Ex-FBI Director Clears Papa John’s Founder of Racial Bias, Slams ‘Clearly Inaccurate’ Media

In a detailed rebuke of the news media, former FBI Director Louis Freeh said his exhaustive investigation of Papa John’s founder John Schnatter found no evidence of racial animus, citing corporate transcripts that directly contradict news reports suggesting the pizza executive had criticized NFL players for kneeling during the national anthem.

“A thorough examination … found that the public comments by Mr. Schnatter were neither intended nor can reasonably be interpreted to reflect any racial bias, prejudice, or disrespect for African Americans or people of color,” Freeh wrote in a report slated to be made public Tuesday.

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Outbreak in the NFL: Three Tennessee Titans Players, Five Personnel Test Positive for COVID-19

The Tennessee Titans suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL says three Titans players and five personnel tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first COVID-19 outbreak of the NFL season in Week 4.

The outbreak threatened to jeopardize the Titans’ game this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers and posed the first significant in-season test to the league’s coronavirus protocols.

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AP Source: NFL to Play Black Anthem Before National Anthem

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” will be performed live or played before “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to each NFL game during Week 1 and the league is considering putting names of victims of police brutality on helmet decals or jersey patches, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press.

The person said the league is working collaboratively with players to recognize victims of systemic racism throughout the season in a variety of ways. The person spoke to the AP on Thursday on condition of anonymity because discussions between the league and the NFL Players Association are ongoing.

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Minnesota’s Betty McCollum Touts ‘Decade’ of Work to Change Washington Redskins Name

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) praised FedEx and Nike for their efforts to pressure the Washington Redskins into changing the team’s “harmful” name and mascot.

“I have been working on this for almost a decade because I believe all people, including Native Americans, should be treated with dignity and respect – and not dehumanized as mascots,” McCollum said in a statement.

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Wisconsin Legislators Spent Two Days Debating About Colin Kaepernick

Wisconsin legislators spent Tuesday and Wednesday arguing over whether or not ex-NFL star Colin Kaepernick’s name should be included in a resolution honoring Black History Month. According to The Capital Times, the Wisconsin Legislature’s Black Caucus had included Kaepernick’s name in a ceremonial resolution, which honored African Americans who have “made measurable differences in their respective communities.” Republicans objected to his inclusion on the list, and instead put forward an alternative resolution that didn’t include his name. That resolution, which ultimately passed along party lines, replaced Kaepernick with the state’s first black lieutenant governor and first black secretary of state, among others. “The Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus unanimously agreed upon the names to honor in our resolution. It is beyond disappointing and offensive that Wisconsin Republicans are choosing not to respect the leadership of Wisconsin’s Legislative Black Caucus on this issue,” Rep. Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) said. State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) criticized her Republican colleagues for telling “the entire country” that a “white Republican legislator” is “best suited to decide for African Americans what we should value, who we should honor.” “You don’t have to understand. It’s not your lens. It’s not your story. It’s ours. Who are you to…

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What a Turn Off: NFL Fans, MSM, and Hollywood Viewers Tune Out Politically Biased Programming

On Monday’s Gill Report – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 1510 WLAC weekdays at 7:30 am – Star News Digital Media National Political Editor Steve Gill talked about the recent decline in ratings due to the political agenda of the NFL, MSM outlets, and Hollywood award shows. He was saddened that it hits the small businesses in the pocket book, however gleeful that this will hopefully be a lesson to the big corporations’ continuous mistake at making almost everything political.  Gill observed, “But viewers are paying attention, and tuning them out!” He continued: Does it make me a bad person that I like seeing the ratings absolutely crater for CNN when they engage in their left-wing propaganda on a constant basis and their ratings are slipping behind the cooking channel on cable? Of course, having their host out standing in ditches trying to make the flood waters look worse show that they’ll even lie about weather so why should we be surprised when they lie about politics or business or anything else that comes along. And then you’ve had the NFL with their Monday night football ratings reaching a new low. The second week of Monday night football, some of…

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More NFL National Anthem ‘Kneelers’ at Titans Opening Game, Kaepernick Tweets Praise

NFL

The Tennessee Titans opened their NFL season with an away game in Miami Sunday, where three members of the Dolphins protested the playing of the National Anthem. Two were ‘kneelers’ and one raised a fist. NFL ratings were down as the league kicked off another season three days earlier on Thursday. Though the controversial kneeling during the National Anthem took a night off on Thursday, apparently so did a lot of viewers. The season opener between Philadelphia and Atlanta drew the lowest number of viewers for an opening telecast since 2009. According to Deadline Hollywood viewership was down 8% from last year’s kickoff between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers of September 7, 2017. The Eagles-Falcons game was not only down from last year, but also lower than 2016, 2015 and 2014 – in which each saw declines from the previous year. President Donald Trump chimed in about the predicted protests just hours before the Sunday kickoffs. “Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison,” Trump tweeted. “Viewership declined 13%, the lowest in over a decade. If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on…

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President Trump Withdraws Philadelphia Eagles Invite, Plans Patriotic Celebration with Fans Anyway

President Trump

President Donald Trump said, in a statement, that the Philadelphia Eagles team is “unable” to attend a White House ceremony this afternoon because they don’t agree with his belief that NFL players should “proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.” The president’s announcement was made Monday evening, just under 24 hours before the 3 p.m. scheduled meeting, Fox News reported. Players Brandon Graham, Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Torrey Smith previously said they would not attend. “The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better,” the president said in a statement. “These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony—one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.  I will be there at 3:00 p.m. with the United States Marine Band and the United States Army Chorus to celebrate America.” Monday night, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted Gold Star families at the White House…

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Veterans Group Denied Super Bowl Ad Time Accuses NFL of Censorship

A decision by the National Football League to deny a veterans group TV ad time during this year’s Super Bowl has the vets group claiming liberal bias on behalf of the league. The ad by AMVETS, “a non-partisan, volunteer-led organization” consisting of mostly World War II veterans according to the group’s website, portrayed images of veterans saluting the American flag alongside the hashtag #PleaseStand.

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High School Cheerleaders Are Now Kneeling During The National Anthem

High school cheerleaders are also kneeling during the national anthem, according to a testimony from two high schoolers in Union City, Calif. Two high school students, Sasha Armbrester and Teana Boston, told NPR’s Youth Radio Friday that they are protesting police brutality at football games. Armbrester, a cheerleader for James Logan High School’s football team, said…

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Trump: Goodell Has Lost Control of NFL

President Donald Trump criticized the NFL for the third time this week in his latest tweet targeting commissioner Roger Goodell, saying the “players are the boss.” Only one player reportedly knelt during the three national anthems for the Thanksgiving Day games, with New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon continuing his protest of racial inequality and police brutality during the playing of the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” …

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NFL Player Sits During US National Anthem, Stands for Mexican National Anthem

Marshawn Lynch has been the subject of plenty of national anthem criticism this year. On Sunday, he made a statement even louder, reportedly opting to stand for the Mexican anthem and kneel for the American anthem: Marshawn Lynch sits during the US national anthem, stands for Mexican anyhem pic.twitter.com/8wdaKprEki — Ben Volin (@BenVolin) November 19, 2017…

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Papa John’s Founder: NFL Protests Hurting Sales

Papa John’s founder John Schnatter criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday for the lingering controversy of player protests during the national anthem and blamed the league for declining sales of his pizza. Schnatter expressed his disappointment on a conference call along with other executives from Papa John’s, the official pizza company of the NFL which…

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Rep. Diane Black: ‘My Four Seats Will Stay Empty Until the Titans Stand for the Anthem’

Gubernatorial candidate and House Budget Chair Representative Diane Black (TN-06) made news Tuesday on the Hugh Hewitt show when she declared her four season tickets will go unused unless and until the Tennessee Titans stand to honor the flag during the National Anthem. In response to Hewitt’s question regarding her position of the so-called ‘NFL kneelers,’ Rep Black answered, “I have had [season tickets] since the Titans came to town. I actually did not miss a single game when they were in Memphis and we were building a stadium for them. But my four tickets are in the drawer, and they will stay in the drawer. My seats will stay empty until we have an appreciation of our flag, our men and women who fight for this country, and for what this flag stands for.” And then she turned her ire to NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell, saying, “And so I am disgusted with the whole NFL. I applaud Jerry Jones for what he’s doing, and I think all the owners should do that. And I think Goodell’s job should be pulled.” Hewitt pressed Black, asserting his distaste for boycotts, and asking, “Let the players say whatever they want. I just think you have…

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NFL May Flag Players Who Kneel For Anthem

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell may signal a penalty on players who disrespect the flag and national anthem. Goodell sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams on Tuesday, Oct. 10 saying the league needs to move on, Business Insider reports. “Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem,” Goodell wrote. “It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us.” The topic will be discussed at a league meeting next week. Owners may allow players to give input, but they can make a decision without the union’s approval, the Daily Mail reports. The NFL may have already quietly changed its national anthem policy to allow teams to directly players instead of relying on the league to do so, the Daily Mail quotes ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen as saying. The policy now reads, “'[Players’ f]ailure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.’” Goodell does, however, plan to provide players a “platform,” Business Insider reports.…

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Commentary: Mike Pence Mocked for Principles the Left Just Can’t Fathom

Mike Pence, post-Colts-49ers walkout, has been mocked mercilessly by a vicious left as little more than a media hog and public relations stuntman for daring to leave the game in protest of players’ national anthem kneeling. The left, the suspicious, mega-partisan, ever-political left, just can’t believe that someone would actually stand on principle. Their logic?…

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Colin Kaepernick Tweets Winston Churchill’s Famous ‘Lies’ Quote in Response to Reports of Him Standing for the National Anthem

More than a year after Colin Kaepernick first starting kneeling during the national anthem, he is unemployed and looking for NFL work. After reports spread that Kaepernick would stand for the national anthem if a team gave him a chance, the man himself has responded: A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has…

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Anheuser-Busch Hesitates: ‘We Have No Plans to End Our NFL Sponsorship’

At the very beginning of the NFL players’ National Anthem “revolt” in mid-September, Anheuser-Busch–once a multi-generation family-owned American business, but now owned by an international conglomerate based in Belgium–posted a short statement voicing their concerns, considering the company’s long-standing partnership with the NFL as one of their largest advertisers. The original statement reads, in full: We are disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season. We are not yet satisfied with the league’s handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code. We have shared our concerns and expectations with the league. The updated company response, as of Tuesday afternoon, now includes the following statement, suggesting that their dissatisfaction with the NFL protests has not yet reached the stage that would cause the company to withdraw its lucrative sponsorship: We have many long-term sports partnerships, including our NFL sponsorship, and while we may not agree on everything, we still believe in the power of sport to bring people together and overcome their differences. We have no plans to end our NFL sponsorship. (emphasis added) The company’s latest statement, however, may not be the last word on the question of…

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Letter to the Editor: NFL Athletes Have a Right to Protest, I Have a Right to Never Watch the NFL Again

Tennessee Star

Dear Tennessee Star, I spent ten years serving this nation in uniform. My dad served four years when he was young. My son retired from the Air Force, serving honorably with multiple tours in the Middle East. I have friends who made careers serving in the military. One in particular served over thirty years earning several medals, including three purple hearts and the Bronze Star. Another friend served 28 years, and lost her husband in combat while he served in Afghanistan. Other friends served in WWII, saving the world from fascism. Some came home maimed while others buried their friends on foreign soil. Back in the ’60’s, soldiers returned from Vietnam only to be met by protesters who berated and spat on them. While the protesters were protected by the First Amendment, their actions were deplorable. As far as I’m concerned, professional athletes who refuse to stand for our National Anthem not only disrespect our flag, they are figuratively spitting on every man and woman who served this nation in uniform. Athletes play their sport because they’re talented. We served our country because of our principles: Duty, Honor, Country. I’m a strong advocate for the Constitution. I’m a firm believer…

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U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn Files Resolution on National Anthem Manners

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) on Monday introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives that reiterates U.S. Code on the manners to be displayed during the playing of the national anthem. “Persons present who are not in uniform or are not members of the Armed Forces or veterans ‘should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over their heart’,” the resolution says. Federal law offers guidance only and does not authorize any punitive measures for noncompliance. Blackburn’s resolution came a day after NFL players on several teams took a knee Sunday, with a few teams, including the Tennessee Titans, not even going out onto the field during the national anthem. Taking a knee has become a form of protest among football players and others against perceived racism, with Sunday’s protests fueled by President Trump slamming the practice. “The national anthem is a source of American pride,” Blackburn said on Facebook. “Our flag is the ultimate symbol of unity – uniting all Americans under one banner as ‘Americans’ – and we should respect it and those who have and continue to defend it.” The U.S. Code can be read here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301 Blackburn’s resolution can be read here: https://blackburn.house.gov/UploadedF…/Anthem_resolution.pdf Here…

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