Not only are insiders peeved, but industry giants, too - and Ford and Hyundai announced they were leading the pack.
It's a big win for players like Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the American anthem in a "provocative" protest of police brutality last year. Ever since, other players have been following suit. The issue became so divisive it's lead President Trump to disinvite Golden State Warriors basketballer Stephen Curry from attending the White House in a shock sign for the direction of the Trump administration.
Overnight, the world's largest sportswear brand and maker of NFL uniforms, Nike has followed in the likes of sponsors Ford and Hyundai, directly opposing President Trump's views.
Nike "supports athletes and their right to freedom of expression on issues that are of great importance to our society," it said.
Now Mr Trump must balance an internal and external storm - and no one seems to be safe.
It all started on Sunday when Mr Trump "tweeted out the scariest tweet of his long Twitter career - and that's saying something," according to Salon's Heather Digby Parton.
Mr Trump's tweets are infamous for destroying relationships but this one took the cake. It's led to a flurry of fear of a nuclear war and the most pointed threat from North Korea yet.
"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take countermeasures including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country," North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said.
"The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then."
At the same time he was in a war of words with Kim Jong-un, he decided to tackle the NFL head-on by taking aim at the protesting NFL stars at a political rally. He said NFL owners should sack anyone who knelt during the anthem.
As he was downplaying the issue of racism and violence between the police force and the African-American community, the city of St Louis, Missisippi, was on high alert after demonstrations against the not guilty verdict of a police officer who was recorded threatening a suspect saying he was "going to kill this motherf***er" in a high speed police chase before stopping him and firing a "kill shot". It is alleged the officer also planted a gun on the victim to "make a murder look like self defence".
Nevermind that, though, because Trump had bigger fish to fry, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who told Sports Illustrated: "The way we reacted today, and this weekend, made me proud. I'm proud of our league."
The backlash sparked a frenzy of activity from Trump, who spoke three times on the issue, along with over a dozen tweets, including: "If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!"
Just the weekend prior, fewer than 10 players in all 16 games of the NFL either sat or raised a fist across the league. After the controversy, more now than ever before are following the lead.
It's led a growing avalanche of support for the equality movement in America, and Ford and Nike's backing - who are major sponsors of the league - sets the support in stone.
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