Take a Knee Row Rumbles On

Colin Kaepernick, the first player to Take a Knee

This week has seen further developments in the Take a Knee controversy that could lead to a policy change next season.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that several NFL owners support a rule change that would keep players in the locker room during the national anthem.

There is little clarification on the who or why. However, it’s clear that if the protests continue this season, this change is a real possibility. The issue could be addressed in March, at the annual league meeting. Players have been required to be on the sideline for the national anthem since 2009.

Criticism

As he has done regularly, President Trump criticized the NFL over the latest rumors. Trump Tweeted on Monday that Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch should be suspended for sitting during the anthem.

Lynch sat down for the American anthem, but stood up for the Mexican anthem in Sundays game vs the New England Patriots in Mexico City. Trump said:

“Marshawn Lynch of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down to boos for our national anthem. Great disrespect! Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down.”

On rumors about a rule change, the President was equally displeased. Again he took to Twitter to voice his dissatisfaction:

“That’s almost as bad as kneeling,” he said.

“When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote a letter to franchises about the Take a Knee issue. In it, he stated that the protests threatened to “erode the game’s unifying power”.

There is an acknowledgement that the protests are affecting the league’s business. Papa John’s, an NFL sponsor, spoke out against the league for a lack of leadership. Although, they later apologized.

“We know how important this is to our sponsors, our partners, our licensees,” Goodell said “It’s important to us, also. We all share that.”

Goodell has also come in for criticism from Herschel Walker, the ex-NFL luminary. He said:

“I absolutely think the protests are so upsetting, and I blame the commissioner. I know people are going to be angry when I say it, but he should have stopped the protests at the very beginning.”