Coping With Anthem Protests

Col Robert Gould Shaw: It stinks, I suppose.
Trip: Yeah, it stinks bad. And we all covered up in it too. Ain't nobody clean. Be nice to get clean, though.
Col Robert Gould Shaw: How do we do that?
Trip: We ante up and kick in, sir. But I still don't want to carry your flag.
--Glory

Favorability ratings are declining for the NFL in response to player protests during the national anthem. How can owners stem the tide? Similar to the NBA, the league could create a rule that requires players to stand for the national anthem. Such a work rule is fully within the owner's rights. Those who argue that the First Amendment generally protects workplace speech need a Civics 101 refresher.

Owners could also cease playing the national anthem before games. Playing the Star-Spangled banner before sporting events is a relatively recent institution. As recounted by Tara Ross, baseball appears to be the first professional sport where the national anthem was played before (or during) games, but it did not become a routine occurrence until WWII.

Because national anthems can be viewed as political statements, they invite push back from those with different political preferences. Why create such a forum for trouble?

While some people would immediately be upset with the removal of the national anthem before games, the long run effect would be to depoliticize an environment that nearly all consumers of sports, in truth, would like to see depoliticized.