NFL Rejects Veteran Political Super Bowl LII Ad
The NFL rejected an ad submitted as a candidate to air during Super Bowl LII that requested that players “please stand”.
The NFL’s explanation on this is pretty simple, they don’t want to politicize the ad space around the Super Bowl for obvious reasons. More than half the NFL season was consumed with NFL player’s kneeling protests. The protests deeply divided fans and casual observers to the point where fans on both sides chose to boycott the league citing some combination of the protests and Colin Kaeperinck as their reason for not watching the league.
Conservative critics attacked the players for disrespecting the flag, police, and military. President Donald Trump used the protests to rattle his base against the NFL and kneeling players, stating the players should be fired, kicked out, fined, or disciplined in some way.
Liberals made free speech argument and noted that the cause for the protests was police brutality and inequality. Progressive and “woke” liberals boycotted the league citing Colin Kaepernick’s lack of employment in the league as a reason. Those boycotting felt that the quarterback was being black balled by the league and the league wanted to stifle and control black players, and would not return to the game until Kaepernick was employed.
The league’s stance on this ad submission makes perfect sense, as it is an attempt to focus as much attention as possible on the game, and filter out much of the noise that may have been the cause for falling ratings.
Conservative groups, including the AMVETS will make an argument about their 1st Amendment rights and the stifling of free speech by the NFL, but please all lets remember that the NFL and it’s affiliate organizations are corporations not affiliated with the government and therefore have the right to control how their product is messaged and viewed.
The NFL is not violating the AMVETS rights to free speech because the NFL is not the government and they have full authority to approve or disapprove any ad that plays during the game for any reason.
A group representing thousands of America’s veterans says the NFL “censored” an ad the group wanted to run in the programs sold at next month’s Super Bowl.
The ad targeted football players for protesting during the national anthem.
AMVETS National Commander Marion Polk tweeted Monday night that the group “will not tolerate” the NFL’s censorship after the group says the football organization refused to print an ad urging players to “#PleaseStand” during the Feb. 4 championship game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
The ad, which can be viewed on the group’s website, depicts three service members holding the American flag next to the text “#PleaseStand.” The group planned for the ad to be printed in the programs passed out to fans attending the game.
In an open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dated Monday, Polk blasted the league for using soldiers and military vehicles as “props” during games while refusing to air the ad from AMVETS.
“Mr. Goodell, veterans are good for more than just military flyovers, photo opportunities during halftime, or props to sell camouflage-style NFL apparel,” Polk wrote.
“Our ad is neither a demand nor judgment upon those who choose to kneel during our National Anthem,” Polk added. “It’s a simple, polite request that represents the sentiment of our membership, particularly those whose missing or paralyzed limbs preclude standing.”
Steve
Steve is an affordable multifamily housing professional that is also the co-founder of Whiskey Congress. Steve has written for national publications such as The National Marijuana News and other outlets as a guest blogger on topics covering sports, politics, and cannabis. Steve loves whiskey, cigars, and uses powerlifting as an outlet to deal with the fact that no one listens to his brilliant ideas.