Following Roseanne Barr’s obscenely offensive comments about former Obama Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, ABC took immediate and decisive action to demonstrate that her words describing an accomplished black woman as an ape did not reflect the network’s values. The network’s cancellation of its highest rated show – a move that prioritized integrity and a commitment to decency over money, ratings, and even political expediency – surprised many.

The NFL, as it faces continual media and public scrutiny, could stand to take a knee and learn a lesson from ABC.