National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell expresses the NFL’s support for ensuring children have access to healthy school meals during kitchen equipment grants press conference as Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (right) listens at the Fuel Up to Play 60 Clinic at the NFL Experience in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. USDA photo by Veronica Davison.
The editors of The Federalist’s BRIGHT blog write:
Sunday night’s football match between the Rams and Cowboys was expected to bring in big ratings for the NFL, amidst a 2020 season of low viewership.
Those expectations were not met.
DEADLINE Hollywood reports that ratings for the game were down a stunning 28 percent.
The numbers spell disaster for the NFL, especially since the Cowboys arguably have the largest national fan base in the country, and both teams boast superstar talent.
Protesting that has invaded the field of play is largely to blame for the NFL’s sinking numbers. During a time such as this — with a national pandemic that has been politicized by both sides, and a highly polarizing presidential race — Americans want sports to remain a unifying outlet to unplug from politics. And yet every NFL game this season has displayed a protest during either the anthem or pregame ceremonies. Teams opening the year have continued to kneel, lock arms, and raise fists in protests, or stay off the field completely, during the “Star Spangled Banner.”
It’s no surprise that US adults now view the sports industry negatively
While viewers have clearly had enough, left-wing activists want the league to go even further.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick blasted the NFL, saying its social justice initiatives are “propaganda.” Kaepernick complained that Eric Reid, an activist and former player, is still unemployed. “While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid for fighting for the Black community,” Kaepernick wrote on Twitter. “Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league.”
