By Peyton Capellen Posted November 10, 2017
The NFL started off the beginning of their season with controversy once again.
It started off with a tweet from President Trump that stirred just about every player and coach in the NFL to not participate in the National Anthem in one way or another.
“Roger Goodell of the NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country. Tell them to stand!” Trump tweeted on September 23.
In the third week of regular season games, teams nationwide reacted by kneeling, sitting and even remaining in their locker rooms while the National Anthem was played before their games. Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy could be seen doing stretches as the anthem was played.
The issue with kneeling during the anthem began 13 months ago when former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the anthem to spread awareness of violence in the police force.
Last week Kaepernick filed a lawsuit against the NFL for collusion. Collusion means that NFL teams were passing on Kaepernick for their quarterback even if he was the best pick, because they see him as a distraction. He will most likely not win the case as he has to prove that at least two NFL teams have actually done this to him.
Kaepernick sparked outrage in fans across the nation, but that does not compare to the reactions of fans this year.
Videos surfaced across the web of upset and angry people burning every NFL-related item they owned from jerseys to trading cards. Many season ticket holders burning their remaining tickets for the season.
As week five came around, networks airing the games experienced staggering in ratings. Most networks experienced a slight increase in viewers. On the other hand in game attendance seems to have declined. Patches of empty seats could be seen throughout stadiums. There were still players that kneeled on every team but in much smaller amounts.
Still many players kneeled and sat during the anthem. The Indianapolis Colts stood together with arms locked wearing black t-shirts that read: “We Will” on the front, and “Stand for equality, justice, dialogue, opportunity” on the back. Vice President Mike Pence attended the game but left shortly after the anthem was over after several 49ers players knelt.
Many are questioning why the NFL has allowed its players to do this. But it may be coming to an end. Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL sent out a letter on October 10 to all 32 teams. The owners had a meeting a couple weeks back to discuss the policy. It was believed that they were going to begin suspending and fining players that did not participate, but, after the meeting it was released that the policy on the issue will not change and players will be allowed to continue to what they feel is right as the anthem is being played.
