That said, when players began disrespecting the national anthem, I figured the kneeling would hurt ratings as NFL fans of my acquaintance tend to be "small p" patriots, even if they aren't Boston fans. It had exactly that effect.
Now ESPN reports the owners association has promulgated new rules for the next season.
NFL owners have unanimously approved a new national anthem policy that requires players to stand if they are on the field during the performance but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer, it was announced Wednesday.With the near universal presence of video cams, you can bet there will be those who pore over pre-game images to determine and publicize who remained behind in the locker room. Such negative publicity will, at minimum, hurt abstaining players' endorsement earnings. Maybe their free agent chances too.
If more than a few players choose the late-entry option, it's likely TV ratings and ticket sales will continue to sag. The owners face an ironic dilemma, one with no obvious solutions. Many of their players don't like the fans and that feeling is somewhat reciprocated.
