Florida man takes drastic measures to send a message to protesting NFL players

A Florida man who was upset about the NFL national anthem protests, particularly when it came to his home team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, took a drastic approach to convince others to join his NFL boycott.

What did he do?

Terry Smiley had the message "BE AMERICAN. BOYCOTT THE JAGS AND THE NFL" printed on a banner and hired a pilot to fly the giant banner over Everbank Field for two full hours on Sunday as the Jaguars played against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, who won the game 27-17.  Smiley said he was disgusted after several Jaguars players took a knee during the national anthem last month in London. The players did not kneel during the British national anthem.

"I am asking people to boycott the football games. I don’t watch it on TV,” Smiley told WJAX-TV.

“Do you believe in your country? Do you believe in 'The Star-Spangled Banner'? If you don’t stand up for it now, you won’t have it in the future,” he added. "If you don't like being in this country, get out of this country."

To further advertise his cause, Smiley is also giving away free bumper stickers depicting Calvin from the comic book "Calvin and Hobbes" urinating on the words "NFL and the Jaguars."

"If we boycott them, and we hit them in the pocketbook... Before long we'll have them on both their knees," he said.

Why does it matter?

The NFL has had a seemingly permanent spot in the headlines since the season began and players protested the national anthem in various ways, as the debate started by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick last season was reignited.

NFL owners will meet this week for the league's fall meetings and plan to discuss a possible rule change requiring all players to stand for the national anthem or face fines.