Well, well, well ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


Busted! NFL rules require anti-anthem players to appear on field
'Stand at attention, face flag, hold helmets in left hand, refrain from talking'
Published: 21 hours ago
Bob Unruh

Who would have thought the National Football League – those teams with big guys who chase a little ball all over the gridiron – would get caught up in a fight over the First Amendment’s free-speech protections?

But it has, in an explosive way.

With the one-sided display over the weekend demonstrating that some speech is praiseworthy, laudable and to be honored. While, in contradiction to the First Amendment, other speech is not.

Specifically, speech that disrespects the U.S. flag or the national anthem is supported, while statements honoring the flag are not.

It all started a year ago with now-sidelined quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the playing of the national anthem before a preseason game. He explained in the wake of high-profile police shootings, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Kaepernick has remained unsigned through the 2017 season, but his campaign lives on, with some 200 NFL players Sunday following his lead, mostly in response to criticism by President Trump. Some kneeled for the anthem, some stayed in the locker room and a few raised fists.

USA Today reported Monday the NFL has decided that players from the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers would not be punished for violating a league rule that requires players to be present on the sidelines during the playing of the national anthem.

League spokesman Joe Lockhart confirmed, “There will be no discipline handed down this week for anyone who was not there.”

He said the “real effort here is to make progress in the community on issues of inequality, and to not get distracted by political attacks or things that don’t help us make progress.”

The NFL’s operations manual, which, unlike its rule book, is not available to the public, states:

“During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”

The NFL declined to respond to multiple WND inquiries on the issue.

Grabien.com noted that while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell “infamously waged a years-long, multi-million-dollar battle with the New England Patriots trying to prove that the balls used in the 2014 AFC championship between the Pats and the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated,” he’s taking a “decidedly less fastidious approach to the rules governing the national anthem.”

Instead of applying the rules, the report said, “Goodell is focusing his anger at President Trump, who said in a speech Friday that the NFL team owners should require their players to stand during the anthem.”

The report noted that a year ago, the league prevented the Dallas Cowboys from wearing a decal on their helmets honoring the five police officers killed by a black man who said he had set out to kill as many white officers as he could.

And the league stopped Titans linebacker Avery Williamson from honoring 9/11 victims by wearing cleats that read “9-11/01” and “Never Forget.”

The NFL fined Robert Griffin III $10,000 for wearing a shirt during a press conference that said “Operation Patience.” The shirt was made by Reebok and the league contract is with Nike.

Griffin also ran into trouble wearing a shirt that said “Know Jesus, Know Peace,” the report said.

The NFL has banned players from wearing Beats headphones on the field, which would violate the league’s deal with Bose.

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http://www.wnd.com/2017/09/busted-nfl-ru...ppear-on-field/


In addition lookee here at :

U.S. Code › Title 36 › Subtitle I › Part A › Chapter 3 › § 301
36 U.S. Code § 301 - National anthem

(a)Designation.—
The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.

(b)Conduct During Playing.—During a rendition of the national anthem—

(1) when the flag is displayed—
(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1263; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 595, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4475.)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301


USC LINK:
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCODE...tA-chap3-sec301