I appreciate your reply and understand your point, however, I can't totally agree. When I talked about this situation being manipulated by individuals who have an axe to grind totally apart from sports, I was not just referring to one side of the political wars.
I don't want to "take down the NFL". I enjoy professional football and refuse to give up something I enjoy to make a political statement. I don't harbor any resentment for the players success, either athletic or economic, but I don't grant them a right to burden me with their grievance. I also refuse to accept disrespect for the flag and other symbols of our national identity as a price for admission to the show. As the providers of a product I enjoy and want to purchase, I expect the ownership provide that product absent the unnecessary and unappreciated distractions they have allowed to be included.
In summary, I am a customer and want to be treated as such.
Ok, allow me to rephrase, let’s Make the NFL Great Again. ;)