Why have them stand for the BANNER? Because they are paid to.
If they didn't want to, don't sign the contract.
Fans pay a lot to go see a football game, not someones protest.

Ya'll in the states are a proud bunch, many times that pride in country is misplaced with some stoopid war bravado and sometimes it's showing your pride in country before a big game promoting sportsmanship and unity amongst players, owners, fans and the league.

stand straight laddy!

Yes allegiance to customs often consumes us in our logic and judgment.

Do you have a better way to promote unity before the players rip each others heads off in a game?

Have you ever watched a football game?

Football is all about hitting people and knocking them down. And people do get injured playing it, some very badly. There even have been some deaths caused by playing the game.

Don't get me wrong. I like football. I played a bit of it in my younger years, though not very well. It is by all definition violent. It's certainly not badminton, or cricket is it?

Yes. A moment of reflection for people they have lost. Or a moment of honor specifically TO THEIR TEAMS

or a moment where they stand UNIFIED in supporting each others diversity, including diverse political stances.

well, if you have seen where their contract actually says that, Id be glad for you to point me to the document....

standing to pledge to a flag is a POLITICAL action in itself, so obviously its not JUST about playing ball if they include as the preritual BEFORE THE GAME STARTS.

and if there is a segment for political 'solidarity' how can that political viewpoint be FORCED into a one size fits all?

those moments before the game are political. IF not everyone shares the same politics, there is no reason for them to be mandated to pretend they do.

Yes. A moment of reflection for people they have lost. Or a moment of honor specifically TO THEIR TEAMS

or a moment where they stand UNIFIED in supporting each others diversity, including diverse political stances.

I guess it depends on our perspectives.
... i see violence as hitting or punching, not tackling...

it's a football game for crying out loud the national anthem should encompass all of that.

Those kneelers just want to divide, they like it that way

Points Msharmony to this

The Player Contract

But beyond the Constitution, contract law allows any NFL team to terminate any player for behavior it deems to be injurious to the organization or the league.

Every professional player must sign the standard NFL player contract. In it, the player promises as follows:

“To conduct himself on and off the field with appropriate recognition of the fact that the success of professional football depends largely on public respect for and approval of those associated with the game” (Paragraph 2). “ If player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by the Club to adversely affect or reflect on the Club, then the Club may terminate this contract” (Paragraph 11).

This language makes it clear that a team will decide whether a player’s personal conduct adversely affects the club. Since it is a subjective standard, NFL owners have enormous latitude and discretion to fire a player for reasons of conduct.

But that is not all. The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the players’ union and approved by the players themselves authorizes suspension or termination “for conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football” (Article 46).

they are not there for polictical reasons, they are there to play a game... they should suspend everyone who doesn't stand...

why? Where in the national anthem does it mention football?

It's just classy, standing with your countrymen and saluting country before ANY sporting event. Those who cannot create must destroy? now they're doing it to spite Trump? Ridiculous to me


There's a million reasons to gripe and millions of gripers, there's a time and place for all of that and it isn't on the field, court or rink, that's for sure.

There's a million reasons to gripe and millions of gripers

It's terribly selfish of them to expose us all to their individual "gripes"

Go ahead and support this clown show but soon enough, you'll be shaking your head saying "was that necessary?" to some idiot who wants public exposure to his/her personal "gripe".

Respect to Villanueva for standing alone with the opposing team and fans to celebrate the anthem, all the other Steelers should have stayed in their locker room like lil puzzies they are.