NFL Gets A Rule Change

For almost two years now, players around the National Football League have been taking a stand. They look to make a statement against something they feel is an injustice in this country. It's been going on for two years now, NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem as a form of protest. Well, now the NFL is fighting back against it.

It was announced yesterday that the NFL owners have unanimously approved a new national anthem policy that requires players to stand if they are on the field during the performance but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer. The policy subjects teams to a fine if a player or any other team personnel do not show respect for the anthem. That includes any attempt to sit or kneel, as dozens of players have done during the past two seasons to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Those teams also will have the option to fine any team personnel, including players, for the infraction.

A few of the players have spoken up against the decision. Snacks Harrison of the Giants said this in a tweet "It’s crazy to think that they think ratings dropped because of the kneeling. I can promise you it was wayyyy more people ACTUALLY not watching due to the support of the kneeling than the ones who opposed. Most of those TV games were actually terrible."

"To make a decision that strong, you would hope that the players have input on it," Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. "But obviously not. So we have to deal with it as players, for good or a bad thing."

The NFL is making this decision more with their wallets then with their heads. Owners had a chance to really take a stand and really make some noise and they failed to do so. What the owners are more worried about is the bottom line and being able to make money for themselves and use the players to do so. Now granted, it is a two way street. Players need the owners to earn a paycheck playing a game we played as kids. Owners need the players in order to make money. See owners use public money to be able to build these parks and they take that money and try to put the best product on the field for their fan bases. So far, with this ruling, they are telling their fan base that we care more about money then public opinion.

Owners are worried that they are going to lose sponsorship money because the players are taking a stand for something that they believe in. I could be reading this all wrong but that the vibe I'm getting by this ruling. Still don't get why everybody is freaking out of players trying to make a stand. That's the beautiful thing about living in America, the fact that if you feel something isn't right or just then you do something about it. Players went out and made a stand for something they believed in and they did it in a peaceful manner. They weren't hurting anybody. It started to fade, before outsiders started mouthing off about the issue, so it picked up steam again. Now when it looks like it was starting to die down, this ruling comes down. Its a dumb idea that might blow up in the owners faces.