On Friday, President Trump tweeted a missile aimed at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in order to compel him to discipline any players who kneel during “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Donald referenced the commissioner’s $40 million job, saying Goodell has to “make a stand” and drop the hammer: Trump said kneelers should be suspended.

“The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again – can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. First time kneeling, out for game. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!”

The NFL National Anthem Debate is alive and well again – can’t believe it! Isn’t it in contract that players must stand at attention, hand on heart? The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand. First time kneeling, out for game. Second time kneeling, out for season/no pay!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2018

Of course, the issue began quite a long time ago, launched by former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, in order to protest an epidemic before finding out if it, in actuality, existed. Unfortunately for Kaepernick, it did (and does) not.

In the process of spreading ignorance like the flu, Colin took down the NFL and lost his career. In return, the league took him down (according to him). He’s now suing, and he wants to subpoena Trump (please see here).

(Please check out my previous NFL deconstruction, here.)

In the spring, the league announced players would be fined for kneeling, as it gave everyone the opportunity to remain in the locker room until after the national anthem (please see that story here). The Donald wasn’t psyched about such a wimpy move:

"You have to stand proudly for the National Anthem. You shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there. Maybe they shouldn't be in the country…the NFL owners did the right thing" -President @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/bt36t4EX5u

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 24, 2018

On Thursday, the NFL dropped its springtime policy. The change came, at least in part, in response to a battle between the league and the players union (the NFLPA).

The league released a statement:

“In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue, we have come to a standstill agreement on the NFLPA’s grievance and on the NFL’s anthem policy. No new rules relating to the anthem will be issued or enforced for the next several weeks while these confidential discussions are ongoing.”

Then the league said some crap about everybody being a hero:

“The NFL and NFLPA reflect the great values of America, which are repeatedly demonstrated by the many players doing extraordinary work in communities across our country to promote equality, fairness and justice. Our shared focus will remain on finding a solution to the anthem issue through mutual, good faith commitments, outside of litigation.”

Is this really what we’ve come to? Players have to be fighters for justice and social superheroes, according to the baloney of prepared statements?

How about this: sports is just supposed to be about playing a game. Not politics.

You know — a game? Like hide and go seek? Like that.

I’d like to remind the world what football is:

A bunch of dudes get dressed up in matching clothes and run around in the grass. Some guy gives them patterns to follow. As they sprint in choreographed fashion, they throw a ball around and grab each other. Sometimes they kick the ball into the air. Sometimes they all end up lying in the grass on top of each other.

While they do this, a few dudes with matching vertical-stripe shirts run around with them and blow on whistles. Tweet Tweet! Tweet Tweet!

That’s football. Until just decades ago, it only existed in vacant lots and backyards.

Play on, boys.

In the meantime, some extra Tweet! Tweet! is gonna come from the President — as players kneel, and people probably stop watching. AAAAAgain.

Fail.

What do you think about this issue? Please let all of us know in the Comments section.

In case you missed the relevant RedState links in this article, please find them here, here, and here.

For something totally different, please check out my pieces on a Millennial whose parents had to evict him, the Pope’s reportedly pro-gay stance, and the elaborate tale of Ashley Judd.

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