Ya'll in the states are a proud bunch, many times that pride in country is misplaced with some stoopid war bravado and sometimes it's showing your pride in country before a big game promoting sportsmanship and unity amongst players, owners, fans and the league.

stand straight laddy!

well, if you have seen where their contract actually says that, Id be glad for you to point me to the document....

standing to pledge to a flag is a POLITICAL action in itself, so obviously its not JUST about playing ball if they include as the preritual BEFORE THE GAME STARTS.

and if there is a segment for political 'solidarity' how can that political viewpoint be FORCED into a one size fits all?

those moments before the game are political. IF not everyone shares the same politics, there is no reason for them to be mandated to pretend they do.

Yes allegiance to customs often consumes us in our logic and judgment.

Do you have a better way to promote unity before the players rip each others heads off in a game?

Yes. A moment of reflection for people they have lost. Or a moment of honor specifically TO THEIR TEAMS

or a moment where they stand UNIFIED in supporting each others diversity, including diverse political stances.

I guess it depends on our perspectives.
... i see violence as hitting or punching, not tackling...

it's a football game for crying out loud the national anthem should encompass all of that.

Those kneelers just want to divide, they like it that way

Points Msharmony to this

The Player Contract

But beyond the Constitution, contract law allows any NFL team to terminate any player for behavior it deems to be injurious to the organization or the league.

Every professional player must sign the standard NFL player contract. In it, the player promises as follows:

“To conduct himself on and off the field with appropriate recognition of the fact that the success of professional football depends largely on public respect for and approval of those associated with the game” (Paragraph 2). “ If player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by the Club to adversely affect or reflect on the Club, then the Club may terminate this contract” (Paragraph 11).

This language makes it clear that a team will decide whether a player’s personal conduct adversely affects the club. Since it is a subjective standard, NFL owners have enormous latitude and discretion to fire a player for reasons of conduct.

But that is not all. The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the players’ union and approved by the players themselves authorizes suspension or termination “for conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football” (Article 46).

they are not there for polictical reasons, they are there to play a game... they should suspend everyone who doesn't stand...

Ever look at what goes on between linemen?
Ell, Ray Nitchke and others used to bite people in a pile.

why? Where in the national anthem does it mention football?

its a custom, plain and simple. Its not divisive until you mandate people to follow it.

as I said, its not about anything but making their bosses money, if they subjectively decide that their money is threatened, they can make a subjective choice about their employment.

you realize that forcing people to stand for an anthem IS POLITICAL in and of itself?

"The long bombs bursting in air" ???

It's just classy, standing with your countrymen and saluting country before ANY sporting event. Those who cannot create must destroy? now they're doing it to spite Trump? Ridiculous to me


There's a million reasons to gripe and millions of gripers, there's a time and place for all of that and it isn't on the field, court or rink, that's for sure.

A Former Army Ranger Apologizing. HUH

Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who toured several times in Afghanistan,

So because of that, I've made Coach Tomlin look bad, and that is my fault, and that is my fault only. I made my teammates look bad, and that is my fault, and my fault only. And I made the Steelers also look bad, and that is my fault, and my fault only. So unwillingly, I made a mistake. I talked to my teammates about the situation, hopefully they understand it. If they don't, I still have to live with it, because the nature of this debate is causing a lot of very heated reaction from fans from players, and it's undeserving to all of the players and coaches from this organization.

http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/25288/full-transcript-alejandro-villanueva-on-steelers-pregame-ordeal

I wonder if he got alot of grief for this?

first, its not about Trump and Trump was not President when it happened.

second, I can think of no better time and place then when given a world stage. It engages the WORLD, much better than a protest in a volatile environment or a thread on some social media site.

third, it was merely kneeling, he cursed at noone, made no scene, what he did was passive and unoffensive,,, just like when Tebow takes his knee and becomes a world sensation....

IMO protest all you want but the flag and anthem represents those that served. My dad died active duty and come from a long line of military....strike 1. I have loved ones past and present that are law enforcement....strike 2. It represents what I believe in this country....strike 3.

They have every right to protest but 1st amendment goes both ways. I have a right to stand against them too

It's terribly selfish of them to expose us all to their individual "gripes"

Go ahead and support this clown show but soon enough, you'll be shaking your head saying "was that necessary?" to some idiot who wants public exposure to his/her personal "gripe".

Respect to Villanueva for standing alone with the opposing team and fans to celebrate the anthem, all the other Steelers should have been warned to step onto that field or be suspended indefinitely... pull the plug on the season and their paychqs if necessary. Such disgrace IMHO.

He is now saying he did it because of a misunderstanding

Either way, IMO, they are in uniform. Protests while in uniform isn't right. Normal people would get fired for it. Many can't bring politcs or religion to the work place. If they want to protest, do it on your own time. They are paid to play football. Ticket holders and sponsors pay.

I don't care if they want to protest....not in the job and get a paycheck.