By Heath Kalb ’18

Political debates on

the football field intensified late September as President Trump criticized a growing number of athletes for kneeling during the National Anthem at NFL games. The resulting protests and discourse have thrown a new spotlight on how patriotism, rights to protest and freedom of speech all intertwine on the gridiron.

Players unified in week three of the NFL season after Trump ranted in Alabama about the disrespectful nature of the protests. On multiple occasions, teams locked arms with the coaches and owners on the field during the anthem. With the exception of one player who later regretted his decision, the whole Pittsburgh Steelers stayed inside the locker room.  Players unified in week three of the NFL season after Trump ranted in Alabama about the disrespectful nature of the protests. On multiple occasions, teams locked arms with the coaches and owners on the field during the anthem. With the exception of one player who later regretted his decision, the whole Pittsburgh Steelers stayed inside the locker room.

The current NFL protests got its start in last year’s week three San Francisco 49ers game when quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem. Kaepernick kneeled during every national anthem in the 2016 season, and numerous other athletes soon followed.

Kaepernick and the other athletes state that they will not stand for the anthem as they believe that African Americans and other minorities have been discriminated against and oppressed, citing examples such as the multitude of police shootings within the African American community. They assert that justice was not served.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said during an August 2016 press conference.

Kaepernick is currently a free agent and has remained unsigned even through months of players publicly saying he has the talent to have a roster spot somewhere. Beliefs around the NFL community state that he is still a free agent due to NFL owners’ hesitance to sign him, not because of his ability as a player. On Oct. 15 Kaepernick filed a grievance against NFL owners for collusion, according to his attorney, Mark Gerago because of his belief that NFL owners will not sign him solely because he is notorious for his protests.

Since Kaepernick first took a knee and protests have spread throughout the league, the NFL has had a large ratings and income loss. According to Nielsen data obtained by Sporting News, the league’s average TV audience through Week five of the 2017 season dropped 7 percent versus the same period of the 2016 season, and down 18 percent compared to the first five weeks of the 2015 season. Since Kaepernick first took a knee and protests have spread throughout the league, the NFL has had a large ratings and income loss. According to Nielsen data obtained by Sporting News, the league’s average TV audience through Week five of the 2017 season dropped 7 percent versus the same period of the 2016 season, and down 18 percent compared to the first five weeks of the 2015 season.

President Trump’s consistent remarks surrounding the players are said to be the reasoning for the NFL’s current loss of popularity. On Sept. 22 Trump said, “owners should get those SOB’s off the field.” On numerous occasions he has also said how he believes NFL owners should release any player who “disrespects the flag” and how fans should boycott the league.

Outside of football, the first MLB player to take a knee during the anthem was Oakland Athletic Bruce Maxwell on September 23. The NBA has a rule saying every player must stand during the anthem. Nevertheless, on multiple occasions teams have locked arms throughout the preseason.

While no West Essex football player has taken a knee or protested in any other way, head coach and US History teacher Mr. Benacquista said he respects his players’ First Amendment rights to peacefully protest; he added, however, that there are circumstances where protesting could invite controversy and make people lose sight of the game. “I worry about distractions to the team and protests being carried out for the wrong reasons,” he said. “I would talk to the players first and make sure that the reasons for the protest were clear and understood.

“Protesting for a legitimate cause is great and is what makes America such an amazing country,” Mr. Benacquista said. “Protesting without a cause can bring unwarranted backlash and perhaps do more harm than good.” “Protesting for a legitimate cause is great and is what makes America such an amazing country,” Mr. Benacquista said. “Protesting without a cause can bring unwarranted backlash and perhaps do more harm than good.”

Even though no West Essex football player has hinted at protesting, various students throughout the school have differing opinions on the matter.

“I find it disrespectful what these players are doing,” senior Ben Ruvo said. “That being said, the president’s response hasn’t been perfect by any means,” he said.   “I find it disrespectful what these players are doing,” senior Ben Ruvo said. “That being said, the president’s response hasn’t been perfect by any means,” he said.

“Any player who wants to protest should,” junior Kunal Bhatnager said. “They have the right to and people shouldn’t disdain them for it.”  “Any player who wants to protest should,” junior Kunal Bhatnager said. “They have the right to and people shouldn’t disdain them for it.”