Now the owners are realizing there's value in preventing the fallout from leaving a quarterback jobless in a way that can easily be, and will be read as punishment for the player choosing to speak up about a social issue.

The league really screwed this up, and their actions show that they realize it now. They should have made sure CK kept a job, so long as the attention was on, yet come out strong with superficial patriotism and even stronger with statements on the value of the first amendment. "We wish he wouldn't take a knee, but we are glad we live in a country where our brave sons and daughters have fought to give him that right."

Boom, NFL is a hero to all.