Spring is now upon us, and each spring brings plenty of developments in the world of sports. In addition to the end of basketball season and the start of baseball, another annual development that has seemingly transpired every spring over the last few years has been the saga surrounding Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick, a quarterback who once took the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, has remained unsigned for the last five years, and every offseason since then has served as another chapter in the ongoing mystery that’s been Kaepernick’s absence from the NFL. Most recently, Kaepernick held a public workout during halftime at Michigan’s spring football game in front of NFL scouts, leading to speculation that the long wait for Kaepernick to suit up for a team again may be nearing its conclusion.
Since 2016, Kaepernick has been arguably the most controversial athlete in the United States. Starting in the 2016 season, Kaepernick began silently protesting during the playing of the national anthem, initially sitting down during it, and later kneeling while it was playing. This form of protest was done in response to a series of African-American deaths caused by law enforcement, and it kick-started Kaepernick’s activism on issues of racism in the country.
Many players followed suit, also taking a knee during the anthem over the course of the next few seasons, and, while such a protest hasn’t been as common in the league over the last couple of years, it has still left a bad taste in the mouths of politically conservative audiences, who believe that protesting during the anthem is an act of disrespect.
Many of the players who knelt during the anthem still play in the league, but, since Kaepernick was the first to do so and because he has been one of the most outspoken players regarding social issues in the United States, he has faced the most scrutiny. Since Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers in 2017 after being told by the team that he would be released, he has never worn another NFL jersey on his back.
The reason why has been a point of debate, as his supporters have argued that he has been blackballed due to his activism and national anthem protests. His detractors, meanwhile, have argued that Kaepernick, a player who threw for 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions in his final season with the 49ers and a player who holds the record for most rushing yards in a game among quarterbacks, is simply not good enough to hold a spot on an NFL roster. With that in mind, I’d be interested to know if those same detractors believe that someone like Sam Darnold, currently the favorite to start for the Carolina Panthers next season, is worthy of a roster spot too (Darnold only threw for nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions last season).
All things considered, I have a hard time believing that the reason Kaepernick has not been signed is because of his ability, and I also find it disingenuous that some may try to attribute not signing Kaepernick to attempting to avoid a PR headache, especially since the Cleveland Browns just acquired Deshaun Watson, who has been the subject of 22 civic suits accusing him of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in massage appointments.
In my mind, all signs point to Kaepernick’s anthem protests and activism being the root cause of him not being signed, not because of whatever “headaches” they may cause but simply because teams have caved to a sort of “cancel culture” that has, ironically, been imposed upon Kaepernick by the same people who largely claim to oppose it.
When you look at his resume, it appears absolutely absurd to say that Colin Kaepernick isn’t good enough to at least be a training camp arm for a team in need of a quarterback. There are legitimate arguments to be made that, since he hasn’t played in an NFL game in five years, it would be risky to hand him a starting job. Despite that, what does a team have to lose by signing him and letting him show what he’s got as a #2 or #3 quarterback in the preseason? Does it really make sense to pass up on a quarterback with Kaepernick’s experience in favor of an undrafted free agent who will be selling cars in five years?
One team signing Kaepernick would likely put an end to the long battle that has been waged over his NFL career. It wouldn’t eliminate some of the frustrations that members of Kaepernick’s camp probably feel over the fact that he’s been out of the league due to the cowardice of the league and its teams, but, at the very least, it would provide a chance for Kaepernick to show if he can legitimately help a team win football games.
At best, perhaps Kaepernick becomes a legitimate option as a starting quarterback again, something a not-insignificant number of teams are looking for. At worst, he fizzles out in the preseason, misses the final roster, and the team that picked him up will likely receive good press nonetheless for giving him a well-deserved shot at breaking into the league again. Ultimately, there is little downside in signing Colin Kaepernick, and it gives teams a chance to possibly right a very notable wrong in the NFL’s recent history. As the offseason progresses and questions continue to be asked about Kaepernick’s future and his chances at another shot in the league, the one question I pose regarding the whole situation is, why not?
Photo credit AP Photo/Todd Kirkland