I don't think SA is disrespected. He plays in Seattle, not exactly the most visible place for a star athlete, and he's a quiet, religious guy. Superstardom is driven by fans and publicity, and there isn't much you can do these days with a Tiki Barber lookalike who quotes Bible verses to excite the masses.
But in terms of his ability, all I needed to see was Maurice Morris for a few games last year to convince me of SA's greatness. No one can make the case the line made SA.