The NFL made a big decision not to interfere with the presidential election, which was revealed today after a star player wore a MAGA hat on live television.
The league decided to postpone imposing the fine. San Francisco 49ers Defensive lineman Nick Bosa will not be available until after Election Day, sources told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
Fines are handed down quickly, usually within a few days. But amid the politically charged pre-election frenzy, NFL insiders told the Journal that decision won’t be made until two weeks later.
Bosa wore a pro-Trump hat during a postgame interview after the 49ers’ win, breaking NFL rules prohibiting “delivering personal messages.” dallas cowboys October 27th.
His public support was also captured. donald trumpAt the time, the president-elect attracted attention by posting, ‘Nick Bosa is a great player’ on his Truth Social platform.
Had the NFL taken any action against Bosa before Nov. 5, it would likely have sparked the ire of fans and Trump himself, who is used to criticizing the league.
Nick Bosa surprised his teammates last month by showing off a MAGA hat to an NBC audience.
Donald Trump and Kid Rock appear at the Alabama-Georgia game in Tuscaloosa.
At the time, the networks had already been accused of election interference by limiting their coverage of Trump while he was attending a college football game, even though the Republican candidate appeared on big screens and was cheered inside stadiums.
Trump supporters might have made similar accusations if the NFL had fined Bosa in an election climate.
Trump was a vocal critic of the league during his handling of the ‘take a knee’ movement during his first administration. He also criticized NFL rules officials for this year’s new rollout of the ‘ridiculous kickoff.’
The fine for Bosa certainly raised eyebrows and contrasted many with the NFL’s treatment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose actions sparked the kneeling movement.
‘Nick Bosa gets $11,000 fine for wearing MAGA hat,’ one critic wrote online. ‘Does anyone remember the guy wearing pig socks and a Castro t-shirt being hailed as a hero?’
Typically, the NFL issued these fines much more quickly than the two weeks it took the league to impose a penalty on Bosa.
for example, Pittsburgh Steelers Receiver George Pickens had ‘Always fucking open’ written on his black eye, and the league fined him $10,231 within a week.
An NFL spokesperson did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment on the timing of Bosa’s fine.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports previously reported on Nov. 1 that the NFL plans to punish Bosa after the Nov. 5 election.
Despite the league’s rules banning “wearing, displaying or otherwise conveying personal messages,” many Trump critics rushed to support defensive ends.
Social media personality Nick Adams wrote on X: ‘I won’t be watching the NFL this week.’ ‘I don’t watch a single game. Not a single play.
‘The woke NFL wants to kick Nick Bosa out of the league like Tebow because he expressed beliefs they don’t like. venomous. Boycott the NFL!’
Bosa has been an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump even before he was drafted in 2019.
Niners star Nick Bosa is a Donald Trump fan, and the feeling is clearly mutual.
Social media personality Nick Adams seized on the issue and called for a boycott of the NFL.
Many people have suggested that Bosa was targeted for his support of Donald Trump.
CBS reported on November 1 that the league planned to delay Bosa’s fine until after the election.
Conservative sports podcaster Jason Whitlock called the great phrase “fake,” while many others complained about the social justice messages NFL players were allowed to wear during the 2020 season.
Among other things, fans have accused the NFL of trying to silence conservative voices within the league.
‘He should have worn a BLM outfit,’ one fan wrote. ‘They would have given him 11G.’
One critic said of ‘This was done to convey a personal message,’ he wrote.
In 2016, the NFL said it was ‘encouraged that players will not be required to stand during the national anthem.’
Bosa, a longtime Trump supporter, knew he would be fined and told reporters before receiving his fine that ‘it was worth it.’
Bosa gave Trump another hat tip when he mimicked Trump’s infamous fist-pumping YMCA dance after sacking Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield on Sunday.
Trump responded online: ‘NICK BOSA IS A GREAT PLAYER!’
In 2019, Trump tweeted that Bosa was “congratulated on being selected #2 in the NFL Draft.”
“You will be a great player for many years to come, perhaps one of the best,” Trump wrote at the time. ‘Great talent! San Fracisco will embrace you. But the most important thing is to always stay true to yourself.’
As for the NFL’s political leanings: USA Today reported. In October, team owners had donated a total of $28 million this election cycle, most of which went to Republicans.
