XPost: alt.politics.usa, alt.tv.pol-incorrect, alt.sports.football.pro
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, alt.sports.football.nfl

As President Donald Trump continues to chastise NFL players who
kneel in protest during the national anthem before games, some
football fans are wondering: Does the NFL league rulebook require
players to stand for the anthem? A viral Facebook post referencing
section a62 63 of the rulebook claims it does.

Before we verify or debunk that claim, it's important to know that
NFL football games are governed by multiple codes of conduct. One is
the NFL rulebook; another is the NFL game operations manual. The
rulebook is concerned with in-game actions by players and coaches
(like scoring, penalties, challenges and so on), whereas the game-
operations manual dictates how NFL games should be run in the
bigger-picture organizational sense.

"The league’s Game Operations Department uses the manual to govern
the conduct of home clubs, to ensure they protect players and
provide the conditions for a fair and fan-friendly contest," reads
the NFL's website. "Clubs face warnings and other penalties for
noncompliance."

The NFL rulebook makes no mention of the national anthem. But the
game operations manual does.

Here's what the game operations manual says regarding the national
anthem, according to an NFL spokesperson:

The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL
game, and all players must be on the sideline for the
National Anthem.

During the National Anthem, players on the field and
bench area should stand at attention, face the flag,
hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking.
The home team should ensure that the American flag is
in good condition. It should be pointed out to players
and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public
in this area of respect for the flag and our country.
Failure to be on the field by the start of the National
Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions,
and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations
of the above, including first offenses.

It's important to note the use of the word "may" here. The NFL is
not considering punishing fines on players or teams who choose to
kneel or stay in the locker room during the national anthem, the
spokesperson says.

--
Dems & the media want Trump to be more like Obama, but then he'd
have to audit liberals & wire tap reporters' phones.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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