Navigating the NFL's Shameful New Anthem Policy - a podcast by The Football Girl

On this special edition of the TFG Pod, Melissa shares her views on the deeply disturbing new anthem policy wrong, and the possible ramifications for the NFL. She also discusses a recent Player’s Coalition event in Oakland rooted in criminal justice reform and a particularly poignant statement from 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman.

Then Howard Bryant, ESPN the Magazine senior writer and author of the prescient new book, The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America and the Politics of Patriotism, joins to offer his fiery lens on the anthem policy and what’s next for the players. Bryant is hopeful this policy will ignite a true coalition of players but is skeptical given the union’s decades-long lack of moral backbone.

Also three NFL fans announce they are done with the league after the new anthem policy.

THE RUNDOWN

1:30: A fun announcement about the TFG Podcast

5:30: Melissa attends a Player’s Coalition event in Oakland

7:52: Richard Sherman on why sports and politics SHOULD mix

9:10: The NFL players got royally screwed by the new anthem policy

11:35: Melissa on the never-ending holes with the anthem policy

HOWARD BRYANT JOINS

18:25: New policy confirms skepticism toward union + “players got played”

20:32: We’re going to find out what the players are made of.

23:25: Solidarity among players should have taken priority over working with NFL

25:40: Players need to find more new, creative ways to protest

28:80: Hopeful that Malcolm Jenkins will change his tactics

29:50: How to keep original messaging on target

31:45: Up to the union to create platform where player activism can be passed on

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