L.A. Times Survey: Republicans Believe NFL Goes Too Far on Race

An updated poll about the NFL Los Angeles TimesSurveyMonkey shows that the culture war is affecting and has eroded support of the league. David Lauter, the author reports. L.A. Times.  About a third of those surveyed nationwide said their approval of the NFL has declined in the past five years. Only eight per cent of respondents now have greater respect and admiration for the league.

Five years ago, what happened? America — and cop-hating protests were in full force on National Football League playing fields and many angry fans stopped watching the games (evidenced by above photo of Colin Kaepernick, center, and teammates). Social justice warrior players pounded on the polarizing theme of America as the land of so-called “systemic racism”, and the NFL bought into that theme.

Lauter explained that the NFL lost approval was due to two poll questions. Both were about how they have dealt with race related issues since the 1990s. Disapproving poll respondents believe the league is doing “too much to show respect for its black players.” This poll finding offers evidence that many Americans reject the NFL’s ongoing social justice activities, visible on playing fields, helmets, PSAs, Super Bowl pre-game features and NFL support for the “Inspire Change” initiative advocating for the defunding of police departments.

Football fans were also disappointed by the league’s 2020 sale to Black Lives Matter, a Marxist-founded movement. Roger Goodell also publicly apologized to Colin Kaepernick – the ex-player who started the protests.

Lauter said:

“The group who say they are now lesser fans is disproportionately Republican, the poll found. Nearly half the people who identify themselves as Republicans, independents or leaning to the GOP stated that their fan interest has declined in the past five years. By comparison, only one-quarter of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic said that.”

22 percent believe the NFL has done too much to not respect black players. For Republicans and Republican-leaning unis, that figure is 45 percent. Only 5% of Democrats or Democratic-leaning Independents agreed with this view.

A fifth of all white Americans and fifty-seven percent for Democrats want greater social justice, and more attention to black issues. They are supported by only 9 percent of Republicans.

People who are less favorable about the NFL have a tendency to be disapproving the Rooney Rule. This requires that coaches interview candidates from minority groups for their head coaching posts.

Why wouldn’t people frown on the Rooney Rule? It has failed to increase the number of minority head coaches because teams aren’t serious about quota hiring practices. And it’s drawn criticism from all sides, including blacks.

A clear majority of Americans 62 percent — agree that the NFL has not responded well to the risk of long-term brain injuries among players.

According to Lauter, conservative Republicans are more likely to say in polls and in political debates “that discrimination against black Americans and other people of color is a thing of the past and that white Americans are now being discriminated against.”

Lauter also cited former President Donald Trump’s strong criticism of player kneeling as something that negatively influenced Republicans toward the NFL.