Maybe because for some fans this is much deeper than you could ever understand.  Have you ever been part of an Honor Guard carrying a coffin from a plane to a hanger where the deceased family waited?  Ever had a sibling killed in action?  Uncle?  A fellow soldier?  How about simply have you ever worn the uniform?  If you cannot answer yes to one of these questions then you simply do not understand.

To the OP, I get it, I understand the anguish however there are 2 more games before the Jags return home.  It is my hope they can make this better for veterans, their families and loved ones.  For me personally I completely understand this past weeks demonstration.  The president overstepped his boundaries and called out group of individuals that have a platform and they used it.

When have the Jaguars, as an organization, been anything other than charitable and welcoming towards veterans and the military?

Since their inception, they have allocated a certain amount of tickets to the military.

They have had several military appreciation days, including halftime ceremonies where new recruits take their oaths on the field.

They have consistently given special recognition to long serving veterans.

They have facilitated surprise reunions between families here in Jacksonville and servicemen serving abroad.

They have established a tradition where, at the start of the 4th quarter, an active duty servicemen rings a large bell to honor the military.

They have explored the possibility of an annual Veteran's Day game, like the Thanksgiving day games in Dallas and Detroit as additional tribute to the veterans and servicemen.

In light of the above, to throw a tantrum, take your ball and go home because the players are protesting police brutality, not the military, the flag, the anthem, etc., is patently silly.

Keep in mind, these demonstrations haven't been anywhere near as high profile and uniform until Trump decided to chime in with his nonsense.  Even his staunchest supporters among the NFL owners said Trump was wrong.

I am aware of this and dispute nothing you have posted here.  In regard to your second to last paragraph though: 

"In light of the above, to throw a tantrum, take your ball and go home because the players are protesting police brutality, not the military, the flag, the anthem, etc., is patently silly."

This is your opinion, but for many NFL fans this is a disrespectful act and is a deal breaker.  If as the OP stated the organization is giving full refunds then they clearly understood there would be some backlash and took it upon themselves to accommodate anyone that took offense.  I applaud Mr Khan and quite frankly expected no less.  I would love to see him as well as every other owner mimic what Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys did.  That act brought attention to the stated issue, showed unity and did not disrespect anyone IMO.

---

Original Season Ticket Holder - Retired  1995 - 2020


At some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.
 

Keep in mind that the Department of Defense spends millions of taxpayer dollars on military events, displays and tributes at NFL games. There has been an increasing militarization of the NFL over the years.

As for the protests, what are they protesting again? Do they even know? And what's the deal with "unity"? Are they saying players who kneel will be treated exactly the same as players who don't kneel? That may be true this week, and next week, and maybe even this season. But I doubt that players and coaches from military families will continue to embrace teammates who they feel are disrespecting the flag. I think over time you will see kneelers gravitate to liberal teams in liberal cities, and many teams will start screening for kneeler tendencies.

---

We have been season ticket holder since Day 1 when we were first awarded a team back in 1993. Been to very game since 1995. Never imagined we would not attend every Jags game until we died.
We will be cancelling our season tickets tomorrow. We will not allow our American anthem and flag to be disrespected and support the effort in any way. There were millions of ways the players could have voiced their unrest and asked for a forum. But they chose to spit in our face. I could never face another military veteran again if I continued to support such a farce.
Jags - We will miss you. Good luck.

I had a friend tell me the same thing yesterday, and after some soul searching, this is how I feel about it.

Ever since this kneeling stuff started, my worry was that this would harm the Jaguars eventually.  There  are two ways to avoid the harm I foresaw, either the players stop kneeling, or the fans avoid overreacting.  I think you are overreacting.  Personally, I don't like what the players are doing, but I love football about a thousand times more than I  dislike what the players are doing.

The other thing is, if I were to react to this situation by giving up something I love, the Jaguars, then I am allowing those kneeling players to control me and drive my decisions. I don't think we should allow anyone's actions to drive our reactions like that. I'm not going to allow a kneeling player to make me give up football.

What you do is up to you. I respect your decision and I hope you change your mind.

---

You guys can chastise the OP all you want, but the reality is that he isn't the only person doing this. This is pretty big.

It sure is. Over 1000 so far are interested in go to the Boycott Jaguars event at the stadium on Oct 15th 4pm.

Are you going to boycott from New York?  You have so many opinions boycotting a Jag game when you've never been to one....

---

 

It is big time. The Steelers sent a letter to fans. Lots of fans burning their NFL gear. They really screwed the pooch doing this. Makes the players look like spoiled brats. I personally don't care what they do but they have to be prepared for the drop in attendance and viewership. Without fans they would go bye bye.

Spoiled brats?

You mean the spoiled brats who consistently give back to the community? Or the spoiled brats who gave millions and millions of dollars to the hurricane relief?

You clearly care what they do because you just called them spoiled brats for trying to bring attention to an issue they feel strongly about.

---

We have been season ticket holder since Day 1 when we were first awarded a team back in 1993. Been to very game since 1995. Never imagined we would not attend every Jags game until we died.
We will be cancelling our season tickets tomorrow. We will not allow our American anthem and flag to be disrespected and support the effort in any way. There were millions of ways the players could have voiced their unrest and asked for a forum. But they chose to spit in our face. I could never face another military veteran again if I continued to support such a farce.
Jags - We will miss you. Good luck.

I had a friend tell me the same thing yesterday, and after some soul searching, this is how I feel about it.

Ever since this kneeling stuff started, my worry was that this would harm the Jaguars eventually.  There  are two ways to avoid the harm I foresaw, either the players stop kneeling, or the fans avoid overreacting.  I think you are overreacting.  Personally, I don't like what the players are doing, but I love football about a thousand times more than I  dislike what the players are doing.

The other thing is, if I were to react to this situation by giving up something I love, the Jaguars, then I am allowing those kneeling players to control me and drive my decisions.  I don't think we should allow anyone's actions to drive our reactions like that.  I'm not going to allow a kneeling player to make me give up football.  

What you do is up to you.  I respect your decision and I hope you change your mind.

People don't really have the right to tell people how to overreact though, right?  People have been telling the NFL for a year that they don't like how Kaepernick and others have been protesting by kneeling and doing other things for the anthem.  Then, they took those actions a bit further last Sunday.  How did they think the fans were going to feel?

Instead of saying, ok, this offends a lot of people.  They continued doing exactly what they were doing, and not only that, they doubled down this past weekend and pushed the limits even more.  At some point the people that pay for your product that have been telling you they are offended by it are going to stop paying for it.

Turn off the TV's, stop paying for merchandise, return tickets......through collective bargaining the players paychecks will take a hit in all of this.  Not sure they understand that in the end.

---

 

It sure is. Over 1000 so far are interested in go to the Boycott Jaguars event at the stadium on Oct 15th 4pm.

Are you going to boycott from New York?  You have so many opinions boycotting a Jag game when you've never been to one....

I've been to many Jag games over the years. Don't question my fan hood because we have difference of opinion.

---

Are you going to boycott from New York?  You have so many opinions boycotting a Jag game when you've never been to one....

I've been to many Jag games over the years. Don't question my fan hood because we have difference of opinion.

To be fair, a lot of people have been questioning your fan hood since the first time you have posted something. It has nothing to do with your political views.

---

Are you going to boycott from New York?  You have so many opinions boycotting a Jag game when you've never been to one....

I've been to many Jag games over the years. Don't question my fan hood because we have difference of opinion.

I would love to see one picture of you at a Jag game in Jacksonville.

---

 

I had a friend tell me the same thing yesterday, and after some soul searching, this is how I feel about it.

Ever since this kneeling stuff started, my worry was that this would harm the Jaguars eventually.  There  are two ways to avoid the harm I foresaw, either the players stop kneeling, or the fans avoid overreacting.  I think you are overreacting.  Personally, I don't like what the players are doing, but I love football about a thousand times more than I  dislike what the players are doing.

The other thing is, if I were to react to this situation by giving up something I love, the Jaguars, then I am allowing those kneeling players to control me and drive my decisions.  I don't think we should allow anyone's actions to drive our reactions like that.  I'm not going to allow a kneeling player to make me give up football.  

What you do is up to you.  I respect your decision and I hope you change your mind.

People don't really have the right to tell people how to overreact though, right?  People have been telling the NFL for a year that they don't like how Kaepernick and others have been protesting by kneeling and doing other things for the anthem.  Then, they took those actions a bit further last Sunday.  How did they think the fans were going to feel?

Instead of saying, ok, this offends a lot of people.  They continued doing exactly what they were doing, and not only that, they doubled down this past weekend and pushed the limits even more.  At some point the people that pay for your product that have been telling you they are offended by it are going to stop paying for it.

Turn off the TV's, stop paying for merchandise, return tickets......through collective bargaining the players paychecks will take a hit in all of this.  Not sure they understand that in the end.

I think I love America as much as anybody.  I just don't see why whether someone else is standing up for the national anthem is so important that someone would give up NFL football over it.  

Calais Campbell was on one knee with his hand over his heart.  I don't understand why that would be so bad.  He's not burning a flag.  

This battle over symbols and what constitutes an acceptable level of respect for those symbols is escalating to the point where it could damage our franchise.   It's not worth it.

---

See you later.  Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Do you feel better after letting everyone know what you're doing and why?  Literally nobody cares.

"Literally nobody cares."
Wrong... I care. I also applaud someone who has the strength of their convictions to take action. I had said elsewhere that if this team (the Jags) brought kap here I would no longer be a Jags fan. Sunday at London the team demonstrated that they already have a bunch of kap 'wannabees' on the roster.

Football is just a game... a game. The people who play it are professional athletes, not heroes by any stretch of the imagination. They are payed millions to play a kids game. They live a life of the rich elite because they live in a country which has provided them with the freedom to do what they want and to be successful. A freedom which has been (and continues to be) bought at a terrible price by the real heroes. The national anthem and the flag are representations of the heritage and freedom that was bought with blood.

For someone who claims to be an American to kneel and or not cover their heart during the national anthem is to spit in the face of the very men and women who have sacrificed everything so they can get paid millions to play a kids game. I myself am a military veteran (20+ years) and have been put in harms way more than once.

Yes, those individuals have a right to protest any 'imagined' grievance; they can legally kneel during the national anthem if they choose to, or they can burn the flag if they choose to. But just because one can do something isn't the same as saying one should do something. 

What ever the reason, taking a knee when one should be standing tall with his hand over his heart has been lost in the stupidity of this form of protest. It was ill conceived and is ill advised for any American to do such a foolish thing. 

I started this response by saying that I had promised that if the Jags ever brought kap here I would no longer be a Jags fans. They instead, as a team, followed in kaps footsteps. So be it. I am no longer a Jacksonville jaguars fan and will not waste my time nor support any NFL related franchise. 

Honoring one's country and the men and women who serve it and have died for it is more important than following a kids game played by overpaid, self entitled pre-Madonnas. I know I'm not alone in this conviction, in spite of what many on this forum say. Kneeling during the national anthem is wrong. Period. The NFL should never have tolerated allowing the game to become a political forum and thereby ruining it for fans like me.

---

I've been to many Jag games over the years. Don't question my fan hood because we have difference of opinion.

To be fair, a lot of people have been questioning your fan hood since the first time you have posted something. It has nothing to do with your political views.

But Why? Do you think I come to the jags message board just for fun for the past 10 years for not being a fan? Just because I'm not from Jacksonville doesn't mean anything. Off the top of my head I've been to Jacksonville 6 or 7 times for games. I've been posting on here before you.

---

To be fair, a lot of people have been questioning your fan hood since the first time you have posted something. It has nothing to do with your political views.

But Why? Do you think I come to the jags message board just for fun for the past 10 years for not being a fan? Just because I'm not from Jacksonville doesn't mean anything. Off the top of my head I've been to Jacksonville 6 or 7 times for games. I've been posting on here before you.

Umm that's great. Bravo.

I never said I questioned it but other people do because you're extremely negative towards everything Jacksonville does. Now before you say "I just call it like I see it. The Jags have been bad." Yes. They have been very bad.

---

See you later.  Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Do you feel better after letting everyone know what you're doing and why?  Literally nobody cares.

"Literally nobody cares."
Wrong... I care. I also applaud someone who has the strength of their convictions to take action. I had said elsewhere that if this team (the Jags) brought kap here I would no longer be a Jags fan. Sunday at London the team demonstrated that they already have a bunch of kap 'wannabees' on the roster.

Football is just a game... a game. The people who play it are professional athletes, not heroes by any stretch of the imagination. They are payed millions to play a kids game. They live a life of the rich elite because they live in a country which has provided them with the freedom to do what they want and to be successful. A freedom which has been (and continues to be) bought at a terrible price by the real heroes. The national anthem and the flag are representations of the heritage and freedom that was bought with blood.

For someone who claims to be an American to kneel and or not cover their heart during the national anthem is to spit in the face of the very men and women who have sacrificed everything so they can get paid millions to play a kids game. I myself am a military veteran (20+ years) and have been put in harms way more than once.

Yes, those individuals have a right to protest any 'imagined' grievance; they can legally kneel during the national anthem if they choose to, or they can burn the flag if they choose to. But just because one can do something isn't the same as saying one should do something. 

What ever the reason, taking a knee when one should be standing tall with his hand over his heart has been lost in the stupidity of this form of protest. It was ill conceived and is ill advised for any American to do such a foolish thing. 

I started this response by saying that I had promised that if the Jags ever brought kap here I would no longer be a Jags fans. They instead, as a team, followed in kaps footsteps. So be it. I am no longer a Jacksonville jaguars fan and will not waste my time nor support any NFL related franchise. 

Honoring one's country and the men and women who serve it and have died for it is more important than following a kids game played by overpaid, self entitled pre-Madonnas. I know I'm not alone in this conviction, in spite of what many on this forum say. Kneeling during the national anthem is wrong. Period. The NFL should never have tolerated allowing the game to become a political forum and thereby ruining it for fans like me.

One of the best parts of a Jags game (sadly because in recent times there weren't many high parts) was the anthem and the fly overs.  You knew everyone would stand, remove their hats and show respect.  If they didn't, they would be reminded and do so immediately.  This town has always been respectful and it didn't matter your age, race, or color.

Current events have seem to given people the right to be an [BLEEP] and say everything is in the name of social justice.  You know you are going to offend someone, but you don't care because you think you are doing it for a cause.  It doesn't matter that the cause you are standing up for is offending others as long as you think you are being recognized.

The players in the NFL really don't think there are other ways they could have been noticed than taking a knee during the national anthem before a football game?   What else are they doing to help make things better?  Are they really trying their best to make their communities better, or is taking a knee it?  My guess is most aren't doing much, and if they are, it's the bare minimum.....

---

 

"Literally nobody cares."
Wrong... I care. I also applaud someone who has the strength of their convictions to take action. I had said elsewhere that if this team (the Jags) brought kap here I would no longer be a Jags fan. Sunday at London the team demonstrated that they already have a bunch of kap 'wannabees' on the roster.

Football is just a game... a game. The people who play it are professional athletes, not heroes by any stretch of the imagination. They are payed millions to play a kids game. They live a life of the rich elite because they live in a country which has provided them with the freedom to do what they want and to be successful. A freedom which has been (and continues to be) bought at a terrible price by the real heroes. The national anthem and the flag are representations of the heritage and freedom that was bought with blood.

For someone who claims to be an American to kneel and or not cover their heart during the national anthem is to spit in the face of the very men and women who have sacrificed everything so they can get paid millions to play a kids game. I myself am a military veteran (20+ years) and have been put in harms way more than once.

Yes, those individuals have a right to protest any 'imagined' grievance; they can legally kneel during the national anthem if they choose to, or they can burn the flag if they choose to. But just because one can do something isn't the same as saying one should do something. 

What ever the reason, taking a knee when one should be standing tall with his hand over his heart has been lost in the stupidity of this form of protest. It was ill conceived and is ill advised for any American to do such a foolish thing. 

I started this response by saying that I had promised that if the Jags ever brought kap here I would no longer be a Jags fans. They instead, as a team, followed in kaps footsteps. So be it. I am no longer a Jacksonville jaguars fan and will not waste my time nor support any NFL related franchise. 

Honoring one's country and the men and women who serve it and have died for it is more important than following a kids game played by overpaid, self entitled pre-Madonnas. I know I'm not alone in this conviction, in spite of what many on this forum say. Kneeling during the national anthem is wrong. Period. The NFL should never have tolerated allowing the game to become a political forum and thereby ruining it for fans like me.

One of the best parts of a Jags game (sadly because in recent times there weren't many high parts) was the anthem and the fly overs.  You knew everyone would stand, remove their hats and show respect.  If they didn't, they would be reminded and do so immediately.  This town has always been respectful and it didn't matter your age, race, or color.

Current events have seem to given people the right to be an [BLEEP] and say everything is in the name of social justice.  You know you are going to offend someone, but you don't care because you think you are doing it for a cause.  It doesn't matter that the cause you are standing up for is offending others as long as you think you are being recognized.

The players in the NFL really don't think there are other ways they could have been noticed than taking a knee during the national anthem before a football game?   What else are they doing to help make things better?  Are they really trying their best to make their communities better, or is taking a knee it?  My guess is most aren't doing much, and if they are, it's the bare minimum.....

How you react to things is your choice.  You choose to be offended.  I say, no one is going to run me out of the stadium.   I am not going to give other people power over whether I watch football games.  You are giving the players the power over your life and your enjoyment.  I go to the stadium to watch a football game.   To stop going because I don't like what happened during the national anthem seems like the tail wagging the dog.

But I still have hope for you disgruntled people because you haven't yet done what you say you are going to do. I say that because you are still here on the Jags message board, still talking about the very thing you said you were going to give up.

---

I never said I wouldn't go to a game, did I? I can still say it's an entirely stupid way to get your an opinion across while agreeing there's an issue.

I also find it extremely hypocritical. Too many of those players that took a knee on Sunday will say there is a problem in their community, take a stand on Sunday and have a huge voice in society, but do nothing the rest of the week. So while Kaep has at least stepped in the mud and made himself looked bad on occasion, at least he's stepped up done something for his community.

---

 

Give your opinion with your wallet. I still think this will be a blip of momentary outrage. In two weeks this will be the same as people crapping glass over transgendered people at Target and Confederate statues.

---

You really showed them! Even though you've already paid for the tickets. Maybe you should spend your Sundays researching the 1st amendment.

Maybe you missed my second post, genius. Spoke with Jags office today. Anyone who brings their unused tix to Everbank or mails them in will be refunded in full.
Didn't say they didn't have the RIGHT to do it. Said I disagree. That's all.

I hate to bring this up but this is what you are defending. This is what you are turning your tickets in for. 

Pay good attention to stanza 3. 


O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

---

If you think I offended you, don't worry, I meant to. #facts 
  
#iamlegend

People are burning their NFL stuff too.

I'm not sure if this has been posted, but this is an alternative for anyone considering burning clothing.


  http://www.purpleheartpickup.org/

---

Maybe you missed my second post, genius. Spoke with Jags office today. Anyone who brings their unused tix to Everbank or mails them in will be refunded in full.
Didn't say they didn't have the RIGHT to do it. Said I disagree. That's all.

I hate to bring this up but this is what you are defending. This is what you are turning your tickets in for. 

Pay good attention to stanza 3. 


O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

[i]On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
[/i]
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,

’Tis the star-spangled banner—O long may it wave
[i]O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave![/i]

[i][i]And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
[/i][/i]
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion

A home and a Country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
[i][i]And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.[/i][/i]

[i][i][i]O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
[/i][/i][/i]
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!

Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land

Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
[i][i][i]O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.[/i][/i][/i]

Wait, I thought the guys were taking a knee because of police brutality towards black people.  The third stanza of the national anthem that nobody knows about nor cares about and was written by a guy that owns slaves is all the sudden important now?  Nobody owns slaves, and a large portion of the world is trying to move on from it. They want peace and for everyone to get along. This is only brought up to bring divisiveness. This is only brought up now because it fits the narrative.

If you believe that there is police brutality and profiling towards black people fine, but don't start bringing things up to fit the narrative after the fact.  Kaepernick and other football players are not taking a knee because of that third stanza.  That's crap.

---