ESPN Punts on MNF – Please Stand And Remove Your Hats For A Commercial Break

ESPN takes a knee on Monday Night Football by cutting to a commercial break while the national anthem is played.

I’m sure that the NFL and ESPN would love for the entire kneeling issue to go away as it has blown up in their faces.

Ratings are dropping off the charts and the NFL brand could be irreparably tarnished. Monday Night Football brought in more low numbers. The players at the game in Chicago actually all stood for the anthem according to State Represetative John Cabello.

Every @NFL player stood for tonight's National Anthem! Thank you @ChicagoBears , @Vikings @realDonaldTrump @CLewandowski_ pic.twitter.com/bJLct10m2z

— John M. Cabello (@JohnCabello) October 10, 2017

However, rather than capitilize on that gesture of goodwill to the nations flag, ESPN cut to a commercial break and literally shot themselves in the foot again.

According to IJR:

It seems that the NFL and its broadcast partners have also made a decision on the national anthem. It came as a shock to many watching “Monday Night Football” tonight between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings that ESPN flatly decided not to broadcast the singing of the national anthem at all.

Watching the broadcast of the pregame, ESPN cut to a commercial break during the time when the anthem would be sung and returned as the kickoff was beginning. Fans of both teams wondered in disbelief if their eyes had deceived them and if this was the final result of the anthem protest: that the national anthem would simply not be shown any longer on television.

Choosing to not show the national anthem is a victory for no one and if the outcry online is any evidence it definitely didn’t help ESPN win back any viewers.

@NFL You think you have answer by not showing Anthem. This will not cut it. I have called my congressmen & told them do not pay my taxes 2 u

— Eddie (@Satch7Eddie) October 10, 2017

So MNF didn't show the National Anthem either? No @NFL games for me this week.

— dustin cary (@dustincary) October 10, 2017

F $$$ NFL! ! You too embarrass showing your disrespectful players for not standing up for the National Anthem on National Television!????????

— Pamela (@Pamela70589410) October 10, 2017