OH! So that's what happened that I saw alluded to that I didn't actually care about. It's stupid and fucked up, but it can be argued that they are paying them, and it's their job. Could your job fire you for protesting the national anthem? Or dock your pay? You might consider suing them if they did, if it was enough to bother.
I think that they should consider continuing to protest and asking others to do so along with them, not just for the violence, but for their right to protest.
But, I don't particularly care, as I said, because I don't even watch football, and it is debatable. I think they may have severely fucked up though, if the players do decide to fight back.