The Weird, Wacky and Awesome World of the NFL - General Banter thread V2

JaMarcusHustle

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

That girl l who took a knee after singing the national anthem in Tennessee is a tool. Same with the guitar player.

If she felt that strongly, she'd have refused to sing it in the first place. But no, because that'd mean she'd have went without the attention and publicity. So she wants the best of both worlds.

Or she took the chance to make a point. Maybe she really wanted to sing the anthem and signed up...but events in recent days meant she did it under protest? She should no more refuse to sing than players should refuse to play.

Christy42

ricero wrote: »

Zero respect for the anthem. A dark day for sport in america today. Freeze the league until respect is shown

Maybe the president should show respect for the ideals behind the anthem and flag?

What law would you use to shut down a private entity because its members are participating in a legal protest? That is getting pretty dang authoritarian.

The NFL is in a tough spot but has to support the players. They decide to enforce standing what do they do if the big players don't stand? Fire them? It is a star driven league, people will get curious enough and will watch. The NFL is making plenty of money and will continue to do so.

Christy42

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

That girl who took a knee after singing the national anthem in Tennessee is a tool. Same with the guitar player.

If she felt that strongly, she'd have refused to sing it in the first place. But no, because that'd mean she'd have went without the attention and publicity. So she wants the best of both worlds.

She wants to make a protest, this makes a protest. Hiding and being quiet is not a protest.

Manic Moran

TOss Sweep wrote: »

Tv ratings may go down but the majority of the stadium are full or close to full. The only stadiums empty right now are those teams who are just sh1t and the teams who never get large crowds. The rest are all close to if not full. Sales have also not gone down on their websites and dont forget the international market could give two fooks about it. The NFL are fine and if TV figures is all they have to worry about then they will be fine. Sponsors will still pay them millions either way.

I don't know. Sure, the 9ers aren't doing well recently, but the Rams are doing OK. Our local stadium looked pretty dire this week when the two met.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-attendance-down-2017-9
To be clear, I am no saying this anthem business is the cause, just observing that the NFL doesn't need additional trouble.

I note the one and only Steeler to be on the field today for the anthem was a three-tour Army veteran who apparently broke ranks with his team over it.. There are some extremely strong feelings on the subject amongst that demographic. Now that the protests seem to have moved from individuals within a team to teams as a whole, I suspect things are going to start coming to a head.

Christy42

Manic Moran wrote: »

I don't know. Sure, the 9ers aren't doing well recently, but the Rams are doing OK. Our local stadium looked pretty dire this week when the two met.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-attendance-down-2017-9
To be clear, I am no saying this anthem business is the cause, just observing that the NFL doesn't need additional trouble.

I note the one and only Steeler to be on the field today for the anthem was a three-tour Army veteran. There are some extremely strong feelings on the subject amongst that demographic. Now that the protests seem to have moved from individuals within a team to teams as a whole, I suspect things are going to start coming to a head.

Yeah but the Rams have recently moved and are expected not to be good.

I really don't think the league has good options to stop this one. They start firing players for not standing then they could see a walk out (which is part of the point of the unity thing). They would also have less people there if they fire their stars.

Hazys

People who voted for Trump on the basis that he was such a great negotiatior and they would put up with the rough edges because of the benefits his great negotiation skills would out weigh the bad.

Basically this great negotiator traded a couple of cheap applauses in Alabama to cause professional athletes nationwide to take a stand and divide the country further.

I went to Gillette today ( courtesy of TO: ) ) today where half the patriots team sat for the national anthem. Which caused the people in my row and the row in front to get into an argument over whether it was right to kneel for the anthem. It's not hard to imagine if trump had sad nothing in Alabama this argument would have never happened.

Basically Trump is a complete clown if you haven't figured that out already. What did he gain by making those comments in Alabama?

Yggr of Asgard

Christy42 wrote: »

Maybe the president should show respect for the ideals behind the anthem and flag?

What law would you use to shut down a private entity because its members are participating in a legal protest? That is getting pretty dang authoritarian.

The NFL is in a tough spot but has to support the players. They decide to enforce standing what do they do if the big players don't stand? Fire them? It is a star driven league, people will get curious enough and will watch. The NFL is making plenty of money and will continue to do so.

President Donald Trump has not used a law to shut down the players that are involved. There is no enforcement of the relevant law's governing the flag code or anthem. Sure, there are rules about this but there is no enforcement attached to them.

He has voiced his opinion as to what the employers (owners) of these people should do with people that are violating the law's. And I don't even think that he did that because he believes in those rules as he is constantly violating them himself. He did it to pander to the people that are currently electing a Senator.

The NFL (as the monopoly that the government has given them) has the right to dictate players behavior while they are at the place of their employment. It's down to the NFL (and owners) to decide how they want to play this. Not an easy spot but that's why they get paid that much.

Now it's however also up to the federal government how they want to deal commercially with an organisation that facilitates a violation of federal statutes. That can be for example cancellation of advertising by the federal government with the NFL, cancellations of large tax payer subventions for stadiums or even a harsher look at the current tax arrangements.

For me it's clear, if you want to demonstrate due that outside your place of work and on your own time. Plus there are rules for how to behave during the national anthem (while not enforceable) please show some respect. It costs you nothing to behave as the code asks you too.

The reality is that the owners will do a financial calculation, what will their options cost them (in further financial losses due to viewers declining, lost advertising because soon companies will jump onto this too) and than either call it protecting free speech and allow it or call it disrespectful to the code and loose some further talent. It will come down to where they think they will loose the least money and than do that.

Manic Moran

Christy42 wrote: »

Manic Moran wrote: »

I don't know. Sure, the 9ers aren't doing well recently, but the Rams are doing OK. Our local stadium looked pretty dire this week when the two met.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-attendance-down-2017-9
To be clear, I am no saying this anthem business is the cause, just observing that the NFL doesn't need additional trouble.

I note the one and only Steeler to be on the field today for the anthem was a three-tour Army veteran. There are some extremely strong feelings on the subject amongst that demographic. Now that the protests seem to have moved from individuals within a team to teams as a whole, I suspect things are going to start coming to a head.

Yeah but the Rams have recently moved and are expected not to be good.

I really don't think the league has good options to stop this one. They start firing players for not standing then they could see a walk out (which is part of the point of the unity thing). They would also have less people there if they fire their stars.

Stars can be replaced, no matter how good they players think they are (or may actually be). Who is Kaepernick the star player for in this season? I doubt anyone will get fired over it (they have paid those multi million dollar contracts after all, and want to get something back from them) but they can be fined, or told contracts won't be renewed. There are a number of actions which can be taken if the NFL decides it wants to do something.

The other observation with attendance figures is ticket prices. To get bums on seats in the 9ers game, ticket prices dropped from $85 to $14. Even if attendance figures are high in some stadia, what is the gate take?

I agree, there are no good options for the NFL. But the may have to choose a least bad.

BillyBobBS

Absolute morons. Hope the NFL loses massive viewership over this.

j8wk2feszrnpao

Christy42 wrote: »

She wants to make a protest, this makes a protest. Hiding and being quiet is not a protest.

She didn't need to hide and be quiet, she could have refused as a clear protest. Attending, singing, and a token guesture isn't much of a protest.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Yggr of Asgard

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Well they know their audience ...

jack presley

Patww79 wrote: »

I see the yee haw banjo brigade in NASCAR are towing the Trump line anyway. Hardly surprising though.

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/912048333413330944

Kind of ironic considering NASCAR events are probably the events with the greatest number of Confederate flags which if you think about it, are probably the most anti American thing there is.

Paully D

In other news, Matt Stafford is now 5-47 against teams .500 above in his NFL career.

Crazy.

Yggr of Asgard

Also I really would like to be at the airport in Jacksonville and Baltimore when the teams come back and have to go through customs & immigration.

I can imagine that the local port director will have severe problems getting CBP officers to do any special arrangements for the returning teams after that thing in London. Hopefully they will have to experience standard clearance when coming back. Plus maybe a secondary or two....

Not that I'm saying the US Government should do something, simply pointing out that some CBP officers might be offended by this and do a work to rule with no special curtsey extended to the returning team (which usually happens).

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

j8wk2feszrnpao

Paully D wrote: »

In other news, Matt Stafford is now 5-47 against teams .500 above in his NFL career.

Crazy.

But is paid like its 47-5

TOss Sweep

Getting far too political in here at this point.

Surprised so many people on an Irish site give a **** about "disrespecting the flag/anthem" I thought that kind of extreme nationalism would be confined to the us. Certainly can't imagine people would be that bothered by Robbie Keane sitting fine during the anthem

jack presley

Clementine Scary String wrote: »

Surprised so many people on an Irish site give a **** about "disrespecting the flag/anthem" I thought that kind of extreme nationalism would be confined to the us. Certainly can't imagine people would be that bothered by Robbie Keane sitting fine during the anthem

I’d love to see the back of national anthems at sporting events altogether and while they’re at it, get rid of introducing players to prime ministers, presidents etc. too. And get rid of that stupid parade in Croke Park as well.

jack presley

TOss Sweep wrote: »

Getting far too political in here at this point.

Agreed.

Christy42

Yggr of Asgard wrote: »

President Donald Trump has not used a law to shut down the players that are involved. There is no enforcement of the relevant law's governing the flag code or anthem. Sure, there are rules about this but there is no enforcement attached to them.

He has voiced his opinion as to what the employers (owners) of these people should do with people that are violating the law's. And I don't even think that he did that because he believes in those rules as he is constantly violating them himself. He did it to pander to the people that are currently electing a Senator.

The NFL (as the monopoly that the government has given them) has the right to dictate players behavior while they are at the place of their employment. It's down to the NFL (and owners) to decide how they want to play this. Not an easy spot but that's why they get paid that much.

Now it's however also up to the federal government how they want to deal commercially with an organisation that facilitates a violation of federal statutes. That can be for example cancellation of advertising by the federal government with the NFL, cancellations of large tax payer subventions for stadiums or even a harsher look at the current tax arrangements.

For me it's clear, if you want to demonstrate due that outside your place of work and on your own time. Plus there are rules for how to behave during the national anthem (while not enforceable) please show some respect. It costs you nothing to behave as the code asks you too.

The reality is that the owners will do a financial calculation, what will their options cost them (in further financial losses due to viewers declining, lost advertising because soon companies will jump onto this too) and than either call it protecting free speech and allow it or call it disrespectful to the code and loose some further talent. It will come down to where they think they will loose the least money and than do that.

The poster called for the nfl to be put on freeze. I di not suggest Trump had done it.

Pretty the rules on flag merely suggests standing so not much they can do there (especially as the wheelchair bound would kick up a fuss).

Shutting down the league after peaceful protests would be incredibly authoritarian if he did it

Lionbacker

Paully D wrote: »

In other news, Matt Stafford is now 5-47 against teams .500 above in his NFL career.

Crazy.

Strange. I thought American football is a team game:rolleyes:

j8wk2feszrnpao

Clementine Scary String wrote: »

Surprised so many people on an Irish site give a **** about "disrespecting the flag/anthem" I thought that kind of extreme nationalism would be confined to the us. Certainly can't imagine people would be that bothered by Robbie Keane sitting fine during the anthem

I don't think it bothers anyone based over here. But having visited the US a number of times, in various locations, I know how many over there feel towards the flag.

With a military presence in so many families, a lot of people will take it personally; i.e. "my father/son/mother/daughter/brother/sister died for the flag/country and your protest is against what they gave their life for". It's a sensitive subject for a lot of people.

It's happening at all the NFL games, hence the discussion here.

Personally I think they can stand on their head during the anthem if they wish to protest. They have that right. Just think the discussion is never on the issue itself; just the flag, the disrespect, the military, and Trump now getting centre attention.

But the NFL have gone ultra national with the military presence, salute to service, anthem focus......so I guess they set themselves up as a stage in a way.

Knex*

Paully D wrote: »

In other news, Matt Stafford is now 5-47 against teams .500 above in his NFL career.

Crazy.

Lions were robbed. Thought the no TD call on the Giants was bad, with the Shepard catch, but that was nearly worse.

Lionbacker

Knex. wrote: »

Lions were robbed. Thought the no TD call on the Giants was bad, with the Shepard catch, but that was nearly worse.

I had no problem with the call tbh. His knee certainly appears to be down short of the line & so the 10 second run off ends the game. Just annoyed Stafford decided to throw short of the sticks in the first place. That was always a big risk, which in this case didn't pay off.

Knex.

Knex. wrote: »

Lions were robbed. Thought the no TD call on the Giants was bad, with the Shepard catch, but that was nearly worse.

Still don't even see where they could have been coming from with the Shepard call tbh NFL refs are awful

the baby bull elephant

Paully D wrote: »

In other news, Matt Stafford is now 5-47 against teams .500 above in his NFL career.

Crazy.

Actually no he's not. That stat is only cemented at the end of the season when/if the Falcons are 9-7 are better.

It's also a bit of a bull**** stat that doesn't really account for a number of things.

Billy86

ricero wrote: »

Zero respect for the anthem. A dark day for sport in america today. Freeze the league until respect is shown

A great day when athletes across the country refused to silently be disrespected and bullied by the President of the US, and for the first time in what feels like ever in my 15 years watching the sport, a day when players, coaches, owners, commentators, pundits, league officials, and even both ownership and the players union came together to do so. Once again Trump has managed to unify hugely divided sections of society... but bringing them together in agreeing what an incompetent clown, or to borrow from Lebron James, what a bum Trump really is.

Regardless of what happens from this point out with him, yesterday was a nice win for Kaepernick, handed to him by Trump. The other big winners were key concepts of modern democracy like freedom of speech, freedom of expression and the right to protest, while the losers were snowflakes lusting over totalitarianism and fascism. All in all, a very good day.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

Actually no he's not. That stat is only cemented at the end of the season when/if the Falcons are 9-7 are better.

It's also a bit of a bull**** stat that doesn't really account for a number of things.

I am not sure on this but I dont think the stats work like that (end of year) I believe the stats are based on the teams record the day the team faces them.