First, the man needs to think about what that flag stood for when he fought under it in Afghanistan.  Those people never intended to harm the US.  We started a stupid war with them and it is unwinnable and immoral at heart.   Too often we do good things in this country like letting people organize and fight for more help for poor people or more justice for many who are abused.   But we also do many evil things.  Jim Crow, keeping black kids in legally segregated schools, sending more resources to affluent communities while poor communities suffer(why don't you study Puerto Rico, the result of our arrogant colonialism and the people who suffer the results.)  

Second, the big issue here is that two major federal officials tried to stop free speech.   That is censorship and against our Constitution.  Far more important than a sports rule being broken.