I really don't see the players backing down, and if they do it will be a sham. The owners, being weak men for the most part, are in too deep now to crack down. If Jerry Jones can cave, any of them can. And they pretty much all did.
I don't believe there will be any sincere apologies. Maybe a few high profile guys like Ben Rothlisberger and maybe Drew Brees and Tom Brady. They will be put out front to represent all of the players. But they are not the problem.
I hope the majority follow your suggestion but I'm not betting on it. More likely it will die down quietly and they will act like they never did anything wrong and then wonder why we made such a hullabaloo.
Sports was better when the athletes had to get jobs in the off-season.