Donald Trump went on rampage against NFL players protesting racial injustice and police brutality at his campaign stop in Alabama. This was yet another moment of Trump tossing red meat to his base in a red state, riling up the crowd in support of Alabama senate contender Luther Strange.

Luther Strange is facing off with another conservative firebrand, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, who has repeatedly defied the ACLU and the Supreme Court, and has made a number of racially-charged statements blaming our society’s problems on the lack of god in schools.

President Trump said Friday that NFL team owners should fire football players who refuse to stand for the national anthem, apparently in reference to Colin Kaepernick’s protests last year in which he kneeled during the American flag ceremony. Trump made the comments while speaking to a crowd in Huntsville, Alabama, in support of Sen. Luther Strange, a Republican facing a primary election next week. Midway through the rally, Trump asked the crowd if they’d “love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘get that son of a bitch off the field right now.'” “He’s fired,” Trump continued as the crowded cheered. “He’s fired.” The president said an NFL owner would become “the most popular person, for a week, they’ll be the most popular person in this country” after firing a player who refused to stand for the anthem. And while “we have freedom of choice,” Trump noted, it’s “still totally disrespectful.” (BuzzFeed)

There are reasons that the NFL’s ratings are down, and they don’t have anything to do with a few players refusing to stand for the National Anthem.







First of all, look at the ridiculous celebration penalties. Who really cares if a player dunks a football through the goalposts after scoring a touchdown or does an elaborate celebration dance with his teammates? Even if it is taunting the other team, is it really that big of a deal? This is football, for crying out loud.

Then we have the issue of domestic violence and criminal activity. Ray Rice knocked his wife out in an elevator and the NFL only suspended him after the surveillance footage came to light. He still got a shorter initial suspension than members of the New Orleans Saints team who were alleged to have targeted opposing players on the field.

We also have the issue of drug use. Players are turning to various drugs to treat their injuries, but smoking some weed is enough to get them multiple game suspensions. Concussions and brain damage are far worse than someone standing up for social issues like police brutality and racial profiling.

I still watch a few NFL games here and there, but the fun has been taken out of the game. Let the players express themselves and have a good time – or use it for a platform for the things they believe in. It’s the National Football League, not the No Fun League.

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