NFL Floats Controversial Idea Of Implementing A 15-Yard Penalty For Kneeling Players

As most of you guys know, I’m a fairly big sports fan. I live for football season. I love the fall weather, pumpkin spice things, sweaters and the start of the NFL season.

Needless to say, it really bothered me to see so many players kneel during the national anthem last year. For starters, it’s disrespectful to the men and women who serve our country. In addition, they’re believing a lie. They really think they’re kneeling to protest “injustice” and “racism,” and that’s bull.

Sixty-eight percent of NFL players are black. Yep. Racism everywhere.

Even if they had a legitimate reason to kneel, there are other ways to protest. Ways that don’t involve disrespecting our men and women in uniform.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens next year. I’m really hoping it’s not an issue. I just want to enjoy football without political controversies ruining the game.

Will certain players continue to protest? Who knows.

That being said, I caught wind of this, and I think it’s pretty interesting. It will be INSANELY controversial if actually implemented.

Word has it they’re considering implementing a 15-yard penalty for players who kneel during the national anthem.

According to senior NFL reporter Albert Breer:

Per sources, one anthem idea being discussed: Leaving it up to home team on whether teams come out for the anthem; if teams do come out for the anthem, potential that teams could be assessed 15-yard penalties for kneeling.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 22, 2018

More from Sports Illustrated:

On Tuesday, NFL owners put three hours aside for a privileged session to speak—amongst themselves and family members—about the most sensitive of topics.

One was how the league will handle players kneeling during the national anthem going forward. An idea being floated in the room goes like this: It would be up to the home team on whether both teams come out of the locker room for the anthem, and, should teams come out, 15-yard penalties could be assessed for kneeling.

People aren’t feeling it.

“Hey, NFL. I have a brilliant idea!”
“What is it, Junior?”
“Let’s punish an off-field action unrelated to the game with an in-game penalty!”
“You’re fired.”

Even as a guy that doesn’t agree with kneeing during the anthem, this is a really stupid idea. Total idiocy. https://t.co/0Dx7eVtGX7

— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) May 22, 2018

In all seriousness, what happens? Does the pregame strategy become even more nuanced? Is there kneeling fake outs? What if player a goes to kneel so player b goes to kneel on the opposing team only to stand up at the last second?

— Amundjoy (@amund_joy) May 22, 2018

“15-yard penalty, failure to observe compulsory patriotism in a free country.” https://t.co/Vy5NceaEQi

— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) May 22, 2018

Is this a contest for the worst possible idea? https://t.co/zZU2fEL9Ob

— Jeremy White (@JeremyWGR) May 22, 2018

Imagine a room of billionaires deciding it makes more sense to literally change the rules of football than acknowledge that maybe police officers shouldn’t kill as many black people as they do https://t.co/OIu3AFOrNw

— August J. Pollak (@AugustJPollak) May 22, 2018

Is this the worst possible idea or can we come up with a worse one?

— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) May 22, 2018

I seriously doubt that idea will actually gain any traction, but the fact that it was even mentioned is worth, well, mentioning.

Steelers owner Art Rooney asked if there’s any consensus coming out of the anthem debate: “Still talking.”

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 22, 2018

Giants owner John Mara said there’ll more discussion on the national anthem/social justice topic in the morning.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 22, 2018

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the anthem debate: “We know our fans want us to zero in on football.”

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 22, 2018

Seriously. That’s all we really want.

h/t The Right Scoop