We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChangepic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
My take on kneeling through the anthem is the same as ever, regardless of who does it.
Every symbol (flags, crosses, etc) has a different meaning to everyone. It’s your right to have your individual opinion of any symbol and interact with that symbol however you see fit, so long as (a) you’re acting within the confines of the law, (b) you don’t obstruct others from also acting within the confines of the law, and (c) you understand that others may agree or disagree with you.
Employers do have some level of control over their employees behaviors regarding symbols and how they interact with them (whether it be honoring the symbol, protesting the symbol, etc). However the employer has a duty to (a) act within the confines of the law, (b) either make the expectations of the employee clear at the time of hiring the employee or have readily available policies and procedures for the employee to reference, and (c) understand that its customers may or may not agree with its stance on these actions. The employer has no obligation to promote or discourage how the employee interacts with any symbol. For instance, I do not believe an employer has to allow an employee to wear a presidential campaign button on the clock in the presence of customers, so long as this was made clear to the employee prior to the event (such as an Employee Dress Code).
Long story, short: I have always stood for the anthem, but I’m not going to get in anyone’s way if they choose to kneel. It gets a little murky with an employee protesting anything on the clock, so it’s difficult to say what the NFL can do to stifle a protest on their broadcasts. I figure the League’s lawyers understand that better than any of us. If the League is okay with it, then it’s their risk to take. [Reply]
Originally Posted by smithandrew051:
My take on kneeling through the anthem is the same as ever, regardless of who does it.
Every symbol (flags, crosses, etc) has a different meaning to everyone. It’s your right to have your individual opinion of any symbol and interact with that symbol however you see fit, so long as (a) you’re acting within the confines of the law, (b) you don’t obstruct others from also acting within the confines of the law, and (c) you understand that others may agree or disagree with you.
Employers do have some level of control over their employees behaviors regarding symbols and how they interact with them (whether it be honoring the symbol, protesting the symbol, etc). However the employer has a duty to (a) act within the confines of the law, (b) either make the expectations of the employee clear at the time of hiring the employee or have readily available policies and procedures for the employee to reference, and (c) understand that its customers may or may not agree with its stance on these actions. The employer has no obligation to promote or discourage how the employee interacts with any symbol. For instance, I do not believe an employer has to allow an employee to wear a presidential campaign button on the clock in the presence of customers, so long as this was made clear to the employee prior to the event (such as an Employee Dress Code).
Long story, short: I have always stood for the anthem, but I’m not going to get in anyone’s way if they choose to kneel. It gets a little murky with an employee protesting anything on the clock, so it’s difficult to say what the NFL can do to stifle a protest on their broadcasts. I figure the League’s lawyers understand that better than any of us. If the League is okay with it, then it’s their risk to take.
Originally Posted by Mecca:
The NFL is going to do nothing about this at all right now, in this climate they're going to say they support it, actually they already have.
Even if they don’t support it, there is zero chance they would say so right now. They would gain absolutely nothing from doing so. [Reply]
This is a time of self-reflection for all – the NFL is no exception. We stand with the black community because Black Lives Matter. pic.twitter.com/RtIdcEhj5w
When they are putting this out, they will do not a god damn thing. Also if dudes kneeling is a big enough deal to you to not watch Patrick Mahomes, sell your shit, find a new hobby. You can't expect everyone to just think exactly like you do that's life. [Reply]
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
I happen to agree with his stance, but even if you don't, that's what's great about this country. you CAN have different opinions than me and we can both have a coke and a smile and shut the f**k up. [Reply]
Originally Posted by CrazyPhuD:
Honestly...it would mean he made a bad decision. If he makes it once, who cares. If he makes it over and over again then that's a pattern and a problem, but that's not Patrick so I'm not worried about that.
Some people say Kaepernick was blackballed by the NFL. Bullshit, he's not playing because he made bad decisions and he couldn't win football games. His running gimmick worked well in 2012 and even 2013, but then the NFL adapted and Kaepernick didn't. In 2014 he fell to 8-8, 5-11 in 2015 and finally 1-10 in 2016.
He does his protest for a game or two in 2016, fine make a statement and move on. But let's be realistic, did his protest ever have a real shot to make a substantive difference?
What it did do, however, was serve to be a distraction to his fans, his team and almost certainly himself. He's the QB that ended up going 1-10 on the season and lost his starting job. As a QB you have one job and that's to win games. You want to make a statement fine, but think about how much more powerful your statement would have been if your were winning games? Imagine if you kneel while holding the Lombardi Trophy after wining a Super Bowl. That would have had more impact than all the protests made during the season.
Rather than distract his team, his fans, his coaches and himself with a protest that was never going anywhere he could have used the anger and frustration as motivation in practice and use it to win games.
Then as a winning QB, if you want to make a statement think how much of a position of power you would be in to do so. Think how a Super Bowl MVP QB could have pushed for change in ways that a backup QB on the 2nd worst team in the NFL couldn't dream of?
That is why Kaepernick doesn't have a job in the NFL, it's not because the NFL owners black balled him. It's because he made bad decisions and he couldn't win football games when it counted. He compounded that by blaming everyone else when it was his decisions and his performance that mattered. That is the hallmark of a bad leader.
Why would any team want to hire a QB that couldn't win, made bad decisions and showed bad leadership?
If Pat wants to use his position as NFL and Super Bowl MVP to try to effect real change for African Americans, I trust his decision making. I trust that he'll do it the right way and most importantly he'll do it the way that actually will make a difference. Patrick is a winner and he won't pick a strategy that has no chance to win.
I don't believe he'd kneel during the National Anthem. Why? Because no matter what, that will always be Kaepernick's and never Patrick's. If he does something it will be his own.
I trust that he wouldn't kneel during the Anthem because it doesn't help you make your point. It's devisive and will alienate part of your fanbase without materially helping you accomplish your goal.
I trust Patrick to make the smart decision, and kneeling during the Anthem risks much without gaining much. Patrick is smart enough to make a difference and not just a statement.
If Patrick thinks he can make a difference that will change the inequity in our system, I don't just trust him to do so, I want him to do so. I believe in his decision making. Everything we've seen from him says that his approach won't be devisive, it will be unifying. If he believes he can, he will bring us all together and he will make a real lasting impact.
Everything we've seen about Pat on the field says this and even that video says this. It's a team unified, trying to get the NFL to stand with them.
Originally Posted by Mecca:
Jamal Adams tweeted that out yesterday and yea it's pretty ridiculous to be honest.
I agree,
You know what else is RIDICULOUS?
Blacks killing other Blacks and as a whole ignoring that as their BIGGEST issue. I guess that one takes self reflection on ones culture, so I can see why you would skip it and go to issue number 2.
Both need to be dealt with, but I've yet to see black leaders give a shit about the part that makes up 90% of black murder deaths.
Originally Posted by Ebolapox:
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
I happen to agree with his stance, but even if you don't, that's what's great about this country. you CAN have different opinions than me and we can both have a coke and a smile and shut the f**k up.
I don't remember seeing any warfighters getting angry at folks peacefully protesting by kneeling during the anthem. A lot of them disagreed with it but stated they fought exactly for this kind of freedom. [Reply]
Blacks killing other Blacks and as a whole ignoring that as their BIGGEST issue. I guess that one takes self reflection on ones culture, so I can see why you would skip it and go to issue number 2.
Both need to be dealt with, but I've yet to see black leaders give a shit about the part that makes up 90% of black murder deaths.
but hey w/e
Dude all my point was is don't say one athlete can have an opinion and the other can't simply because of what you agree with. If you're stance is shutup and dribble then your stance on Brees should be shutup and throw the ball.
This isn't DC so knock that shit off and spinning what we we're talking about. Everyone has a right to say what they want, you get to deal with the repercussions of what you say though hence that very quick apology. [Reply]