Bills not coming out for National Anthem

[MJS]

Nothing they could possibly do would make everyone happy. Might as well stay inside for it.

[fansince88]

1 minute ago, Dragoon said:

This is crap that we’re talking about this. But if the Bills are gonna make political statements I’d rather not see it. 
 

Im not gonna say which side of the aisle I’m on — but the reason I hate this is sports were a great conversation starter with folks I know who disagree with me politically. That’s gone now. So there’s that. 
 

I just wanna watch and talk ball with any democrat or republican. That’s all. I don’t wanna talk Trump, I just wanna talk ball. 

How about Independent?

[flaz]

2 minutes ago, Dragoon said:

This is crap that we’re talking about this. But if the Bills are gonna make political statements I’d rather not see it. 
 

Im not gonna say which side of the aisle I’m on — but the reason I hate this is sports were a great conversation starter with folks I know who disagree with me politically. That’s gone now. So there’s that. 
 

I just wanna watch and talk ball with any democrat or republican. That’s all. I don’t wanna talk Trump, I just wanna talk ball. 

The Point is they made no political statement. They made a social statement. Buy a dictionary  or google the difference 

 

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

51 minutes ago, H2o said:

I honestly didn't even cut the game on until it was about 2 minutes into the first quarter. All I saw was a normal broadcast. Then I hit the mute button when they got on the soap box for a minute or two.  

I turned the TV on and off at least 6 times. I hope every team stays in the locker room for the anthem. 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Call_Of_Ktulu

[Bad Things]

Why is the national anthem needed in the first place?

 

I can see it, if there are teams from another country, but it's the NFL... no other countries.

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, Dragoon said:

This is crap that we’re talking about this. But if the Bills are gonna make political statements I’d rather not see it. 
 

Im not gonna say which side of the aisle I’m on — but the reason I hate this is sports were a great conversation starter with folks I know who disagree with me politically. That’s gone now. So there’s that. 
 

I just wanna watch and talk ball with any democrat or republican. That’s all. I don’t wanna talk Trump, I just wanna talk ball. 

Honestly, I don’t care about how they handled it, but you make a great point.  
 

Just today I asked someone who came into my agency, innocently, like i always do during this time of year.. “How was your weekend?.. catch any of the football games?”.....

 

::initiate hyperbaric rage chamber::

 

This basically happened to everyone I talked to today, so I just stopped asking my clients about it.  

Edited September 15, 2020 by SCBills

[Dragoon]

1 minute ago, Warcodered said:

Really you're not able to have a conversation about sports without bringing up the National Anthem?

I’ve found that the topic can’t be avoided. And I don’t bring it up. It’s really bothering people. I’m in sales. I used to bring up sports to break the ice. I don’t care about anything other than the NFL, but I always follow all sports so that I can have a conversation with any kind of sports fan. It’s great for sales. I don’t use this tactic anymore because of the current climate for just this reason. 

[K-9]

It was just a return to how it always used to be before the military started paying the league for the advertisement. 

[Lurker]

Most people B'n and M'n about it were probably taking a piss or getting a beer during the anthem anyway...

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

As a liberal... I'm tired of all the national anthem stuff. None of it means anything anymore.

[HardyBoy]

Nothing I could say would be better said than how Bob Dylan put it. We're being intentionally divided to be taken advantage of:

 

A bullet from the back of a bush
Took Medgar Evers' blood
A finger fired the trigger to his name
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man's brain
But he can't be blamed
He's only a pawn in their game

 

A South politician preaches to the poor white man
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain
You're better than them, you been born with white skin, " they explain
And the negr*'s name
Is used, it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game

 

The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid
And the marshals and cops get the same
But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool
He's taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
'Bout the shape that he's in
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game

 

From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks
And the hoofbeats pound in his brain
And he's taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide 'neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain't got no name
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game

 

Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught
They lowered him down as a king
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He'll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain
Only a pawn in their game

Edited September 15, 2020 by HardyBoy

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

It doesn’t bother me one bit

 

if it pisses people off to where they don’t want to watch

 

It’s their loss

 

[Franco_92]

It's better that way. Isn't that what all teams used to do anyway? Could be my middle school-age memories deceiving me 

 

 

[Bobby Hooks]

Bills werent out there for the anthem? That’s disgusting! I wish I coulda saw that, I woulda been outraged. 

 

I was busy stealing from my old lady neighbor while she was at the hospital getting put back together after a nasty fall. I told her I’d watch the house but just took the opportunity to take things I like and break things that I didn’t. 

 

But back to the Bills missing the anthem. I’m absolutely disgusted! 

 

Get it? I’m a gross person doing terrible things and I’m disgusted because a football team is peacefully protesting. Get it?! 

Edited September 15, 2020 by Bobby Hooks

[HardyBoy]

 

[NoSaint]

26 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

Really you're not able to have a conversation about sports without bringing up the National Anthem?

It’s such a tough topic to transition from. Like what are you supposed to do? Change the topic back to the game? 

[Warcodered]

Just now, NoSaint said:

It’s such a tough topic to transition from. Like what are you supposed to do? Change the topic back to the game? 

Yes?

[NoSaint]

1 minute ago, Warcodered said:

Yes?

It’s like you almost understood my point. 

Edited September 15, 2020 by NoSaint

[Kirby Jackson]

Don’t care. I don’t watch the Bills because of the way that they consume the anthem. Whatever they want to do is fine with me.

[HardyBoy]

 

If you're not familiar with Mandolin Orange, I highly, highly recommend diving really deep into their stuff...incredibly, incredibly talented musicians and songwriters.

 

MLK wasn't assassinated because he was trying to get black people the right to vote. He was assassinated because he was trying to bring poor people together into a unified organized voting block to demand an end to policies that kept those people poor in a real war on poverty. Stop fighting one another, your anger is with those above you pulling the puppet strings.

 

This instant, I'm not going to even listen to someone's genuine words of anguish mentality is designed to keep people from talking to each other and coming together in understanding.

Edited September 15, 2020 by HardyBoy

[ALLEN1QB]

1 hour ago, matter2003 said:

Who cares honestly. People want to make issues out of things to give themselves something to get worked up about. Maybe they need to find something to do in life.

You are just so wonderful!! Wish we could all be like you.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, DE Bills Fan said:

Just curious what Bills fans think of this? Have been reading a lot of negative opinions on them staying in the locker room 

Thoughts???

 

They can't win. Whatever they do is wrong. And I believe it's a loud minority making all the noise.

 

 

Edited September 15, 2020 by PromoTheRobot

[Johnnycage46]

57 minutes ago, Dragoon said:

This is crap that we’re talking about this. But if the Bills are gonna make political statements I’d rather not see it. 
 

Im not gonna say which side of the aisle I’m on — but the reason I hate this is sports were a great conversation starter with folks I know who disagree with me politically. That’s gone now. So there’s that. 
 

I just wanna watch and talk ball with any democrat or republican. That’s all. I don’t wanna talk Trump, I just wanna talk ball. 

Life doesn't work like that.

[Meatloaf63]

54 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

Really you're not able to have a conversation about sports without bringing up the National Anthem?

Who says he’s the one bringing it up?

[Johnnycage46]

53 minutes ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

I turned the TV on and off at least 6 times. I hope every team stays in the locker room for the anthem. 

You turned the TV off for...what?  Because of topics you don't agree with?  Did you fold your arms and audibly grumble while doing it?

[ctk232]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Don't care. I'm supportive of the players. No need for the national anthem to be played before the game anyways. Save it for the Olympics and maybe the SuperBowls. 

 

Nailed it - only reason it's there is because the Pentagon dishes out millions of their recruitment budget to owners for including it in their paid patriotism events...

[billsbackto81]

1 hour ago, aceman_16 said:

LAMP is bright in here

Beats talking about Josh's fumbles and over throws every ten minutes.

[Augie]

5 minutes ago, ctk232 said:

Nailed it - only reason it's there is because the Pentagon dishes out millions of their recruitment budget to owners for including it in their paid patriotism events...

 

I am NOT arguing here, I am just curious. Can anyone tell us what the Military pays for any form of recognition under the current arrangement? What is the deal these days? How about flyovers at a Super Bowl, etc. 

 

I have no idea what that relationship is like, financial or otherwise. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, DE Bills Fan said:

Just curious what Bills fans think of this? Have been reading a lot of negative opinions on them staying in the locker room 

Thoughts???

 

I’m with McD, I think the cool stuff is the team deciding to promote community causes and try to make a difference to people’s lives.

[Doc Brown]

1 minute ago, Augie said:

 

I am NOT arguing here, I am just curious. Can anyone tell us what the Military pays for any form of recognition under the current arrangement? What is the deal these days? How about flyovers at a Super Bowl, etc. 

 

I have no idea what that relationship is like, financial or otherwise. 

They haven't paid anything to the NFL since the end of 2015.  The Bills received $700,000 from the DOD in the years 2012-2015 (the league received 6 million in total).  The federal government still pays for SB flyovers (it costs around 80 grand - gas/maintenance). 

[ctk232]

2 hours ago, Augie said:

 

I am NOT arguing here, I am just curious. Can anyone tell us what the Military pays for any form of recognition under the current arrangement? What is the deal these days? How about flyovers at a Super Bowl, etc. 

 

I have no idea what that relationship is like, financial or otherwise. 

This 2015 article is what most immediately came to mind as it mentioned the Bills: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/11/05/454834662/pentagon-paid-sports-teams-millions-for-paid-patriotism-events

 

I'll see if I can dig up any more current figures, though after 2017/18 and the reversion of funds received by the NFL as an org in 2016 there isn't much. Point being the relationship has been around since the 60's, notably with the '68 Super Bowl flyover, so it's not exactly going completely away.

 

EDIT: to add on a general thread-relevant note, I find it interesting how the people who believe politics has no place in sports (particularly the NFL), are the same ones who take issue with protesting the National Anthem. If that's the case, you'd think they would also take issue with having the National Anthem (a political event) played to begin with.

Edited September 15, 2020 by ctk232

[BillsVet]

The players have a right to exercise their 1st Amendment right.  No one is harmed by remaining inside when the Star Spangled banner is played.    

 

Still, no professional athlete was standing in their locker room 19 years ago because we were all on the same team.  How quickly people forget.  

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Thanks OP! 

[Augie]

1 minute ago, ctk232 said:

This 2015 article is what most immediately came to mind as it mentioned the Bills: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/11/05/454834662/pentagon-paid-sports-teams-millions-for-paid-patriotism-events

 

I'll see if I can dig up any more current figures, though after 2017/18 and the reversion of funds received by the NFL as an org in 2016 there isn't much. Point being the relationship has been around since the 60's, notably with the '68 Super Bowl flyover, so it's not exactly going completely away.

 

Thanks. In the scope of things, that appears to be peanuts. I’m not taking a stand one way or the other, but I liked how the Bills and Jets handled it. It just felt like......unity, and that’s what we need. JMO. 

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

The players have a right to exercise their 1st Amendment right.  No one is harmed by remaining inside when the Star Spangled banner is played.    

 

Still, no professional athlete was standing in their locker room 19 years ago because we were all on the same team.  How quickly people forget.  

 

I really don’t want to go down this road, but my only problem is if you PUBLICLY do it on the job. If you are at work, you only express yourself in ways that your employer permits. I’d have been handed my hat within an hour if I wanted to take political positions while working at the bank. 

 

I was pleasantly surprised by the way they handled it. UNITY is what we are all looking for here. I thought it was a great start to the season! 

[ctk232]

1 minute ago, Augie said:

 

Thanks. In the scope of things, that appears to be peanuts. I’m not taking a stand one way or the other, but I liked how the Bills and Jets handled it. It just felt like......unity, and that’s what we need. JMO. 

Completely agree. 

 

To clarify my initial point at least, the focus isn't so much on the amount of money paid, but that having the national anthem incorporated in the games themselves is a product of financial deals, not really for any "patriotic" intent. And on a basic level, there's no real reason to have it before every game to begin with aside from the financial aspect involved.

[Dablitzkrieg]

IDGAF

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

1 hour ago, Johnnycage46 said:

You turned the TV off for...what?  Because of topics you don't agree with?  Did you fold your arms and audibly grumble while doing it?

No, I cracked open a beer and set up my FFL team then turned theTV back on when I was sure it would just be football on the TV.

[WideNine]

2 hours ago, DE Bills Fan said:

Just curious what Bills fans think of this? Have been reading a lot of negative opinions on them staying in the locker room 

Thoughts???

 

Our country has some issues and folks have the right to peacefully protest to bring attention to them. It is as patriotic as it gets IMO. Those that have fought for this country, fought to preserve those kind of rights and freedoms.

 

You B word about the government in China off to jail you go, Iran and they will have you confessing to some crime after a long spell of torture and executed, in Turkey if you think Erdogan is a Hitler-wanna-be and you tweet those thoughts you and your family should pack for a long prison term, in Russia if you have beef with Putin and are vocal enough you'll be slipped some nerve agent or polonium-210 in your drink.

 

It sounds like the Bills decided as a team what they would do as a form of protest and did not let it get divisive. I thought I heard McD mention in his presser something about the team getting more organized and active around voting or helping with census - putting the desire for positive change into constructive action.

 

Personally, no issue with it.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

2 hours ago, BillsVet said:

The players have a right to exercise their 1st Amendment right.  No one is harmed by remaining inside when the Star Spangled banner is played.    

 

Still, no professional athlete was standing in their locker room 19 years ago because we were all on the same team.  How quickly people forget.  

Protesting does not mean they are not patriots.  You can love your country and still know that is has many faults.  There are 27 amendments to a document that has existed for over 225 years ensuring that our Democracy evolves and endures.