The football thread

[Rewind]

When he took the Presidential oath of office, Trump vowed to "preserve, respect and defend the Constitution of the United States" and yet he continually attacks freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the right to peaceably protest. How dare athletes protest racial injustice and police brutality!

New season, same Trump: The President again blasts NFL players for protests during national anthem
Los Angeles Times, Aug 10 2018 10:55 AM

President Trump was quick to respond to the first player protests of the new football season, tweeting Friday morning that "the NFL players are at it again" after a few teams' members knelt or performed other symbolic acts during the national anthem before preseason games Thursday night.

By his two tweets, the President signaled that for a third straight season he would stoke the divisive issue he first fanned as a candidate just before the 2016 election. Yet again, Trump ignored both the complaints of racial injustice and police brutality that many African American players have sought to highlight by kneeling during the pre-game anthem, and their free-speech rights.

Instead the president, who typically has suggested the players are against the anthem, the American flag and the US military, in his latest attack portrayed them as ungrateful for the opportunity to play in the NFL. "Find another way to protest," he tweeted. "Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!"

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-n...810-story.html

[Penguin]

Shamarko Thomas was thrown out of Thursday's game against Seattle for head-butting another player and now the Colts have released him. The NFL is trying to make football safer but football is a rough sport and they are making too many rules that are going to change the game.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...after-ejection

[Rewind]

The Browns finished last season with a 0-16 record. They couldn't possibly go winless this season too, could they? Beer drinkers in Cleveland are hoping they don't.

Bud Light to provide fans with celebratory beer when the Browns win a game

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...wns-win-1-game

[Rewind]

The solution to this so-called controversy is simple: If you want to stand when the anthem is played, stand. If you don't want to stand, don't. And the President should refrain from making nasty comments about the players. As a draft dodger, Putin lover and McCain hater, he should not be lecturing athletes about patriotism.

As new NFL season begins, national anthem controversy drags on with no clear solution

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...PzhA?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

As part of a move toward "gender inclusion," the Rams and Saints are the first NFL teams to add male cheerleaders. If the NFL was really serious about gender inclusion, teams would sign some female quarterbacks and female running backs.

Male cheerleaders join two NFL squads amid complaints and lawsuits

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/male-ch...-angeles-rams/

[Rewind]

The Browns' 19-game losing streak is finally over and Budweiser will be giving away a lot of beer. (See August 14 story above.)

Browns beat Jets for first win since December 2016

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...qErk?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

During tonight's Saints-Redskins game, Drew Brees became the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards. That does not mean he walks past people's property. It means that he.....oh, never mind. Football fans know what it means.

Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning's NFL record for passing yards

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...passing-yards/

[Rewind]

Last year the Rams finished 11-5, ending a streak of 13 consecutive seasons without a winning record. The Rams have never won every game in a season. Could they accomplish that feat this year? They're now 6-0. Wooh!

Todd Gurley rushes for career-high 208 yards in Rams' 23-20 victory over the Broncos

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/l...014-story.html

[Rewind]

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen bought the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988 and the Seattle Seahawks in 1996. He was also a co-owner of the Seattle Sounders. Today he died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 65 and.......

Report: Seahawks could be sold in wake of Paul Allen's death

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...rnEU?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

The Browns finished 2016 with a record of 1-15. Last year they finished 0-16. So far this year, their record is 2-5-1 -- and today they fired their coach. Go figure!

Browns fire coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, name Gregg Williams interim coach

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/ind..._hue_jack.html