![]() “The NFL and NFLPA reflect the great values of America, which are repeatedly demonstrated by the many players doing extraordinary work in communities across our country to promote equality, fairness and justice,” the statement continued. “No new rules relating to the anthem will be issued or enforced for the next several weeks while these confidential discussions are ongoing.” “In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue, we have come to a standstill agreement on the NFLPA’s grievance and on the NFL’s anthem policy,” a statement from the NFL read. The policy was met by a challenge last week from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), which filed a grievance against the NFL over the policy which is widely unpopular with players. The NFL implemented the policy this spring following widespread player protests last season, which drew criticism from Trump. Trump’s tweet comes after the league announced Thursday it would freeze its newly implemented policy requiring players to remain standing while the anthem played at games. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay! The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again – can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!” Trump wrote. “The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again – can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. Many players have knelt during the anthem to protest policy brutality and racism. Trump, noting Goodell’s potential $40 million a year salary, tweeted that the NFL commissioner must “make a stand” and suspend players for a game or the entire season if they continue to kneel. The notable media names on that list are Warner, who broadcasts Monday Night Football games on Westwood One, and Sanders, a long-time analyst on NFL Network.President Trump singled out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a tweet on Friday, calling on the football executive to further punish players who protest at games by kneeling during the national anthem. In addition to Dickerson, the letter was signed by Marcus Allen, Mel Blount, Derrick Brooks, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Richard Dent, Carl Eller, Marshall Faulk, Mike Haynes, Rickey Jackson, Ronnie Lott, Curtis Martin, Joe Namath, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jackie Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Kurt Warner, and Sarah White (Reggie White’s widow). While the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t technically part of the NFL, the two are intertwined and the NFL would still look bad if some of the best players ever refused to show up for an induction ceremony. The players noted that they will not attend next year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which would fall under the NFL’s 100th anniversary. For instance, a baseball player who spends one day in the majors gets health insurance for the rest of their life, while someone on a roster for 43 days gets a pension. ![]() The board also cites other sports who provide health insurance and pensions to players. Why should *only* Hall of Famers be eligible, instead of the ordinary joe that did his job in the league for a decade and retired without honors? While the letter is all well and good, limiting it to Hall of Famers instead of all former players damages much of the impact of the letter. The board estimates that health insurance would cost less than $4 million per year, and considering Goodell makes over $40 million a year and a 30 second Super Bowl commercial costs slightly more than $4 million, they consider that to be “a drop in the bucket.” The letter notes that health insurance for living Hall of Famers wouldn’t cost much in comparison to how much money the league makes. In many cases, and despite the fact that we were led to believe otherwise, we sacrificed our minds.” To build this game, we sacrificed our bodies. As a group we are struggling with severe health and financial problems. They see us honored and mythologized before games and at halftime, and it would be reasonable if they thought life was good for us. “People know us from our highlight reels.
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