NFL Monday Night Ratings are Down Due to the #boycottNFL Movement

As the #boycottNFL Movement gains momentum, the ratings for NFL Monday Night Football games on TV have dropped by 19%. The movement was started in response to the league allowing players to disrespect the National Anthem.

A number of players have decided to kneel during the national anthem and raise their fists with the black power salute, instead of facing the flag and placing their right hand over their heart in respect for our country.

Although streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have taken a major bite into the cable television’s profits, the #boycottNFL movement is partially attributing to the drop in NFL ratings.  

“Last night’s Monday Night Football matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants drew a 9.1overnight rating, an 8% drop from last year’s comparable Week 4 game between the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs game in 2014 earned a 9.6 rating,” writes Forbes.

“While the number of streaming viewers has increased – last night’s game attracted 262,000 average minute viewers on digital platforms, a 23% increase from last year – total viewership is still trending downward. Last week’s Monday Night Football game unsurprisingly got clobbered in the ratings thanks to the presidential debate. That game drew a 5.7 overnight rating, the lowest in MNF history. Overall, MNF‘s ratings are down a whopping 19% this year, according to Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch.”

These numbers show that the NFL has shot itself in the foot by not putting the anti-anthem movement to rest. Players like Kaepernick are disrespecting fans, who are the individuals paying his salary, and the league is just letting this happen.  

Police departments are rightfully outraged and some are even refusing to work at games. Fans don’t appreciate how the league is allowing their police departments to be insulted.  

The worse part? Because the league is allowing this, rejecting the anthem has become popular at college and high school games also.  

“You’ve got to respect the flag and stand up with your teammates. It’s bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there. You’re with your team, and you pledge your allegiance to the flag and the national anthem as a team, and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are,” said Victor Cruz, the New York Giants wide receiver 

The league shouldn’t allow players to politicize the game, but instead they are too afraid to put a stop to it due to the backlash they could receive from the African American community.

Editor’s note: I’m glad to see this. Players are role models who are emulated by young impressionable football fans. When it is all said and done, this is really footballs only lasting effect. Disrespect shown to young fans could turn into a permanent moral flaw. Its not worth it.