First let me point out that the NFL brought politics into the league themselves when they forced the military/government to pay them in order to use the national anthem as a recruiting tool.
The report found the Department of Defense had spent $6.8 million on what they called "paid patriotism" between 2012 and 2015. This money was spread out among 50 pro teams from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, MLS and others. - AJ Willingham
Secondly, players are not disrespecting the flag, nation, or the military. That is an alternative narrative pushed by people who refuse to acknowledge the very reasons the players are protesting in the first place. It is a shame that everyone must be constantly reminded that they are in fact protesting because they felt people in their communities were dealing with unnecessary police brutality and racial injustices.
I myself served in the military for 8 years protecting the rights the players are demonstrating and I support their protest 100% as it is their constitutional right.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/25/us/nfl-national-anthem-trump-kaepernick-history-trnd/index.html
Great point. Right now, I am working on a post on the subject (in the context of the historical struggle African Americans, and other minorities, for that matter, have fought and eventually won). Most commentators focus on the legal aspect of the matter, and forget the moral implications of obeying unjust or decontextualized rules/laws. History, in the sort term, will prove legalists wrong. There is a simple thing called cause and effect. Respect is not intrinsic, it has to be earned. Blind obedience to law, especially when law is unjust is worse than anarchy. Before anyone thinks that patriotism is a good thing, think about what authoritarian regime have done around the world in the name of patriotism.
Here's my take on the issue: https://steemit.com/trump/@hlezama/trump-vs-the-nfl