Is The NFL Really Trying to Destroy Itself?

In the season that ends with the upcoming Super Bowl, the NFL found attendance at games down, TV ratings falling precipitously and team merchandise sales greatly diminished.  Many say that this is the result of the protests by players who kneel or sit during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner prior to the start of the games.  The league's response to these protests has been chaotic, but basically it has supported the players doing the protests despite the damage they are doing to the league's business.  Now, the NFL seems to have made yet another move that will repel huge numbers of fans.  The NFL sought an ad from a national veterans' organization, AMVETS, for the Super Bowl.  AMVETS produced an ad that simple asked fans to stand for the national anthem in honor of the vets who no longer can stand due to their wounds.  AMVETS was going to pay $30,000 to run the short ad.  The NFL, however, is refusing to run the ad.

Think about that.  The NFL was supposedly supporting free speech by players who knelt during the anthem.  When veterans who risked their lives for this country wanted to broadcast a simple and respectful message, however, the league is censoring them.  Super rich pampered NFL players get free speech in the NFL, but men and women who put their lives on the line to protect this country get censored.  Is the NFL kidding?

I have been a fan of the Eagles since I grew up in Philadelphia.  There is, however, no way that I am going to watch the Super Bowl if the NFL continues to disrespect our veterans.