The PFATS, an organization known for its commitment to the health and well-being of professional athletes, has taken a decidedly political turn with this latest move. According to sources close to the organization, the decision to revoke these scholarships was made after “extensive review” of game footage, social media posts, and, in one case, a particularly damning TikTok video.
“We have a responsibility to uphold the values that this great nation was built on,” said a PFATS spokesperson at a hastily organized press conference. “And those values include standing for the national anthem, no matter what your personal beliefs may be. Kneeling is a sign of disrespect, and we simply cannot support individuals who choose to disrespect our flag, our country, and by extension, our athletic training programs.”
The response from the NFL community was swift, with some players and coaches expressing outrage at what they see as a gross overreach by an organization that should be focused on ankle tape and ice baths, not patriotism. Others, however, have applauded the move, arguing that it’s about time someone took a stand (or rather, insisted on standing).
One anonymous coach, who was overheard shouting into a phone during practice, reportedly said, “Good on PFATS! We need to remind these kids that football isn’t just about touchdowns and Super Bowl rings. It’s about standing tall, literally and figuratively. If you can’t even do that, you don’t deserve to be on the field, let alone receive a scholarship.”
Unsurprisingly, the players affected by this decision were less than thrilled. One of the now-former scholarship recipients, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed his frustration in a series of tweets that have since gone viral. “So I kneel for two minutes and lose my scholarship? What about the 60 minutes I spend getting hit by linebackers twice my size? Does that not count for anything?” he tweeted, along with a GIF of a facepalm that has since been retweeted thousands of times.
