Just in time for the start of the NFL football season with preseason in August, 2018, the issue of the players’ kneeling during the national anthem begins a new again. Recently, the Miami Dolphins owners stated that the team intends to punish players who kneel or otherwise protest during the national anthem with up to a four game suspension and fines, according to documents obtained by USA Today. However, the team owner later retracted the statement and proposed plans for suspension or penalties. The local media covered the Dolphins intentions before there was the retraction. Meanwhile the New York jets took the opposite approach by emphatically stating the opposite of no intention to fine players for their right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment. Previously, the NFL intended to institute a policy of sanctions and requiring that players stand for the anthem—before the NFL Players Association (“NFLPA”) filed a grievance. The filing of the grievance resulted in … [Read more...] about A Study in Patriotism: Trump versus Colin Kaepernick
NFL
Black Lives Matter but not to the White NFL Owners
Week one of the NFL 2017 season started on Sunday, September 11. With all 32 NFL owners and teams refusing to sign quarterback Colin Kaepernick due to his protest against racial injustice, my taste buds for the love of football has drastically changed. Kaepernick’s act of kneeling last year for the national anthem in protest of our country’s racial injustice towards Blacks drew disfavor among NFL owners. I have been an ardent NFL football fan most of my life. Growing up in Baltimore, my family religiously followed the Baltimore Colts and now the Ravens. I proudly attended the Super Bowl parade in Baltimore in 2000 with the defensive dream team of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. And then in 2013, I watched my beloved Ravens’ win over San Francisco against then quarterback Colin Kaepernick. As an added bonus, I attended the Ravens’ honor at the White House following their 2013 win. My brother played high school and later college football—further increasing my love of the sport at a very early … [Read more...] about Black Lives Matter but not to the White NFL Owners
Johnny Manziel Joins Ray Rice with Domestic Violence Case
Former Cleveland Browns NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel joins the long list of NFL players who have been charged with domestic violence. A Dallas County Grand Jury indicted Manziel on a misdemeanor assault charge against his ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley for an alleged assault occurring on January 29, 2016. Crowley received a civil stay away court order until February, 2018, ordering Manziel to remain 500 feet away from her. And if Ray Rice’s case is any indication of what will happen in a criminal court, Manziel is likely to receive a slap on the wrist. Rice was able to enter a New Jersey Court intervention program where his record was wiped clean—despite the egregious elevator footage of his attack on his now wife. Manziel and Rice do not stand alone in their domestic violence cases. Jerry Angelo, a former Chicago Bears general manager spoke out about hundreds of domestic violence complaints during his 30 years in the league that went unpunished. Famed NFL player Jim … [Read more...] about Johnny Manziel Joins Ray Rice with Domestic Violence Case
Is Domestic Violence the Cost of Doing Business for the NFL
Almost midway through the NFL football season following the Ray Rice domestic violence, the incident seems to have had no effect on fans viewing games which means the bottom line of the NFL is quite secure. Reports obtained by Reuters from Nielson shows that fan viewership in the first month of the season increased this year on ESPN, CBS and NBC. And like many major corporations, the NFL may believe that if their bottom line is intact, it can weather the storm and carry on with business as usual. In cases involving major corporations, the economic hit to the bottom line is what matters in most cases, more than people. It’s what is called putting profits over people. Whether it’s a major car manufacturer as with Toyota’s Prius and Camry unintended acceleration and brake malfunctions allegedly causing injury and death and massive recalls which resulted in so far over 1 billion dollar in payouts to car owners. Toyota’s image or sales have not been tarnished. And in the … [Read more...] about Is Domestic Violence the Cost of Doing Business for the NFL
Ray Rice Fans and Supporters Need a Reality Check
The Chris Brown type supporting Ray Rice fans who still support their man in spite of proof before their eyes of a violent attack in February on Janay Rice need a reality check. On Thursday night with the Ravens game held in Baltimore against the Pittsburgh Steelers, many Baltimore Ravens fans, both men and women, were spotted wearing Ray Rice’s No. 27 jersey, standing by their man. Many fans, who were interviewed, did not think that Rice deserved to be terminated from the Ravens and receive an indefinite suspension from the NFL. There are two sides to a coin and often two sides to a discussion. However, in this instance, those in full support of Ray Rice are in denial of what occurred and misunderstand why he was terminated from the Ravens. Supporting Rice fans on Thursday stated it was a personal matter between Rice and his now wife, Janay Rice. It was a personal matter. As for former NFL player Ray Rice, his employment contract, as with all NFL contracts, had a morals … [Read more...] about Ray Rice Fans and Supporters Need a Reality Check