The reality is that NFL football is a consumer product. Colin Kaepernick's image is wholly owned by the NFL. While he has his right to voice his opinion, that does not shield him from the consequences of doing so. His constitutional rights only go so far as to protect him from sanction from the government. And so far, the NFL hasn't done anything to censure him.

The fans also have a right to disagree with his statement. If they don't like the quality of the product they are consuming, i.e. seeing Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem during the game they are paying good money for, they have several methods of redress.

They can turn off the game. They can stop buying tickets. They can stop buying merchandise. They can boycott sponsors. The consumers are not out of place for just wanting athletes to shut up and entertain them. That's what they pay for. That's what the athletes are getting paid for. And if it hurts the NFL's pocketbook enough, you can bet they will take action.

For just as much as you can say it's a free country, it's also a free market.