NFL: Why the 'Stick to Sports' Argument Is Stupid in Today's World

Today’s NFL exists amid a world of political controversy and divisiveness. From former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to members of the Patriots not wanting to go to the White House, it’s easy to tell them all to “stick to sports.” And here’s why that’s such a stupid argument.

“Stick to sports.”

You’ve probably read that reply on Twitter — or some other means where a person can hide behind a keyboard — when an NFL player, coach or analyst takes to the internet and relays an opinion on something not related to the gridiron.

And it’s about the dumbest thing someone could say. I realize I just said that, even knowing it will get some negative comments below and maybe lose me a Twitter follower or two.

San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Does that change my opinion? No.

Sure, we live in one of the more polarizing eras in this country’s history. Maybe not as much as the 60s (I’ll let you pick between the 1860s and the 1960s), but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the United States is awfully divided right now.

In the mix is football.

It’s supposed to be an escape from all that — the bad news, political scandals, corruption, unrest, economy, education or whatever political topic reserved for your favorite television channel.

But a byproduct of that escape is how easy it is to simply watch said players, coaches and analysts as if they were mere machines and not human beings with opinions and takes on things other than football.

Yet when those aforementioned people speak up on anything non-football related, well, watch out! The stick-to-sports crowd will be out to get you.

A Product of the 21st Century?

Fans are connected with athletes and public figures now more than ever before. Twitter, Instagram and all kinds of social media allow our favorite sports stars to voice their opinions easier than ever before.

And there’s a side effect — when one of those athletes voices something another person doesn’t like, well, “stick to sports.”

Never mind the overwhelming number of sports figures involved in charities and the community. That’s not sticking to sports either, but no one seems to mind. It’s just when an opinion is crossed.

It’s easier to cross those opinions now than before, with the internet and all.

But that doesn’t answer the question. Did Jackie Robinson take to Twitter? Did Muhammad Ali reveal his protests on Snapchat? No. But they received the same sort of criticism.

It doesn’t stop at the athletes either. All an NFL pundit or analyst has to do is tweet about something non-football, and the “stick to sports” replies will start rolling in.

The Colin Kaepernick and John Elway Debate

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt for the national anthem and created a stir that hasn’t quieted yet.

Polarizing. Very polarizing.

And then general manager John Elway sent a letter of recommendation to support Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Not quite as polarizing. But neither is “sticking to sports.”

So will all the "stick to sports" peeps that addressed Kaepernick do the same with Elway?

It's just a question.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 20, 2017

Both are political, yes, but Kaepernick’s actions certainly rubbed more people the wrong way. But why?

Part of the issue is this — Kap’s actions were controversial. Elway’s weren’t quite as much. Yet that reinforces the point. The stick-to-sports crowd only jumps out when it feels as if its own sacred opinion has been crossed.

So that means athletes and NFL executives should just shut up and do what they do and only what they do, right?

Well, no.

Why the NFL “Stick to Sports” Argument Is Dumb

There’s this whole First Amendment thing to the United States Constitution, the one which guarantees freedom of speech.

Part of understanding that is realizing not every opinion out there is one you might agree with. But it also gives you the freedom to not be OK with Kaepernick’s stance. Or Elway’s. Or that of New England Patriots players not visiting the White House because of one particular President.

You don’t have to like it. But they don’t have to refrain from stating or acting upon it either.

More from Niner Noise

And that’s the point. The national anthem before NFL games is a political statement and a well-accepted one. Athletes visiting the White House (or not doing so) is just as much a statement.

If the sports world existed in a vacuum, none of this would be relevant. But football, and all other sports, does exist amid whatever is going on in our society today. It’s a reflection of it too.

Next: The Market on Colin Kaepernick Remains Awfully Thin

So the next time you’re thinking of replying with that “stick to sports” tweet, remember all this. You don’t have to like the other person’s opinion. But you can’t deny it exists either.

Why the ‘Stick to Sports’ Argument Is Stupid in Today’s NFL

By Peter Panacy | Mar 21, 2017