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By By Mike Huckabee

October 20, 2017
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has issued a ruling on players standing for the National Anthem: they’re not going to require them to do it. Although he added, “We believe everyone should stand for the national anthem. That's an important part of our policy.” But not important enough actually to enforce it. However, he also defended the players’ kneeling, but then added, “Our players will state to you publicly they are not doing this in any way to be disrespectful to the flag.” And finally: “What we’re trying to do is stay out of politics. We’re not looking to get into politics. What we’re looking to do is continue to keep people focused on football.”

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So just to clarify: the NFL’s position is that everyone should stand to show respect for the flag, but they won’t make the players do it even though it offends a large number of fans, plus their show of disrespect is in no way a show of disrespect, and they’re just trying to stay out of politics by allowing people who work for them to tank their business by making a political statement in the most offensive way possible. No offense!

I’ve heard it said that Mr. Goodell is paid $44 million a year. I have to assume that’s not for his communications skills. He tied himself into such a rhetorical pretzel, he should be the Olympic gymnastics commissioner.

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You want people to focus on football again? Tell the players that they are in the stadium to play football, not make a political statement. If they like their average salaries of $2 million a year, then stand respectfully during the National Anthem, play the game, take a shower, then go out and protest all they want when they are off the company clock. Pretty simple, really. In fact, same deal every other employee in America has.

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Permalink: https://www.mikehuckabee.com/2017/10/nfl-commissioner-tries-to-stop-ratings-dive

Comments 1-50 of 129

Garry Wehr

10/27/2017 04:55 PM

Amen
Stand for the Anthem in honor of all the men & women who died for your freedom
My Brother PFC James L Wehr who was killed in combat in Vietnam on 4-1-67.
Then you will know the true cost of freedom & the pain that has lasted for 50 years.
I too served 2 1/2 years and am 100% disabled from PTSD & AgentOrange related heart disease
Respectfully
Former Sargeant
Garry Wehr
Patti Sharpe

10/23/2017 07:39 PM

I am very strongly against all of these people "protesting" the state of our society by disrespecting our flag, anthem, and military. They claim not to be trying to disrespect anyone. Maybe that's true. Maybe they're so totally self-absorbed that they have no concept of how their actions could be interpreted as disrespectful. However, they state that their ultimate intention is to "open a dialogue". They have now had sufficient time to see that there is no dialogue being or likely to be opened by their actions. I've never, in my experience, seen an issue of disrespect resolved by disrespecting someone else. Especially someone not even involved in the debate. If they are sincere in desiring a dialogue, it's now time to try something else.
Clara Herrin

10/23/2017 06:20 PM

However, I don't think that level of common sense will ever get through the fog of political correctness that has taken over the minds of so many empowered athletes today. They seem to think that fans think of nothing else but them 24/7. As I've read in the past, fans are only really interacting with the players during a televised game. The rest of the time, they are dealing with family problems, work situations, health issues, money shortages (a problem these prima donnas don't have), and the like. All I can hope is that college ball will now be the #1 game of the week. GO WILDCATS....BEAR DOWN!!!!
Ralph C (R.C.) Leach

10/23/2017 04:45 PM

As usual, you're right on the money! I always appreciate your newsletters, as to me, they are a step back into sanity and reason! Please, keep up the good work. Hope you don't mind that I copied a portion of your latest newsletter and pasted it into Facebook. I gave you full credit, of course! Don't know if this makes it OK, but you gave me permission to do that once, a year or two ago! If not OK, I will, of course, take it off the internet immediately! I just wish to spread sanity, like so many are spreading fertilizer!
Catherine Haenze

10/23/2017 10:36 AM

Re: Roger Goodell's pronouncements: Sadly, the man is so busy turning in circles that he doesn't know his frontside from his backside. Neither my husband nor I will be watching NFL until politics is taken out of the GAME. The playing field is not the place to bring this spotlight. We turn on to watch, relax and enjoy, not have someone else's opinion shoved in our faces.
Jerome (Jerry) Daniels

10/23/2017 10:13 AM

As a military man, I've seen first hand how the military is the most powerful force in American society for ending racism! I've seen many soldiers lose their racist attitudes as they learn to trust other soldiers to have their backs, no matter race or creed. Ironically, the "protesters", by choosing to disrespect the Flag, are spitting on the single most important force for blunting racism - the US Military!
Patricia Barker

10/23/2017 07:13 AM

As always " right on" Mr. Huckabee. Before I retired I worked at a financial institution that was being "hog tied" with legislature from the Obama administration. I still had to keep my political views to myself while on the job. Roger Goodell is a spineless wimp, as the saying goes "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything ".
Janice Schaefer

10/23/2017 12:50 AM

If I understand this correctly, the NFL is supporting the player's right to protest police violence and oppression which, according to Colin Kapernick, is a pervasive problem in our communities. And, it appears, other players following like "lemmings off a cliff" seem to agree. I would laugh but unfortunately this is not funny. The NFL, as a community, has had, in 2017 alone, 32 arrests. That is a average of 3.2 arrests per month. Aside from the typical drug and DUI arrests, of these 32 arrests (as has been published by USA Today) 4 have been gun charges, speeding with a loaded stolen gun in the car, 4 assault charges, 1 battery charge and 4 domestic violence charges plus violating a court order relating to an additional domestic violence charge. I probably don't need to mention the murder conviction of the Patriots's team member (as well as other murder charges over the years within the ranks of the NFL). It seems to me the oppressors and brutalizes are the NFL players themselves - brutalizing their own family members and communities. I'd be interested to know how many of the players that kneel are aware of the statistics for violence perpetrated by their fellow teammates. I'd also be interested to know how many of the players taking a knee have ACTUALLY DONE ANYTHING to address or alleviate their perceived crisis. And to all the team members parroting the "right" of their fellow NFL team members to protest; their hollow chant that they must stand united for their NFL brothers; how this is not about disrespect for our country, our brave military or our flag. You must be the stupidest people alive!
John Bachler

10/22/2017 09:47 PM

One Man's Opinion
My grandson Jared leaves for Paris Island next week. He will be a marine. My brother served in the 82nd Airborne,he is a healthy 87 years old. My brother's late son Tommy was a marine. My cousin was a spotter in WW2 on a small boat, While the enemy shot at his boat from the islands in the pacific the heavy battleships watched for the flashes from the island and zeroed in on the bunkers. So in essence my cousin was a target to draw fire. He survived it all, My granddaughter,s husband is in the national guard and has been on standby if more help is needed anywhere. My grandson Jacob passed all tests to become a police officer in Florida.I have many friends who served in harms way. They don't brag about it. They are humble men. My awesome wife completed her nursing career serving at a local veteran's clinic treating men and woman of the armed services from all the wars back to WW2. So many of these honored veterans are still hurting every day of their lives so that we can live free. I'm sure many of you have similar stories and many of you have loved ones who never came home. When I attend or watch a sporting event and I see that flag waving I am reminded that we are one nation, created with great sacrifice.
Are we perfect? No. But that wonderful flag is a symbol
that unites us all as one people, under God. No matter what the cause; good, bad or indifferent it must never be attached to our flag, As for me I will not get my joy from anything that attempts to add or take away from those unshakable truths that Old Glory stands for.
judith andrews

10/22/2017 08:12 PM

I travel extensively on my job all over the world and I can tell you that everyone on the planet wants to live in America , I’ve never understood angry black men who have it all but hate the nation over their perceived injustice .. I’m disappointed that anyone shows up for these game
Ms. Jonnie Allert

10/22/2017 07:40 PM

Amen to that Mr. Huckabee. I am behind you 100%. I just can't believe it has went on this long. I guess they don't value their huge wages. Maybe if every one quits paying to see them it will change their minds. To bad they don't have to work a year at minimum wage like some of us and see how it feels. Maybe we should all start watching college football. Seems like they still have some control in college. Or just watch another sport that doesn't disrespect our country and service men like they do. Love your opinions. Agree with all of them.
rada morgan

10/22/2017 06:01 PM

First, I stopped watching NFL a long time ago. Second, Tim Tebow is heads above most of the players yet he was scorned and ridiculed. And Goodell wants us to believe what they're doing is not political! They are making a political statement while on the job. A lot of people would be fired for the same thing. They are entitled to their beliefs but don't expect me to participate. Hope the NFL ceases to exist
Rita Shelley Sanders

10/22/2017 05:59 PM

Amen and amen! Well said, Mike!
You are my main source of news these days. Thank you for what you do!
Lanny D Ashburn

10/22/2017 05:29 PM

I am beyond getting angry, beyond frustrated, beyond talking about what should be done.
I am at " I DONT CARE"! I don't care about Goodell, I don't care about the Dolphins, the Steelers, or the Bears! I am beyond emotion and that my friends is when the NFL dies, when passion dies love is dead.
I DONT GIVE A CRAP ANYMORE. I have made it 2 years without the NFL and I can go the rest of my life without them. Go Buckeyes.
God bless Jim Brown, Dan Marino, Y. A. Tittle, Coaches Landry and Shula, and all those who love football. The rest?-who cares?
Maris Spiers

10/22/2017 05:28 PM

I stopped watching NFL games along time ago but would listen and support my husband as he watched and/or listened to his favorite team. I would also make our schedule so that my husband and son could get together to watch their favorite teams. As well as drive over to our daughter’s to watch our two toddler grandsons while the family went to the stadium. But when I heard of the kneeling, my heart was wrenched. No more football! These people are drafted as football players, they are hired as football players, they are expected to be football players. People as a family member who played football once said; chasing and throwing pig skin on a field. They are not veterans, they have no idea of what war is, the price that is paid,or the pride in being able to stand and salute the American Flag. There is no reason big enough to not ever respect the American Flag that represents America and Freedom. When these people on afield who do jot represent me or any other veteran or God Given American kneel, the do not know what it is like to have a Master Sergeant assigned to a family. A family whose loved one is laying beneath the flag draped coffin. To hold a child’s hand and try as tightly as you can so they won’t be afraid and then tell them why mommy or daddy is not coming home. To try and escort a wife from the car whose knees will not hold her up, because her heart is broken. To understand the exhilarating joy in grasping the American Flag as a soldier who came home alive and is very proud of their service to their country. To be able to wear the American Flag on their uniforms; designated as an American Soldier. There is no comparison between what I have described and a group of people who chase a pig skin around on a field for a designated period of time. I agree with other veterans and am willing to go a step further. I am asking the NFL to not play football on Veterans Day weekend out of respect for this Great Nation and the veterans. I am also asking that they realize they do not represent America or it’s Veteran populace. They need to be done how separated from Americans in their blatant disrespect of the American Anthem and the American Flag. Already these people have embarrassed us beyond words in England! It needs to be known that they have nothing to do with America, American Veterans, or the American Anthem. They are a group of people who get together and throw pig skin around. Every year there is drama with the NFL. While most of it was handled appropriately by the NFL, this time it is Not! Please boycott the NFL on Veterans weekend. There are a lot of other things you can do on that weekend. God Bless You and God Bless America
Patricia Davidson

10/22/2017 03:46 PM

instead of giving those knuckleheads the publicity by showing their complete stupidity in kneeling - just show Old Glory swaying in the breeze while the National Anthem is played/sung...I'd much rather see that and hear or see NOTHING about a bunch of idiots than to have it shoved in my face (until the idiocy concludes, I will no longer care about watching any games)
Dale Tuley

10/22/2017 03:39 PM

100% agree with your comment about NFL players protesting.
IF I take a stand on any political issue while I am on the clock at my job, I risk getting disciplined of fired. The same goes on social media if I bad-mouth my employer ---- OR ------ customers, or even competitors. The talk about Freedom of Speech is bogus in this situation because the 2nd Amendment only talks about the Federal Government being prohibited to limit one's freedom of speech, it says nothing about a employer's rights to limit the speech of his/her employees.
I believe that every athlete's contract contains wording that they could face losing their position if they say or do anything the is "detrimental" to their league/team/sport/employer/etc. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that a double-digit drop in TV-ratings will produce detrimental effects to the league/team/sport/employer/etc.
Patricia Davidson

10/22/2017 02:39 PM

I completely agree with you Mike - the Commissioner should DEMAND they stand or be fired!
Amy Demetry

10/22/2017 01:55 PM

I am completely done and disgusted with NFL football. I plan to stop buying the NFL channel through my cable TV provider since I will no longer need it. College football will be the only football I watch from now on.
Pamala King

10/22/2017 01:46 PM

I have stopped watching NFL games & will not watch again until I see some decency & consistency in the NFL rule enforcement. I am supporting a boycott of ALL NFL games the weekend of Nov 12 - Veteran's Day weekend. I have posted it to my FB page and plan on having a movie party at my house to watch anything but NFL football. I have relatives who fought for that flag, people who died for that flag, & the very idea that some million dollar athlete would think he is in some way being discriminated against by receiving this nation's best accolades makes me madder than I can decently express. So perhaps this can say it better:
I hope all my friends read this and give it some serious and prayerful thought. I'm really worried about the direction this country is heading.
Thought you would enjoy these interesting thoughts and fun facts on the hypocrites over at the NFL.
In 2012 the NFL had an issue with Tim Tebow kneeling for each game to pray, they also had an issue with Tebow wearing John 3:16 as part of his blackout to avoid glare and made him take it off.
In 2013 the NFL fined Brandon Marshall for wearing green cleats to raise awareness for people with mental health disorders....
In 2014 Robert Griffin III (RG3) entered a post-game press conference wearing a shirt that said "Know Jesus Know Peace" but was forced to turn it inside out by an NFL uniform inspector before speaking at the podium.
In 2015 DeAngelo Williams was fined for wearing "Find the Cure" eye black for breast cancer awareness.
In 2015 William Gay was fined for wearing purple cleats to raise awareness for domestic violence. (not that the NFL has a domestic violence problem...)
In 2016 the NFL prevented the Dallas Cowboys from wearing a decal on their helmet in honor of 5 Dallas Police officers killed in the line of duty.
In 2016 the NFL threatened to fine players who wanted to wear cleats to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11
So tell me again how the NFL supports free speech and expression?
You graduated high school in 2011. Your teenage years were a struggle. You grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Your mother was the leader of the family and worked tirelessly to keep a roof over your head and food on your plate. Academics were a struggle for you and your grades were mediocre at best. The only thing that made you stand out is you weighed 225 lbs and could run 40 yards in 4.2 seconds while carrying a football.
Your best friend was just like you, except he didn’t play football. Instead of going to football practice after school, he went to work at McDonalds for minimum wage.
You were recruited by all the big colleges and spent every weekend of your senior year making visits to universities where coaches and boosters tried to convince you their school was best. They laid out the red carpet for you. Your best friend worked double shifts at Mickey D’s. College was not an option for him. On the day you signed with Big State University, your best friend signed paperwork with his Army recruiter. You went to summer workouts. He went to basic training.
You spent the next four years living in the athletic dorm, eating at the training table. You spent your Saturdays on the football field, cheered on by adoring fans. Tutors attended to your every academic need. You attended class when you felt like it. Sure, you worked hard. You lifted weights, ran sprints, studied plays, and soon became one of the top football players in the country.
Your best friend was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. While you were in college, he deployed to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice. He became a Sergeant and led a squad of 19 year old soldiers who grew up just like he did. He shed his blood in Afghanistan and watched young American's give their lives, limbs, and innocence for the USA.
You went to the NFL combine and scored off the charts. You hired an agent and waited for draft day. You were drafted in the first round and your agent immediately went to work, ensuring that you received the most money possible. You signed for $16 million although you had never played a single down of professional football.
Your best friend re-enlisted in the Army for four more years. As a combat tested sergeant, he will be paid $32,000 per year.
You will drive a Ferrari on the streets of South Beach. He will ride in the back of a Blackhawk helicopter with 10 other combat loaded soldiers. You will sleep at the Ritz. He will dig a hole in the ground and try to sleep. You will “make it rain” in the club. He will pray for rain as the temperature reaches 120 degrees.
On Sunday, you will run into a stadium as tens of thousands of fans cheer and yell your name. For your best friend, there is little difference between Sunday and any other day of the week. There are no adoring fans. There are only people trying to kill him and his soldiers. Every now and then, he and his soldiers leave the front lines and “go to the rear” to rest. He might be lucky enough to catch an NFL game on TV. When the National Anthem plays and you take a knee, he will jump to his feet and salute the television. While you protest the unfairness of life in the United States, he will give thanks to God that he has the honor of defending his great country.
To the players of the NFL: We are the people who buy your tickets, watch you on TV, and wear your jerseys. We anxiously wait for Sundays so we can cheer for you and marvel at your athleticism. Although we love to watch you play, we care little about your opinions until you offend us. You have the absolute right to express yourselves, but we have the absolute right to boycott you. We have tolerated your drug use and DUIs, your domestic violence, and your vulgar displays of wealth. We should be ashamed for putting our admiration of your physical skills before what is morally right. But now you have gone too far. You have insulted our flag, our country, our soldiers, our police officers, and our veterans. You are living the American dream, yet you disparage our great country. I am done with NFL football and encourage all like minded Americans to boycott the NFL as well.
--- SHARE, SHARE, SHARE ---
National boycott of the NFL for Sunday November 12th, Veterans Day Weekend. Boycott all football telecast, all fans, all ticket holders, stay away from attending any games, let them play to empty stadiums. Pass this post along to all your friends and family. Honor our military, some of whom come home with the American Flag draped over their coffin.
woodenshoes1948

10/22/2017 01:30 PM

GOODBYE NFL BOYCOTT PERMANENTLY NFL
Aaron Gillham

10/22/2017 12:53 PM

I couldn’t agree more. I’ll just enjoy watching college football instead. I watched about a dozen Oregon Ducks players kneeling in the end zone prior and o their game against Washington State a few weeks ago..only they were kneeling to pray. I’m sick and tired of millionaire f Lon’s complaining about mistreatment. I hope th NFL goes bankrupt and a new league is established.
Dot Whitley

10/22/2017 12:50 PM

God can deal with them much better than I can, and because He's all powerful ,my prayer is that He will do just that. He might have already done that, because playing away one's life , getting more and more wealthy, and having no knowledge of what's valuable in this life, just isn't even close to being blessed. How sad to be so ignorant, and to never realize how we have been so blessed to live in this wonderful country.
May the Lord God have mercy on us, in spite of their willful ignorance.
Jerry Springer Ex-NFL Fan

10/22/2017 12:23 PM

So far 97 comments and it is a unanimous stand against the NFL. I wonder if Ol' Roger is the slightest bit interested in the opinion of the majority of his viewers? maybe someone should show these remarks to him (as if it would make a difference). Just count me out; I've had it up to here!!!!!!!!!!
Randy thompson

10/22/2017 12:11 PM

It is now time to stop subsidizing Federal money to Football Stadiums.
Gretchen Smith

10/22/2017 11:59 AM

I have decided that the NFL isn't important to my family, we now spend Sundays on projects, taking walks, bike riding, working puzzles, enjoying each other.
jack macdonald

10/22/2017 11:32 AM

How to kill the golden goose. In what other job would you be paid $$44 million to disrespect your country and your customers. The players who have not kneeled deserve some appreciation, but at the same time should take a greater role in explaining to the team idiots that they are hurting them and not acting as a "team" which is what they purport to be when taking the field to provide entertainment for people who shell out big bucks. jack
Sherry McLelland

10/22/2017 10:40 AM

It seems that many in places of leadership and power have lost something very important....a backbone. They cater
to the loudest, but usually not the majority, of students on college campuses. The leader of the NFL caters to the
players instead of the fans. Parents who pay college tuitions for their children (and they are still children in many
ways at that age) and fans who have made them all wealthy through their loyalty are being shortchanged and dis-
respected in ways that would never have happened eight to ten years ago. Perhaps our president will help them all
find their backbone and courage to do what's right and learn we are a nation of laws and principles that have sustained us since the founding of our nation. I think many leaders of today need to go back and re-read history before that too is destroyed and re-written.
Tina Shurley Brown

10/22/2017 10:28 AM

Your last paragraph is exactly what I have been sharing on social media and friends alike. Let's play football and doing your protesting on your own time. You don't have to do it during our precious national anthem.
Pauline Lange

10/22/2017 09:59 AM

The NFL Commissioner lacks more than communication skills. He lacks integrity. Thank you for your common sense comments and for your humor which truly carries the football for a touchdown. I know there must be players who are sick about this situation and would like to distance themselves from the politics and disrespect. I will pray that they have the courage to stand for what is right. Mrs. Lange
Richard Featherstone

10/22/2017 09:56 AM

Totally agree that the players (and all those jock sniffing handlers, coaches, etc.) should be standing with their hand over their heart. Like the one player announced yesterday - he is for the players working for their cause but do it directly with the Police - not to the public. At the same time perhaps they could do a bit on reducing the domestic violence for which they are known to get off with a slap on the wrist or being traded to another $2M job at another team.
Marge Joyhetrick

10/22/2017 09:55 AM

NFL doesn't matter anymore. Done with it. I will spend that time praying extra for our troops rather that watching football. Wasn't even a hard decision.
Andrea Abrecht

10/21/2017 07:28 PM

I completely agree. He mentions NFL Policy but doesn’t enforce the policy to stand?? He is nothing more than a politician. I will not watch or go to anymore NFL games. I am done!
Randy Conken

10/21/2017 06:54 PM

It’s too late and not nearly enough. They (not just the players, but the Director and Owners) have alienated this lifelong NFL fan into a permanent boycott.
It’s a shame but I’m well into my second year of boycotting and I already don’t miss it nearly as much as last year. ????????????????
Sandra Smotherman

10/21/2017 02:07 PM

In 2012 the NFL had an issue with Tim Tebow kneeling for each game to pray, they also had an issue with Tebow wearing John 3:16 as part of his blackout to avoid glare and made him take it off.
In 2013 the NFL fined Brandon Marshall for wearing green cleats to raise awareness for people with mental health disorders....
In 2014 Robert Griffin III (RG3) entered a post-game press conference wearing a shirt that said "Know Jesus Know Peace" but was forced to turn it inside out by an NFL uniform inspector before speaking at the podium.
In 2015 DeAngelo Williams was fined for wearing "Find the Cure" eye black for breast cancer awareness.
In 2015 William Gay was fined for wearing purple cleats to raise awareness for domestic violence. (not that the NFL has a domestic violence problem...)
In 2016 the NFL prevented the Dallas Cowboys from wearing a decal on their helmet in honor of 5 Dallas Police officers killed in the line of duty.
In 2016 the NFL threatened to fine players who wanted to wear cleats to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
So tell me again how the NFL supports free speech and expression?
Kim Duffrin

10/21/2017 12:04 PM

As a veteran who has server her country and an avid viewer of NFL football I will not watch nor attend any NFL games ever again. I will not support the NFL or its commissioner. I DO feel disrespected! There is nothing Roger Goodell can say or do to make up for what he has said and done. Difficult to respect him and the NFL when they don't respect me and our great country that I and so many other veterans and current service men and women serve/served. Take the American flag off of the back of their helmets. They don't deserve to wear it!
Janet Brown

10/21/2017 09:59 AM

@ 44 Million a year...He is disrespecting the military and our Veterans...We won't watch. My son who is retiring from the NAVY this year, after 20 years of dedication to this country and his home team, the FALCONS...he will not be watching. Tickets are outrageously priced that the average person cannot purchase anyway....GOOD RIDDANCE NFL...start a GIRLS TEAM....everyone will watch that!
Patrick Wolfe

10/21/2017 09:37 AM

I agree but also protesting in general on someone else's dime is a big problem too.
Janet Brown

10/21/2017 08:10 AM

My sentiments exactly. I have two sons on the autism spectrum so I have not worked outside of my home for many years. My husband, however, retired from law enforcement and is now teaching school. In both jobs there were things he did not enjoy such as wearing polyester uniforms, but the jobs had rules he had to follow in order to preserve that job. These men are there to play football, something we pay for with tickets and our viewership. The minute they walk into the stadium they are employees of the team. If Goodell wasn't such a coward, he would enforce the rules. They are welcomed to protest on their own time or better yet, go into the community and find a way to make a real difference. My husband has had two honorable professions, neither of which garners much income. Oppression exists but these guys make millions of dollars, exactly how are they oppressed? It will get harder to pay their salaries as the numbers continue to dwindle.
Marianne Mulcahy

10/21/2017 05:40 AM

This post perfectly states the way Conservatives feel about the NFL and the blatant disrespect shown to our country, our flag, our veterans and our law enforcement. We endured 8 years of Obama inciting division in our country and encouraging racial unrest from the Oval office. If anyone speaks out or says the obvious they are labeled "racist" or a bigot for whatever thats worth. I see through this continued media attention the "New Black Panthers" now demand their own country within the USA. When is someone going to have the guts to demand our Constitution be upheld and these various groups, NBP's, BLM, Antifa and the rest of these clowns be designated domestic terrorists right along with the KKK,and any other hate organization? Our federal laws are being ignored by sworn elected representatives of the people,and our Constitution treated like a piece of toilet paper. Those laws were made not by President Trump but by the lawmakers. What a bunch of clowns we have in leadership of our country! I wouldn't worry,about the NFL at this point because this may turn into a civil war. This is what Obama's legacy will be, the destruction of our Democratic Republic, erasing our history and transforming our country to socialism. Let these foolish people cry racism,and kill the pigs etc but stop mollycoddling every black person because their ancestors were slaves. Enough is enough!
Danielle Shenker

10/21/2017 01:50 AM

NFL NO MORE. Completely DISGUSTED
William Day

10/21/2017 01:24 AM

Well said Huck! Goodell is a complete failure as a leader. He has allowed these disrespectful players and owners to make a mockery of the NFLs business policies ( like Burger King have it your way)!
Suz Butrad

10/21/2017 12:34 AM

I say let them kneel as a team BEFORE the anthem and then stand during. Plus, if they truly want to make a difference, start funneling income $$ into their individual neighborhoods and bring people together with cops. Voice concerns and have the cops teach what is expected when stopped, frisked, cuffed, whatever. And if people really want to stop the kneeling, start promoting it as if they're praying. Like Tebow, the libs will have everyone either out of the league or standing??
Beth Turner

10/21/2017 12:16 AM

Should be the gymnastics commissioner ????????. Classic!!
Robin Chamberlain

10/21/2017 12:07 AM

What a mess. I was an avid Pittsburgh fan but no more. I'm done.
Bonnie Mayo

10/21/2017 12:07 AM

My only child is a police officer and he goes to work everyday with the desire to protect others. He is college educated but certainly isn’t paid well for the danger he encounters. This protest started when a thug named Michael Brown got shot and killed by a police officer trying to stop him from getting his weapon after said thug strong armed a convenience story owner and walked out without paying for items he helped himself to. So how did this end. The police officer and his wife, another police officer, had to leave their jobs and move out of town after being cleared of any wrong doing while the mother of said thug was made a millionaire after suing the city for her thug son being killed making it even harder for the city to have enough law enforcement and paying them a decent wage.
If these spoiled rotten brats in the NFL really wanted to stop oppression in the black community they would put their money where their mouth is and go back to the communities they came from and help the cops get rid of the thugs. The really oppressed black community is being murdered by thugs in their own community. How about you bunch of overpaid brats start caring more about the thousands of innocent kids being murdered by thugs in your communities instead of the few thugs the cops kill.
Clifton Watts

10/20/2017 10:55 PM

When the pay checks go down the real pain will be felt. It may take 5 years before the audience returns.
Trudy Tedder

10/20/2017 08:39 PM

I'm a football fan although I rarely watch except for Super Bowl. BUT I did buy lots of memorabilia for my both of my brothers-in-law. Christmas, birthdays, and just because I was thinking about them....NOT ANY MORE. Most likely never again. The NFL can backpeddle all they want - the damage has been done. Spoiled, privileged babies.
Daniel L Chestnut

10/20/2017 08:00 PM

Governor Huckabee,
I agree with your stance on this issue 100 percent. I live in Carmel, IN (north suburb of Indianapolis) and am a huge Colts fan. However, I am having a hard time watching any NFL games including Colts' games due to the disrespect shown by kneeling players. Ironically, I just got back from dinner at Mitchell's seafood restaurant in Carmel, IN where we were celebrating my son's 21st birthday.....and who walked in and was seated in the booth next to us? The GREAT running back, Frank Gore! He looks younger than 34 by the way. I hope he is not one of the kneelers. My guess is that he is NOT an unpatriotic, whiney-a%% anthem kneeler.
DeAnna & Franco Wederski

10/20/2017 07:56 PM

We have not been watching football this year after being diehard Broncos fans for years. We have not missed it because we have replaced that time with other fun activities like hiking or enjoying a drive together. Working on bible studies as well. We didn't even hook up our TV this year because we are also sick and tired of Hollywood and the main stream media. We are better off for it.