The NFL only wants to give the appearance of allowing the players freedom of expression while controlling which messages can be expressed and which can’t.
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Last week, the NFL fined San Francisco 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa $11,255 for displaying a “Make America Great Again” hat when he crashed the postgame, on-field interview of teammate Brock Purdy after their Oct. 27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
This isn’t the first time that the NFL has fined a league employee for making a right-wing political statement. In 2022, Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio was fined $100,000 because he referred to the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6 as a “dustup.” Jan. 6 may not have been a “dustup,” but should an employee be fined $100,000 because he mischaracterized it as such? Is there no freedom of speech left in the NFL?
