Tebow continued his knealing throughout his career in which he was hired as an ESPN commentator.

the events and the 'bashing' were the same, the outcome to their career was not.

its not about whose president, but about who will make them money or cost them money .. in sports, its about the profits that come with notoriety,,its always the money motive...



---

Tom E. Curran of Comcast Sportsnet New England reported in a story published on 29 August 2016 that teams standing together on the field during the playing of the national anthem was a relatively recent development in NFL history: “NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed this morning the practice began in 2009, adding, “As you know, the NFL has a long tradition of patriotism. Players are encouraged but not required to stand for the anthem.”

Prior to that year, whether or not to appear on the field for the anthem was left up to teams’ discretion.

SPN commentator Stephen A. Smith referenced Currant’s report during a segment on 14 September 2016, adding a “paid patriotism” element to the mix:

The players were moved to the field during the national anthem because it was seen as a marketing strategy to make the athletes look more patriotic. The United States Department of Defense paid the National Football League $5.4 million between 2011 and 2014, and the National Guard [paid] $6.7 million between 2013 and 2015 to stage on-field patriotic ceremonies as part of military recruitment budget-line items.
The practice of “paid patriotism” came to light on 30 April 2015, when Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) released a statement chiding the New Jersey Army National Guard for paying between $97,000 and $115,000 to the New York Jets for a series of promotions involving military personnel. That November, Flake and fellow Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain issued a report stating that the Defense Department had been paying for patriotic displays in football and other sports between 2011 and 2014:

http://www.snopes.com/nfl-sideline-anthem/

....always comes back to the money , who is paying and who is getting paid...

Maybe the majority of people found it more acceptable to give thanks at a game than protesting.

Only really matters if new sponsors aren't replacing them and/or current sponsors aren't willing to pay more mitigating any shortfalls.

Are the sponsors being replaced? Are ad prices falling to keep other sponsors?

Are sponsors just shifting their ad dollars to other sports? Which have the same problems as the NFL, they just don't happen to be in the spotlight right now?

Nothing in the OP.


IMO/IME companies pulling ad dollars is like "playah's" breaking up with fat girlfriends. All you get is specious altruism to validate self image to hide self interest.
"Uhhh...we have a social conscience! That's it! We're pulling our money out because, uh, we don't stand for injustice...It's not part of an ongoing initiative based on management decisions to increase efficiency in ad spending and decrease costs. Nope. It's because we care!"

P&G has been pulling out of campaigns, decreasing their ad budgets, and taking a closer look at what their advertising money is translating into for sales for a while now.

Completely off topic but relevant, IMO, is the idea that the economic statistcs/numbers Obama used that people were saying were manipulated government lies, that the economy isn't as healthy as he said, are the same numbers and statistics Trump is using to say he's making America great again. BS then, BS now.

Companies look for reason to pull back money.


Great.
What did they do about it? Anything?
Nothing in the OP.


Okay...so what else did the sponsors say?
Did they say they won't support anyone in the NFL?
Did they start sponsoring a different NFL player?
Did they instead look to other sports figures?
Did they take the money and donate it towards women's shelters?
Nothing in the OP.


Is anyone else uncomfortable with this notion?
Isn't that why we have a legal system?
Do "we" really want to give employers the power and responsibility of dictating individual and social behavior and attitudes, arbiters of social judgment and justice, especially based on whimsical fan based social pressure?

What's next? "I direct your attention to the jumbotron! This is what this guy posted on Mingle2 last week. Many responders called him a racist! And we believe they do constitute racist remarks! He is no longer allowed to watch football and we're sending security to his home to confiscate all NFL merchandise including any beer produced by our wonderful open minded socially responsible sponsors! We don't condone or tolerate racism in any form whatsoever from anyone even marginally associated with the NFL and we have the opportunity here to change both perceptions and behavior!"

the majority of NFL ownership found it more acceptable to kneel for belief in God than to kneel for belief in a cause ,,,

Maybe as in the UK the nfl like the fa think as they are so rich they can dictate to people?

I think that the employer employee relationship everywhere is like that.

Sponsors have the right like anyone else to stop giving to a association that does not fulfill their beliefs when it comes to their money...


Does anyone realize they are considered Tax-Exempt??? Sorry but that is bs in my book with all the money the NFL makes.... Even that is fixing to come to a end before long...

Regardless it can be argued till the cows come home if you want to Protest then do it on your time not on the time of those that pay to see you play! Pretty simple............

If they had kneeled at any other time then when the Anthem was being played the turn out would have been different... You can't expect to do things and not suffer from any consequences that may follow...The way I see it the taking a knee was not thought out all the way...

We tend to take action before we think what those actions will cost us....

Yes Txs, I think here is like advertising so it comes under expenses so it's tax deductible!

I never understood the tax part of it, but the mandated patriotism, for me, seems to lessen and cheapen it ,,,, thats just me

I also think the display of patriotism is a political action at a football game that we could debate the reasons for in another topic

but the players really are nothing more than a source of income for the owners and the league, which is why the moneymakers have to break them off such large incomes themselves

many do not know that it is not mandatory in the football contract for the players to do anything but be present for the pre game show of patriotism, so kneeling is not actually violating any specific rule

to be honest, kneeling quietly is kneeling quietly regardless of the reason ... it is either a disruptive activity or it is not

But it is left to the discretion of their employer in the clause that states those owners can (subjectively) determine behavior that may be detrimental to the league (the pockets of money) which is what explains the range of activities on and off the field that earn some players mere 'bashing' while others pay fines, and others lose their careers altogether.

Don't you have a team called the patriots?

As well as the fans and sponsors. They are the money

And part of the problem with Tebow was others were allowed to a celebratory dance or something but he wasn't allowed to kneel.

How about Michael Bennett with the Black Panther fist after a tackle?

Hummm well this is from the NFL Rules ~~~~

http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2017-nfl-rulebook/

NFL’s 2017 Official Playing Rules.

ARTICLE 8. PERSONAL MESSAGES. Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and
television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or
on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or
illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or
memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on
players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League
office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player
to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to
game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or
charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial;
must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be
worn by players on other teams in the League.


It pretty much states that all Political related messages are prohibited~~~~ Regardless how they choose to display it... So even if there is nothing stating they must stand within their rules for the Anthem there are rules against, making it your time to display your Political Beliefs~~~

But as I said earlier it is the Sponsor's choice to give or not give... And if they are taking a stance due to either criminal activity or be it due to they are disrespecting the Flag within their eyes it is their choice to do so..

Don't forget they wouldn't let the Cowboys have something on their helmets to honor the fallen Dallas Police officers killed (while protecting protesters) by that gun man

That is actually within their rules above that they can not display those things... which they would not let them do..

As well as any Political Beliefs therefore they should have all been fined due to the rules.....

Same with the one that knelled to pray they made him stop but yet let them take a knee over Political Beliefs... Seems a bit one sided to me...

If I was a sponsor I would have jerked all proceeds to the NFL long before it hit the magnitude it has....

Unsportsman-like conduct

The newest saying is stand for the anthem, kneel for the cross. Not all believe that....but I do

There was a bit of controversy a while ago when some of the football players here didn't sing the national anthem, doesn't look good I think, but there again most are over paid aliens as you put it!

lol,,, yes, New England

Where?

it actually says no writings or illustrations or commemorative items...

nothing about kneeling.

its just a song... unless they flipped the bird, I think the controversy is oversold ....