The National Football League has again spawned controversy by creating compromise rather than standing by its historical requirements of respecting and standing for the National Anthem. It has shown its weakness in leadership to attempt to appease the crowds while attempting to appease its ungrateful players.

The problem is the fans find it distasteful and the players continue to claim it violates their so-called rights while embarrassing themselves and their teams through their unpatriotic actions.

As an employer, the NFL has the right to demand its employees to follow established rules that have been in place for years. As an employer, the NFL has the right to not renew contracts and find and bring other talented players in who will adhere to the established standards.

In its current ruling, the NFL has not struck a workable compromise but has rather compromised its own integrity by giving in to players who have demonstrated that having a tantrum can get them what they want. On the surface, the NFL has given direction that players who do not want to respect the flag or the anthem can “hide” in the locker room. It used to mean that not taking the field at game time benched the player during the game.

Some people think that giving permission for players to remain in the locker room during the playing of the anthem ostracizes them from the team while others believe it is still a way to silence their protests and goes against the players’ first amendment right of freedom of speech. Others, like me, believe the NFL has no guts by allowing these players to disrespect their teammates, their fans, their flag, and their anthem by remaining in the locker room. If they do not want to be part of the team and show up to play, they should not play. And that should immediately impact their pay, just like any other employee.

Then there is the part of the decision that says if a player does elect to be on the field and still publicly shows disrespect by kneeling, it is the team who pays the fine. There is no accountability with the player. This is similar to the government regulatory agencies who state that no matter how well a company works toward following requirements, any individual employee can cause the company to be fined from that employee’s disregard or improper actions. That philosophy is not only stupid but allows anyone the opportunity to cause his or her employer, or in this case, the team, to pay for the sins of one.

This decision is bad, showing the NFL doesn’t really stand for anything. For me, I learned not watching or following the NFL games did not alter my life other than give me better options for spending my time and my money. I encourage others to not go back. Americans are better than this and should continue to show the NFL that they cannot be played by this bad decision.