It all started when one NFL football player wouldn’t stand for the National Anthem. San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, began sitting for the National Anthem in the preseason. Many other athletes in the NFL have joined Kaepernick since Donald Trump’s speech. Trump made a comment about how these men are disrespecting the flag and the soldiers who are fighting for our country. Trump also said that any player who doesn’t stand in the NFL should be fired.

Von Miller, the Broncos linebacker told reporters, “We felt like President Trump’s speech was an assault on our most cherished right, freedom of speech.” Other teams stayed in the locker room during the anthem. Many people have stopped watching NFL football and buying NFL gear. Ratings have also gone down every since players wouldn’t stand.

On Sunday, September 24th, Steelers offensive lineman, Alejandro Villanueva, was the only Steelers player to come out for the National Anthem. Villanueva told CBS Pittsburgh, “Unfortunately I threw my teammates under the bus, unintentionally. Coach Tomlin gave us the guidance that we had to do it all as one, so 100 percent, in whatever it is that we had to do. There was a disagreement in what we were going to do and the only course of action was to go inside and remove ourselves from the situation. Villanueva was a Captain in the United States Army, in which he served as an Army Ranger and was decorated with a Bronze Star for valor and served three tours of duty in Afghanistan.

I honestly agree with President Trump. These players are role models to many children who want to be just like them. They watch and do everything these players are doing. They are not heroes. These players make millions of dollars each year to play a game, and they can’t even do a simple task and stand for the national anthem to support our troops who have made it possible for them to play this sport. If they don’t want to stand, then they shouldn’t be getting paid to make America look like a nation of spoiled brats.