NFL's First Amendment Priorities Are "Offsides"

The NFL has issued a statement regarding its players kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem. Recognizing players' First Amendment right It says, "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem." The San Francisco 49ers cite freedom of expression when they say, "…we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate or not in our celebration of the National Anthem." Why then does the NFL choose to violate its players' right to freedom of expression in other cases? During Sunday night's game between the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots, two Arizona Cardinals were penalized for "excessive celebration," an unsportsmanlike conduct infraction for what the referee characterized as, a "choreographed demonstration."

 

Apparently, the NFL considers such displays of celebration so egregious they violate their players' First Amendment right to freedom of expression to engage freely in "choreographed demonstrations," such that they prohibit and penalize   this behavior.  No doubt the NFL will defend their decision to violate their players' First Amendment right to freedom of expression, justifying their action as necessary to maintain the  "integrity of the game." 

 

When it comes to the behavior of uniformed players on the field of play during the playing of the National Anthem however, the NFL doesn't care to maintain the integrity of that solemn observance and sheepishly cites the first amendment as the reason to allow players to actively disrespect the American flag, all those who have fought and died for it, and insult the majority of the fans who watch the game, who just want some wholesome entertainment. 

If the NFL is going to establish and maintain policy regarding uniformed players' behavior, the importance of which they consider so significant as to be willing to violate the players' Constitutional rights and penalize players for infractions of this policy, I demand the NFL apply this policy consistently to all behaviors of uniformed players while on the field of play, in the stadium, and in plain view of the paying customers, the fans, who are in attendance at the game, and those watching on TV. Therefore, I suggest all fans who care about first amendment rights join me and demand the NFL apply equally its policies that directly affect the first amendment rights of its players. I recommend all fans boycott NFL activities whether it be attending the games or watching the games on TV until which time the NFL announces that it will enforce its policies regarding its uniformed players' behavior consistently and require uniformed players in plain view of the audience, and those watching on TV, to obey United States Code and stand at attention during the playing of the national anthem. Otherwise, stop throwing those ridiculous little yellow flags and penalizing players for twerking in celebration of a successful play.