or dislike protest and how people go about protesting, there is one thing I wish would be done when it comes to the national anthem. Show some respect by singing/playing the damn song the way it was intended by not trying to church that shit up. I don’t want to see some 10 minute rendition that includes 100 notes per measure and auto tuned. I have been to a few international events in my day where our national anthem has been played followed by let’s say the Canadian national anthem. I’ve never heard anyone disrespect “Oh Canada” by churching that shit up like it is the next top 40 hit. As Howard said in another thread and the use of flag etiquette, stand, remove your hat and place it over your left shoulder so your right hand is over your heart and let’s get through it without acting like the national anthem is the main event. We are supposed to be able to sing along with it but that’s kinda hard to do when you don’t know what direction the song is going in thanks to the creative license many of today’s performers utilize.