Sporting News reported that TV networks at first wouldn’t show the angry fans booing the [anti-American] players [disrespecting the flag] but now they are ignoring the protests completely and are refusing to show the Anthem.
If you can’t see it, you are supposed to forget it’s happening.
Michael McCarthy wrote: “Protests? What protests? There were virtually no live shots of NFL players sitting, kneeling or standing Sunday during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” much less footage of fans booing players.”
At first the networks showed the Anthem and the kneeling players although that was not the usual practice. They are back to not showing them.
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The NFL TV partners are worried as this protest goes into week 6.
Through Week 5, the NFL TV numbers were down 7.2 percent, according to Nielsen data. That drop came on top of a 7 percent downturn last season. Through Week 5 of the 2017 season, NFL games averaged 15.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s down 7.42 percent from an average of 16.371 million viewers through the same period of the 2016 season, and 18 percent down from the average of 18.438 million viewers through the first five weeks of the 2015 season.
The NFL needs to end this fast or people will have found other sports they like as much or more, many won’t come back.
Several of the 49ers kneeled and they are now 0-6. Not much incentive to watch their games.
Lots of empty seats
Look at the stadiums for the Baltimore Ravens, the Houston Texans, the Atlanta Falcons, and the New York Jets in the photos on this tweet.
Kickoff and empty seats in #NFL pic.twitter.com/FuRzahhpDb
— Bradley Wilson (@brad_gohornsbkw) October 15, 2017
Cards vs. Bucs:
Many empty seats at Cards vs Bucs game. At least both teams stood for anthem but networks refusing to air anthem is a cop out & unpatriotic pic.twitter.com/XA5YevusEc
— swelsh (@swelsh4) October 16, 2017
Kenny Stills, Mike Thomas and Julius Thomas stayed in the locker room for the anthem but came out to rejoin their team after it was over. All members of the Falcons stood for the anthem but 10 did not interlock arms.
@EmptySeatsPics 17-7 Falcons with 6 min left in the 3rd. No one here pic.twitter.com/UedDu6WOkf
— Bubba (@BubbaGuest) October 15, 2017
The Jacksonville Jaguars [who do often have poor attendance, but still]:
You know who isn’t winning? The NFL. This was kickoff time in Jacksonville. Look at those empty seats! pic.twitter.com/fd7CwOuHk4
— Fistful of Doom (@fistfulofdoom) October 15, 2017
Actor James Woods put up a good tweet.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) October 16, 2017
Week 6 Kneelers
Packers vs. Vikings
All members of the Packers and Vikings stood during the national anthem. The Packers linked arms as a team once again.
Lions vs. Saints
All members of the Lions and Saint stood for the national anthem. The Lions linked arms for the anthem for the second consecutive week.
Patriots vs. Jets
All Patriots and Jets players stood during the national anthem. Jets players linked arms. The Patriots players put one hand on their teammates’ back and another one on their heart.
49ers vs. Redskins
Six 49ers players including Marquise Goodwin, Eli Harold, Arik Armstead, Joe Williams, Eric Reid and Donte Johnson took a knee for the national anthem. The Redskins all stood for the anthem.
Bears vs. Ravens
All members of the Ravens and Bears stood for the national anthem. There was no moment of prayer at M&T Bank Stadium like there was two weeks ago. Fans booed the players during the prayer.
Buccaneers vs. Cardinals
All members of the Buccaneers and Cardinals stood for the national anthem.
Rams vs. Jaguars
All members of the Rams and Jaguars stood for the national anthem.
Steelers vs. Chiefs
All members of the Steelers stood for the national anthem. On the Chiefs’ side, Ukeme Eligwe sat while Marcus Peters kneeled.
Chargers vs. RaidersÂ
All members of the Raiders stood for the national anthem except for Marshawn Lynch, who sat on the bench and was hidden by water coolers. Russell Okung of the Chargers raised his first during the national anthem.
NFL tickets are a premium item in most cities. It’s unusual to see so many empty seats. Tickets are not selling or people with tickets are not showing up. The media is trying to gloss over this crisis for the league. An example of that is the non-coverage of Goodell receiving a $44,000,000 contract for next year. What incredibly bad timing to award him that now.