The NFL infamously rejected an ad from a veterans group, American Veterans (AMVETS), urging Americans to stand during the national anthem at Sunday's big game. It was a poor decision after a year of terrible publicity for the league. Football stars kneeling during the playing of the national anthem frustrated fans to the point they have been booing players, walking out of stadiums, and turning off the TV.
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), who's running for governor in Tennessee, has recorded her own ad which will air in the state during the Super Bowl pregame show.
In the ad, featured below, Rep. Black takes the NFL to task.
"The Eagles from Philadelphia and the Patriots from Boston. Two patriotic names.
It’s too bad that the league doesn’t respect the patriotism of our national anthem.
All year, players refused to stand for the anthem, and the league refused to accept an ad from the American Veterans urging everyone to please stand.
But they can’t stop you and me. So tonight, wherever you are watching this game, please stand for the Star Spangled Banner and join me in standing up for veterans."
President Trump infamously sparred with kneeling NFL players this season, calling them "SOBs" who should be kicked off the field. Nearly 200 players responded the following Sunday by refusing to stand for the American flag. In October, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told the press that their anthem policy was not changing, meaning that the language will continue to read "should stand," instead of "must stand." Goodell did acknowledge, however, that fans expect players to honor the flag and the league will work to get the number of kneeling players to zero. The commissioner said recently that the league may again consider their policy on the anthem in the offseason.
The only NFL leader who appeared to take any kind of real stand was Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who told his players that anyone who fails to stand for the flag will be benched.
NBC plans to show the playing of the national anthem this Super Bowl Sunday, and any kneeling players who come along with it.