Commanders rule: Fans can't bring signs to games

[Avaj]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/27/Commanders-rule-fans-cant-bring-signs-to-games/

Commanders rule: Fans can't bring signs to games

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 27, 2009 3:29 PM ET
The Washington Commanders haven't just stripped head coach Jim Zorn of the ability to call the plays. They've also stripped their fans of the ability to bring signs to FedEx Field.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post reports that the Commanders have issued a blanket policy that no fans are permitted to enter the stadium with signs of any kind. This is a new policy -- a few weeks ago the team banned only inappropriate and offensive signs -- but a Commanders spokesman told the Post he wasn't sure when or why the policy changed.

The official word from the team is that signs and banners can't be permitted in the stadium because they could obstruct fans' views, and the team even says spectators could be injured by signs. But it's hard not to think the Commanders made this policy because they anticipate large numbers of fans bringing signs to the stadium that criticize the team and owner Daniel Snyder.

Whatever the reasons for the policy, the result -- as Steinberg documents -- is that a number of fans who didn't know about the policy were forced to throw their signs away before they could enter Monday night's game against the Eagles. Among the signs that security personnel wouldn't allow in the stadium was one that said, "Hi to my husband in Afghanistan. Love you." Steinberg fished that one -- and several others -- out of a trash can outside FedEx Field.

Obviously, not every sign is going to be as heart warming as a message to a soldier overseas -- one fan was removed from the stadium for a decidedly more negative banner -- but the bottom line for the Commanders is that they've decided they don't want their fans expressing any opinion in a way that can easily be picked up by TV cameras. It's probably safe to say the Commanders wouldn't have a problem with signs in the stands if they didn't have so many problems on the field.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Signs might obstruct views?

This is a concern for a man that had seats added in the stadium that prominantly features obstructed views?

What a joke Dan Snyder is.

Whats worse is, he's this bad now.... at age 40. Imagine how bad he'll be when he's Jerry or Als age.

 

[joseephuss]

Ridiculous.

There were a lot of empty seats last night. That is a strange thing to see at a Commanders game. There will be more if Snyder continues with this garbage.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Signs might obstruct views?

This is a concern for a man that had seats added in the stadium that prominantly features obstructed views?

What a joke Dan Snyder is.

Whats worse is, he's this bad now.... at age 40. Imagine how bad he'll be when he's Jerry or Als age.

I would think that would help not hurt :laugh2:

 

[bbgun]

 

[Aikbach]

Looks like Lionel Richie or as my mass communications professor pointed out in college after showing a snippet of the video to "All Night Long" that "Lionel Richie is the lone black man I've ever seen that cannot dance".

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Closer yet.

 

[joseephuss]

Closer yet.

You do realize that is the same person right? The actor Eriq La Salle. I am just kidding. I know you do.

 

[Phrozen Phil]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/27/Commanders-rule-fans-cant-bring-signs-to-games/

What's the rule on paper bags? I think we may see a few of those before long. They're also easier to smuggle in than a sign.:

 

[theebs]

 

[Phrozen Phil]

I feel for the fans. Snyder has ruined a once-proud franchise.

 

[DIAF]

NO HAPPY PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON ALLOWED!

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v318/Buane/2po7ejt.gif

 

[CowboyWay]

I feel for the fans. Snyder has ruined a once-proud franchise.

I hear that thrown alot when it comes to the skins. "Once proud".

What exactly in this teams history does it have to be proud about? They've always been a bottom dweller for the most part. They have a long and storied tradition of racism. They're very name is a racial slur.

They have 1 Super Bowl victory. I don't count the two that happened in strike years. They simply don't count for me. The second SB they won, the Giants were defending champions. But the giants didn't even make the playoffs because the scabs went 0-4 during the regular season. The Giants missed going to the playoffs because of it. Of course skins fans won't admit it, but if it were us who won during the strike years, you can bet they wouldn't count it either.

I'm not saying they don't have some history, but the majority of the years this team has been playing, they have been an afterthought.

Once proud?? My ***. When were they proud? During the strike years? Yippee.

But I do agree that the team is a joke. They are the NFC version of the Raiders. I don't envy their fans. They are going nowhere with the current management.
People want to blame Vinny. Are they blind to the fact that Vinny is the GM in name only? He's lil danny's mouthpiece. Thats all. At least Jerry has the balls to say he's the GM and make the decisions. Danny has a mouthpiece do his bidding so he doesn't have to take the heat directly. Anyone who thinks Vinny will be fired at the end of the season is nuts.

No real coach wants to go to the skins. We found that out the last time they were looking. You hire a Offensive coordinator (zorn), and two weeks later when you can't get anyone else to take an interview, you decide to make zorn the head coach? What a fricken joke.

 

[joseephuss]

What's the rule on paper bags? I think we may see a few of those before long. They're also easier to smuggle in than a sign.:

There was a thread about that a couple of weeks ago. They are not allowing them in Redskinland.

 

[Hostile]

No freedom of speech in the Nation's Capital? That's going to go over like a lead balloon.

Commanders fans want as many Dallas fans as possible to attend the game in December. I hope it's a sea of blue. Good lord willing I will be there.

 

[BigD]

I think they must have added no winning to the rules at Fed Ex and haven't let the foreskin fans in on it, yet.

 

[JonJon]

NO HAPPY PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON ALLOWED!

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v318/Buane/2po7ejt.gif

LOL @ the kid in the Romo jersey and Cowboys helmet in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

 

[peplaw06]

There was a thread about that a couple of weeks ago. They are not allowing them in Redskinland.

No paper bags either?? How about a fed ex box?? They can cut eye holes out of it and put it on their head. Then Danny will get some free advertising.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

Share this article with your friends.

These two as well which are even more embarrassing:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/10/signs_banned_at_fedex_field.html#more
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/10/behavior_change_skins_tees_at.html#more

Snyder has lost his mind and the NFL needs to step in.

 

[ajk23az]

Wow read this;

At half time, I went down to the concessions area to get a beer and a dog. Of course, the crowd was once again getting restless at the lack of productivity we were seeing on the field. Standing two rows away from me in line, were two middle aged men. One wore a T-shirt that read "Fire Snyder", the other's said "Fire Vinny". It wasn't long after standing there that the men were surrounded by close to a dozen people wearing yellow security jackets. The conversation between them and the two men escalated quickly as security asked the men to remove their shirts. Of course the men refused, and one stated that he had been a season ticket holder for 26 years. The conversation continued to get heated and before you knew it 6 or 7 armed security officers formed a circle around the layer of yellowed jacketed security officers. "Sir, you're about to lose those season tickets if you don't take off that shirt" is what he was told. I don't know what got into me but I had seen enough and had to speak up. This was beyond absurd! I cut across a crowd of people, entering the circle of security.... I said " these guys should be able to wear whatever they want! What the hell is going on? What the hell is this? Communist Russia??? ". I was quickly greeted with a stern warning to not interfere and a shove in the chest that sent me back a few feet. A few minutes later, the men were escorted out of the area and a security woman approached me with an explanation about their actions. "Look, I know what you're saying, and I can't say that I don't agree with you, but I'm a part-time teacher and this job is my Holiday money"...."upper management told us to come up here and ask these men to remove their shirts and I can't lose my job, so I'm doing it."

I decided then and there that I would NEVER again set foot in Fed Ex Stadium as long as Dan Snyder was the owner. The way I saw people being treated for voicing their opinions on this night embarrassed me as a Commander fan, a Washingtonian, and as an American. These sort of totalitarian strong arm tactics are downright shameful and I needed to let others know about it. I hope you share this story with your audience.

A deeply embarrassed Commanders fan

Posted by: CedarR | October 27, 2009 11:46 AM | Report abuse