(ThyBlackMan.com) Former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid has continued his collusion case against the NFL. The latest development has been that the NFL Players Association filing a non-injury grievance and a system arbitrator case on behalf of free-agent safety Eric Reid. Reid remains without an NFL team despite his playing skill and possibly due to being the biggest tie to Colin Kaepernick among active NFL players. Kaepernick himself has a collusion case against the NFL as he attempts to display that his demonstrations during the national anthem back in 2016 has led to his unemployment by all 32 NFL franchises. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was even deposed in Colin Kaepernick collusion case. These collusion cases and confidential meetings based on NFL protests during the playing of the national anthem so how big of an issue that the national anthem remains for the National Football League. The league itself and not the NFL players are to blame for the “issue” being as big has it has become.
There are several reasons why the NFL is to blame for its national anthem “problem”. One important thing to remember is that NFL players haven’t been on the sidelines for years during the playing of the national anthem throughout NFL history. Prior to 2009, NFL players being on the field for the national anthem was not the standard that NFL fans are well aware of now. Sports fans should never forget about the NFL’s link to militarism and the “paid 
patriotism” that has been part of the league’s recent history. Between 2011 to 2014, the United States Department of Defense paid the National Football League more than $5 million in taxpayer money to “honor” U.S. soldiers and veterans at games.
Those displays acted as a recruitment tool for the National Guard. It would seem that having players on the sideline during the national anthem plays a part in the significant “patriotism” marketing that the NFL takes a part in. Because the NFL players require NFL players take part in this “patriotism” would inevitably have led to a player doing something like Colin Kaepernick did in 2016 when he originally sat during the national anthem.
The NFL also made a critical mistake its official rules as there are no specific directives for what NFL players should do during the national anthem. In the NBA, there is no national anthem demonstrations, sitting, or kneeling by its players because it is required in the NBA’s official rules that require NBA players to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line while the national anthem is being played. Long before Colin Kaepernick, former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was suspended by the NBA for refusing to stand for the national anthem, which ended up costing Abdul-Rauf money and playing time.
However, Colin Kaepernick could not be punished by the NFL or the 49ers for his actions during the national anthem because he did not do anything against its rules in 2016. Ironically, Kaepernick sat down during the national anthem for a couple preseason games in 2016 without significant media attention before his actions made national news.
We are past the point of no return regarding NFL players protesting during the national anthem. The NFL can try to create a rule to “make” NFL players stand for the national anthem but trying to force these grown men to do something regarding this issue is a bad idea. Ultimately, the NFL may have to decide between two difficult decisions regarding this issue. They can continue to allow NFL players to individually protest as they please or they institute a rule along with the NFL players union that would end bringing all NFL players on the sideline while the national anthem is played so that there will be no opportunity for demonstrations during the national anthem. Those are likely the two best options.
Staff Writer; Mark Hines
