Tag: Colin Kaepernick

Today is the 10-year anniversary of Richard Sherman’s famous tip

A superstar was born and the Seahawks were on to the Super Bowl.

The NFL hasn’t seen a rivalry quite like the one the Seahawks and 49ers shared last decade. While they are still bitter division rivals, the animosity and the competition were on another level between these two when Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll were roaming the sidelines while Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore were crashing into equally-lethal defensive fronts. The games were always close and intensely physical, the sobering sound of each tackle echoing an era of more brutal football.

10 years ago today was the peak of that rivalry – culminating in the 2013 NFC Championship game. Seattle clinched the win thanks to a tipped pass by Richard Sherman in the end zone that was intended for Michael Crabtree. A superstar was born and the Seahawks were on to the Super Bowl.

Fast forward a decade and Sherman is now a part of the media class he so relentlessly mocked during his career, Colin Kaepernick has been blackballed since 2016, Harbaugh is a distant contender to replace Carroll as Seattle’s head coach and nobody’s heard from Crabtree in years.

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8 quarterbacks Giants could sign with Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor injured

The New York Giants may be without Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor for a while, so here are 8 potential quarterbacks they could sign.

Editor’s note: Shortly after this article went live, Daniel Jones was officially cleared for contact. However, it’s still uncertain if he will play in Week 9.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones remains sidelined after suffering a neck injury in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins and it’s unclear when, exactly, he’ll be able to return.

Reports suggest that Jones suffered weakness in his left arm and although some strength has returned, he is still not cleared for contact. The Giants are hopeful that he’ll be able to take the field in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, but that’s far from certain.

Compounding matters, veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Jones’ backup, suffered a serious rib cage injury on Sunday afternoon and remains hospitalized as of this writing.

With both Jones and Taylor ailing, the Giants are left with only practice squad quarterback Tommy DeVito on the roster. And that’s simply not going to cut it.

Unless Jones (or Taylor) makes a miraculous and unexpected recovery by the weekend, the Giants will be forced to sign a quarterback — potentially two. One to start and one to serve as a backup.

Here is a look at some options.

Cam Newton: There’s still not 32 (or 64) QBs better than me

Panthers great Cam Newton: I said there’s not 32 guys that’s better than me. I still feel that way. I now know there’s not 64 guys that’s better than me.

Simple math will tell you that Cam Newton should still be in the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers great joined former Pro Bowl quarterback and current ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III for Thursday’s episode of RG and The Ones. And Griffin, who is also a fellow free agent, asked Newton about his unemployed status in the league.

“I said there’s not 32 guys that’s better than me. I still feel that way,” Newton stated. “I now know there’s not 64 guys that’s better than me. So when I go do the pro day, ‘Cam’s trying to do this, Cam’s trying do that.’ It’s like me basically talking to Skip Bayless, talking to Shannon Sharpe, talking to Stephen A. Smith, talking to Drew . . . whoever the hell it is. It’s like, bro, whatever y’all said for me not to do or, ‘Man, you going to have to humble yourself and do this and do that,’ I told y’all I can be a backup.”

The former Most Valuable Player did more than express his willingness to be a backup this past spring. He even provided an extensive list of players he’d be down to sit behind — including rookies Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.

Newton’s larger-than-life personality and likability among players, however, may have teams balking at the idea of bringing him in to back up a young quarterback. The 34-year-old shot back at that idea.

“But now, the fact that I did it in a manner where it’s like — what do you tell your team, what do you tell your quarterback room if Cam Newton comes into that situation?” he added. “It’s bigger than just that. It’s bigger than just bringin’ on a talent. It’s almost similar — and I don’t want to just name-drop — but it’s like bringing Colin Kaepernick to the fold. What is that gonna bring?

“I can give you a perfect situation where it’s like, OK, Cam Newton’s in your quarterback meeting room, your starter is struggling — it’s going to create dysfunction in that specific way. I’m the ultimate pro. You never seen a teammate, a past teammate, say anything. It was always the outside looking in, like, ‘Man, I think Cam dress weird. I think he’s making it all about him.’ That never came from somebody who actually really knew me.”

During much of his decorated pro career, Newton had been poked at, and even criticized, for his clothing choices off the field. He also faced assumptions about his lack of leadership skills that were just as ridiculous and unfounded.

Regardless, Newton joked with Griffin — stating that he’s now a “YouTuber,” and is living his best life … somewhere in that No. 1-to-No. 32 range.

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Colin Kaepernick wrote letter to Jets asking to join their practice squad

Colin Kaepernick thought about joining the Jets

The Jets added veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to their practice squad this week to add extra backup for Zach Wilson. They also received interest from another quarterback this week. That quarterback was Colin Kaepernick.

The former 49ers quarterback recently wrote a letter to Jets general manager Joe Douglas asking for a chance to join the team in the midst of their quarterback issues. However, he didn’t ask to jump right onto the main roster. He was willing to take a spot on the practice squad like Siemian ended up doing.

“I know that there are currently depth issues at the position, and I’ve heard that the backup spot is likely to be filled by a veteran quarterback,” Kaepernick wrote. “As much as I would love the opportunity to fill that spot, I’m writing you in hopes that you can imagine a much different approach involving me; I would be honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity to come in and lead the practice squad. I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week.”

Kaepernick went on to write a number of reasons why his signing would help the team including giving the defense a “truer read on the more mobile/athletic/versatile quarterbacks it will face in Weeks 4, 5 and 6 (Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Jalen Hurts).”

Kaepernick isn’t saying he immediately needs to replace Zach Wilson but that this would give the Jets a “risk-free contingency plan.”

Kaepernick even added references to his letter, including Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, two of Kaepernick’s head coaches while with the 49ers as well as Ravens head coach and Jim’s brother John Harbaugh and Raiders owner Mark Davis.

Turning 36 in November, Kaepernick has not played in the league since 2016 for one reason or another. At this point, it’s hard to imagine he sets foot on any NFL field again let alone at MetLife Stadium.

Three former Alabama players working out with Colin Kaepernick amidst potential return

Colin Kaepernick working out with three former Alabama players amidst attempted NFL return

The last time that Colin Kaepernick appeared in an NFL game was almost seven years ago. He last suited up for the San Fransisco 49ers in 2016 as he guided them to an unfortunate 1-10 record in his 11 games as a starter completing 59.2% of his passes for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions.

A handful of things have contributed to Kaepernick’s hiatus from the league, but at 35 years old, the former Nevada quarterback has shocking aspirations of a return to the NFL. While the odds might be against Kaepernick, that has never stopped him in the past. With so much time away from the game, he can make the case that he is as fresh as he has ever been in his career, the question is: can he find his Super Bowl season form ever again? A large part of Kaepernick’s game was the ability to use his feet and who knows if that will be in his arsenal at this age.

Kaepernick posted to his Twitter a video of him working out with a handful of NFL stars, which included three former Alabama players. Steelers’ Najee Harris, Titans’ Derrick Henry and Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle can all be seen running routes as they are attempting to bring attention to Kaeprenick’s cause. All of the guys in the video are highly complimentary of him saying that his arm is as strong as ever and he still has what it takes to play in the league. Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne is extremely outspoken saying, “He’s got another good six years left in him.”

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Titans great Jurrell Casey names his top 5 QBs to sack

Titans great Jurrell Casey recently shared the five quarterbacks he liked to sack the most.

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It’s no secret that former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey was a stud during his time in the NFL.

The USC product was a perennial Pro Bowler during much of his career in Tennessee, earning the All-Star nod a total of five times from 2015 through 2019, while also earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2013.

Casey was never the most aesthetically imposing athlete on the field, but he was always a disruptive defender on the defensive line who could really do it all despite his physical limitations.

During his time in the NFL, the Pro Bowl defender faced more than his fair share of top quarterbacks around the league. However, Casey always held his own individually even if the team’s collective effort wasn’t always up to par, especially early in his stint in Nashville.

The now-retired Casey recently reflected on his NFL career with Yahoo Sports, and he was asked to name the five quarterbacks that he enjoyed sacking the most.

Casey does list some obvious ones, but some might surprise you. His list included:

  • Blake Bortles
  • Tom Brady
  • Ben Roethlisberger
  • Colin Kaepernick
  • Tyrod Taylor

I can’t say those would be my five if I had the career he had, but Casey did provide some valid explanations as to why those were his personal choices.

You can find the video in its entirety posted below:

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For Packers, Jalen Hurts’ sublime dual-threat performance feels frighteningly familiar

The Packers have been on the receiving end of two of the most devastating dual-threat performances by a QB in NFL history.

Sunday night’s 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles probably felt a little too familiar for the Green Bay Packers.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts became just the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to throw for at least 150 yards and run for at least 150 yards in a single game during Sunday night’s thrashing of the Packers on “Sunday Night Football.”

Hurts completed 16 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns and he rushed 17 times for a career-high 157 yards.

Hurts joined Lamar Jackson (2019), Colin Kaepernick (2012) and Michael Vick (2002) as the four players to go over 150 yards as a passer and runner in a game since 1966.

Kaepernick’s breakout performance in the 2012 playoffs also came against the Packers. He threw for 263 yards and rushed for 181 more during a 45-31 win for the 49ers over the Packers in the divisional round.

Hurts wasn’t quite as devastating as Kaepernick, but he was close. He had 100 rushing yards by the end of the first quarter, threw touchdown passes to Quez Watkins and A.J. Brown and dominated the Packers on both designed runs and improvised scrambles.

Hurts set a new franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He had scrambles of 24, 28, 42 and 10 yards, representing most of his total.

Per NFL Research, Hurts became the first player since at least 1950 with 150 passing yards, 150 rushing yards and multiple passing touchdowns in the same regular season game, which obviously don’t count when Kaepernick did it to the Packers in the postseason:

Hurts’157 rushing yards represented the fifth-most by a quarterback in a single game, regular or postseason. Kaepernick’s 181 against the Packers still holds the record.

Overall, the Eagles rushed for 363 yards and created 500 total yards in the 40-33 victory over the Packers.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar calls out Kyrie Irving: ‘He’d be dismissed as a comical buffoon if it weren’t for his influence over young people’

Kyrie Irving would be dismissed as a comical buffoon if it weren’t for his influence over young people who look up to athletes. When I look at some of the athletes who have used their status to actually improve society-Colin Kaepernick, LeBron …

Kyrie Irving would be dismissed as a comical buffoon if it weren’t for his influence over young people who look up to athletes. When I look at some of the athletes who have used their status to actually improve society—Colin Kaepernick, LeBron James, Muhammad Ali, Bill Russel, Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, and more—it becomes clear how much Irving has tarnished the reputations of all athletes who strive to be seen as more than dumb jocks.

Source: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar @ Substack

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @njdotcom
Kareem rips Kyrie as ‘destructive and insensitive’ over Alex Jones video, says sponsors should drop him nj.com/nets/2022/10/k… – 11:29 AM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Kyrie Irving getting some post work done during Nets shootaround pic.twitter.com/8DT7pdK1it – 10:41 AM

Tony Mejia @MejiaDinero
I almost never step out to wager on NBA Exhibition games – rotations are unpredictable, you never know who will be out there late – but a few of Sunday’s scores are interesting: HOU 134 SA 96, TOR 114 UTAH 82, BOS 134 CHA 93. Nets host 76ers tomorrow..KD, Kyrie, Simmons to play.. – 9:59 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Seth Curry and TJ Warren are both out for tomorrow preseason opener against Philly. Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are good to go. – 6:12 PM

More on this storyline

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Irving does not seem to have the capacity to change, but we have the capacity to keep fighting against his brand of destructive behavior. One way to do that, beyond shaking our heads and nasty tweets, is to write to his sponsors and tell them to drop Irving—or you will drop them. Nike has likely decided not to renew his contract past this season. But he is still sponsored by Pepsi and 2K Sports. (Don’t feel bad for Irving: his career earnings at the end of the 2022-’23 season will be $230 million. That buys a lot of Yes-people.) -via Substack / October 3, 2022
Clutch Points: Kyrie Irving’s daughter giving her daddy some motivation heading into the new season 💯 (via @Kyrie Irving/ IG) pic.twitter.com/CB5kigH2NT -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / October 3, 2022
As for the prospect of adding Kyrie Irving via free agency next summer, sources say he’s currently not a part of the Lakers’ long-term plans. There is an undeniable advantage to waiting here. Not only do the Lakers get a chance to see Westbrook in Ham’s system before making a more educated decision about the Pacers trade, but they keep the door open for other trade opportunities as well. Every season, high-level players become available closer to the February trade deadline when their teams underperform. All the while, the Lakers will be watching Westbrook closely while continuing to ponder what comes next. -via The Athletic / October 3, 2022

3 veteran quarterbacks not named Brian Hoyer for Patriots

If the Brian Hoyer experiment implodes, here are three other veteran quarterbacks the Patriots could bring in.

The New England Patriots are preparing to embark on the Brian Hoyer era with starting quarterback Mac Jones likely out of commission for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

That’s obviously putting it mildly considering he’s dealing with a “severe” high ankle sprain that could keep him out for much longer. He’s reportedly seeking a second opinion in hopes of avoiding surgery, which means the timetable could be extended even further if he’s counting on the injury to heal through natural means.

That means more Hoyer and more headaches for the Patriots.

The team likely isn’t pulling off a trade for Gardner Minshew or some other backup out there hoping for an opportunity to start under center. Sorry, Minshew fans.

But if the Hoyer experiment gets absolutely annihilated by the Green Bay Packers in Week 4, maybe coach Bill Belichick considers dipping into the free agent pool and seeing who he could hand another lifeline.

Here are three quarterbacks that could be the emergency backup option to the emergency backup option.