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NFL players are a unionized workforce.

The NFL has a collective bargaining agreement. BOTH the owners and players have to conform to it.

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Even in a non-unionised situation, there are naturally limits to this.

Let's say the boss puts a cross up above the entrance to the office and decides it's a good idea for all employees to bow as they enter. This would readily be recognised as a first-amendment issue and the law would be on the employees's side and not the employer's side.

The NFL rule, though offering the way out of staying in the locker room, still seems to be uncomfortably close to contravening the first-amendment than, say, saying what an employer must wear or when they take their lunch (having breaks for lunch at lunchtime seems not unreasonable).

I think the argument of 'they can leave and find another job, it's simple' holds less water when the NFL enjoys a privileged position of being effectively a monopoly. Break the NFL into two leagues, with the winners of each league contesting the superbowl, and let one league fine players for kneeling and the other treat its players as thinking adults and see which league the players and viewers migrate to. 

Where does he suggest these players go -- Liberia?

Marc

Having players be forced to stand

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But they aren't being forced, they can stay in locker room or kneel and pay fine.  NFL is just saying you can't use our forum for your personal protest, which they have a right to do. 

That's our president. 

Nice job, America.

Thank you for clarifying that - I am being sincere here, I didn't realize the some of the smaller details of the situation.

Marc

ITEM: That's why there are unions.

ITEM: The NFL owners and union have to come to agreement (and as memory serves, the union never even heard of this until the owners passed the ruling.)

ITEM: In any such situation, the boss' rulings may seem somewhat arbitrary, and shouldn't be followed blindly. That's what the First Amendment is about.

My point was just that this is pretty complicated - not as open and shut as a lot of Americans would think. We've had fascinating and intelligent discourse on this - and I think that's the point.

Personally, I think the owners came up with a fair compromise on the part of the players. A message is still being made if players come out of the locker room AFTER the national anthem - everyone knows why they're coming out at that time (and it wouldn't be out of line for announcers to mention that either.)

But the owners have to compromise as well. Maybe a public demonstration such as donations to good causes, organizing a rally for exactly such purposes with whichever players volunteer to stand up, or some other gesture.

Over 57 years, I've learned one thing about compromising; a really good compromise is one in which both sides agree to terms and give and take until everyone is equally dissatisfied. THAT'S your good deal!