Colin Kaepernick Refuses to Stand During National Anthem

[gwb-trading]

NFL allowed players to kneel if they wanted to.... he did not really disrupt their operations simply by kneeling..they still played football every game.

Kneeling was not an illegal activity or even against NFL rules.

At the time Kaepernick was kneeling and insulting a large portion of NFL customers -- that was not the policy. He was doing an act that allowed the NFLto fine and suspend him.

If the NFL desires to allow players to kneel for the national anthem in a time of declining viewership and ticket sales.... then that is their decision to make. I will note that the NF has now backed away from allowing kneeling for the national anthem after a significant backlash.

A more complete history at url below.

What is the NFL’s national anthem protest policy? Here are the rules for kneeling in 2020
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...-kneeling-protests/1o88fwivdxvqu1d8nnbiw5dw3z

Yes, the NFL technically still has a national anthem policy that prohibits players from kneeling during the singing or playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before games.

 

[El OchoCinco]

At the time Kaepernick was kneeling and insulting a large portion of NFL customers -- that was not the policy. He was doing an act that allowed the NFLto fine and suspend him.

If the NFL desires to allow players to kneel for the national anthem in a time of declining viewership and ticket sales.... then that is their decision to make. I will note that the NF has now backed away from allowing kneeling for the national anthem after a significant backlash.

GWB....I know you just made a simple mistake because you usually dont lie or mistate facts.


2016 - The NFL has now issued a statement on the matter, keeping things pretty simple.

"Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem."

For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Kaepernick went on to kneel during the anthem prior to every 49ers game that season.

WHERE was he fined or suspended?

 

[gwb-trading]

GWB....I know you just made a simple mistake because you usually dont lie or mistate facts.


2016 - The NFL has now issued a statement on the matter, keeping things pretty simple.

"Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem."

For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[78]


WHERE was he fined or suspended?

He was not fined or suspended. I was trying to make a point that the policy of the NFL at the time would allow him to be fined or suspended. "His act was against the NFL rules" -- is the point I was trying to make.

 

[El OchoCinco]

He was not fined or suspended. I was trying to make a point that the policy of the NFL at the time would allow him to be fined or suspended. "His act was against the NFL rules" -- is the point I was trying to make.

In 2016 the NFL stated that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem"; its game operations manual reads that players "should stand" for the anthem.

 

[gwb-trading]

In 2016 the NFL stated that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem"; its game operations manual reads that players "should stand" for the anthem.

Let's look at the policy in the manual...

Regardless, sitting or kneeling, Kaepernick technically was violating the NFL's policy on conduct during the national anthem before games.

The policy has since been amended (more on that below), but here is the old NFL rule Kaepernick violated when he began protesting more than four years ago:

"The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.

"During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses."

 

[Tony Stark]

He was not fined or suspended. I was trying to make a point that the policy of the NFL at the time would allow him to be fined or suspended. "His act was against the NFL rules" -- is the point I was trying to make.

https://www.indystar.com/story/news...book-actually-says-national-anthem/699886001/


What the NFL policy book says about the national anthem
Allison Carter IndyStar



If you've been on social media in the last few days, it's been impossible to avoid discussion about national anthem protests at NFL and other sporting events.

So it's likely you've seen a meme like this floating around:

The meme claims that page 62-63 of the "NFL rule book" dictates that during the national anthem, players must stand, face the flag, hold their helmet in their left hand and refrain from talking. The meme claims that failure to follow this policy can result in fines, suspensions or forfeiture of draft picks.

So, is it true?

Technically, yes. But it's not in the "NFL rule book."

While this language does not appear in the 2017 Official Playing Rules of the National Football League, which is available in its entirety online, it is a part of the game operations manual, which is distributed to all 32 teams, according to NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy.

McCarthy said that the policy has been in place for several years, pre-dating protests that began during the 2016 season.

"It’s policy, it’s not a rule. I think where people are getting confused is, rules, that’s like holding or defensive pass interference, that’s a rule. This is policy," McCarthy said.

McCarthy confirmed that the league will not assess penalties to players who either did not take the field for the anthem or who protested.

In the publicly available 2017 Official Playing Rules of the National Football League, the word "anthem" is not mentioned.



The only section that could potentially apply to anthem protests in the rules (not to be confused with the policies) comes under the section on player equipment, uniforms and player appearance. Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 (found on page 23), deals with "personal messages." Here's how that rule begins:

"Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office."

While this does address "conveying personal messages," the entirety of the rule is related to uniforms and wearing items that convey personal or political messages. It does not at any point mention behavior that conveys personal or political messages, outside of prohibiting players from "orally promoting equipment, apparel, or other items that carry commercial names or logos/identifications of companies," unless approved in advance.

Allison Carter is social media editor at IndyStar. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonLCarter.

 

[El OchoCinco]

Let's look at the policy in the manual...

Regardless, sitting or kneeling, Kaepernick technically was violating the NFL's policy on conduct during the national anthem before games.

The policy has since been amended (more on that below), but here is the old NFL rule Kaepernick violated when he began protesting more than four years ago:

"The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.

"During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses."

And since he did not violate any RULE... he was NOT fined or suspended and it was never an issue.

At the end of the 2016 season, new HC came in and said Kap was not the QB to run his offense so Kap opted out and became a free ageny after 2016 season. But during the 2016 season after recovering from an injury he played in 12 games.

 

[Cuddles]

He was not fined or suspended. I was trying to make a point that the policy of the NFL at the time would allow him to be fined or suspended. "His act was against the NFL rules" -- is the point I was trying to make.

Sure your were:

If he does not want to stand-up and be respectful then I hope the Bill's defense spends the entire game placing him on the ground.

Trump credits his Twitter wrath for Kaepernick's unemployment
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/20/politics/donald-trump-colin-kaepernick/index.html

President Donald Trump veered off message Monday night at a campaign-style rally aimed largely at pushing for the Republican health care overhaul to take credit for a completely different issue: keeping former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick out of a job.

While talking to the crowd in Louisville, Kentucky, about the nation's urban communities, Trump swerved in midstream and cited a report that NFL owners were avoiding hiring Kaepernick because they did not want to face Trump's Twitter wrath.

"Our inner cities will find a rebirth of hope, safety and opportunity," Trump said before bringing up Kaepernick's free agency. "Your San Francisco quarterback, I'm sure nobody ever heard of him."

Then the President clarified he was citing an article he had read.

"It was reported that NFL owners don't want to pick him up because they don't want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump," he said. "Do you believe that? I just saw that. I just saw that."

Kaepernick opted out of his contract earlier this month following a season in which he drew significant attention -- and criticism from some quarters -- for kneeling during the national anthem before kickoff at his games to protest racism and police brutality.

(more at above url)

 

[gwb-trading]

Sure your were:

Let me make it clear.... that I (like many of the residents of North Carolina) believe that kneeling for the national anthem is a huge mark of disrespect for our country and military. I would urge sports leagues not to tolerate these actions by their employees which offend a large portion of their audience.

My position has in no way changed. Trying to portray wealthy Kaepernick as some type of hero is deeply offensive to many families who lost a member in the service to our country.

If sports leagues want to avoid this issue.... the answer is simply -- Don't play the national anthem before your games.

 

[El OchoCinco]

Let me make it clear.... that I (like many of the residents of North Carolina) believe that kneeling for the national anthem is a huge mark of disrespect for our country and military. I would urge sports leagues not to tolerate these actions by their employees which offend a large portion of their audience.

My position has in no way changed. Trying to portray wealthy Kaepernick as some type of hero is deeply offensive to many families who lost a member in the service to our country.

If sports leagues want to avoid this issue.... the answer is simply -- Don't play the national anthem before your games.

Kap was advised to kneel by a Green Beret..

Everyone else told him his kneel was specifically to dishonor the military and first responders. Since when did first responders get entitlement to the flag all of a sudden? Also, are we a military country now all of a sudden? Kap is not in the military and the NFL is just a football game.



BOYER: You know, this was two years ago, 2016 during the preseason. And he, you know, had sat on the bench. And I think it was actually his third time he'd sat on the bench. But it was the first time it had received national attention. And, you know, he got questioned about it, and he said, well, I'm not going to stand for the flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of color. And then he talked about, you know, social injustices and police brutality and why he thought, you know, he shouldn't be standing for the anthem.

And it struck a chord with me, of course, and it struck a chord with a lot of people - a lot of people in the veteran community as well - because obviously the flag and the anthem and what that stuff stands for means something, you know, very different to us. And I was pretty upset, you know, just because I felt like he didn't understand what those symbols really represent. And - but instead of letting my anger overwhelm me, I decided to relax a little bit, and I wrote this open letter that was just explaining my experiences, my relationship to the flag.

And Colin actually reached out, said he wanted to meet with me. And we sat in the lobby of the team hotel, discussed our situation, our different opinions and feelings about all this. And I suggested him taking a knee instead of sitting even though I wanted him to stand, and he wanted to sit. And it was, like, this compromise that we sort of came to. And that's where the kneeling began.