I think the damage is much more severe than they imagine and will be longer-lasting. When your passion gives you the finger, you tend to go overboard in the opposite direction.
Football has been degenerating for some time. The ethos of football is self-sacrifice, as demanded by coaches from Vince Lombardi to Bill Belichick. The look-at-me narcissism exemplified by the NBA is repellant to many NFL fans. One showboating Dion Sanders or Tyrell Owens per season is entertaining. When it's every single rookie on up, taking ridiculous celebrations for routine plays, it's just tiresome.
Games are boring and dominated by commercials and booth reviews of calls. Officiating is terrible and often decides close games. The greed of owners is obscene, from rip off prices to extortion of taxpayer subsidies. Few players are what you would call inspiring role models. The Ravens actually have a statue outside their stadium of a guy who was involved in a murder outside a strip club. Grow up and be like RayRay son. Some message.
The league in its awesome wisdom decided to tarnish the reputation of one of their few admirable role models, Tom Brady. The idiot Commissioner seemed to relish in an ugly and obvious miscarriage of justice.
The league has the sword of Damocles hanging over it as well with the expiration of the union contract. A lengthy work stoppage would pretty much deliver a death blow to them. No doubt that had something to do with owners like Jerry Jones embarrassing themselves in an attempt to suck up to the players and pretend to be on the same side.