If your logic is that it is their right and freedom of speech to protest, then the same should be true for someone who is not dissing the flag and National Anthem by following conventional cultural protocol in standing and stunting or holding you hand over you heart.
They are unilaterally favoring the protesting players and targeting and dissing the stand-up guys who are respecting the flag, anthem and country.
The Left has been doing this not-respecting-the-flag crap since Obama started not holding his hand over his heart when he was running for president.
In my youth, the rallying cry was, "Love it or leave it." Same holds true today.
Auto-speller is the bane of our existence nowadays.