ESPN Concedes: Anthem Stunt Hurt Football Ratings

Americans has tired of stunts by people like Colin Kaepernick. Shut up and play, Pajama Boy.

These babies act as if they are down with the cause, whatever the cause may be. In fact, stunts like Kaepernick’s “take a knee” are little more than publicity stunts.

And as the polls suggest, the stunt hurt everybody. Finally, even ESPN admits these Leftist antics hurt sports, and particularly football.

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As ESPN writes,

National anthem protests were the top reason that NFL fans watched fewer games last season, according to a new survey released by J.D. Power. The pollster said it asked more than 9,200 people who attended either one football, basketball or hockey game whether they tuned into fewer games and why. Twenty-six percent of those who watched fewer games last season said that national anthem protests, some of which were led by Colin Kaepernick, were the reason. After that, 24 percent of those surveyed who said they watched fewer games said they did so either because of the league’s off-the-field image issues with domestic violence or with game delays, including penalties.

Sports has become increasingly more political.

In some instances, lessons should be taught. Like when Ray Rice beat his wife in an elevator. Nevertheless, everything is not a lesson for the gridiron or the hardcourt. Some social issues need to work themselves out, outside of sports.

The latest Kaepernick update from NFL.com,

An unfortunate side effect of Colin Kaepernick‘s silence during free agency has been speculation regarding his desire to sign as a backup and confusion about his possible asking price. Citing sources familiar with Kaepernick’s thinking, NFL Network’s Michael Silver reported Saturday that Kaepernick would be happy to suit up with the Ravens — even on a short-term basis — and the quarterback hasn’t discussed money with any teams since leaving the 49ers. On Thursday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned Kaepernick as a possible option for the team as quarterback Joe Flacco deals with a back injury. The next day, the Ravens signed arena league quarterback David Olson. Harbugh hinted Friday that Olson was signed because Flacco was merely day to day and could be back soon. “There’s been talk out there that he wants a lot of money. I am told that he has had zero discussions about money with any team since his opt-out from the 49ers. So that is not true,” Silver said on Inside Training Camp Live.“There is speculation that he may not want to play for the Ravens. That is also not true. Colin Kaepernickabsolutely would love to sign with the Baltimore Ravens. He feels like he has a great relationship with John Harbaugh, of course whose brother, Jim, was his coach in San Francisco. Greg Roman, his offensive coordinator in San Francisco, is the offensive coach with the Ravens.”

So Kaepernick is willing to do almost anything to sign with a team.

As the article suggest, Kaepernick will sign only short-term, and with no discussion of money. Further, he will play ANYWHERE.

But don’t think the fans will forgive him, at least according to Pro Football Talk:

Mike Silver of NFL Media reports that the Ravens “have heard from numerous fans regarding Kaepernick in the last couple of days, many staunchly opposed to his signing.” It’s hardly a surprise, given that Giants co-owner John Mara already has provided all anti-Kaepernick fans with the blueprint for shouting down a potential Kaepernick signing. “All my years being in the league, I never received more emotional mail from people than I did about that issue,” Mara said in May. “If any of your players ever do that, we are never coming to another Giants game. It wasn’t one or two letters. It was a lot. It’s an emotional, emotional issue for a lot of people, moreso than any other issue I’ve run into.” It’s impossible to know whether the fans from whom the Ravens have heard are only Ravens fans, or whether they are fans of other teams who simply want to see Kaepernick remain unemployed. Regardless, it’s no surprise that those who don’t want to see Kaepernick on an NFL team are trying to block it from happening at a time when it appears that it could.

Don’t think the NFL hasn’t noticed.

The ESPN article continues,

NFL game viewership on networks that broadcast games was down an average of 8 percent for the 2016 regular season versus the season before. Before the election (Nov. 8), games for the first nine weeks were down 14 percent compared to 2015. The final eight weeks saw only a drop of 1 percent compared to Weeks 10-17 in 2015.

These numbers are not insignificant. And if the NFL continues to allow stupid distractions like that of Kaepernick, they will find themselves on ESPN the Ocho.