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If a Steelers player kneels....

EVERY American has the right to freedom of speech as opposed to every AMERICAN has the right to disagree with what is being said / projected. Myself, being an employer, would NOT stand for an employee representing personal issue on my company time or reputation. Because they believe one thing does NOT mean that is what the company believes or represents. ON my time or company agenda, I'd asked to stop or be terminated, regardless of pro or con of agenda.

All that being said, the STEELERS will have to make that determination. I have supported this team through a lot worse and will again. It's the individule player that I don't have to support.



Salute the nation
 
Troglodyte said:
Not at their place of employment.
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Of course they have that right. Even at their place of employment. And their employer has the right to levy punishment because of it as well.

As you see in this case, it can affect the players' wallets. Marshall lost an endorsement for kneeling.

As an American, you have the right to be able to protest non violently, but as a protester, you do have to understand that your protest may have consequences.
 
Comparing your "job" the job of a professional athlete isn' exactly apples to apples. There are places of employment that openly pray to Jesus because that'stheir culture. I'm sure most ccorporate white collar jobs wouldn't iimplement such action. There are many companies that are very diverse and often acknowledge non-American customs, while not punishing or rreprimand employees for not following aAmerican traditions. People protest on their jobs in Americ for a variety of reasons.
You getting a DUI (depending on your job) will not get you on ESPN, NFL nework, or on the front pageof nfl.com. in fact your coworkers might not even know your illegal action. But a professional athlete are public figures and live a way different lifestyle which include roles and responsibilities both privately and publicly compared to our non-professional athlete and non-public figure status.

Pro athletes, entertainers, political figures, etc... have a very public platform and many choose to use it to support causes that mean the most to them.

Another thing is we hhaven't walked a single step in their shoes. We don't know their past experiences that have effected them. We assume their fame and money means they're ookie dookie. Their may have been very deep wounds and a few folks might have had enough.
 
It is their right to make ***** of themselves on the national stage, just as it is my right to then chose to stop being a fan of that particular player and/or the team he play for. I would likely stop being a fan whether its a no-name rookie or Antonio Brown. I already take no pleasure in watching the ******* playing center or the Steelers and can't wait until he isn't anymore.

As for bringing attention to a topic that needs it: are you ******* kidding me? Like no one was talking about police shootings before this **** started? In fact, I see less attention on that subject now that all the attention is heaped on this spreading act of disrespecting the flag and country. The only thing this protest has brought attention to is that selfish, skinny **** in SF, and all the me-too protesters around the league and in other sports. **** them.

It would be very easy for me to stop watching football altogether, it isn't like I don't have other **** to do.
 
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Go protest outside of your job. Nobody has a right to do that horseshit in the workplace. All you're doing is pissing off a **** ton of customers.
 
Goodell runs the Nfl with an iron fist. Or at least he tries. From what you can wear to how you conduct yourself on and off the field. But when it comes to this he's like...nothing I could do...ya know ...sorry.
 
I couldnt care less. In my bar, we always stand for the anthem and 90% of the bar goes dead silent. But there's always some asshats lacking self awareness to at least shut up. I also stop what Im doing at home, but I dont give two ***** about what anyone else is doing. These are athletes, its a game. They arent my moral compass. James Harrison slapped the dog **** out of his old lady if we are gonna get ticky tacky.

Our elected officials have been ******** on patriotism for years, why be mad at these players?
 
Yes but some of them need to focus on their jobs first and foremost though. Kenny Stills dropped a td pass which cost his team the game that Limas Sweed probably wouldn't have even dropped.
 
What do we care if they **** up their jobs and cost themselves money? I also dont see how not standing for the anthem = unfocused.
 
I can imagine when this whole Kaepernick stuff came out, the media ****** that are the MSM and even ESPN were salivating at the chance to force-feed this divisive crap down the masses' collective throats. Guess any "controversy", whether real or manufactured, gets ratings.

Back in the day not too long ago, in a non-pc-driven world, the reaction would've been brief and to the point: "This putz Kaepernick did what? Who friggin' cares... he's a one-year wonder who's about to master the art of clipboard holding for the rest of his career. Next."
 
Totally agreed. Far greater transgressions have been had by players still playing in the league. Again, James Harrison will break your leg for kneeling but he clapped his girlfriend on the ear so hard it broke her phone. While she was locked in a closet calling 911. I get nothing has happened since, but socking a woman in the head is a little more unsettling to me.
 
thesteelcity said:
I know this is not answering your question, but with Alejandro Villanueva on the team, I don't see this happening. Not with any player on this team. Some may want to and it's their choice to do so, and i wouldn't like it. I've supported this team for worse things and this is a cause, a voice to be heard. Maybe misguided to take it out on our flag and National Anthem, but it's still their right. I do root for the team and not one player.
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This right here. You have an actual military officer starting at LT. You will not disrespect the flag with an Army Ranger starting at LT. Backup point, I think Debo would whip someone's *** if they did this.
 
Steel Ballin said:
Not that I expect it to happen, but will you still support him/them??

edit - By support I mean continue to cheer for them and buy their swag.
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This depends on. If he's articulate and educated and says he clearly means no disrespect to those who disagree, I'd tolerate him a lot more.

If he raises his fist, for the 60's style black power salute...well I hope that does not happen.

Whether the athletes realizes it or not, by doing this he's going to have some silent issues in the locker room with black and white coaches and players.

The NFL will wise up. Since they pay billions for the TV contract, they will realize some may stop watching the game a buying merchandise.

Then the camera will be pointed at the person singing, overhead attractions, or people in the stands. No one on TV will see the protesters.
 
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Cope said:
Of course they have that right. Even at their place of employment. And their employer has the right to levy punishment because of it as well.
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No. You are contradicting yourself.

To have the right to do something means you cannot be punished for doing it. It is your right.
 
Troglodyte said:
No. You are contradicting yourself.

To have the right to do something means you cannot be punished for doing it. It is your right.
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What he is saying is you can make any choice you want but if you are doing so without your companies permission they can choose to let you go. Unless it is stated in a contract you are an "at-will" employee which means your employer can let you go "at-will". NFL players do have contracts so if it states they can sit during the national anthem then can do so and not be cut. If it doesn't... well the team can choose to cut them. I doubt a team would cut a good player but if lets say the 3rd string QB on the Packers (a very conservative city) sat during the anthem I could see them cutting them. Now if Aaron Rodgers did it... probably not.
 
FordFairLane said:
What he is saying is you can make any choice you want but if you are doing so without your companies permission they can choose to let you go. Unless it is stated in a contract you are an "at-will" employee which means your employer can let you go "at-will". NFL players do have contracts so if it states they can sit during the national anthem then can do so and not be cut. If it doesn't... well the team can choose to cut them. I doubt a team would cut a good player but if lets say the 3rd string QB on the Packers (a very conservative city) sat during the anthem I could see them cutting them. Now if Aaron Rodgers did it... probably not.
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But rights give you legal recourse. If the NFL decides players must stand or be subject to a fine or termination, it's not a violation of any constitutional right as people have suggested or even argued. Their JOB is a privelege, not a right.

Speaking of privelege. I'm of the opinion that over-privelege is what is fueling these protests. I'm betting none of these players has done a damn thing or given a red cent for this cause that is obstensibly so important to them.
 
Troglodyte said:
But rights give you legal recourse. If the NFL decides players must stand or be subject to a fine or termination, it's not a violation of any constitutional right as people have suggested or even argued. Their JOB is a privelege, not a right.

Speaking of privelege. I'm of the opinion that over-privelege is what is fueling these protests. I'm betting none of these players has done a damn thing or given a red cent for this cause that is obstensibly so important to them.
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Since Roger appears to have complete discretion, I don't know if there is anything in the CBA preventing the teams from punishing their actions. I don't, necessarily, think they should, but the point of the idea of a TEAM is that they are unified. If you set yourself apart like this, IMO, it shows disunity.

In any event, I do agree with your last statement. Were these guys marching in the peaceful protests in the streets in Ferguson/Dallas/Baton Rouge? During the rioting where the perpetrators were destroying the very neighborhoods they were supposed to be standing up for, were these guys standing around with a bull horn calling for peace? I don't recall them being at either place. if not, **** them.
 
Espn game review. Said on this issue, "MT and BB said they expect the entire team to stand tall in respect for teammate AV
 
Slash#10 said:
Support... this isn' North Korea where you and your family will be punished for lifetime of hard labor because you protest.
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I am not saying throw the protester in jail, for crying out loud. But I sure as hell will not be inclined to SUPPORT the protester, particularly where the protester failed to say a word about the violence inflicted by the same group of people he claims are now victims.

Big difference.
 
Xc944 said:
If you support rapist,wife beaters, dog killers, guys who try to runover cops why not support someone who kneels for national anthem
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Because I don't support any of them.
 
Cope said:
This shouldn't ever be an issue, but the media wants you to get mad over it. I don't. It's every american's right to stand up for what they believe in ...
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I see what you did there.
 
It's within their rights, but I am not a particular fan of this form of protest.
 
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