The Price of a Knee

lOn August 28, 2016, quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a decision that would divide the country.

He took a seat during the national anthem in a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.

After becoming a free agent, Kaepernick would soon discover the repercussions of his decision to not stand eight months ago.

Kaepernick had explained his motivations in an interview with NFL Network reporter, Steve Wyche.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick had said. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Kaepernick’s stand caused a divide in the country and with front offices around the league. Several NFL executives reacted harshly toward Kaepernick. One called him a traitor, and another had reportedly said, “I don’t want him anywhere near my team.” One front office person went as far as saying, “f–K that guy.”

Kaepernick started the 2016 season as the 49ers’ backup quarterback. By the sixth week, he would gain the starting role but not before the team and Kaepernick came to an agreement to restructure his contract which erased the final four years of his contract, replacing it with a two-year deal with a player option for the second year. Kaepernick declined the option for 2017 in March.

At the start of 2017 free agency period, quarterback after quarterback began to get signed while Kaepernick received zero interest. Talent wise and even accomplishment wise, the quarterbacks who were signed have not done a single thing in comparison to Kaepernick’s achievements.

It is absurd that Kaepernick, who was in six playoff games with a record of 4-2, two NFC championship games, and five yards away from a Super Bowl win, is still available.  He has achieved more than any of the free agent quarterbacks who were or are on the market.

Fifteen free agent quarterbacks, including guys like Mike Glennon who had only 18 career starts in the NFL and Matt Barkley who started six games last year and threw 14 interceptions, have been signed ahead of Kaepernick.

Kaepernick is a great quarterback, or even a franchise quarterback. He’s a quality starter with experience in big game situations and the ability to make explosive plays with his feet and arm. He would be an asset to any team.

No teams have reached out to Kaepernick. Most criticisms against him have not been about being inconsistent and not being able to play in the NFL but about his new vegan diet and how that will hurt his playing weight. Kaepernick has already returned to his normal playing weight and showed throughout the entire 2016 that he can stay healthy

.

All of these problems were there last year when plenty of teams were interested in him including Denver Broncos who were coming off a Super Bowl victory. Even after coming off his worst statistical year of his career in 2015 where he only played 9 games and threw six touchdowns and five interceptions, teams were still interested.

One can’t help but wonder why no one wants a quarterback coming out of a pretty good year with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, especially when he achieved all that with an offense that was lacking in talent. It begs the question — what has changed since last year that will deter teams that had pursued him last year when he had a bad year?

Kaepernick used his platform to protest injustice of police brutality. That is the only logical reason why a quarterback who can help a team win is being blackballed.  The teams do not like what he did.

A message is being sent here folks — a message from the owners of the teams in the NFL. The majority of NFL team Owners are known to be conservative. You can get in trouble with drugs,  but as long as you can still play, we’ll give you a chance. You can go to prison and still get a chance, but you excercise your first amendment right to stand up for what you believe in, and we don’t like it, and we’ll make an example out of you.

That’s exactly what is happening here. Kaepernick is being made an example of to put fear in the hearts of players in the league.