For this upcoming 2018 season, the choice for players and coaches to participate in the anthem is still an option. Since teams are still given this choice, broadcast networks CBS, NBC, and Fox are debating if they should show the National Anthem or not.

A CBS representative stated to the media that the viewing of the Star Spangled Banner has also been taken out of there broadcasting plans as well.

With Fox, there plans are to show both the National Anthem and the star spangled banner, but only during special broadcasts such as Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and the post season. NBC is still undecided on their decision.

CBS, Fox, and NBC should still broadcast the National Anthem no matter what because the anthem and the American Flag represents freedom and has always been a part of the sports broadcast tradition to show before any and every sporting event.

The National Anthem and Star Spangled Banner have always been a tradition for networks to show before NFL games but will that tradition soon change?

Taking a knee during the “National Anthem” is wrong because it’s disrespecting veterans who fought and are still fighting for freedom and who are willing to sacrifice their lives for others back home.

Over the past years, NFL players have protested by taking a knee, raising a fist or locking arms during the national anthem before playing in a game to stand up against police brutality and racial inequality. This has caught the eyes of millions across the nation and the world.

Players raising their fist or locking arms is a better way to protest and express their beliefs on the issue. Players doing this are not only standing up against the issues for themselves, but are standing up for other Americans that express the same beliefs.

These horrific acts sparked a nationwide debate and led to the question, “should politics be kept out of sports?”

NFL players took after Colin Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who was the first player to take a knee before games which started a tradition where players can stand up for what was right and wrong.

Kaepernick caught the eye of millions of Americans including President Donald Trump.

President Trump stated, “Players who take a knee during the National Anthem will be fined as well as the team.” Many Americans including the President, thought the act of players kneeling during the National Anthem was considered unpatriotic.

It may be considered unpatriotic to many, but it doesn’t say in players contracts that they can’t peacefully protest and have the right to express their beliefs.

Later in the season, the NFL gave players the choice to either stay in the locker room or walk out to the end of the tunnel to participate in the national anthem.

Only one player actually came out to the end of the tunnel to participate in the National Anthem throughout those few weeks.