Is the NFL Now Just Another Progressive Mouthpiece?

This article was published by The McAlvany Intelligence Advisor on Wednesday, November 8, 2017: 

Far-left progressive Joe Lockhart took over PR duties at the NFL in February 2016. In August, black revolutionary Colin Kaepernick took a knee. Roger Goodell did nothing, despite NFL rules that players are not allowed to make political statements while working.

Is this a bridge too far?

Let’s consider. Goodell is the son of Charles Goodell, the New York Republican RINO with a voting record equal in its extreme to that of Jacob Javitz. Joe Lockhart has been involved in election campaigns for a gaggle of left-wing politicians including Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Paul Simon, Michael Dukakis, and John Kerry. He served as White House press secretary for Bill Clinton. And he just sold the house he was renting to the Obamas in Kalorma in May.

This just might explain Goodell’s reticence in enforcing one of the NFL’s longest-standing rules, one that has resulted in fines being levied against numerous players over the years for their promoting various causes on the field of play. He has no interest in enforcing it. He is enjoying watching those kneebenders become “useful idiots” in the progressive program to bring derogation onto local police in order eventually to replace them with, or turn them into, agents of the federal government.

He is successfully ignoring pushback. Vin Scully, for one, John Wells for another. Vin Scully, the voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers and then the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team for an astonishing 67 seasons, was best known for his introduction to Dodger baseball: “It’s time for Dodger baseball! Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good (afternoon/evening) to you, wherever you may be!”

Last week Scully expressed his disgust with the disrespectful kneeling – aka, the “anthem protests” – by making his final announcement: “I will never watch another NFL game again.” Added Scully:

I am so disappointed … I used to love, during the fall and winter, to watch the NFL on Sunday….

I was in the Navy … I have overwhelming respect and admiration for anyone who puts on a uniform and goes to war.

Just two days earlier, retired Navy Commander John Wells turned down an award from the New Orleans Saints football franchise for his work for veterans as head of the Military Champion Advocacy. He smelled hypocrisy on the part of the Saints:

Although I am touched and honored to be selected for such an award, the ongoing controversy with NFL players’ disrespect for the national flag forces me to decline to participate in the presentation.

And then, just to make sure no one missed the point, Wells added:

Their [the league’s] failure to act is a slap in the face to all of those who have served in uniform. Men and women have fought and died for the flag that the players are disrespecting.

The Saints, their hypocrisy revealed, punched back:

We respect [Wells’] decision. He has that right and we thank him for his service to our country and his past efforts on behalf of the military and veterans.

The Saints then doubled down on their hypocrisy:

[Wells’ decision] is unfortunate and disappointing considering the New Orleans Saints’ unwavering 50-plus year commitment to honor, support, and recognize our servicemen and women and veterans.

We will not allow Mr. Wells’ decision … to distract our players and organization from continuing to honor and support our military and veterans.

Last weekend, every team in the NFL, including the Saints, had some members continue to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem.

Jason Whitlock has made the connection between Goodell, Lockhart, Kaepernick, and the lack of enforcement of the league’s rule. A co-host of Fox Sports 1’s “Speak for Yourself,” Whitlock noted an article at ESPN in late October that “portrayed Mr. Goodell as supporting players’ desire to use the NFL as a platform to address whatever social issues they deem important.” Whitlock put two and two together:

Messrs. Goodell and Lockhart are damaging the league’s longstanding and highly profitable brand … the question is how long the owners will continue to allow the pair to reshape the NFL.

Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick seem to be the best positioned to show Goodell and his far-left crony the door. But it might just be the boycott of all NFL games this weekend – Saturday is Veterans’ Day – that could push some of the others over the edge. Surely they could find someone more suited to the position – without the political messaging – that they could get for far less than the $44 million annually they are currently paying Goodell.

Sources:

FoxNews.com: Disabled Navy vet refuses to receive award from Saints over national anthem protests

NYPost.com: Saints in public feud with disabled veteran over anthem protests

NYPost.com: Vin Scully swears off NFL over anthem protests

The Wall Street Journal: Is Roger Goodell Deliberately Pushing the NFL Leftward?

Background on Charles Goodell

Background on Roger Goodell

Background on Joe Lockhart

Background on Vin Scully

Money.CNN.com: Papa John’s is blaming the NFL for hitting its bottom line.

Background on Colin Kaepernick

Denver.CBSLocal.com: Veterans Plan To Boycott NFL Games On Sunday

Background on Bill Belichick

Background on Jerry Jones