Football players are hired to do a job. Play football. If they are good at it they are valued. If not they are probably let go. If some of them choose to kneel during a PRE-GAME period how does that affect their ability to do the job for which they were hired? I don't understand why there is a problem. Can someone please explain it to me politely?
The NFL’s game operations manual says the national anthem “must be played prior to every NFL game” and that “all players must be on the sideline” for it. Failure to do so “may result in discipline.”
The manual also says that while the anthem is being performed, “players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand and refrain from talking.”
you can view the complete 2017 NFL Rulebook here.)
While the rulebook does not discuss the national anthem, it is mentioned explicitly in the NFL’s game operations manual, according to Time.
A league spokesman listed the passage to Time, and it appears to be the same one that was either falsely or erroneously attributed to the rulebook.