I can’t believe some of these NFL teams are considering bringing back players that took a knee during the national anthem. To me, it’s just outrageous! It’s an insult to both veterans and fans watching that these same players are getting rewarded after making such a bold, disrespectful statement.
I think the players that knelt during the anthem and haven’t asked for forgiveness should not be re-hired. It was a breach of trust in my eyes; these players were hired by their teams to perform and entertain. Instead, they chose to disrespect for a cause I happen to disagree with. I don’t really understand why they felt it necessary to make such a statement during a game in front of millions of viewers.
That kind of behavior should not be rewarded. Regardless of whatever cause they may have been fighting for, kneeling during the national anthem is not the right way to go about it. It’s a sign of disrespect to the military, to the country, and to the sport. I think it is only fair that these players are held to the same professional standards that other players are held to.
It doesn’t really matter if the team owners or the general managers allow them back on the team. If the fans won’t accept them, it doesn’t really matter. Nobody wants to watch a team with players who have disrespected the country they live in. Nobody wants to watch a team where the coach thinks it’s alright for players to kneel during the anthem, or where the owners think that it’s ok to let these players continue playing after having disrespected the country.
The fans are the true stakeholders, and the ones that will ultimately decide who gets to stay and who needs to go. Re-hiring anthem kneelers just isn’t good for business. Those teams will find themselves with empty stadiums, and with fans that will never support them again.
It isn’t just about the anthem kneelers either. The players that stay quiet and are just waiting for their team to rehire the anthem kneelers show tacit support for the cause. That’s why they need to replace any players that were part of the kneeling protest with players that are committed to honoring the team, the sport, and the country. That’s how you get the fans back.
At the end of the day, it’s all a matter of respect. The whole issue is deeply rooted in the respect of the team, the sport, the country, and of course, the fans. When a team decides to bring back players that have publicly disrespected the anthem and the flag, that team is simply showing a lack of respect for those things.
So, teams should always be careful when considering bringing back players that knelt during the national anthem. It wouldn’t be a good move for the team, the sport, or the country. And most importantly, it wouldn’t be a good move for the fans.
After writing about the anthem kneeling issue, I’m still of the same opinion. Teams should only re-hire the anthem kneelers only if they have asked for forgiveness and demonstrate a genuine commitment to the sport and the country. Then, and only then, can these teams consider bringing back players who knelt during the anthem without fear of alienation from their fans.
I know this will be a hot-button issue for a long time to come. Some teams will choose to re-hire anthem kneelers without hesitation, while others will take a different approach. I’m curious to see how this issue will play out in the NFL.
Sports and patriotism will always be intertwined. But, I think teams need to carefully consider their values and what’s in the best interests of their fans. Re-hiring anthem kneelers without a proper apology and a clear-cut understanding that the players won’t be doing the same thing again could spell disaster for a team’s fan base.
I’m sure some teams are already putting contingency plans in place so that they can deal with this situation responsibly and in a way that best serves their fans. I believe that teams should take the time to be transparent with their fans about their intentions. That’s one way that teams can show their commitment to a shared patriotism and professional values.
At the same time, I think teams need to send out a strong message that players that disrespect the country or the team will not be rewarded. The NFL is in a unique position to show that disrespect will not be tolerated and will not be rewarded. I think that ignoring past disrespect only sets a bad precedent. Teams that refuse to bring back the anthem kneelers are making the right call and are upholding the shared values that the NFL stands for.
I understand the temptation, especially in the current political climate, to re-hire anthem kneelers and reward them for their cause. However, I think the long-term consequences far outweigh any short-term gain. Teams must prioritize the values and loyalty of their fans and make sure to send out a strong message that any form of disrespect — especially at the cost of professionalism and patriotism — will not be rewarded.