NFL (Page 2)

Now, now, let's not be in a rush to start hockey when there's still a month of baseball to go. Well, not for the Cardinals. But for some teams. Let's go Cubs!

I'm sure the NFL would love for this to go away, but I also don't think they're too worried about it. Stadiums (except the ones in southern California, LMAO!) are still full, no sponsors have left the league, and the NFL has their tv contracts signed through 2022. Lower ratings might start to hurt the networks a little, but the league is fine right now.

By the time tv contracts are up for renewal again, no one will care about this. Something like Pepsi or Anhueser Busch pulling their sponsorship happens, then you'll see a swift crackdown from the owners. But a couple hundred people on twitter burning jerseys and tickets ain't gonna do it. Until the league actually starts to lose money, they can sit on the fence and ride all this out. 

My wife has been buying my wife's aunt (and Godmother) NFL team gear for years.  She gets an e-mail the other day saying she's going to send it all back because of this kneeling crap.

Really??  First of all, I don't need 20 years worth of stuff showing up at my door in a big box.  Second, get the hell over yourself.  Good grief.

Very well said.  There's no question the players have the right to protest in any legal manner they want, it's just a matter of picking how you protest.  I can run through the street naked to protest high cholesterol at McDonalds, but my message will be wiped out by everyone throwing up seeing me running naked in the street. 
I feel people are so off-put by the nature of the protest that the actual protest is being lost completely. 
The NFL has been gradually sliding anyways because of cable cutters, lack of attention span in younger generation, etc.  This doesn't help their cause and I do feel it's going to have a noticeable financial impact on them.
Generally speaking there's a big percentage of NFL fans that are flyover country conservative types.  Protesting the flag and anthem just isn't going to go over very well.  

Just saw this, and agree. 

So I think I finally figured out why this makes me so mad.  This past weekend I was at Yom Kippur services and our Rabbi's sermon portion began by describing how crazy people get for their sports, specifically football.  You plan the time to watch the game, get your gear on, make your food. You watch the game and cheer the good plays, curse the bad.  All this while hoping your team pulls off the win, even when their bad.  Listening got me really excited as I could really visualize how much I love watching football.  (I have no idea where he went after that, because all I could think about was how happy I am watching football.

It was then that I realized that the protests upset me because they are trying to distract from MY football.  And when someone tries intentionally to take something from you that you love, you fight back.  At that moment, you don't care why they are doing it, you want to protect what is yours.  This is what they are doing to me and tons of other people.  At that point their cause doesn't matter.  I agree with them that if there is social injustice, it is a topic worth discussing, but since they are interrupting my football, I no longer care.  Sorry, but that is my opinion.  Some people are planning to stop watching.  But I love watching football, so that will not be me.  Instead, I want to metaphorically punch them in the face.  Leave my love alone.  

While obviously football is just a game, if you were to swap football with other things you love I think you can relate.  Say they decided to protest at the start of your child's school play?  Say the doctor wanted to kneel in protest before delivering your baby?  Say the Priest or Rabbi wanted to protest before your wedding?  In all these cases you would no longer care about the reason for their protest, you would just want to stop them so you could enjoy the event without it being tarnished.

I hope you all on both sides can understand why so many people are upset.  There is a time and a place for everything.  Picking and choosing that time can make all the difference in success or failure.

You forgot the Civil War , WWI, Korea and Vietnam.....but yeah, that's how I feel too.

I guess for me, what makes the difference is that they're making their voices heard without directly targeting soldiers.  People know what it's about, and the players are making their voice heard - agree or disagree.  But I think that's a far cry from, say, directly protesting soldiers as they stepped off the plane from Vietnam, calling them baby killers, etc.

If you have a problem with government policy in this country, use your voice.  Make the government hear you.  But you have to separate the government from the guys (and gals) who are serving.  I think this NFL protest strikes that balance, others disagree.  That's ok, we are allowed our opinions.

And I guess the last thing I'll say is my dad and I both served, and I received a flag when he passed.  So don't misunderstand my viewpoint of that honor.

The bolded is what we've lost by letting the loud voices on both side have the biggest voice.  Until the other 80% of us, FROM BOTH SIDES OF FENCE, start letting the big mouth 20% know we're sick of the constant stupidity, finger pointing, and turmoil......we're stuck with it.....and it's likely a downhill slide from here.