NFL owner: We've been ordered not to speak about anthem protests
While NFL owners and executives are hardly a perfect bunch, they’ve offered some logical and reasonable takes on the polarizing national anthem protest controversy plaguing the league currently.
“There’s no question this anthem issue has really had a negative impact on our league, so how to go about it. And of course, everybody is speaking from a different perspective. It always has been that way,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in October.
“I’m one that believes in standing for the national anthem, and I’ve always believed that,” Denver Broncos general manager John Elway said in September.
“I believe that this is the greatest country in the world,” Elway added. “We are very fortunate to live here, but it’s obviously not perfect.”
“You fellas need to ask your compadres, fellas, stop that other business (kneeling for the anthem), let’s go out and do something that really produces positive results, and we’ll help you,” Houston Texans owner Bob McNair reportedly told his team in October.
“Our playing field is not the place for political statements,” McNair said in March. “It’s the place for football.’’
You can contrast that with any number of players or pundits who claim that any and all restrictions on anthem protests is an infringement of their First Amendment rights.
Obviously, the First Amendment only applies to government restrictions on free speech, not private business restrictions.
Now? It seems like the NFL front office has decided to muzzle what little reason is actually spoken by team executives.
According to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown claims that owners have effectively been ordered to keep quiet about the issue.
“The league and the union are talking on this and we’re instructed to stand down while that’s ongoing. I’m not going to sit here and stir the pot,” Brown said.
Brown acknowledged that the league is trying to appease the public, but it’s a curious decision that players are still allowed to speak so freely on the subject.
“They don’t want to hear from me right now. Let’s see how this bubbles up and I hope they can come up with some kind of answer that is acceptable to not just the clubs and the players but more the public,” Brown said.
The Bengals owner also acknowledged one other important person they’re trying to avoid the ire of.
“And let’s not forget the president!” Brown said with a laugh.
While avoiding the wrath of the most powerful man in the free world is probably a solid business plan, unless the league effectively puts their foot down on the issue, President Donald Trump is unlikely to be appeased.
Of note, Brown and the Bengals became embroiled in a controversy when it was reported that the team asked free agent safety Eric Reid if he would stop kneeling for the national anthem.
Reid ultimately said he could not agree to that and was not signed by the Bengals, despite the team’s glaring need for a safety.
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