The National Football League continued to hemorrhage fans in the first two weeks of the 2019 season; with Sunday Night Football ratings down 18% from the same period just seven days ago.
“The Atlanta Falcons’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles drew a 12.2 household rating in overnight metered markets. That’s off about 18 percent from last week’s season opener (14.8) and down about 12 percent vs. the same week in 2018,” reports The Hollywood Reporter. “Should those declines carry through to the finals, the on-air audience for the game will end up in the 18 million range.”
“NBC’s telecast is down both from last week’s opener and the same night in 2018,” adds THR.
Analysts blame the decline in ratings on a series of political controversies, particularly star athletes “taking a knee” during the performance of the US National Anthem.
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick doubled-down on his US anthem protest last week; telling athletes who plan on kneeling during the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ to “stay strong” during the upcoming 2019 season.
“My Brothers @E_Reid35 @KSTiLLS @iThinkIsee12 continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats. They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action. Stay strong Brothers!!!” posted Kaepernick on social media.
My Brothers @E_Reid35 @KSTiLLS @iThinkIsee12 continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats. They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action. Stay strong Brothers!!! ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/OQClsZXD5V
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 18, 2019
President Trump re-ignited his war-of-words with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick last Friday; saying the infamous protester should only return to the league if “he’s good enough.”
“I think if he was good enough — I know the owners. I know [New England Patriots owner] Bob Kraft. I know so many of the owners — if he’s good enough they’d sign him … they will do anything they can to win games,” Trump said
“Frankly I’d love to see Kaepernick come in if he’s good enough,” Trump added. “But I don’t want to see him come in because somebody thinks it’s a good PR move.”
KAEPERNICK UNLEASHED: The Quarterback SLAMS Police for ‘Lawful Lynching’
Out-of-work NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was back in the national headlines this week after he viciously attacked members of law enforcement; accusing police departments of “lawful lynchings” across the US.
According to the Associated Press, Kaepernick was speaking after receiving an award from Amnesty International; which had named the protesting player its annual Ambassador of Conscience.
“Racialized oppression and dehumanization is woven into the very fabric of our nation — the effects of which can be seen in the lawful lynching of black and brown people by the police, and the mass incarceration of black and brown lives in the prison industrial complex,” Kaepernick said.
“How can you stand for the national anthem of a nation that preaches and propagates, ‘freedom and justice for all,’ that is so unjust to so many of the people living there?” he asked.
Colin Kaepernick is widely credited as starting the NFL’s “player protest” demonstrations back in 2016, with athletes choosing to “take a knee” during the performance of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner.’
GAME OVER: Trump Says Colin Kaepernick Should Return to NFL Only ‘If He’s Good Enough’
President Trump re-ignited his war-of-words with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick Friday; saying the infamous protester should only return to the league if “he’s good enough.”
“I think if he was good enough — I know the owners. I know [New England Patriots owner] Bob Kraft. I know so many of the owners — if he’s good enough they’d sign him … they will do anything they can to win games,” Trump said
“Frankly I’d love to see Kaepernick come in if he’s good enough,” Trump added. “But I don’t want to see him come in because somebody thinks it’s a good PR move.”
President Trump on Colin Kaepernick: "Frankly I'd love to see Kaepernick come in if he's good enough." https://t.co/zuMWQFebL6 pic.twitter.com/6b0vCBjE7j
— The Hill (@thehill) August 9, 2019
“The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was the first NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, and has remained unsigned for nearly three years. Last year, he became the face of a Nike ad campaign, which drew blowback from the president,” reports The Hill.
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