When the NFL season started, politics was front and center. Players on every team were taking a knee in support of oppression and it was being touted as a way to shed light on the injustices across the country. However, fans have a long memory and when nearly 200 NFL players took a knee in a childish backlash against President Trump’s comments, fans got mad. Fans knew that kneeling was a statement AGAINST our Flag, the National Anthem, and our Republic.

The reaction to last Sunday’s games was swift and brutal. We wrote about it here, here, and here. Longtime fans have destroyed their team memorabilia, season ticket holders are getting rid of their seats, and Week 3 ticket sales plummeted nearly 18%. Football fans called out the media for their complicity in this, and Roger Goodell for allowing this to happen in the workplace.

The media and the NFL would like everyone to forget that these protests started when the St. Louis Rams were allowed to waltz onto the field protesting criminal thug Michael Brown’s death using the very debunked ‘Hands Up Don’t Shoot’ meme, and Eric Holder applauded them.

Did the Rams get fined? Were they yanked off the field and not allowed to play? No and No. A year later failing quarterback Colin Kaepernick decides that our Flag and our Anthem are oppressive therefore he will take a knee.

The NFL let it happen. Was he fined for wearing cop hating pig socks on the practice field? No. Was he applauded by the media? Yes.

The Dallas Cowboys tried to fix the issue on Monday night to incredibly mixed reviews. So then what? UNITY! The Denver Broncos released a statement saying they plan to stand on Sunday.

A message from our players: pic.twitter.com/eQs3z7OcqV

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 28, 2017

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears released statements as well.

If you read the statements you see the word Unity over and over. It seems the NFL has adopted the Unity memo wholeheartedly. The statements discussed the divisiveness this country is dealing with, the inequalities this country faces, and tried to say kneeling wasn’t against the military. 

“Make no mistake — our actions were in no way a protest of the military, the flag or those who keep us safe. We have nothing but the deepest love and respect for those who protect our way of life and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans,” they said. “While there’s no greater country, it’s not perfect. Inequalities still exist, and we have work to do in ALL forms of social justice. We can all do better.

Yeah, right.

Last night the Packers and Bears linked arms in unity and asked the fans to join in.

https://youtu.be/8Tka2ACAAtY

A show of “solidarity?” Interesting choice of words CBS.

However,

Vast majority did not link arms but many sang along w the anthem. Right behind GB bench a sign: "Shame on the NFL. Vets stand for the flag"

— Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) September 29, 2017

The game of football was an escape for Americans. We could set aside politics, wear our favorite jerseys, don weird hats and silly makeup, and scream ourselves hoarse for our team. Politics didn’t have a role for the viewers, fans, or the teams. But now…EVERYTHING is political. And it shouldn’t be. Do the players get it? Sort of, otherwise the teams wouldn’t have issued their unity statements. Some, such at Titans Delanie Walker, don’t.

“And the fans that don’t want to come to the game? I mean, OK. Bye. I mean, if you feel that’s something, we’re disrespecting you, don’t come to the game. You don’t have to. No one’s telling you to come to the game. It’s your freedom of choice to do that.”

Yes, it certainly is a choice.

That feeling can be mutual, sir. When it smacks you in the wallet, you might want to think about ticking off your fans. Just saying… https://t.co/1dJloLAcOo

— Kenny Stultz (@KennyStultz) September 28, 2017

Watching NFL and NBA back away from kneeling shows how badly the Left oversteps when they seek to reject everything Trump-related.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 29, 2017

On this I differ with Ben Shapiro slightly. The fan backlash isn’t because the NFL kneeled in response to Trump. The NFL is letting their employees bring politics into the workplace. The fans know it and don’t like it.

The kneeling and standing Unity protests are viewed by Americans as a sign of disrespect for the freedoms, opportunities, and voice we ALL have in this country BECAUSE of our Constitution.

The fans are telling the NFL that disrespecting those symbols and ultimately this country is not ok. Unfortunately, the NFL and the players still don’t get it.