Whether players would or would not stand during the National Anthem became one of the biggest storylines of this year's NFL season. With the league's biggest annual event, the Super Bowl, fast approaching, it only makes sense that we're talking about it again.
The NFL offers advertising inside the Super Bowl program, and the veterans' organization AMVETS attempted to submit an ad calling for everyone in attendance to stand during the anthem. The hashtag #PleaseStand highlighted the ad. The NFL, however, has rejected the one-page plea, according to USA Today.
"The Super Bowl game program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the paper via email. "It's never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement. The NFL has long supported the military and veterans and will again salute our service members in the Super Bowl with memorable on-field moments that will be televised as part of the game."
The ad reportedly would have cost $30,000.
The debate of whether players should stand during the National Anthem debate really ignited in 2016, as then–San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick elected not to stand as a silent protest of treatment of black people in America. Kaepernick was quickly joined by many others around the league. It is widely speculated that Kaepernick, who is now 30 and who had a successful run with the 49ers, was not signed to a team this past season because of his polarizing political stance.
The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots—yep, those guys again—will compete in Super Bowl LII, which will take place in Minneapolis, Minn., a week from Sunday (Feb. 4).
