The National Football League has come down solidly on the side of cowardice and jingoism. Don’t be surprised. Even as some teams initially took tentative steps toward respecting the silent protests of some players not one team was willing to give Colin Kaepernick a job. Despite so many teams desperately needing backups or even starters, not one team was willing to give him a job.
Let’s be clear: This protest is not against the flag, patriotism, the military, or those who serve in the military. This protest is against racial injustice and racist violence. This protest is for basic equality and human rights. It’s no surprise that despicable politicians and an always weak and compliant major media apparatus would misrepresent that message. And it’s no surprise that to the NFL crass demonstrations of pseudo-patriotism are just another way to make money.
But let’s also be clear about who and what the NFL is. Besides a long history of ignoring the medical proof that this billion dollar industry’s on field participants suffer chronic brain damage, the league consistently demonstrates that it is just fine with explicit racism. The proof is right there in the nickname and logo of the team that plays in this nation’s capital. And every media outlet that refers to or publishes images of the Washington, DC football team’s nickname without calling it racist is complicit in this racism. And every commentator or reporter that refers to or publishes images of the Washington football team’s nickname without calling it racist is complicit in this racism.
No one should kid themselves. The NFL loves its money. Don’t expect it to care about anything else.