O’Neill’s post attracted more than 350 comments and more than 1,000 shares. Some of the comments took the justice to task for not respecting the players’ right to peaceably protest under the First Amendment.

“I have been a fan of yours for years, but do I need to worry about free speech in Ohio?” one Facebook poster responded.

“How could anyone get a fair trial in your court if you denounce the constitutional rights you swore to uphold?” wrote another poster.

“No player should be victimized and discriminated against because of his exercise of free speech -- to do so is in violation of his rights under the Constitution and the NFL’s own regulations,” NAACP Interim President Derrick Johnson told WJW.

“I will not pay to witness the disrespect of the American flag. It really is that simple,” O’Neill answered back. “Yes, folks. You have freedom of speech. I also have the freedom of not paying $75 to listen to you. And if freedom of speech is so clear here, why not burn the flag on the 50-yard line?”