You ever hear of freedom of expression or the First Amendment?
Professional athletes are human beings with rights, too. 
No one’s forbidding anyone from protesting. There’s a time and a place for everything. It’s just tacky to do it during a game.
Do you have, like, an actual job? Ie, where you’re working for someone else (who makes the rules)? If so, you don’t have absolute “freedom” to disrupt normal business to “protest”. You can get your ass fired in a hurry.
There’s that whole “unsportsmanlike behavior” thing, too. If convention has a player taking off his helmet and standing quietly during the SSB, that’s what he should do. No one says he has to sing along, but just don’t be an ass and ruin it for other people who want to show respect.
Hell, players can get fined if they don’t show up at press conferences and answer nosy questions after a game, or if they quite literally say the wrong thing (eg, question/criticise an Official Decision). That stifles their freedom of expression. They’re not even allowed to express their opinions to the press, at best say “No comment”.
But during a game, with all the cameras rolling, they’re allowed to “protest” and to disrupt things??
Ask yourself what would happen if any players would walk onto the field with “MAGA” hats, or write “Trump 2020” on their helmets. 
(Oh, I know what would happen.)
They either need to allow all forms of protest (turning games into a free-for-all), or none at all. Once they start picking’n’choosing what’s allowed and what’s not, they clearly start showing their biases.
While the first amendment doesn’t apply while a pro athlete is doing their job for their employer, kneeling during the anthem or taking off one’s helmet doesn’t ruin anything for anyone. That type of protest doesn’t interfere with the game in any way.
Protest has always been a legitimate way of getting the attention of those in power, when there has been serious injustice that isn’t addressed. We have a long history of it in the USA. Ever hear of the Boston Tea Party?
As for coaches being fined for not wearing a mask, the league is merely protecting its top priority, which is money. The coaches set an example for the players. If many players get Covid-19, the league will have to cancel games. They will lose ticket revenue and advertising revenue. It isn’t about making a statement. It’s about money - a lot of money.
People that don’t believe in a cause always question protests. As to why they do it on the field. Pretty simple. Protesting in your own living room gets 0 coverage. Protesting in viewers living rooms gets a lot.
As much as I support the right to protest injustices as we see them, I believe that “drifting” this discussion on coronavirus into kneeling at a football game is blowing the lid right off the proverbial “can of worms”.
Don’t you all think that maybe that should be left untouched on our dear flashlight forum?
You are right. Nuff said.
If some athletes took a knee to protest masks and other covid restrictions, would you feel the same about their right to express themselves? Would it change the way you look at the league if the league allowed this?
When the shoe is on the other foot…… 
What some people don't seem to get is that when I say that professional athletes should have the right to express themselves, I am being serious.
They have a platform and they should use it, whether I agree with their expression or not.
So this "what if the shoe were on the other foot" argument makes absolutely no sense.
(And anyone that tries to make that lame argument, in this context, just wants to censor anyone that they don't agree with.)
Can we quit discussing this controversial subject?
Absolutely. Off the field.
If they have rules about their uniforms, their conduct, etc., the NFL (if they had the balls, but they don’t) could absolutely forbid “protesting” of any kind on the field, and not run afoul of any “freedom of expression” hoots’n’howls. Private contract, not government…
Just like those “God hates fags!” idiots who “protest” at funerals? They absolutely have that right, but they’re kinda douchebags for doing it.
Or those idiots at the Oscars and other award ceremonies who spout their political “opinions” as if anyone cares. Like, you (well, I) just want to tell them, “Go up there, get your award, say ‘thanks’, and then shut up and sit down, eh?”. Use duct tape to enforce that if need be.
There’s a time and place for everything.
Wait, wait, let me get the last word, then we can stop discussing it. :laughing:
Although hate speech is legal, I don't think it should be because it is in very poor taste.
Maybe some day it won't legal.
Most other speech doesn't bother me, but wanting to censor people just because they don't agree with your politics is pretty lame.
Hmm, kinda like wanting to ban “disinformation” relating to the corovirus? 
Yeah, that was wrong of me, and I freely admit it.
Luckily conspiracy theories aren't allowed anymore on BLF, so there is that.
Exactly what I thinking when I read that, with the face palm just for emphasis, I guess.
Don’t you guys sleep?
Who recommended banning disinformation about the coronavirus? The only people I’m aware of that are using government power to limit COVID-19 information available to the public are working in the government.
The CDC updated the survival rates of those INFECTED with COVID19:
0-19 - 99.997%
20-49 - 99.98%
50-69 - 99.5%
70+ - 94.6%