Alejandro Villanueva with his hand over his heart before a NFL game
The former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick just signed a deal with Nike that will “rival those other top NFL players” according to the New York Times who spoke with people close to the negotiations. As you may recall Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee when the national Anthem was playing at the start of pro football games. Nike will also donate money to Kaepernicks’ campaign. This is likely to annoy the league’s top executives and owners. In March, Nike and the N.F.L. announced an extension of an apparel deal through 2028. As part of that deal, Nike supplies 32 teams with game-day uniforms and sideline apparel that features the company’s swoosh logo.
Kaepernick inspired other NFL players to take a knee during the anthem which was not taken lightly by veterans and police officers. In an article by nfl.com Kaepernick stated “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 told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
Kaepernick was also seen wearing socks with pigs and police hats on them. According to CBS sports.com Kaepernick said he was making a statement, “because rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust. I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and work to protect and serve ALL people. So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately.” You can read that article here.
Kaepernick stated “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 told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
However two of the largest veteran organizations in the US are condemning the players’ actions. Denise Rohan, the national commander of the American Legion, said in a statement that professional athletes and others who do not respect the national anthem are “misguided and ungrateful.” Last season one NFL player for the Pittsburg Steelers, Alejandro Villanueva, broke from the rest of the team and stood outside with his hand over his heart during the national anthem. He was chastised by some of his team mates for doing so.
In an article by The Hill.com Denise Rohan stated, “We salute Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva, who stood alone respecting the flag as his teammates stayed in their locker room.”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) likewise saluted Villanueva for “showing the rest of his team and the league what true mettle is.”
“I stand for our flag and anthem, and I kneel for our fallen,” VFW national commander Keith Harman said in a statement. “That’s what patriots do. We rally around the flag of our country, not use it and our Constitution as both shield and sword.”
“There is a time and place for civil debate, and wearing team jerseys,” he said, “and using sporting events to disrespect our country doesn’t wash with millions of military veterans who have and continue to wear real uniforms on real battlefields around the globe.”
In the past some NFL team owners came to the defense of the protesters saying they had the right to do so under the first amendment. However since that time the NFL has seen a decline in revenue due to everyday citizens not agreeing with the NFL players and owners.
Like oil and water, a number of sources reveal overall viewership was down 10 percent. International Journalism review, citing several advertising sources, says Sunday Night Football was the biggest loser, dropping nearly 2.2 million viewers. Monday Night Football, which has slid for years and is the ‘weakest’ of the prime-time games, dropped from 12.3 million average viewers to 10.9. You can read the article here.
Due to increasing pressure and loss of revenue the NFL tried to institute a no kneel policy. In May of 2018 the NFL announced that teams would be fined if all of their players did not stand for the national anthem but did offer a compromise stating that players could stay inside the locker room. However in July the NFL announced it was halting its policy so they can negotiate terms with the NFL Players association.
Since this started Kaepernick has become a free agent and has not been signed by any NFL teams.
With the NFL season right around the corner it remains to be seen how this new controversy with Nike will affect the NFL.
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