MIAMI - NFL players resumed kneeling protests during the pre-game playing of the US national anthem at Sunday's 2018 season openers as US President Donald Trump warned dimming TV ratings will plunge. The protests for social justice and against racial inequality, started by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, continued for a third consecutive season. Just hours before Sunday's game, Trump tweeted about the dip in NFL ratings for Thursday's season-opening game compared to past seasons, hinting that players standing for the anthem could restore lost viewership. "Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison," Trump tweeted Sunday morning. ESPN reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources, that there would be no new policy regarding anthem protests this season.

Source: Bangkok Post September 09, 2018 18:45 UTC