Roger Goodell has a plan for dealing with the NFL’s national anthem problem: Try to make everyone stand. Please. Please.
Goodell, in a letter released to owners and chief executives from all 32 franchises on Tuesday, made the league’s position clear enough; players should not protest anything during the anthem.
Over the first five weeks of the NFL season, what started last season as a way for Colin Kaepernick to highlight racial injustice and police brutality has gotten hijacked and muddled beyond recognition. Now, with an assist from President Donald Trump, it’s become a debate over free speech and the nature of protesting the anthem overall.