It is late May and we are talking about the NFL. This normally does not happen but for some reason the NFL wanted to get back into the culture war over entitled NFL brats kneeling about police brutality or something.

The NFL’s announcement should be music to the national GOP ears, and more importantly, to Donald Trump. Nothing makes Americans rally more than an attack, perceived or otherwise, on our country. Trump knows this and that’s why he poured gasoline on the fire of this controversy, saying:

“You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there, maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”

Why this matters:

This man is a master manipulator. He knows that the sports and political media would go absolutely ballistic over these words. And guess what? They did, and the coverage has been as silly as you would expect. They play into his hands every single time. If America’s left wants to fight a battle about over-paid, privileged, American athletes disrespecting the American flag, the National Anthem or the troops, Trump will gladly play along.

The details:

— 53 percent say it is “never appropriate” to kneel during the anthem.

— NFL ratings declined in the last year, and most attribute it to this issue.

— The NFL is very much worried about this issue. They polled Americans about signing Colin Kaepernick but did not release the results of said poll.

— Sponsors have never been thrilled about this controversy.

@TheDaleJackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a conservative talk show from 7-11 am weekdays on WVNN