NFL Rejects Super Bowl Ad Submitted By Vets Group Asking People To Donate And Stand For Anthem

The NFL has rejected a veterans’ group’s one-page ad in the program for Super Bowl LII, and the group has reportedly issued its own rejection of the league’s suggestion of a compromise.

NFL Rejects Super Bowl LII Vets ad

The group AMVETS submitted an ad with the message “#PleaseStand,” referring to standing for the national anthem, and that also includes instructions on how to donate to the organization.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy explained in an email that the NFL attempts to keep the national championship apolitical, and noted the league’s long-established support of the military and veterans.

“The Super Bowl game program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl,” McCarthy wrote. “It’s never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement. The NFL has long supported the military and veterans and will again salute our service members in the Super Bowl with memorable on-field moments that will be televised as part of the game.”

The NFL showed its support for veterans last weekend when they worked a deal to ensure that military personnel could watch the AFC and NFC title games despite the government shutdown. The shutdown — which began Friday evening at midnight and ended Monday night, initially meant troops stationed overseas wouldn’t be able to watch the games, which aired on the Armed Services Network.

AMVETs’ ad would have reportedly cost $30,000.

Joe Chenelly, the executive director of AMVETS, said just as players who kneel during the anthem are exercising their freedom of speech, so would members of his group be doing.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell — who has already flip-flopped on the issue of kneeling for the anthem — said this during a recent interview at the Economic Club of New York:

“Our players were all trying to do what’s in the best interest of the local communities they live in, that they care about, and I admire that a great deal. I wish all our players were standing for our national anthem. I always did and I always told them that. But I, I also, we really took the time to understand them. I think we could use a little bit more of that in our society.”

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will face off in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 01: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks with the media during a press conference for Super Bowl 51 at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)