Goodell Ignoring His Own NFL Rules

[Decus]

The NFL Rule Book is approximately 90 pages long. According to the NFL their Game Operations Manual is some 200 pages long and players must follow those rules also:

"The NFL Football Operations “bible” is the Game Operations Manual — nearly 200 pages of procedures and policy for regular season games alone."
.......
"The NFL’s Game Operations Manual covers virtually every facet of the game and game preparation — from where visiting teams work out the day before the game to the number of towels (600) and pounds of ice (500) that the home team must provide in the visiting team’s locker room."

League Governance | NFL Football Operations

The OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE are not the same as the Game Operations Manual but include additional rules players must follow. According to Time magazine one of the Game Operations Manual rules states:

"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."

Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?

Sorry, you can't just declare "document X says Y" and then not be able to document it.

That document has been linked here already too. And it simply does not contain that passage, and it's not the rule book which is what the OP cited, and even if the passage did exist it would not articulate a "rule" that the Commissioner "ignores" --- which is what the OP also asserted.

So it doesn't work from any angle.

Moreover --- and this has already been pointed out too ---- if such existed it would amount to an operation using TWO (2) rule books. Matter of fact the link from NFL Operations --- which is a public PR splash --- contains a link TO that same rule book already cited and linked. And the national anthem continues to not be in there.

And you'll notice that the fictitious passage is preceded by "according to an NFL spokesperson" --- who has no name. And every page I've seen with this same story cites this "according to NFL spokesperson" with no name.

According to a Klingon spokesperson I just talked to, Earth is now a colony. I didn't get his name though.

Show me the section in the Rules Book that pertains to subjects like: "the number of towels (600) and pounds of ice (500)" or the number and type of emergency personnel required for each game that the NFL says is covered in their Game Operations Manual. I read the NFL Rules Book and its not there.

Again the NFL clearly states that their Game Operations Manual is one of 3 (three) manuals and covers:

"The Game Operations Manual is one of the league’s three comprehensive policy manuals for member clubs — the other two are for administrative and business operations, and media and public relations — and, by necessity, it is often military-like in its precision and astonishing in its thoroughness."
......
"The league adds items to the manual to try to prepare for any event that could affect a game. To protect players, the manual dictates the number and type of medical personnel required for each game. To ensure competitive equity, it guarantees that teams have equal access to communication tools. And to ensure equity across the league, the manual specifies the exact pylons, sideline chain sets and locations of game and play clocks."

League Governance | NFL Football Operations

If you can't show me where towels, ice and types of emergency personnel are covered in the Rules book, please have the decency to admit that "policy manuals for member clubs" are not game rules.

.
.

I NEVER CLAIMED that subjects like: "the number of towels (600) and pounds of ice (500)" or the number and type of emergency personnel required for each game is covered in their Game Operations Manual. YOUR LINK said that.

I don't know that this operations manual exists at all, and neither do you, or if it does exist what's actually in it. It's not a public document, and it's not what was linked in the page from "NFL Operations" -- which is clearly a public document and does not call itself an "operations manual".

You're arguing with your own link here.

"Show me where it says" is exactly what I've been saying since POST TWO. And no one can do it.

Your argument hinges on your claim that a Game Operations Manual doesn't exist - the only document that exists is the NFL Rule Book.

The NFL states on its website that a Game Operations Manual exists and that it covers things like ice, towels and types of medical personnel.

Can you agree that a Game Operations Manual exists or is the NFL lying?

.

Give it up.

'at least 3 posters have slapped him silly on this topic, and all they've done is hurt their hands.

He's wrong, he probably knows he's wrong, but he'll never admit it.

Lost cause

Sadly I have to agree with you.

.

 

[hjmick]

Looks like Goodell needs to be fined as well as the players:

Roger Goodell Ignoring League's Own Rule Book in Letting Players Protest America
news.grabien.com

At the risk of fines and suspensions, the NFL requires players on the field during the anthem, standing


NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is such a stickler for adhering to the intricacies of the NFL's league rule book that he infamously waged a years-long, multi million-dollar battle with the New England Patriots trying to prove that balls used in the 2014 AFC championship between the Pats and the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated.

After a federal vacated Goodell's four-game suspension of Tom Brady, Goodell appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; by 2016, the Pats appeared to lose their will to keep fighting the case and eventually accepted the penalty (Brady's four game suspension, $1 million fine, and the loss of two draft picks).

Yet the NFL commissioner, notorious for his unusually massive compensation package -- rumored to be north of $40 million/year, making his total compensation of $156 million higher than Tom Brady's -- is taking a decidedly less fastidious approach to the rules governing the national anthem at NFL games.

The NFL rule book specifically requires both teams appear on the field for the playing of the anthem, standing, remaining quiet, and holding their helmets in their left hands. Failure to do so can result in fines, suspensions, and the loss of draft picks.

The rules are found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual:

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.
Roger Goodell Ignoring League's Own Rule Book in Letting Players Protest America​

BULLSHIT.

The NFL (now, as of a few years ago once the Pentagon Pimp money came in) requires teams to be on the field. It does NOT require them to stand. You've been played by an internet fake meme.

>> You may have seen this fake excerpt shared on social media about a NFL rule pertaining to the national anthem:

“The specific NFL rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the league rulebook. It states: 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 result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”

The exceprt being shared on social media is not in the NFL’s 2017 Official Playing Rules. Pages 62 and 63 actually contain information about the enforcement of fouls.

In fact, the rulebook doesn’t mention the national anthem at all. The only section that might relate to this situation is in regards to “Personal Messages” found on page 23, article 8.

The rule about personal messages states:

“Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League.”

You can view the complete 2017 NFL Rulebook here. << (WGN-TV)

​

Actually from reading this passage it would appear the players are prohibited from displaying a political message --- which means they should be completely ignoring the national anthem.

You're correct, it is not in the NFL rule book. It is found in the Game Operations Manual on pages A62 & 63. The Game Operations Manual is not available to the public.

"It's in this book that uh..... this book that is uh, not available. Yeah that's the ticket. Hee hee".

Exactly. We already covered this appeal to undocumentable source.

Actually another poster brought this same link from "NFL Operations" which appears to be a promotional blurb for external dissemination, not an internal document. And it STILL says nothing about standing for a national anthem. It doesn't mention the NA at all except in its heading "the national anthem has been played and ....."

Your Kansas City Star link could not document it either so its existence remains hearsay.

Bottom line remains the OP got completely punked parroting some blog he wished to be true but didn't bother to vet. Which is exactly what I said in my first post here. And even after that's proven, with a link to the NFL rule book itself (at the beginning of the thread) --- he still can't bring himself to acknowledge it.

Would an article from TIME magazine work for you?


Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?

...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.

 

[Pogo]

The NFL Rule Book is approximately 90 pages long. According to the NFL their Game Operations Manual is some 200 pages long and players must follow those rules also:

"The NFL Football Operations “bible” is the Game Operations Manual — nearly 200 pages of procedures and policy for regular season games alone."
.......
"The NFL’s Game Operations Manual covers virtually every facet of the game and game preparation — from where visiting teams work out the day before the game to the number of towels (600) and pounds of ice (500) that the home team must provide in the visiting team’s locker room."

League Governance | NFL Football Operations

The OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE are not the same as the Game Operations Manual but include additional rules players must follow. According to Time magazine one of the Game Operations Manual rules states:

"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."

Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?

Sorry, you can't just declare "document X says Y" and then not be able to document it.

That document has been linked here already too. And it simply does not contain that passage, and it's not the rule book which is what the OP cited, and even if the passage did exist it would not articulate a "rule" that the Commissioner "ignores" --- which is what the OP also asserted.

So it doesn't work from any angle.

Moreover --- and this has already been pointed out too ---- if such existed it would amount to an operation using TWO (2) rule books. Matter of fact the link from NFL Operations --- which is a public PR splash --- contains a link TO that same rule book already cited and linked. And the national anthem continues to not be in there.

And you'll notice that the fictitious passage is preceded by "according to an NFL spokesperson" --- who has no name. And every page I've seen with this same story cites this "according to NFL spokesperson" with no name.

According to a Klingon spokesperson I just talked to, Earth is now a colony. I didn't get his name though.

Show me the section in the Rules Book that pertains to subjects like: "the number of towels (600) and pounds of ice (500)" or the number and type of emergency personnel required for each game that the NFL says is covered in their Game Operations Manual. I read the NFL Rules Book and its not there.

Again the NFL clearly states that their Game Operations Manual is one of 3 (three) manuals and covers:

"The Game Operations Manual is one of the league’s three comprehensive policy manuals for member clubs — the other two are for administrative and business operations, and media and public relations — and, by necessity, it is often military-like in its precision and astonishing in its thoroughness."
......
"The league adds items to the manual to try to prepare for any event that could affect a game. To protect players, the manual dictates the number and type of medical personnel required for each game. To ensure competitive equity, it guarantees that teams have equal access to communication tools. And to ensure equity across the league, the manual specifies the exact pylons, sideline chain sets and locations of game and play clocks."

League Governance | NFL Football Operations

If you can't show me where towels, ice and types of emergency personnel are covered in the Rules book, please have the decency to admit that "policy manuals for member clubs" are not game rules.

.
.

I NEVER CLAIMED that subjects like: "the number of towels (600) and pounds of ice (500)" or the number and type of emergency personnel required for each game is covered in their Game Operations Manual. YOUR LINK said that.

I don't know that this operations manual exists at all, and neither do you, or if it does exist what's actually in it. It's not a public document, and it's not what was linked in the page from "NFL Operations" -- which is clearly a public document and does not call itself an "operations manual".

You're arguing with your own link here.

"Show me where it says" is exactly what I've been saying since POST TWO. And no one can do it.

Your argument hinges on your claim that a Game Operations Manual doesn't exist - the only document that exists is the NFL Rule Book.

The NFL states on its website that a Game Operations Manual exists and that it covers things like ice, towels and types of medical personnel.

Can you agree that a Game Operations Manual exists or is the NFL lying?

.

If a Game Operations Manual exists we have no access to it. And again for the fifth time, the OP claimed a language exists in the NFL rule book, on pages that do not exist there. Clearly and provably that is bullshit.

Again, this horse was beaten to death in post TWO.

 

[Pogo]

Looks like Goodell needs to be fined as well as the players:

Roger Goodell Ignoring League's Own Rule Book in Letting Players Protest America
news.grabien.com

At the risk of fines and suspensions, the NFL requires players on the field during the anthem, standing


NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is such a stickler for adhering to the intricacies of the NFL's league rule book that he infamously waged a years-long, multi million-dollar battle with the New England Patriots trying to prove that balls used in the 2014 AFC championship between the Pats and the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated.

After a federal vacated Goodell's four-game suspension of Tom Brady, Goodell appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; by 2016, the Pats appeared to lose their will to keep fighting the case and eventually accepted the penalty (Brady's four game suspension, $1 million fine, and the loss of two draft picks).

Yet the NFL commissioner, notorious for his unusually massive compensation package -- rumored to be north of $40 million/year, making his total compensation of $156 million higher than Tom Brady's -- is taking a decidedly less fastidious approach to the rules governing the national anthem at NFL games.

The NFL rule book specifically requires both teams appear on the field for the playing of the anthem, standing, remaining quiet, and holding their helmets in their left hands. Failure to do so can result in fines, suspensions, and the loss of draft picks.

The rules are found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual:

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.
Roger Goodell Ignoring League's Own Rule Book in Letting Players Protest America​

BULLSHIT.

The NFL (now, as of a few years ago once the Pentagon Pimp money came in) requires teams to be on the field. It does NOT require them to stand. You've been played by an internet fake meme.

>> You may have seen this fake excerpt shared on social media about a NFL rule pertaining to the national anthem:

“The specific NFL rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the league rulebook. It states: 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 result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”

The exceprt being shared on social media is not in the NFL’s 2017 Official Playing Rules. Pages 62 and 63 actually contain information about the enforcement of fouls.

In fact, the rulebook doesn’t mention the national anthem at all. The only section that might relate to this situation is in regards to “Personal Messages” found on page 23, article 8.

The rule about personal messages states:

“Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League.”

You can view the complete 2017 NFL Rulebook here. << (WGN-TV)

​

Actually from reading this passage it would appear the players are prohibited from displaying a political message --- which means they should be completely ignoring the national anthem.

You're correct, it is not in the NFL rule book. It is found in the Game Operations Manual on pages A62 & 63. The Game Operations Manual is not available to the public.

"It's in this book that uh..... this book that is uh, not available. Yeah that's the ticket. Hee hee".

Exactly. We already covered this appeal to undocumentable source.

Actually another poster brought this same link from "NFL Operations" which appears to be a promotional blurb for external dissemination, not an internal document. And it STILL says nothing about standing for a national anthem. It doesn't mention the NA at all except in its heading "the national anthem has been played and ....."

Your Kansas City Star link could not document it either so its existence remains hearsay.

Bottom line remains the OP got completely punked parroting some blog he wished to be true but didn't bother to vet. Which is exactly what I said in my first post here. And even after that's proven, with a link to the NFL rule book itself (at the beginning of the thread) --- he still can't bring himself to acknowledge it.

Would an article from TIME magazine work for you?


Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?

...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.

Looks like Goodell needs to be fined as well as the players:

Roger Goodell Ignoring League's Own Rule Book in Letting Players Protest America
news.grabien.com

At the risk of fines and suspensions, the NFL requires players on the field during the anthem, standing


NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is such a stickler for adhering to the intricacies of the NFL's league rule book that he infamously waged a years-long, multi million-dollar battle with the New England Patriots trying to prove that balls used in the 2014 AFC championship between the Pats and the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated.

After a federal vacated Goodell's four-game suspension of Tom Brady, Goodell appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; by 2016, the Pats appeared to lose their will to keep fighting the case and eventually accepted the penalty (Brady's four game suspension, $1 million fine, and the loss of two draft picks).

Yet the NFL commissioner, notorious for his unusually massive compensation package -- rumored to be north of $40 million/year, making his total compensation of $156 million higher than Tom Brady's -- is taking a decidedly less fastidious approach to the rules governing the national anthem at NFL games.

The NFL rule book specifically requires both teams appear on the field for the playing of the anthem, standing, remaining quiet, and holding their helmets in their left hands. Failure to do so can result in fines, suspensions, and the loss of draft picks.

The rules are found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual:

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.
Roger Goodell Ignoring League's Own Rule Book in Letting Players Protest America​

BULLSHIT.

The NFL (now, as of a few years ago once the Pentagon Pimp money came in) requires teams to be on the field. It does NOT require them to stand. You've been played by an internet fake meme.

>> You may have seen this fake excerpt shared on social media about a NFL rule pertaining to the national anthem:

“The specific NFL rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the league rulebook. It states: 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 result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”

The exceprt being shared on social media is not in the NFL’s 2017 Official Playing Rules. Pages 62 and 63 actually contain information about the enforcement of fouls.

In fact, the rulebook doesn’t mention the national anthem at all. The only section that might relate to this situation is in regards to “Personal Messages” found on page 23, article 8.

The rule about personal messages states:

“Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League.”

You can view the complete 2017 NFL Rulebook here. << (WGN-TV)

​

Actually from reading this passage it would appear the players are prohibited from displaying a political message --- which means they should be completely ignoring the national anthem.

You're correct, it is not in the NFL rule book. It is found in the Game Operations Manual on pages A62 & 63. The Game Operations Manual is not available to the public.

"It's in this book that uh..... this book that is uh, not available. Yeah that's the ticket. Hee hee".

Exactly. We already covered this appeal to undocumentable source.

Actually another poster brought this same link from "NFL Operations" which appears to be a promotional blurb for external dissemination, not an internal document. And it STILL says nothing about standing for a national anthem. It doesn't mention the NA at all except in its heading "the national anthem has been played and ....."

Your Kansas City Star link could not document it either so its existence remains hearsay.

Bottom line remains the OP got completely punked parroting some blog he wished to be true but didn't bother to vet. Which is exactly what I said in my first post here. And even after that's proven, with a link to the NFL rule book itself (at the beginning of the thread) --- he still can't bring himself to acknowledge it.

Would an article from TIME magazine work for you?


Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?

...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.

Once AGAIN --- addressing the same thing for the umpteenth time for those who can't seem to read --- we did this yesterday, not just this story (which appears verbatim on multiple sites) but this exact link.

Once AGAIN it refers to a "game operations manual" that it does not link. Once AGAIN its language is attributed to "an NFL spokesperson" with NO NAME. Once AGAIN it notes a "viral Facebook post" which is the same source the OP trotted in here without looking under the hood. From no less a credible source than "Drudgenow.com".

****NONE**** of those are legitimate sources. Once AGAIN I can declare that "a North Korea spokesman with no name" just told me his government has decided to abdicate and go open an Applebee's in Kansas. Without a source, that's bullshit too.

The source that we do have, which was cited in the OP and linked in (once AGAIN) post TWO, makes no mention anywhere of a national anthem at all. Not even on pages 62 or 63, which cover fouls committed during a passing play.

And finally, once AGAIN ---- even the language cited without a source, if it is extant language --- DOES NOT REQUIRE A FOOTBALL PLAYER TO STAND FOR A NATIONAL ANTHEM. Read it.

The short version of all this:

Cheeses Christ on a Cracker self-delusion is dense......