BACKLASH – AT 11:47 A.M. ET:   I think we see a consensus building about football players who refuse to rise for the national anthem before a game.  The consensus seems to be that that we respect their right to protest, but that their manner of protest, showing contempt for their country in a stadium where they're representing a team and a community, is in poor taste.  From CBS4, Miami: 

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Dolphins will open up with their first home game of the season next week against the Cleveland Browns. The question is will the Broward Sheriff’s Office be escorting them to the game?

The controversial protest by Miami Dolphins players to not stand during the national anthem took another turn Friday as Broward County’s deputies take a stand of their own against the hometown team.

“We’ve asked the deputies and the Broward Sheriff’s Office not to do the details anymore,” said Jeffery Bell, the president of the International Union of Police Associations, Local 6020.

BSO deputies’ union is asking for team-sponsored police escorts to stop until the team forces players to stand for the anthem.

“I respect their right to have freedom of speech. However, in certain organizations and certain jobs you give up that right of your freedom of speech temporary while you serve that job or while you play in an NFL game,” Bell said.

The demands come as Dolphin players have come under fire, literally. A group of fans burned team gear on Thursday.

COMMENT:  The players engaged in this "protest" should realize that they're doing more harm than good, that they're hurting their own cause.  If they want to protest on their own time, fine with me.

September 18, 2016