NFL Players Just Got Some Bad News From The American People

More than two-thirds of Americans say professional athletes should either keep their political activity off the field or abstain from politics altogether, a new CBS poll reveals.

When asked whether pro athletes should “use their position and fame to talk politics or raise issues, if they want to,” 41 percent of respondents answered yes “but only on their own time” — i.e. not while representing their team. Another 27 percent said pro athletes “should not” use their elevated positions to advance political issues, while 32 percent said athletes should get political “whenever they want to.”

Sep 24, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Marcus Peters (22) protests next to running back Charcandrick West (35) and defensive tackle Roy Miller (98) during the National Anthem prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center. (Photo: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY)

The CBS poll, released on Thursday, is consistent with previous polling showing that Americans want to keep politics separate from sporting events. (RELATED: Trump Has ESPN Thinking They’re Actually CNN)

Players, coaches and owners across the NFL last week knelt before or during the national anthem to protest President Trump’s assertion that players who do so should be fired.

Another survey released earlier this week found that 80 percent of voters want less politics in sports. That survey found that 51 percent of voters are watching less football than in previous years.

Of that 51 percent, 69 percent pointed to “players using the NFL as a stage for their political views” as the primary reason why they’re watching less football.

Source: The Daily Caller