More people won’t be watching the NFL’s games this year because it has been a political forum, instead of some guys chasing a ball. People are turned off by the distraction from the game. Burgess Owens is proud to stand for the flag. His great great grandfather, Silas Burgess, was a slave brought from Africa as a child. He went on to become a pillar of his community, including starting the first church and elementary school in his area.