10-02-2017, 04:37 PM
(10-02-2017, 03:45 PM)Nately120 Wrote: So how does the NFL not lose money on this one? Remove the anthem? Not televise it? Not have the players on the field when its playing? Force players to stand during it? Fire those who don't? I don't see what the NFL is doing or not doing as a political statement anymore than I'm making a political statement because my neighbors on both sides have the flag hanging off their porch and I don't.
The chance to address this was when it first started. However, a prompt resolution would require actual leadership and decision making, both things that Goodell has shown he utterly lacks in all possible ways. Any employer is completely within their right to prohibit protest or political actions/speech at their place of business. The players aren't what's important in this regard, the fans are. What I mean by this is that you may alienate players, but they're not going to find another employer who will pay them millions of dollars to play football. This being the case then placating your fan base is the paramount concern. Forcing the NFL to be apolitical by banning all forms of protest or political speech while you are representing the NFL (i.e. in uniform, at the stadium etc.) would be the smart business decision. If you can fine William Gay for wearing purple cleats to raise domestic violence awareness in honor of his murdered mother you can fine players for engaging in political protest at their place of employment.
Quote:What is the solution here? Or the NFL could just take this lump and still rake in billions. I just don't see the NFL making a political statement here because they won't adhere to the demands of a specific political party. All I'm saying is if you are DONE with the NFL, then be done with it. Or watch the games and write down all the sponsors you see and stop buying their products. If Miller Lite runs 10000 ads during NFL Sunday tell everyone that Miller Lite hates veterans because they subsidize hateful speech and expression towards this country and stop buying it.
I think the biggest impact will be, as I said, people no longer buying the merchandise and no longer watching games in which their team isn't playing. Not related to these protests, but over the years I've pretty much stopped watching football unless it's a Steelers game. I used to watch football all Sunday, plus NFL Primetime before it turned to crap, as well as MNF. Now on bye weeks I take a bye as well.
Quote:That's how you boycott. Not by saying you are done with something and then talking about who we play next week. Then again, that's just my opinion. From what I've seen so far the people who are "done" with the NFL complain the most about how much money the players make. Complaining about how much money athletes make has been going on for decades, so this doesn't seem too terrible new to me.
You are correct, a hard boycott is not likely. For real fans it's not that easy to turn off. I'm not talking crap here, but you guys are perfect examples. Being a Bengals fan has to be endlessly frustrating, yet you still watch/attend the games. A soft boycott, as I described above, will likely happen though, people will care enough about this issue to stick with that.
