By John Sarianides

For the first time in my adult life, I decided to not watch football on Sunday. It was one of the best decisions I have made in a long time. Instead of planting myself on the couch and watching the Patriots or the four o’clock game, I decided to go to the beach.

It was a beautiful day and I refused to waste my time watching a league that has become synonymous with protesting and politics. While I do not condone President Trump’s recent comments regarding the NFL and the NBA, I also do not condone the actions of players around the league.

Not coming on the field or kneeling during the national anthem as a way to protest Trump and other perceived injustices was the wrong way to deal with the situation in my opinion. I understand the players are well within their constitutional right to do what they did but I don’t agree with it and rather than waste another Sunday on the couch, I decided to get in one final beach day.

The concept of millionaire athletes lecturing me on social injustice just doesn’t sit well with me. I get that some of the players kneeling today experienced social injustice themselves growing up but their lives are drastically different now so pretending that they can relate to people that are struggling with social injustice today is a bit far fetched.

There are those out there who care what athletes think and want them to use their platform to initiate change. I do not. I could care less what Lebron James, Aaron Rodgers or any other athlete thinks. Their views on life do not impact me in any way. They have every right to express themselves but what they say means nothing to me.

NFL ratings are down for a variety of reasons but yesterday’s actions by the players won’t help. People watch sports to escape the politics and division that is fracturing our country. Unfortunately that same division that exists in our society also exists in the NFL thanks to an irresponsible president and a collection of players who have decided to make about themselves rather than their team or country. If you want to protest against the president, stand as one. Don’t kneel or sit out the anthem. It accomplishes nothing and all it does is create more division.

I had a wonderful beach day yesterday and I would do it all over again. It was way more fun than watching a bunch of over paid athletes protest a president who has divided us more than united us.