Colin Kaepernick timeline: Looking back at year of national anthem controversy

By Arthur Weinsein

San Francisco 49ers defended Colin Kaepernick after the quarterback failed to stand for the United States national anthem on Friday.

Kaepernick, who has been mired in a quarterback controversy with Blaine Gabbert to see who would lead the 49ers, opted not to rise to his feet for the anthem before a preseason game at Levi's Stadium.

His action prompted the 49ers to issue a statement acknowledging that he sat during the anthem and defending his right to do so following the 21-10 loss to the Packers.

"The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony," the statement read. 

"It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.”

By Ron Clements

The backlash Colin Kaepernick has received since sitting during the national anthem before Friday's preseason game against the Packers hasn't altered his stance on the practice.

The 49ers quarterback told reporters on Sunday he'll "continue to sit" during the anthem as a form of protest for what he says is the oppression "of black people and people of color."

"Ultimately it's to bring awareness and make people realize what's going on in this country," Kaepernick said in the interview, which ran more than 18 minutes. "There are a lot of things going on that are unjust, people aren't being held accountable for, and that's something that needs to change."

It's understandable why Kaepernick, born in Milwaukee, Wis., would be upset; there has been recent unrest in Wisconsin's largest city following officer-involved shootings. Kaepernick specifically cited police brutality, saying he believes officers are getting away with murder.

"Cops are getting paid leave for killing people," he said. "That's not right. That's not right by anyone's standards."

Kaepernick called for police across the country to receive better training.READ MORE

By ​Tadd Haislop

Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the national anthem in protest has exposed a divide in public opinion, among other effects.

That divide has been amplified via the Kaepernick conversation, which has transcended beyond sports and into national political discourse. So you better believe it's all over NFL front offices, too.

Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman took the temperature this week of league executives in the context of Kaepernick and his protest. He found out those officials, for the most part, hate Kaepernick and his stance — literally hate .

"I don't want him anywhere near my team," one executive told Freeman. "He's a traitor."

Said another exec: "He has no respect for our country. F— that guy."

And from a general manager: "In my career, I have never seen a guy so hated by front office guys as Kaepernick."

Freeman interviewed seven executives and said each estimates "90 to 95 percent of NFL front offices felt the same way they did," and one even compared the "collective dislike" to that of Rae Carruth, a former player who remains jailed on charges in the murder of his pregnant girlfriend.

As Sporting News NFL writer David Steele wrote Wednesday, this in part is why Kaepernick likely will have to remain alone in his protest. Despite the league's stance — "We encourage but do not require players to stand" — reactions from team execs such as those reported by Freeman will keep other players' mouths shut.

Former NFL agent Joel Corry told Steele that if Kaepernick eventually is released (as many anticipate), it "will have a chilling effect on guys speaking out. They'll make the connection — speak out? Gone. Especially the guys who weren't necessarily secure."

No matter the reason — Kaepernick's injury history and poor play of late made him a release candidate well before his protest — if the 49ers cut Kaepernick, based on apparent views of him in league front offices, he'll have a hard time finding another job in the NFL.

By ​Vinnie Iyer

How did Colin Kaepernick's first exhibition game since Sunday's national anthem protest controversy go in San Diego? About how one would expect, at least before he took his first snap. 

There were the boos from home and some away fans as Kaepernick finished up his warmups. There were a swarm of cameras focused on where Kaepernick wouldn't be standing for the song.

There was Kaepernick, instead of sitting, off the bench and kneeling, as an African-American serviceman performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" on miliary appreciation night.

As most of the stadium stood in reverence of the anthem, it held out from disrespecting Kaepernick — until he took the field again for the opening kickoff.

It didn't matter that on Kaepernick's side was Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and long snapper for the rival Seahawks who supported his right to protest and was willing to have open conversation with the issues to which Kaepernick was trying to bring light.

From the signs by Chargers fans, to doctored Kaepernick jerseys by 49ers fans, it's clear other people have made up their minds and drawn the line.

So, for all that, Kaepernick kept doing what he did a little differently, and a lot of people still weren't happy about it. Everything has focused more on him, rather than what he was trying to say and back up.

Now, it will come down to what he can do on the field as an NFL quarterback to see whether he can try to say much more on an NFL sideline.

By Sean Gentille

We don't know the exact rationale behind Colin Kaepernick's pigs-as-police socks because he hasn't told us, but then, we don't really need him to tell us much. The reaction — widespread outrage, shock, clutched pearls — says enough.

Kaepernick opted out of subtext last week when he protested the national anthem. He abandoned it when he explained his motivation: speaking out against police brutality.

"There's people being murdered unjustly (by law enforcement) and not being held accountable. People are being given paid leave for killing people. That's not right. That's not right by anyone's standards," he said.

"People of color have been targeted by police. So that’s a large part of it and they’re government officials. They are put in place by the government. So that’s something that this country has to change. There’s things we can do to hold them more accountable."

A few days after, CBS Sports realized that Kaepernick had been practicing in the socks for weeks.

It's easy to look at the act of typing "socks pig police uniform" on Amazon and wonder what that does to add accountability, but Kaepernick's protest goes beyond that. He's mad. He isn't asking for peace — he's asking for justice. He's not interested in hearing both sides; he's choosing one, and he's not interested in propriety.

At face value, that's what the socks are about. It's Kaepernick digging in deeper. It's not subtext; it's supertext, and it's directly in line with his original protest. READ MORE

By Ron Clements

As singer Andra Day performed the United States national anthem before the NFL season opener, Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall took a knee on the sideline.

Marshall was showing solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who chose not to stand during the national anthem before preseason games as a form of protest.

Kaepernick and Marshall were team-mates at the University of Nevada.

"While we encourage members of our organisation to stand during the national anthem, we understand and respect it being a personal decision," the Broncos said in a statement.

Kaepernick is protesting for what he says is the oppression "of black people and people of colour".

He says he will continue to sit until significant change in how police officers treat minorities occurs.

His stance has gained momentum with 49ers team-mate Eric Reid, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane and United States midfielder Megan Rapinoe all kneeling before recent games.

By ​Tom Gatto

Colin Kaepernick carried his national anthem protest to the regular season.

The 49ers backup quarterback again took a knee Monday prior to his team's opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Teammate Eric Reid knelt alongside Kaepernick, and players from both teams raised their fists to protest injustice against minority groups.

ESPN did not shy away from showing the protests. It zoomed in on Kaepernick and Reid, who knelt behind an American flag that covered the entire field at Levi's Stadium. The network's cameras also stayed on the 49ers and Rams players who raised their fists.

The announcer team of Chris Berman, Steve Young and Lindsay Czarniak took several minutes after the anthem to analyze the protests. Czarniak reported that fans sitting behind Kaepernick yelled to the quarterback to stand up. Berman closed the coverage by saying, "To each their own, and all discussions pointing in the right direction."

By Steven J. Gaither

Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem isn't only causing him negative attention from many circles, it's also resulted in threats made against his life.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback said he has received a number of death threats since he decided not to stand during "The Star-Spangled Banner." Kaepernick said he hadn't told team security.

“To me, if something like that were to happen, you’ve proved my point and it’ll be loud and clear to everyone why it happened,” he said, via CSN Bay Area. “And that would move this movement forward at a greater speed than what it is even now.

“I don’t want this to happen, but that’s the (reality) of what could happen.”

The quarterback first took a knee during the national anthem prior to a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, explaining his intent to bring attention to the killings of people of color at the hands of police officers. 

Undeterred by the threats, Kaepernick has continued through the first few weeks of the regular season. He also spoke out Tuesday about the death of Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old black man who was shot dead by a Tulsa, Okla., police officer Friday.

Video made public Monday showed Crutcher, a pastor, with his hands in the air before he was killed. The Tulsa Police Department said no weapons were recovered on Crutcher's person nor in his vehicle.

"They shot and killed a man and walked around like it wasn't a human being," Kaepernick said, via the Sacramento Bee. "… That's not right. And they should be in prison for that."

Kaepernick said he'll donate $100,000 a month for the next 10 months to increase awareness about the issues. He intends to create a website where the public can track the donations made.

By ​Rana L. Cash

Countless Americans are convinced Colin Kaepernick's silent, non-violent protest against police brutality is nothing more than a cry for attention from a backup quarterback at best, and at worst a disrespectful attempt to debase the flag and the Star-Spangled Banner.

In any event, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback has fueled a national debate that reaches far beyond the football field. 

Time magazine acknowledges as much by putting Kaepernick on the cover of its Oct. 3 issue.

Kaepernick, after initially sitting during the national anthem, has vowed to kneel in protest of what he described as the oppression of African Americans. Since then, a number of other NFL players have joined in support of his message, either by kneeling or holding up clenched fists, a form of protest seared in Olympic sports history by Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

Other athletes profiled in the article include Malcolm Jenkins of the Eagles, Devin McCourty of the Patriots and a commentary piece by Jelani Jenkins of the Dolphins.  

By Bob Hille

President Obama on Wednesday night defended 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's right to protest during the national anthem, but recognized the need to listen on both sides of the debate.

Speaking during a televised town hall meeting on CNN, Obama said: “I want (the protesters) to listen to the pain that that may cause somebody who, for example, had a spouse or a child who was killed in combat and why it hurts them to see somebody not standing. But I also want people to think about the pain he may be expressing about somebody who's lost a loved one that they think was unfairly shot.”

Kaepernick's protest, he says, isn't aimed at the military but rather toward what he — and many others — perceive as unequal treatment of people of color by law enforcement officers.

That national discussion about a protest movement has now gone up to and through the highest elected office in the land.

“Well, as I've said before, I believe that us honoring our flag and our anthem is part of what binds us together as a nation. But I also always try to remind folks that part of what makes this country special is that we respect people's rights to have a different opinion," Obama said, adding, "The test of our fidelity to our Constitution, to freedom of speech, to our Bill of Rights, is not when it's easy, but when it's hard. We fight sometimes so that people can do things that we disagree with. ... As long as they're doing it within the law, then we can voice our opinion objecting to it but it's also their right.”

By Jordan Heck

Chip Kelly announced Tuesday that Colin Kaepernick will take over as the 49ers' starting quarterback this week against the Bills.

"We need to improve on the offensive side of the ball and this is the decision we’ve made," Kelly said.

The move is not a shocker given constant media pressure accompanying Gabbert's struggles. He has failed to reach 200 passing yards in all but one game this season, and his play has contributed to a 1-4 start for San Francisco.

Kaepernick and the 49ers reportedly were restructuring the QB's contract so his full injury guarantee would go away. Essentially, it allows San Francisco to play the quarterback and not be on the hook for his $14.9 million base salary next spring if he suffers a serious injury to trigger the guarantee.

"It's a football decision," Kelly said when asked about the contract. "I don't even know where his contract status is."

By Kirstie Chiappelli

Colin Kaepernick doesn’t think the ongoing national anthem protests are hurting NFL ratings.

During a conference call with Miami Dolphins reporters on Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback was asked about recent reports that suggested his stance is one of the reasons for the decline.

“They’re not watching football because of my stance about fighting systematic oppression and wanting the same equality and freedom for all people? I would say they probably need to look in the mirror at what they value,” Kaepernick said, via the Miami Herald. “You know, if they’re OK with people being treated unfairly, being abused, being harassed, being terrorized, then the problem is more with what they’re doing in their lives than it is about watching football games.”

Kaepernick has been criticized since the preseason for kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality, which sparked a nationwide movement. The controversial veteran also revealed earlier this month that he didn't exercise his right to vote in the presidential election, saying "you have to pick the lesser of two evils, but in the end it's still evil."

By Brandon Schlager

Colin Kaepernick said comments he made about Fidel Castro, perceived as support for the controversial late Cuban president, were taken "completely out of context" in the lead-up to Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.

Boos rained down on the San Francisco 49ers quarterback during pre-game introductions at Hard Rock Stadium, a common occurrence at road games in the aftermath of season-long national anthem protests. Afterward, Kaepernick was asked to clear the air about a tense exchange with a reporter Wednesday in which he spoke favorably of some Cuban policies under Castro's communist regime.

"What I said was I agree with the investment into education," he told reporters after a 31-24 loss to the Dolphins. "I also agree with the investment in free universal healthcare, as well as his involvement in helping to end apartheid in South Africa. I would hope that everybody agrees those things are good things.

"Trying to push the false narrative that I was a supporter of the oppressive things that he did is just not true."

The reporter, Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero, challenged Kaepernick on a T-shirt he wore in August, depicting Malcolm X's 1960 meeting with Castro in Harlem and the words "Like Minds Think Alike." Kaepernick said he intended for the shirt to show his support Malcolm X's willingness to be "open-minded," not Castro.

Salguero, a Cuban exile under Castro, later penned a column explaining the hardships his family faced trying to leave the country for a better life, calling Kaepernick an "unrepentant hypocrite."

Castro, 90, died on Friday, an occasion celebrated by many Cuban families, some in South Florida, whose plight was similar to the Salgueros.

Kaepernick, this time wearing a shirt displaying only Malcolm X, said the timing of his comments in relation to Castro's death were "very unique circumstances." He added that he empathizes for those oppressed under Castro's regime, "but for me, what I said was, that was a historic moment for Malcolm."

"I've worn many Malcolm X shirts," he said. "He was a great man, and he lived the life that he talked about. He was someone that truly walked the walk. He was a great leader for the African community, and someone that I admire. ... What I said was, that was a historic moment for Malcolm. I'm not gonna cut out pieces of Malcolm's life. You know, in 1960 when they met in Harlem, that was a historic moment and that was something that I will always be true to what Malcolm was, what he represented."

Asked to assess whether he feels his original cause has become diluted in the national conversation, Kaepernick added: "I don't worry about people losing track of what the message is, because I've been true to the message. I'm against systematic oppression, and voting is a part of that system. I've talked at length about why I believe that."

By Joe Rodgers

Colin Kaepernick has elected to become a free agent after the season, but the decision doesn't rule out him being the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, according to NFL Media.

Earlier this season, Kaepernick restructured his contract to void the final three years of the deal, which was set to run through the 2020 season, and also give him the right to opt out after this season, which he will now pursue.

As part of the restructured deal, the 49ers didn't want to risk having to pay Kaepernick $14.5 million in 2017 if he gets hurt this year. With Kaepernick now playing well despite San Francisco's 10 straight losses, the 49ers might be more inclined to pay Kaepernick a lower salary with more guaranteed money instead of the current pay-as-you-go model.

NFL Media believes there will be plenty of suitors for Kaepernick this offseason, but he'll likely use that interest as a negotiating ploy to get the most appropriate deal for him with the 49ers, who have stood by him through the kneeling during national anthem controversy. 

By Gabrielle McMillen

Colin Kaepernick's parents have decided to break their silence. Teresa and Rick Kaepernick wrote a letter to ESPN's The Undefeated on Friday, addressing their son's 'strength and courage' for standing up for his beliefs.

"Colin is carrying a heavy load and following a difficult path that he truly believes in. He is putting his entire future and possibly his life on the line for those beliefs," The Kaepernicks wrote. "As his parents, it pains us to read articles and tweets saying that his family does not support him; this could not be further from the truth. We want people to know that we are very proud of our son and admire his strength and courage in kneeling for the rights of others."

Since the preseason, Kaepernick has been under fire for kneeling during the national anthem to protest what he sees as the oppression of black people in the United States. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has stressed it isn't a barb at the military, but an effort to bring more awareness to racism in America.

However, Admiral Harry Harris took a jab at Kaepernick on Pearl Harbor's 75th anniversary on Wednesday, saying, "You can bet that the men and women we honor today — and those who died that fateful morning 75 years ago — never took a knee and never failed to stand whenever they heard our national anthem being played."

"Colin has chosen to kneel for the national anthem as a protest to the continuing racial inequality in this country," Kaepernick's parents' statement read. "He has explained his reasons for this in multiple interviews, yet it seems some people still do not understand his point. For whatever reason, there are some who want to view this as an anti-military protest or an un-American stance. These views could not be further from the truth, but we know that people will believe what they wish to believe. The recent remarks (attacks) by Admiral Harris supported by the Pentagon are over the top, and we feel the desire to make a public statement in support of our son."

The Kaepernicks, who are white, adopted biracial Colin when he was a baby after his 19-year-old white mother gave him up for adoption. They said they were surprised when Kaepernick took a knee during the preseason, but the amount of racism and hatred directed at him made them see that racism isn't gone in America.

"Colin not only received terrible racist tweets, but also received letters directly to our home similar to that recently received by (Denver Broncos linebacker) Brandon Marshall," the family's statement read. "We were truly shocked at the amount of racist hatred out there! Until this had occurred, we had naively believed that the racial atmosphere in this country was far better than it actually is. Prayer and talks with our son gave us a much better understanding of the reason for his protest and how we should view it."

By ​David Steele

It’s not the biggest aspect of Colin Kaepernick’s life that got overshadowed by his kneeling protests of last season. But in the national debate that ensued, it was easy to forget that his days as a 49er were numbered long before he made his protests public.

There’s no reason to forget it now, with Kaepernick officially opting out of his contract. Delete all the personal feelings one way or the other about the protest, and what bubbles back up is how toxic things were between him and the team dating back to Jim Harbaugh’s last season as coach.

This has been building for a while. Kneeling distracted everybody from it — in fact, it distracted everybody just months after the 49ers had shopped him around trying to satisfy his trade request.

This is just the inevitable taking place.

It doesn't necessarily slam the door on Kaepernick coming back, or even preclude yet another eager, optimistic attempt at bonding with yet another new head coach, new staff and new scheme — plus, for a change, a new front office. In the absolute strictest of football senses, Kyle Shanahan might really be just what Kaepernick needs (although the same was said a year ago about Chip Kelly, for whatever that’s worth).

But enough is enough. It’s a divorce that never got finalized, and the papers are at least getting signed now.

The crazy irony is that, while much of the league (usually under the cowardly cloak of anonymity) condemned Kaepernick’s protests and swore that they wanted no part of him, Kaepernick had no bigger supporter than 49ers owner Jed York, stood up for the QB's constitutional rights and donated to related causes.

As an organization, the 49ers all season long shut down talk that they were ready to drop him for being either a detriment to the team or an enemy of the people (to borrow a recent phrase from a certain politician). Not only did they refuse to inflict an on-field punishment as so many demanded, they made him a starter when it was obvious he was their best option.

Yet none of that washed away the ugliness that marked the last three years Kaepernick has been there.

It never obscured the chaos within the organization throughout that time — from Harbaugh clashing with York and then-general manager Trent Baalke, through the three coaches they’ve hired since pushing him out, to smears on Kaepernick’s character doled out by “insiders," to the clumsiness of his injury diagnosis in 2015, to the trade demand shenanigans of last offseason.

It had to end sometime. The fact that it didn’t end before last season managed to put Kaepernick and the 49ers in a non-football-related spotlight — otherwise, Ground Zero in the debate over police brutality, the oppression of people of color and the right to protest would have been someplace other than Santa Clara.

But it was there with the 49ers, during one of the very worst seasons in their storied history, with another coach being forced to walk the plank … and, thanks to an odd chain of events, with Kaepernick proving he was neither washed up as a player nor locker room poison.

All things considered in a depth-poor NFL quarterback landscape, that’s going to get Kaepernick some interest, and he’s much easier to acquire now than he was a year ago.

A team could do a whole lot worse, as a backup or even a starter, than a seven-year vet who’s been to a Super Bowl, turned in unforgettable postseason performances, recovered from serious injury to post a 90.7 rating and a 16-to-4 touchdown-interception ratio with almost zero talent around him … and is way tougher and more popular than many want to acknowledge.

Teams have done, and are doing, much worse than that.

It needs to be another team, though. Kaepernick and the 49ers can finally make a clean break. Besides York, he’s the last character in that soap opera to exit the stage.

It's time.

By ​Vinnie Iyer

Colin Kaepernick will not only opt out of his National Anthem protest, he is also about to opt out of his contract with the 49ers. Now prepare for him to end up with, of all teams, the Seahawks.

As weird as Seattle might sound because of Kaepernick's and San Francisco's history against their NFC West rival, it's the likeliest of unlikely destinations.

It would come with Kaepernick having to live with the disappointment of not being signed as a starting NFL quarterback. But it also would come with a great opportunity for the 29-year-old to get his career back on track, in the right place.

Kaepernick at one point looked like he and Russell Wilson would have many epic duels as strong-armed, mobile passers with championships on the line. It's hard to believe the 49ers-Seahawks classic NFC title game was played only three years ago, given what all has happened since.

Wilson led Seattle to a ring after the 2013 season, something Kaepernick fell just short of the season before. While Wilson and the 'Hawks have remained a conference contender, Kaepernick faded hard right along with the Niners' post-Jim Harbaugh freefall.

Before we get into that "other" thing that might keep Kaepernick from finding his ideal second-team scenario, the Seahawks can be a great benefit to him finding his way on the field again.

Kaepernick still has the basic skill set, with that arm and that mobility, to serve as an ideal seasoned backup to Wilson. That No. 2 role is currently held by second-year undrafted QB Trevone Boykin, an intriguing athletic talent who still is more of a developmental project than insurance.

Kaepernick could absorb many good things from Wilson by working with him in practice. Kaepernick's footwork, accuracy and mechanics all have taken big hits in his regression. Wilson, meanwhile, has pushed those aspects of his game to the top of the league.

The two used to be a lot different personalities as younger QBs. Kaepernick was Kaepernicking, and Wilson was Go Hawksing. Kaepernick has gone from his shoes to issues, while Wilson has traded bland for bold. Meeting in the middle, they could mesh well on the same depth chart.

Kaepernick also has lacked both reliable coaching and a comfortable supporting cast since Harbaugh left. Pete Carroll could provide the stability for him on the sidelines, and Darrell Bevell has the offense to maximize his abilities. The Seahawks are in desperate need of offensive line help, but they offer a diverse array of playmakers Kaepernick hasn't had since his early Niners starting QB days.

Here's the twist: Kaepernick, foiled often by the Seahawks' defense, has gained more respect from players on that unit. There was some Seattle solidarity with him during his national anthem protests, led by Jeremy Lane. Richard Sherman understood of what Kaepernick was trying to do. Michael Bennett gave his full support.

Kaepernick reportedly won't be protesting like that next season, but many potential future coaches and teammates still will feel they can't stand by what he already has done. Kaepernick doesn't need to worry about that with the Seahawks.

Kaepernick already has a great challenge in finding another team because of how he's played football of late, including some durability concerns. Combined with the controversy, the reality is that his free agency options are limited.

It will take a progressive team with a particular need, and the Seahawks best fit the profile. The rest is on Kaepernick accepting that there's a good chance he isn't perceived as anyone's No. 1 anymore. Sure, it's a demotion, but it's also a favorable — and maybe only — road to redemption and resurrection.

Kaepernick didn't seem to care that his actions and political statements would hurt his future earning power in the NFL. If he can accept taking lesser money, he shouldn't see settling for second in Seattle as a lesser move, but rather a necessary one that can turn into a blessing.

The Seahawks' job for several seasons was to stop Kaepernick. Don't be shocked if they're soon charged with restarting him as their backup.

By David Steele

It seemed a little early to condemn NFL teams for freezing out Colin Kaepernick. Barely a week had gone by in free agency. With one exception — albeit a grotesque, borderline-obscene one — not many quarterbacks had been coming off of the market. Bleacher Report’s Friday story on how front-office types still want nothing to do with him for his protests during the national anthem shined another light on it.

Still, it’s a long offseason. It only takes one team rowing against the tide. And, again, even the Jay Cutlers were still looking for work, never mind a part-time starter fighting against a scarlet letter.

Then, this week, Nick Foles signed with the Eagles.

EJ Manuel signed with the Raiders.

Geno Smith signed with the Giants, soon after Josh Johnson, last year's backup, re-signed.

Josh McCown set up a visit with the Jets.

And, of course, this all was after Mike Glennon signed with the Bears for $18.5 million guaranteed.

Come on. Stop it. Do not ever say Colin Kaepernick can't get a job because he's not good enough.

Think of a better excuse. Think of a better lie. Hey, even try telling the truth — this time, on the record.

But don’t feed everybody the "It’s because Kaepernick is a trash quarterback" line. Everybody’s full, thank you.

Now, the Bleacher Report explanation is much more plausible — and NFL executives no longer deserve the benefit of the doubt that their decisions are football-related.

They might be able to get away with them being money-related, except that there is nothing definitive about what Kaepernick wants to get paid. Then again … $18.5 million for Mike Glennon. To be a starter.

It's not worth the electricity needed to type it, or to trot out the stats that say Kaepernick was not terrible in his 11 games last season. It’s not worth repeating that he had not played in a year because of multiple surgeries and is healthier now than he has been in two seasons. Not worth the reminder that the 49ers’ new management is rebuilding the entire roster from scratch, which tells you Kaepernick wasn’t exactly working with the same weapons Matt Ryan was.

Of course this isn't about football. It’s about maintaining the status quo, or what NFL teams believe that to be. It's about not ruffling feathers, or at least the feathers NFL teams care about ruffling.

It's about at least one team in the market for a quarterback, the Giants, with a coach who's on the record as being "disappointed" in Kaepernick’s protest (at the same time he eagerly defended a kicker who abused his wife). The two signings they made essentially scream, "Anybody But Kaepernick."

And it’s about one nameless AFC general manager who took this to its furthest extreme and told Bleacher Report that he’s afraid "Trump will tweet about the team," and that some teams want no part of that kind of attention.

Imagine that. Kaepernick was the one labeled a coward in so many places for so many reasons last season — including, implausibly, for making it known that he would no longer do the same protest at games next season.

That marked Kaepernick a coward, yet teams are scared of a hot take from the president, and let that guide their football decisions.

Meanwhile, those who said the rich, entitled jock really wasn’t sacrificing anything with his kneeling must be aware by now exactly what he sacrificed.

Until someone proves it wrong, he has sacrificed his NFL career. Teams find Manuel, Foles and Smith to be more reasonable options at what they’ve made clear is the most important position in their sport.

NFL teams are free to prove that wrong. So far, early in free agency, they haven’t.

By Vinnie Iyer

Colin Kaepernick still has the skill set to be an NFL quarterback somewhere in 2017. But between his regression as a highly-paid starter and the controversy he now carries with his bold off-field stances, his value as an NFL free agent — fair or not — has dwindled down to a cheap backup option for only a handful of teams.

Whether or not you believe Kaepernick is being blackballed by the entire league, there's no doubt that many teams, for either one or both the above reasons, have no interest in signing the former 49er.

From the top, there are many teams that don't need Kaepernick because they already have good money invested in a top-flight starters and viable No. 2 options. Then there are those owners who don't want Kaepernick representing their organizations, period. Then there are those franchises in big markets that don't want the media attention, and others in smaller markets that don't want to rattle a fan base with Kaepernick's political leanings.

Taking into account all those variables eliminates about 81 percent of the league, or 26 teams. With the opportunity for teams to draft QBs a little more than a month away, it's probably down to these half-dozen clubs to employ Kaepernick.

Buffalo Bills

Tyrod Taylor is back on the fold as Buffalo's starter, but it also moved on for good from 2013 first-rounder EJ Manuel, who signed as the Raiders' third-stringer. Manuel drew a lot of comparisons to Kaepernick at one point, and his departure sets up second-year fourth-rounder Cardale Jones as the top backup.

Kaepernick, with his strong arm and athleticism, is built to be a good No. 2 behind Taylor. When Bills offensive coordinator Rick Dennison held the same role for Denver last offseason, the Broncos took a long look at Kap as a No. 1. This would be much less of a pressure situation to take that chance.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay tendered Ryan Griffin with the intent of elevating him to Jameis Winston's top backup in the wake of Mike Glennon's shockingly lucrative free-agent deal with Chicago. Geno Smith was intriguing for that role with the Bucs before he signed to be Eli Manning's understudy with the Giants.

Rather than the Bucs going with Ryan Fitzpatrick or Jay Cutler as what they see is what they'll get, Kaepernick would give coach Dirk Koetter someone he can use his offensive acumen to re-mold. Kaepernick can work well in the vertical passing game and is set up to bond with both Winston and his go-to receiver, Mike Evans.

Arizona Cardinals

Bruce Arians and Arizona know how good Kaepernick can be in his "scary groove" and even were impressed with the QB when he was off during his final season in San Francisco. It's also clear, whether it's Clemson's Deshaun Watson early in the draft or someone else, that the Cards want to deal in a more athletic, strong-armed passer to succeed pure-pocket Carson Palmer soon.

This is only one of two options that could work out for Kaepernick to stay in the NFC West.

Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City traded Nick Foles to Philadelphia and now is looking at Tyler Bray behind Alex Smith on the depth chart. It would be weird to see Smith and Kaepernick reunited with re-reversed roles away from the Niners, but that's why it also makes some sense.

Kaepernick has some Donovan McNabb in him for Andy Reid's offense, and Smith has a history of mentoring Kaepernick. Those relationships would be good for Kaepernick to repair his on-field reputation.

Detroit Lions

Kaepernick's strongest advocate remains his former 49ers coach, Jim Harbaugh. The Lions have a Harbaugh pupil from Michigan, Jake Rudock, as their current top backup to Matthew Stafford. Kaepernick would be a big upgrade in talent and experience.

Detroit under Bob Quinn isn't shy about making bold moves with both rookie and veteran personnel. It helps that Harbaugh is right up the road in Ann Arbor to further vouch for Kaepernick and provide support as needed. There's no doubt that Kap's arm and efficiency would be a good starting point for Jim Bob Cooter to "re-develop" him into a more consistently accurate passer.

Seattle Seahawks

There are many reasons to like Kaepernick joining his old archrivals in Seattle as Russell Wilson's No. 2 ahead of undrafted second-year QB Trevone Boykin. In case you missed it, they were laid out in detail here.

In case you were wondering, this still would be the best situation for which Kaepernick could ask at this late point in free agency.

By Jordan Heck

Time magazine has released its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2017, and former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is featured as an "icon."

His former coach, Jim Harbaugh, wrote the article that went along with the QB's selection:

I thank Colin for all he has contributed to the game of football as an outstanding player and trusted teammate. I also applaud Colin for the courage he has demonstrated in exercising his guaranteed right of free speech. His willingness to take a position at personal cost is now part of our American story.

How lucky for us all and for our country to have among our citizens someone as remarkable as Colin Kaepernick.

The quarterback stirred up discussion last year when he decided to take a knee during the national anthem in the preseason. At first he did so quietly, but then he was asked about it by NFL.com and revealed his actions were a protest. 

"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 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."

Immediately there was a reaction. Even Harbaugh, who applauds Kaepernick in this piece, was against his former player's actions at first.

People from every outlet seemed to have an opinion on the matter, and the protest went international. Other NFL players joined in, then high school and college football players joined and eventually athletes in other sports took part.

Not everyone took a knee like Kaepernick; some raised a fist. Others agreed with his thinking, but not with his actions. Many opposed his views all together. But at the end of the day, almost everyone had an opinion.

Fast forward to 2017 and now Kaepernick is a free agent and many believe politics have played a role in him being without a job. 

Whether you agree with his decision or not, there's no denying Kaepernick influenced the lives of many over the past year. He was a trending topic for months on end, and his name expanded beyond the football realm.

Other sports figures to make the list include: Simone Biles, Tom Brady, Neymar, Theo Epstein and LeBron James.

By Vinnie Iyer

You can now add Ryan Fitzpatrick to the list of NFL quarterbacks signed before Colin Kaepernick this offseason.

Unfortunately, with Fitzpatrick going to the Buccaneers to serve as Jameis Winston's top backup — replacing Mike Glennon and ahead of Ryan Griffin —Kaepernick is down to the Seahawks or bust to be on an NFL roster in 2017.

Since we broke down Kaepernick's final six routes to such employment in late March, we've had the 2017 NFL draft and several more waves of free agency. File Fitzpatrick under Blaine Gabbert, who got a one-year deal from the Cardinals last week.

That leaves the Seahawks as the only NFL team that didn't make a move for a QB, and still also has an issue at QB. Undrafted second-year man Treyvone Boykin, with his two-arrest offseason, remains the No. 2 to Russell Wilson.

At one point, it seemed like Seattle was a shocking landing spot for Kaepernick. Now logically, beyond all the other reasons why Kaepernick is still unsigned, it's the only spot.

Just in case you missed any QB move, big or small, let's circle back to the Seahawks by seeing what every other NFL team has handled the position this offseason.

Elsewhere in the NFC West, after the 49ers chose to not to bring back Kaepernick or Gabbert, they signed Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley and drafted C.J. Beathard. The Cardinals got Gabbert behind Carson Palmer, and the Rams elevated Sean Mannion behind Jared Goff.

In the NFC East, the Cowboys get Kellen Moore healthy to be the new No. 2 with Tony Romo gone. The Giants got insurance in Geno Smith and the future in Davis Webb. The Redskins had to spend even more on Kirk Cousins, so stuck with Colt McCoy. The Eagles brought back Nick Foles to back up Carson Wentz.

In the NFC South, Derek Anderson is one of the league's better backups for Cam Newton. You just heard about Fitzpatrick to the Bucs, and the Saints brought back Chase Daniel. The Falcons re-signed Matt Schaub behind Matt Ryan for two more years.

Forget about the NFC North, too. The Bears replaced Jay Cutler, Hoyer and Barkley with Mike Glennon and Mitchell Trubisky. The Packers know Brett Hundley becomes a free agent in '18, but they're OK with him for one more year behind Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings got Case Keenum. The Lions drafted Brad Kaaya.

The AFC doesn't look much better. In the East, the Patriots kept Jimmy Garoppolo and the Jets signed Josh McCown. The Dolphins still have Matt Moore behind Ryan Tannehill, and the Bills drafted Nathan Peterman after keeping Tyrod Taylor and Cardale Jones.

In the South, the Texans drafted Deshaun Watson and the Titans re-signed Matt Cassel. The Colts have one more year of Scott Tolzien and the Jaguars have one more year of Chad Henne.

The AFC North gets bleaker for Kaepernick. The Browns added DeShone Kizer and Brock Osweiler. The Steelers kept Landry Jones and drafted Josh Dobbs. The Ravens re-signed Ryan Mallett, and the Bengals didn't trade AJ McCarron.

That leaves the AFC West. Broncos took a flyer on Chad Kelly very late in the draft, but stood pat with Trevor Siemian vs. Paxton Lynch.after Romo chose television. The Chargers re-signed Kellen Clemens behind ironman Phliip Rivers. The Raiders added EJ Manuel behind Derek Carr and Connor Cook. Finally, the Chiefs went with another strong-armed passer who could have played professional baseball, but it was rookie first-rounder Patrick Mahomes.

That leaves it all in the Seahawks' hands. And Kaepernick has some competition there, too, as Seattle is also considering Robert Griffin III.

The why of Kaepernick will keep being hotly debated. But it's clear where the where is now.

By Kirstie Chiappelli

As Colin Kaepernick remains seemingly blackballed, one NFL team owner is shedding some light on his misfortune from a team's perspective.

Giants co-owner John Mara acknowledged that adding the former 49ers quarterback to New York's squad was never considered an option due to the fan backlash his signing would inevitably create.

"All my years being in the league, I never received more emotional mail from people than I did about that issue," Mara told The MMQB. "If any of your players ever do that, we are never coming to another Giants game. It wasn't one or two letters. It was a lot. It's an emotional, emotional issue for a lot of people, more so than any other issue I've run into."

It is widely believed that Kaepernick has not been signed because he knelt during the national anthem before 49ers games last season to protest what he deems the oppression of minorities in this country. Despite being viewed as a distraction, the veteran still managed to draw interest from the Seahawks as a potential backup for Russell Wilson.

Kaepernick visited Seattle on May 25 after opting out of his contract with San Francisco in March, although he still remains unsigned.

By Jordan Heck

The Seahawks worked out a number of quarterbacks in recent weeks, and the most high-profile of them was Colin Kaepernick. Coach Pete Carroll talked him up, but decided to go in a different direction when the team announced the signing of Austin Davis.

If you're wondering "Who?" you aren't alone. The 28-year-old quarterback has been a journeyman, bouncing from the Rams, Browns and Broncos in the last three years. He actually received some hype in 2014 as a member of the Rams when he had back-to-back games of 300+ yards and three touchdowns. Outside of that, however, he's been marginal.

Of course Davis isn't as sexy of a name as Kaepernick, so there wasn't much excitement about his signing. Instead of commenting on who the Seahawks did sign, the story instead turned to who wasn't signed — Kaepernick.

The news shouldn't be too much of a surprise considering Carroll's comments last week. He indicated the Seahawks wouldn't be offering him a contract, but said another team in this league would be lucky to have him.

"Colin's been a fantastic football player, and he's going to continue to be," Carroll said last week. "At this time, we didn't do anything with it, but we know where he is and who he is and we had a chance to understand him much more so. He's a starter in this league. And we have a starter. But he's a starter in this league, and I can't imagine that someone won't give him a chance to play."

According to Seahawks beat writer Gregg Ball, Carroll's assessment that Kaepernick is a starting QB is the exact reason why they didn't sign him.

Kaepernick's free agency has been a hot-button issue this offseason as fans and analysts wonder why he's still without a team. He played respectably last season, and several other quarterbacks with poorer stat lines have found a home since.

The Seahawks have been the only team so far to even give him a workout this year, and heading into training camp, it could end up being too late for Kaepernick this season.

By Jeff Diamond

To those who believe Colin Kaepernick's status as an unemployed NFL quarterback is due to his political statements, I'm here to tell you they’re only part of his problem. Kaepernick remains unsigned because he has a triple whammy working against him.

Despite the issues Kaepernick faces, however, I believe he will be signed no later than the early stages of the upcoming regular season. If I were an NFL general manager today with a shaky starter or a questionable backup, I certainly would consider the 29-year-old veteran.

Any of the following issues could derail a player's chances to be signed. The combination of them is why Kaepernick has made just one team visit in free agency.

Problem 1: Most GMs consider Kaepernick a descending player whose best years were 2012 and 2013, when he led the 49ers to the Super Bowl and then back to the NFC title game. The perception among many is he went downhill when Jim Harbaugh left after the 2014 season; that his mobility might be declining while his passing ability remains suspect. (His pass completion percentage averaged 59.1 percent over the past two years while the league leaders were close to 70 percent.) READ MORE

By Thomas Lott

Roger Goodell either believes teams don't feel Colin Kaepernick can help their teams get better, or he thinks the former 49ers quarterback hasn't earned a shot at another job in the NFL.

Either way, the NFL commissioner doesn't think NFL teams are blackballing Kaepernick. 

The former Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback of course became famous, or maybe infamous in this case, when he first sat for the national anthem and eventually took a knee for "The Star-Spangled Banner" throughout the NFL season. It was a polarizing decision that had players following him, others standing against him, and everyone having an opinion about him.

Since opting out of his contract with the 49ers this past offseason he has been looking for a job without any luck. Since teams are already out of minicamp and he still isn't employed it does beg the question, how does a quarterback with a 16:4 touchdown to interception ratio last season not have a job? 

According to Goodell, he simply thinks Kaepernick hasn't earned a job in the NFL after his performance last season. Are you sure it's not due to his activism which he isn't backing down from?

"If they (NFL teams) see an opportunity to get better as a football team, they're going to do it," the NFL commissioner said at an LA Rams All-Access event in Los Angeles via ESPN.com. 

"They're going to do whatever it takes to make their football team better. So, those are football decisions. They're made all the time. I believe that if a football team feels that Colin Kaepernick, or any other player, is going to improve that team, they're going to do it."

By that logic Goodell feels like a team doesn't see Kaepernick making them better. But how does adding a quarterback with a Super Bowl appearance and a career 60 percent completion percentage as a starter not make a team better.

Apparently that doesn't earn a spot according to Goodell, and he loves to talk about NFL players earning their way in the league.

"I think that's what's great about the NFL, is that we're a meritocracy, and you earn your opportunities and you get to keep your opportunities on the way you perform, ultimately," he said. "That's what the NFL is about. I think that's why fans love the game."

By Travis Durkee

If Colin Kaepernick wants another chance in the NFL, the free-agent quarterback should start by ditching his Afro hairstyle and getting a haircut.

That was the surprising advice Kaepernick received Monday from former NFL QB Michael Vick. 

"First thing we’ve got to get Colin to do is cut his hair," Vick said during a guest appearance on Fox Sports 1's "Speak for Yourself." "Listen, I’m not up here to try to be politically correct. Even if he puts cornrows in there. I don’t think he should represent himself in that way (wearing the Afro). Just the hairstyle. Just go clean-cut. You know, why not? You're already dealing with a lot." Vick said the former 49ers starter's goal should be to look more "presentable."

Today's Afro-wearing Kaepernick doesn't resemble the young NFL star who led the 49ers to Super Bowl 47 in the 2012 season. Kaepernick embraced the look while in the middle of his national anthem protests last season.

"I just think perception and image is everything. This is not the Colin Kaepernick that we've known since he entered the National Football League," Vick said. "I’m just going off my personal experiences. Listen, I love the guy to death. But I want him to also succeed on and off the field. This has to be a start for him."

Vick said people advised him during his own career to adopt a professional look, but he didn't listen until the end of his playing days. He also said he realized he needed to clean up his image if he wanted a second chance in the NFL after spending 18 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and being directly involved in the killing of dogs.

That said, Vick believes Kaepernick's unemployment has more to do with his play over the past two seasons than with perhaps being blackballed by the league over his social stances, as many people believe.

What if Kaepernick is accused of selling out rather than keeping it real? Vick said he'd tell him not to sweat it if they were talking face to face.

"It's not about selling out. When you're good, and you're playing great, then you're going to be wanted. People are going to want to sign you, going to want to see you play," Vick said.

I thought I had heard all the Kaepernick hot takes in recent months, but Vick's haircut advice is a new one.

By Kirstie Chiappelli

Given another opportunity to sign Colin Kaepernick, the Ravens passed once again.

The team on Monday announced it has waived quarterback David Olson and signed fellow signal-caller Josh Woodrum.

Olson was signed just last week to assist backup Ryan Mallett after news of veteran Joe Flacco's back injury emerged. Dustin Vaughan also remains on Baltimore's roster at quarterback.

Woodrum, 24, signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent last year following his college career at Liberty. He was cut by New York after the rookie minicamp and later spent time with the Colts, Bears and Bills. Buffalo released him May 24.

By Arthur Weinstein

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has never been afraid to speak his mind. So when one of the league's most outspoken individuals has something to say about Colin Kaepernick, you know he's not going to sugarcoat the topic.

In a startingly candid USA Today interview published Wednesday, Sherman talked about the former 49ers quarterback and his inability to find a role as even a backup QB in the league. Most people suspect Kaepernick's social-justice activism in kneeling during the national anthem before games last year has made him a pariah around the league, but Sherman was brutally blunt in his take on Kaepernick's plight.

“What is it about?” Sherman said. “It’s not about football or color. It’s about, ‘Boy, stay in your place.’"

Sherman admitted that Kaepernick "may not be the best, but he’s better than a lot of these dudes starting.” That sentiment has been supported by statistics in other media reports. But Sherman actually pointed out specific players he says are inferior to Kaepernick.

"Now if you told me this guy threw eight pick-sixes last year and played like a bum, had no talent, that’s one thing," Sherman said. "But (Buccaneers backup QB) Ryan Fitzpatrick, (Ravens backup QB) Ryan Mallett or whoever is playing for the Jets right now — whoever is starting for the Jets is terrible — have jobs. You’re telling me fans would rather you lose and put a worse player out there because a guy took a stand? That’s where it’s so troublesome to me.”

Sherman also mentioned starters Jared Goff of the Rams and Blake Bortles (Jaguars) as lesser players than Kaepernick.

“Blake Bortles has shown you enough to where you don’t think Kaep would be a solid fit?” Sherman said. “Kaep has won games.”

Sherman wasn't done pointing fingers. He also had harsh words for NFL players who have refused to support Kaepernick. READ MORE

By Scott Ridge

Colin Kaepernick has an ally in ownership. Unfortunately for the former 49ers quarterback, that owner is in the NBA.

“I don’t know what his status is in the NFL, but I’m glad the NBA doesn’t have a politician litmus test for our players,” Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told the Washington Post. “I’d like to think we encourage our players to exercise their constitutional rights.”

Cuban is referring to Kaepernick's decision to take a knee during the national anthem last season to protest police violence against minorities.

Kaepernick is unsigned as NFL training camps begin and many suggest it's due to a backlash for the attention his protest sparked last season despite support from many around the league. 

“The NBA is such a global game,” Cuban was quoted as telling the Post in in an email, “I think our players' exposure to different political systems among their teammates may help them appreciate our country even more and encourage their participation.”

By Kirstie Chiappelli

The pressure is mounting for an NFL team to offer Colin Kaepernick a job. And Hall of Famer and former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith thinks the controversial quarterback has what it takes to secure a roster spot.

"I think Colin Kaepernick definitely has the talent to play the game of football," Smith told BlackSportsOnline. "I think somebody needs to give him a chance."

Kaepernick remains unsigned following the backlash last year for kneeling during the national anthem before 49ers games in protest against police brutality and racial injustice, though he said he would not continue the protest this season with a new team.

"He deserves to be back in the game, regardless," Smith said. "He is an American citizen and he does have rights, and his rights should not be violated — just like no one else's rights should be violated."

Other players have already begun to echo Kaepernick's protest this season. Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat on the team’s bench with a towel over his head during the national anthem Sunday night, and Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch posted up on a water cooler while eating a banana during the anthem Saturday night.

By Arthur Weinstein

Colin Kaepernick can't find a home in the NFL, but items related to his national anthem protest have found a place in the Smithsonian.

USA Today reported Friday that Kaepernick's game-worn jersey, shoes and a photo of his controversial protest will be displayed as part of a Black Lives Matter exhibit at the famous museum in Washington, D.C. The exhibit will reside in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History.

"The National Museum of African American History and Culture has nearly 40,000 items in our collection," Damion Thomas, the museum’s sports curator, told USA Today via email. "The Colin Kaepernick collection is in line with the museum's larger collecting efforts to document the varied areas of society that have been impacted by the Black Lives Matter movement."

The report comes almost a year to the day, Aug. 14, 2016, that Kaepernick first sat during a pre-game national anthem to protest what many perceive as racial inequality and injustice in the U.S. And it comes during a month in which other NFL players and athletes have voiced their support for Kaepernick and adopted his cause as their own.

Kaepernick is currently a free agent after opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers at last season's end. His political activism is cited as a reason the 29-year-old quarterback hasn't found another job in the league.

By Nick Birdsong

Huntsville, Ala. area clergymen have had enough of NFL owners' reluctance to employ free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the aftermath of his season-long, silent, non-violent protest of police brutality. So, they're refusing to be entertained by the league's products. 

Thursday, a group of nearly 10 black pastors and Oakwood University president Leslie Pollard announced an "NFL Blackout", a boycot, or "mancot" as they referred to it, of the league. Until Kaepernick, who kneeled during the national anthem throughout 2016 as a member of the 49ers, is signed, the men are encouraging other leaders to refrain from watching NFL games, purchasing NFL-licensed paraphenalia and participating in fantasy football. 

"I want to be clear. I'm a football fan. I played it most of my life, growing up and there's rarely a Sunday that I've missed in my adult years," said Deblaire Snell, senior pastor of First Seventh Day Adventist Church. "But there comes a point in time where I've got to prioritize my convictions more than my entertainment value." 

Instead, these men will devote themselves to community service, dedicating one to two hours on Sundays for the next 17 weeks to "pouring into" African-American boys and girls, something they'll do even if Kaepernick gets picked up, and prayer for their community and government officials. 

"This protest is not anti-flag because people of color love the stars and stripes," Pollard said. "It is not anti-American because of people of color have loved this country even when this country has not loved us back. And this country is not anti-veteran because we support those who have made sacrifices so that our liberties have been secured. This protest is to ensure the rights of all Americans regardless of color or creed to be heard." 

By Arthur Weinstein

Some 75 active and retired NYPD officers rallied in Brooklyn Saturday to demonstrate their support for quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The officers wore "#imwithkap" T-shirts and talked and sang in support of the quarterback and his efforts to find another team in the NFL. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers this spring, but his politicial activism, most notably his decision to kneel during the national anthem before games last season, has reportedly made several teams wary of signing him.

While most of the officers at the rally were African-American or other minorities, one notable exception was 81-year-old former NYPD officer Frank Serpico, whose whistle-blowing efforts on corruption in the department inspired the 1973 Al Pacino movie "Serpico."

"I am here to support anyone who has the courage to stand up against injustice and oppression anywhere in this country and the world," Serpico told the New York Daily News.

NYPD Sgt. Edwin Raymond, who helped organize the rally, said Kaepernick is being "railroaded."

"What Colin Kaepernick did is try to bring awareness that this nation unfortunately has ignored for far too long," Raymond told the Daily News. "And that's the issue of racism in America and policing in America. We decided to gather here today because of the way he's being railroaded for speaking the obvious truth."

The rally drew a number of other community members wanting to support the quarterback. At the end of the event, all participants raised their fists and took a knee.

By Michael McCarthy

The eyes of the sports TV world will be on NBC on Thursday, Sept. 7 as the network televises the 2017 NFL regular-season opener between the Patriots and Chiefs. With the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest still raging, the network will televise the playing of the national anthem at Gillette Stadium.

NFL broadcast partners typically do not show the playing of the national anthem except before the Super Bowl, opening night or other special games, as they usually are in commercial due to time constraints.

But the question of which players will be standing and which will be kneeling before this season's opener — and the rest of the regular season — is taking on added importance. 

Imagine the reaction if white stars like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots, or Alex Smith and Travis Kelce of the Chiefs, support Kaepernick iin front of millions of TV viewers. Although Kaepernick is still out of a job, his movement has been picking up steam. READ MORE

By Gabrielle McMillen

Supporters of quarterback Colin Kaepernick came out to picket in front of NFL headquarters Wednesday afternoon to show they stood behind him.

Hundreds of people wearing 49ers jerseys with Kaepernick's name on the back stood by the NFL headquarters in New York City. Many of the protesters called for a boycott of the league.

"I don’t care how long you’ve been watching football, if they don’t stand up for your children, turn the damn TV off," Women’s March organizer Tamika Mallory said to the crowd of supporters.

Kaepernick remains a free agent since opting out of his 49ers contract in March. Many believe, because he kneeled for the national anthem last season to protest racial injustices and police brutality, NFL owners are blackballing him from joining their teams.

"We are here 'cause we believe Colin Kaepernick deserves a job," said Symone Sanders, former national press secretary for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, and co-host of the rally. "We also believe that the National Football League has been complicit in the ostracization of Colin Kaepernick. And today, it's time for the NFL to take a stand."

Many people from all backgrounds turned out for the rally, including actress Susan Sarandon, veterans and grandmothers.

Heather Heyer, the woman who was killed during the unrest in Charlottesville last week, was also remembered at the rally.

By Gabrielle McMillen

Hank Aaron has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick, saying the quarterback is "getting a raw deal" from NFL owners.

The Baseball Hall of Famer spoke to Roland Martin of TV One on Wednesday and lamented Kaepernick's situation.

"If you look at all the quarterbacks in the league right now, you have to say he is one, two, three, four. I don’t think anybody can do the things he could do. I just wish somebody would open up and give him a chance to do his thing," Aaron said.

"The thing that bothers me about this whole situation is the fact that he is going to all these camps and nobody seems to think he stands a chance of being No. 1. This is a young player who almost carried a team to a championship, to a Super Bowl — but I was a Ravens fan. … Somebody needs to give this young man a chance."

Kaepernick became a polarizing figure last season, when he kneeled for the national anthem in protest of racial discrimination and police brutality. He entered free agency in the offseason but still has not been signed.

Aaron faced racial discrimination during his time in the majors, especially when he broke Babe Ruth's home run record in 1974. He said he received "death threats and hate mail" for accomplishing the feat — all because of the color of his skin.

Aaron isn't the only one with Kaepernick on his mind. The NAACP has requested a meeting with the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss Kaepernick's situation.

By Thomas Lott

Bills running back LeSean McCoy said he doesn't believe Colin Kaepernick's performance is good enough to outweigh the distraction that comes with his being on an NFL roster.

"It's a lot more than just he's not on the team because he doesn't want to stand for the national anthem," McCoy said Thursday (via ESPN). "That may have something to do with it, but I think also it has a lot to do with his play. I'm sure a lot of teams wouldn't want him as their starting quarterback. That chaos that comes along with it, it's a lot."

While Kaepernick did throw 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions in 2016, his team went 1-10 with him as the starter and he completed 59.2 percent of his passes, which was better than only Carolina's Cam Newton (52.9 percent) and Chicago's Jay Cutler (59.1) in the entire NFC.

With Kaepernick going unsigned to an NFL team this offseason, whether as a starter or a backup, many have assumed the former 49ers QB is getting blackballed by NFL owners, but McCoy said more than once it could be more about the distraction that comes with him. 

When it comes to distraction, two quarterbacks in recent memory can really be compared to Kaepernick and his situation: Michael Vick and Tim Tebow. Not because of anything either of them did, but simply the media coverage that came with them.

Tebow was slowly forced out of the league after a media frenzy surrounded him in Denver and New York, but with a career 47.9 percent completion percentage, the distraction that came with him was not worth it.

As for Vick, the distraction that came with his legal troubles was incredibly difficult to overcome, but his final season in the NFL before he went to jail included 20 touchdown passes in addition to 1,000 yards rushing from the quarterback spot. That was enough to earn him a second chance with the Eagles. He was a uniquely talented player, which in McCoy's opinion, Kaepernick is not right now.

"He's 10 times better than Kaepernick," McCoy said of Vick. "You'll deal with that situation, that attention, that media aspect of it. The good, the bad attention you'll get. Compared to Kaepernick, it's like, he's not really that good [enough] of a player to deal with."

By Arthur Weinstein

Former NFL great Jim Brown says he admires Colin Kaepernick for inspiring national anthem protests in the NFL, but you won't catch Brown joining the protests.

"I want to be in his corner, and I do think, 'God bless him,'" the 81-year-old Brown said in an interview with ThePostGame.com. "I'm going to give you the real deal: I'm an American. I don't desecrate my flag and my national anthem. I'm not gonna do anything against the flag and national anthem. I'm going to work within those situations. But this is my country, and I'll work out the problems, but I'll do it in an intelligent manner."

Seems everyone has an opinion on Kaepernick, his protests, and his difficulty in finding work this season in the NFL. But Brown's opinion carries extra weight. Not only is he one of the game's all-time greats, but he's also been extremely active in social causes through the years. It's a tough stance to balance, supporting a cause that's important to the African-American community, without dishonoring the flag and anthem.

Last year, Brown told Syracuse.com he had talked with Kaepernick and "expressed my thought that his intentions are great and I back that 100 percent."

But Brown indicated he understands why Kaepernick is having trouble finding another job in the NFL. The 29-year-old quarterback opted for free agency and left the 49ers earlier this season, and it's widely believed his political activism has led several teams to shy away from signing him.

"Colin has to make up his mind whether he's truly an activist or he's a football player," Brown said. "Football is commercial. You have owners. You have fans. And you want to honor that if you're making that kind of money. ...

"You have to understand there's intelligence that's involved, OK? I can't be two things at once that contradict each other. If I sign for money, then the people I sign with, they have rules and regulations."

By Marc Lancaster

While it has been well-documented that the NFL's television ratings were down in 2016, more people actually watched the league's games last season than the previous year.

The total number of people who watched any regular-season game grew by 5 million in 2016, SportsBusiness Journal reported Monday, and a Fox Sports executive pointed to those numbers as evidence that Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest had no negative impact on viewership.

“That is in conflict with the idea of a boycott (by fans upset about Kaepernick's actions),” Fox Sports executive vice president of research, league operations and strategy Mike Mulvihill told SBJ. “If there was really a meaningful boycott going on, you’d see reach go down. And we didn’t.”

That's not to say the NFL's overall ratings dip had nothing to do with politics — it just wasn't Kaepernick's politics. Mulvihill cited coverage of the presidential election as the top factor in fewer people choosing to tune into football on a regular basis than in previous years.

The SBJ report notes that the trend could continue into 2017 due to continued strong ratings for cable news networks covering President Donald Trump's administration.

By Kirstie Chiappelli

Aaron Rodgers doesn't understand how Colin Kaepernick still lacks an NFL job. In an interview with ESPN the Magazine published Wednesday, the Packers quarterback reaffirmed his thoughts on the former 49ers signal-caller and said he believes the national anthem protest is the reason why Kaepernick still hasn't signed with a team.

"I think he should be on a roster right now," Rodgers said. "I think because of his protests, he's not."

Kaepernick remains unsigned following the backlash last year for kneeling during the national anthem in protest against police brutality and racial injustice, though he said he won't continue the protest this season with a new team.

Other players around the league, including Rodgers' new teammate Martellus Bennett, have echoed Kaepernick's protest this season in light of the violent white nationalist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Va., and President Donald Trump's controversial comments that followed.

"I'm gonna stand because that's the way I feel about the flag — but I'm also 100 percent supportive of my teammates or any fellow players who are choosing not to," Rodgers said. "They have a battle for racial equality. That's what they're trying to get a conversation started around.

"I think the best way I can say this is: I don't understand what it's like to be in that situation. What it is to be pulled over, or profiled, or any number of issues that have happened, that Colin was referencing — or any of my teammates have talked to me about. ... But I know it's a real thing my black teammates have to deal with."

Earlier this week, a Fox Sports executive said there was no indication that viewers boycotted the league last season because of protests by Kaepernick and other players.

Jaguars president of football operations Tom Coughlin said Saturday that Jacksonville has no interest in free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Coughlin also said that beleaguered quarterback Blake Bortles has "paid strict attention to his fundamentals," via the Florida Times-Union.

Bortles was seemingly benched during the preseason after a couple of rough performances in practice. He was, however, named starting quarterback for Jacksonville's Week 1 matchup against the Texans.

Chad Henne is currently the Jaguars' backup, but there have been rumors all summer linking Kaepernick to Jacksonville.

Jaguars owner Shahid Khan had been open to bringing in Kaepernick earlier this month, but with roster cuts taking place this weekend, it appears the team has decided against bringing in Kaepernick.

While the Jaguars made vast improvements to their offensive line and defense this offseason, their upside remains limited due to erratic quarterback play.

By Travis Durkee

When Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco injured his back this offseason, it looked as if Colin Kaepernick’s path back to the NFL was finally paved.

However, according to former Ravens legend Ray Lewis, just as the move was set in motion, a tweet from Kaepernick’s girlfriend alluding to team owner Steve Bisciotti as a slave owner and Lewis as a slave brought everything to a halt.

Lewis said the following on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” which aired Tuesday:

"I have been fighting for this kid behind the table like nobody has ... I've never been against Colin Kaepernick. But I am against the way he's done it. 

"Then, his girl [Colin Kaepernick's girlfriend] goes out and put out this racist gesture and doesn't know we are in the back office about to try to get this guy signed. Steve Bisciotti has said it himself, 'How can you crucify Ray Lewis when Ray Lewis is the one calling for Colin Kaepernick?' ...

"When they (Ravens) called me, it was to say, 'Yes or no?' ... We were going to close the deal to sign him ... Steve Bisciotti said, 'I want to hear Colin Kaepernick speak to let me know that he wants to play football.' ... And it never happens because that picture comes up the next day." 

Since opting out of his contract with the 49ers in March, Kaepernick remains unsigned. Many believe his continued unemployment is tied to his kneeling during the national anthem last season as a way to protest police brutality and other racial injustices. 

By Gabrielle McMillen

Colin Kaepernick is still a free agent, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell thinks the quarterback will be signed again.

Goodell was on FS1's "First Things First," where he said it's ultimately up to "football people" to determine who is — or isn't — on a roster.

"I'm still convinced he'll get that opportunity when the right opportunity comes along, and that's what our league is all about, as you know," Goodell said.

Kaepernick came up when host Cris Carter asked Goodell why a subpar quarterback like Joe Webb is on a roster, but Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to a Super Bowl win, remained unsigned.

"The thing we're always about is meritocracy and opportunity," Goodell said. "I want to see everyone get an opportunity, including Colin, but those are decisions made by football people."

Goodell didn't directly answer the question, instead saying he wasn't involved in teams selecting their roster..

“One thing I do as a commissioner is, I don’t make those decisions. I’m not a football expert,” Goodell said.