In my opinion, the title of the post and many of the comments suffer from factual inaccuracies and/or ignorance of relevant additional facts.

First off, the claim that Colin Kaepernick doesn't want to talk about issues is completely wrong. He has explicitly stated that his goal is to bring attention to social issues he's concerned about in his country, and to encourage and participate in a conversation about those issues. (See the video posted below.)

As an example of Kaepernick's willingness to participate in discussion -- which also happens to address the accusations that his behavior disrespects the military -- he invited a former NFL player who was also a veteran to meet with him for a lengthy discussion about his protest shortly after it started. When the veteran voiced his concern that sitting during the flag ceremony was disrespectful to veterans and the country, that is when Colin began kneeling, which the veteran had explained to him is a sign of respect. http://www.snopes.com/veteran-kaepern...

Further, police brutality and oppression of black people are some of the issues Kaepernick is protesting, but they are not the only ones. He is a thoughtful person, and says repeatedly that he wants freedom and justice for all people. He also says he is protesting unfair treatment of veterans by our government, and the corrupt two-party political system of our country: https://youtu.be/ARXQCFRmexY?t=16m27s

The history and purpose of the flag and military ceremonies at football games is also interesting. "Before 2009, football players standing for the national anthem wasn’t even a thing. The teams stayed in the locker room until after “and the hoooome of the braaaave,” and then ran onto the field. No one was offended, and no one was on cable news eliciting tears from disrespected military families. But then, the Department of Defense and the National Guard got involved. They began to pay the NFL millions of dollars to have ostentatious flag ceremonies before games... Americans deserve the ability to assume that tributes for our men and women in military uniform are genuine displays of national pride, which many are, rather than taxpayer-funded DOD marketing gimmicks." https://lawnewz.com/high-profile/here...

I may not agree with Kaepernick on everything he believes, but I respect his desire to peacefully encourage a dialogue about social issues he feels strongly about, and his willingness to be true to his convictions.

Well said mccann01. puzzlelady mentions admiration, respect, gratitude, and appreciation. These are all synonyms for the Pride I feel for belonging to the United States of America. I have lived and worked in many foreign countries in my 70 years. I have NOT experienced any better than here. I will continue to honor the flag and the anthem. Some may simply be too self centered to understand.

The older I get I keep finding it more difficult to
recognize the America where I was born,raised and
grew up!

The NFL Game Operations Manual, as was stated. It is distributed to every team and is the standard policy for how the games should be organized and provided for. It covers everything except the onfield rules.

Smoke and mirrors...
This is the beginning of division. You are only a pawn, and you are charging head long into the deception! Good luck to your future! Better start worrying about yourself and not what others think.

If you are commenting on this... Check your Brain!

Shut this OFF!

Hi, puzzlelady, just my opinion:

I don't look upon standing for the National Anthem and saluting the flag in large public venues as "patriotic indoctrination". I do it out of respect and admiration for the Constitutional Republic I am fortunate enough to be living in and to show gratitude and appreciation towards those who preceded me and made the Republic possible.

When the Stars and Stripes, which symbolizes that Republic, is finally thrown down and a hammer and sickle hoisted in its place, then I will change my tune. At that time, however, with a bayonet in the backside forcing our attention all will discover the true meaning of "patriotic indoctrination".

What's the source for this? The 2017 NFL Rules Book does not address the subject.

I am not entitled to pride in anything I have not earned. What I can feel for others' objectively worthwhile accomplishment is admiration, respect, even gratitude and appreciation. Only second-handers bask in the success of their favorite football team.

Do you have any pride in anything other than yourself

As I recall from days of old, the vanquished would kneel before the conqueror......
kneel knaves and submit yourself to those of us that honor the American Flag and its Anthem.
Until you submit, you are not worthy to stand in its presence.......KNEEL before the Flag of the United States of America.
And this includes the Monica Lewinsky wannabe types doing this ignorant crap in congress.

If this is correct about NFL Code of Conduct rules, it should not have been more than a footnote in the paper about a few players being fired for misconduct. But I quit watching football years ago when players confessed to and were convicted of fixing games were not banned from playing ever again. Which is also in that Code of Conduct book. They have become leeches on our society, time to remind them of ethics.

Thank you my friend. I considered serving a privilege and an honor. To read your words confirms it. Thank you.

Separate sport and state.

Why play the National Anthem and wave the flag at all before a sports entertainment event? Because a large audience is available for patriotic indoctrination? Is a football game symbolic of war and emotionally laden to condition fans to crave conflict and to support the war agenda of the government? The game is the epitome of enshrining enmities and taking sides and the glory of conquest. Is it significant that all the other comments here are by men?

Will we eventually be forced to play the National Anthem before all public and private entertainments, movies, concerts, tournaments? How about making everyone kneel in reverence and submission and declare that as the required gesture of national loyalty? (Handicapped individuals exempt, of course.)

It's still centralized mind control, in whatever guise.

It's time to separate sport and state.

I was so disgusted with the sheep mentality of the Cowboys, formerly America's Team, that I watched only part, rooted for them to lose, and threw out my Dallas pillow! I will never see the the same again. To see Jerry Jones give in to such liberal garbage and make such a fool of himself, saying they were standing in solidarity with other teams was ridiculous. Texas used to be about individualism when I lived there. These morons don't even have the same issue, except anti-Trump, anti-America - about which they are ignorant.

+++++++++

You can bet that would dramatically affect this entire debate. I would go so far as to say that if the NFL were to take such an action, this entire thing would disappear overnight and any individual players who continued to take such actions would similarly get penalized from playing - where it hurts their pocketbooks.

I have talked all I want to on the subject of racial inequality. Its been overworked.

Trump is battling PC, though, which is his right if he wants to. Tweeting takes little time. I have thought organized sports has gone beyond the line for awhile now. Too many decisions are based on money for it to be interesting to a fan now. This is the beginning of the end of the sports excesses I think.

Trump didnt realize that the swamp is infested with Repubs as well as Dems, and the reason Obamacare is still here is because of the money that Obama tossed out at the medical establishment and the free healthcare to the socialists. Now, the swamp has embraced this money and doesnt want to lose it. Obamacare will crash and be replaced by medicaid for everyone until the country crashes like the other socialist countries.

All Trump can do is slow this progression down for 4 years.

I didn't serve, so I haven't earned the right to salute you. But I do so anyway, as it's the best way to agree with you. Thank you.

Wouldn't it be fun to watch if this rule is actually enforced? It would be so entertaining if the NFL announces something like this: "The Pittsburgh Steelers forfeit their game against [fill in the opponent] because their entire team has been suspended one game for violating the rules surrounding the playing of the National Anthem."

the players also cant wear BEATS headphones, because the NFL gets money from BOSE. So much for first amendment.

Its a business and has customers who pay to get what they want, and wont pay if they dont get what they want. These players seem to forget that

They also are making millions for essentially being ghetto entitled blacks with minimal physical talent. They should be thankful for that, and not insult the very customers who make all that possible.

football IS inconsequential in the scheme of things. Its gives people a chance to either think about nothing, or possibly just take a break. That said, its supposed to be fun, not something filled with constant commercials and obvious attention to the NFL and the entitled players making millions. I agree- boycott is the way to change things.