NFL endorses criminal-justice reform bill in the midst of anthem debate

[Eleazar]

NFL endorses criminal-justice reform bill in the midst of anthem debate

By Karoun Demirjian and Beth Reinhard
The Washington Post
October 16



The National Football League, still in political crosshairs over whether players should take a knee during the national anthem, is throwing its weight behind another cause in Washington’s debate over racial inequality: criminal justice reform.

The NFL’s spokesman said on Monday that the league has decided to endorse a bipartisan bill to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenders, eliminate “three-strike” provisions that require life sentences and give judges more latitude to reduce sentences for certain low-level crimes.

“We felt that this was an issue over the last months, as we have continued to work with our players on issues of equality and on issues of criminal justice reform, that was surfaced for us, and we thought it was appropriate to lend our support to it,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said Monday during a conference call with reporters.

The owners appear to be seeking middle ground between football players and their critics during a heated national debate over the growing phenomenon of players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. It is not clear what effect the NFL’s effort will have on that debate — or on President Trump, who has fueled much of the vitriol against kneeling players through his personal and official Twitter accounts.

...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/power...=.1f86c6a1bf32

So, hoping to curry favor with the players who are kneeling, the NFL is endorsing a piece of soft-on-crime legislation. The optics of that are amusing.

Goodell's winking and nodding at the kneeling players will probably just encourage them to take it further, not make them respect the country again. The NFL will not be better off for bowing to them. Look at Mizzou.

The NFL doesn't seem to understand what's happening here at all. Fans do not want the NFL to be political. Fans are not going to be amused by Roger Goodell wading into politics. ESPN has already made this mistake by becoming another politicized media outlet... it's fascinating that Goodell thinks the way to resolve the fan ire over this conflict is to make the NFL more political.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I'm going to guess that the street gangs and drug dealers that currently have devoted their lives to running this particular criminal enterprise would not all of a sudden enroll in college if it were gone. They'd simply take to other types of crime.

Yes, most likely. Most people are selling drugs because it is a quick way to large sums of money. If you take that away they will find something else that is a quick way to large sums of money. That would most likely be something illegal.

You should not end up in jail for being a user though in my opinion. Treatment is a much better use of the resources we put into that.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by ARROW2

they are not disrespecting a damn thing and have said as much. You stop watching football because of some shit you don't even see? I have the ticket and never see the anthem, the game just comes on. Silly ass shit to not watch because somebody doesn't stand for the anthem. I am watching my damn football. Sports has always been an escape for me. It's not like players are making political speeches before games. Every time this dies down, the divider in chief pipes up when he should be focusing on his own job.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

The way I understood it, the purpose of this meeting was to try and find some sort of compromise, that while not completely satisfying everyone, would at least try to address some of everyones concerns

Doesnt look like that happened at all

Not only will players be allowed to kneel, but now the NFL is going to become an official political lobbying organization for them... and everyone on the other side of this can pound sand

Signing their own death knell. Fools. Politics divides. It's not the way to go for a commercial interest.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Cochise

My idea -

NFL lobbies with TV networks not to televise it, and in their future TV contracts write in provisions saying the networks will not show players who are in disrespectful poses. They never used to televise the anthem anyway, except the super bowl or whatever. Just go back to that.

Players can do whatever they feel. They have freedom of expression.

Owners can write "no kneeling" into future contracts if they want to. But viewers won't be seeing it, and it will blow over in time.

Or maybe the POTUS should issue a commendation to the players kneeling before the flag, saying that he is moved by their show of patriotism and that he's going to sign an executive order declaring kneeling before the flag a high form of respect, acceptable in all situations, and equal to a salute or standing at attention.

Missed the point.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Yeah. Here's my proposal: leave your politics out of the workplace.

Is that simple enough for you to follow?

Missed the point.

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

What's so laughable is these idiots thinking they're actually going to change anything.


Yeah! Congress will change prison laws since some football players sent them a letter!

This is more along the lines of what I was getting at. What they're doing isn't going to do anything to stop systemic racism. It's largely out of the control of Joe football fan and Joe stuck in traffic because protesters are blocking the freeway. All they're doing is pissing people off.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Stinky Nuts McGee

This is more along the lines of what I was getting at. What they're doing isn't going to do anything to stop systemic racism. It's largely out of the control of Joe football fan and Joe stuck in traffic because protesters are blocking the freeway. All they're doing is pissing people off.

But hey man, they can say they DID something. They knelt during the National Anthem. I mean that is getting shit done.

Meanwhile Chris Long donated 10 game checks to charity (and has already donated his previous 6) and doesn't kneel for the Anthem.

PHILADELPHIA -- Chris Long is donating the rest of his year's salary to increase educational equality.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end already gave up his first six game checks to provide two scholarships for students in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. Now, he's using the next 10 to launch the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign.

"My wife and I have been passionate about education being a gateway for upward mobility and equality," Long told the Associated Press. "I think we can all agree that equity in education can help effect change that we all want to see in this country."

I cant wait to see how many of these kneeling players follow suit.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

The way I understood it, the purpose of this meeting was to try and find some sort of compromise, that while not completely satisfying everyone, would at least try to address some of everyones concerns

Doesnt look like that happened at all

Not only will players be allowed to kneel, but now the NFL is going to become an official political lobbying organization for them... and everyone on the other side of this can pound sand

Nonsense. I'm looking forward to November being right to life month and December maybe support the 2nd amendment month.

[nychief]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Nonsense. I'm looking forward to November being right to life month and December maybe support the 2nd amendment
month.

Straw man argument. Like the "soon people will be marrying turtles" argument over same sex marriage. Silly and unhelpful.

[Bob Dole]

The NFL has yet to contact me. I'd like to discuss my inequality relative to everyone employed by the NFL.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

The way I understood it, the purpose of this meeting was to try and find some sort of compromise, that while not completely satisfying everyone, would at least try to address some of everyones concerns

Doesnt look like that happened at all

Not only will players be allowed to kneel, but now the NFL is going to become an official political lobbying organization for them... and everyone on the other side of this can pound sand

I disagree. I think the outcome of the meeting will eventually lead to this thing gradually going away in a lot of ways. Players will gradually stop kneeling. And the NFL will control the message of the protest instead of dozens of players chirping about it every chance they get. I think players are gradually trying to distance themselves from Kaepernick already. But that's not going to happen if Goodell and the owners force it on them. It'll get some players to reluctantly stand but it won't get them to shut up.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Signing their own death knell. Fools. Politics divides. It's not the way to go for a commercial interest.

They're kind of stuck now, though. The toothpaste came out of the tube when they tacitly supported Kap.

They should've done what the NBA has done, send out a league wide memo reminding players of the leagues expectations and make that the end of it.

But Goodell is a foaming LWNJ who struggled to explain to his children why Trump was elected.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by nychief

Straw man argument. Like the "soon people will be marrying turtles" argument over same sex marriage. Silly and unhelpful.

Bullshit. I guarantee you a good number of players would support those months, just as a number support Kap.

I suggest you look up the word "strawman", you clearly don't know what it means.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

They're kind of stuck now, though. The toothpaste came out of the tube when they tacitly supported Kap.

They should've done what the NBA has done, send out a league wide memo reminding players of the leagues expectations and make that the end of it.

But Goodell is a foaming LWNJ who struggled to explain to his children why Trump was elected.

He's a Republican, dumbass.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Fish

Meh. Like you said, hardcore fans are going to watch regardless. Let's not forget that the NFL has been dealing with a drop in ratings for many years straight. I don't think the fans angry at the anthem protests have anything close to the leverage they think they do. The majority don't care enough to change their actual viewing habits. Idiots burning season tickets have already paid for those tickets.

In reality, the majority of the NFL's income is through their television deals. A few years ago, the NFL signed deals with networks for the next 9 years. So their income over that time period isn't much affected by the current dip in ratings. They're still by far the most powerful sports entity.

I'm not going to disagree that hardcore fans aren't going to stop watching, but I'd say the intermediate fan certainly will, and they'll probably refrain from buying gear. What this might do is open the market for less-authentic gear.

And what's certainly not going to end are the taunts of players who continue to protest during the anthem.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You don't think there are victims of drug abuse? Seriously?

Do you have any idea the absolute mess that Meth has made of communities?

Are you aware the all time murder rate high in this country was caused by the crack epidemic? Do you think if crack had been legal that wouldn't have happened? Horseshit.

Murders skyrocketed when alcohol was made illegal.
Posted via Mobile Device

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Fish

He's a Republican, dumbass.

To be fair, he purports to be, just like John McCain, and we all know John McCain is either not a Republican, or a traitor to his party.

But Roger is in a tough spot, his primamadonna employees are liberals and he needs them more than they need him.