Tag: Colin Kaepernick

If Colin Kaepernick is ready to go he makes perfect sense for Raiders

Reports say Colin Kaepernick ‘impressed’ in his workout in Las Vegas. And if he is ready to go he makes perfect sense for Raiders

Another shot at the NFL is a long time coming for Colin Kaepernick. It apparently has taken an ideal situation for him to get that shot. And that situation couldn’t be more ideal than in Las Vegas.

Kaepernick’s naysayers will point to everything they can to say he shouldn’t play in the NFL, while also saying he could be playing in the NFL if he wanted to and then saying he isn’t good enough. And now that he’s been kept out of the league for five full years, the narrative has turned to his absence from organized football as the reason he doesn’t deserve a shot.

Translation: We don’t like that he kneeled in protest during the national anthem and never want him to have another shot at a playing career.

Well, he is finally getting a shot and if he shows the Raiders he is in shape and ready to go, there is every reason for the team to sign him and let him compete for a job.

According to reports, the workout went well.

A lot has happened in the NFL in the five years Kap was blacklisted. And much of it has only strengthened the argument that he has a place in this league.

The University of Nevada product and Turlock California native took the league by storm back in 2012; leading the 49ers to two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl berth. At that time there weren’t a lot of starting quarterbacks like him. He had a big arm and was equally proficient as a runner.

Since then, the qualities Kaepernick possesses have become far more commonplace. That being that of a dual threat quarterback. For instance, take Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson who have both won league MVP awards in recent years.

The past couple years the Raiders had a quarterback on the roster with those abilities in Marcus Mariota, who was a former number two overall pick by the Titans and is now competing for a starting job in Atlanta.

When healthy, Mariota was the unquestioned primary backup to Derek Carr in Las Vegas. The Raiders had packages for him that yielded some positive results as wrinkles in the offense. Usually it involved some form of a read-option, but with Mariota possessing plenty of arm talent to keep the defense honest.

At very least Kaepernick could offer the same thing to the Raiders’ current offense.

Some would suggest that at 34 years of age, he isn’t the running threat he once was. Perhaps, but in today’s NFL, QB’s often play well into their 30s, including mobile quarterbacks like Russell Wilson (33) and Ryan Tannehill (33).

Other than that, the ideas that Kaepernick would be a ‘distraction’ are laughable. This team made the playoffs last year with some of the worst distractions one can imagine. From Gruden’s forced resignation, to Henry Ruggs’s tragic drunk driving crash, to Damon Arnette’s antics.

I think they can handle Colin Kaepernick, so maybe save the copouts, k?

Mark Davis has no problem with it. In fact, he is all for it. And while Davis’s blessing wasn’t enough to convince Jon Gruden, new head coach Josh McDaniels responded by logically giving Kaepernick a look.

The bottom line is; McDaniels is not going to sign a player for any other reason than he thinks that player can compete for a roster spot. And if Kaepernick is in shape — and by all accounts he is — and he could still pose a threat as an offensive weapon, he would be a valuable addition to the QB room in Las Vegas.

Los Raiders son el primer equipo en entrenar con Colin Kaepernick desde 2017

Pronto veremos dónde se encuentra Kaepernick es todo este rompecabezas de los Raiders.

Colin Kaepernick aún no acaba con la NFL.

El activista y ex quarterback profesional tendrá su primer entrenamiento con un equipo de la NFL desde 2017, cuando lance para las Raiders más adelante esta semana. La noticia viene de un reporte por Ian Rapoport de NFL Network.

Kaepernick no juega en la NFL desde la temporada 2016 cuando aún estaba con los 49ers de San Francisco. Ese año protestó de manera ahora famosa las injusticias raciales y la brutalidad de la policía al arrodillarse durante el himno nacional Estadounidense que se entonca antes de cualquier juego de futbol americano profesional.

El atleta de 34 años quedó fuera de la liga desde entonces. En 2019, la NFL llegó a aun acuerdo de confidencialidad con Kaepernick después de que metiera una demanda por colusión en contra de la liga.

A pesar de las circunstancias, el propio Kaepernick nunca ha dicho que no quiere jugar y no se ha dado por vencido en regresar a la NFL.

Parece que el dueño de los Raiders, Mark Davis, quiere ser otro dueño que se aleja de su grupo de colegas, como dijo a NBC Sports Bay Area el mes pasado:

“Creo en Colin Kaepernick”, dijo Davis. “Se merece toda la oportunidad de mundo para convertirse en un quarterback en la NFL. Aún apoyo esta idea. Si nuestros entrenadores y el general manager quiener traerlo o quieren que sea el quarterback de este equipo, yo lo recibiría con los brazos abiertos”.

Las Vegas comenzará la temporada de 2022 con Joch McDaniels como su head coach y Dave Ziegles como su general manager, este será el primer año para ambos. Derek Carr es el quarterback titular.

Pronto veremos dónde se encuentra Kaepernick es todo este rompecabezas de los Raiders.

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The Raiders are the first NFL team to give Colin Kaepernick a workout since 2017

Kaepernick gets his first workout with a pro team in years

Colin Kaepernick isn’t done with the NFL yet.

The activist and longtime pro quarterback will get his first workout with an NFL team since 2017 when he throws for the Raiders later this week. The news comes from a report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season for the San Francisco 49ers. That year he now-famously protested racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the American national anthem that plays before all pro football games.

The 34-year-old has been out of the league ever since. In 2019, the NFL reached a confidential settlement with Kaepernick after he filed a collusion grievance against the league.

Despite the circumstances, Kaepernick himself has never said he doesn’t want to play — most recently calling the owners’ bluff — and hasn’t given up on an NFL return.

It seems Raiders owner Mark Davis wants to be an owner who strays from his group of colleagues, as he told NBC Sports Bay Area last month:

“I believe in Colin Kaepernick,” Davis said. “He deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League. I still stand by it. If our coaches and General Manager want to bring him in or want him to be the quarterback on this team, I would welcome him with open arms.”

Las Vegas will start the 2022 season with Josh McDaniels as their head coach and Dave Ziegler as their general manager — the first year for both. Derek Carr is the incumbent starting quarterback.

Soon enough, we’ll see where Kaepernick stands in that puzzle for the Raiders.

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Mark Davis recently renewed his blessing for Colin Kaepernick to get a shot with Raiders

Credit due to Mark Davis for following through on his words that Raiders would ‘welcome [Colin Kaepernick] with open arms.

It has been five years since Colin Kaepernick has taken an NFL snap. The former 49ers starting QB in the Super Bowl was seemingly blacklisted from the league for starting the trend of kneeling during the playing of the national anthem in protest of racial profiling and police brutality.

There’s no question his talent would have been welcome across the league under normal circumstances. And despite several teams being asked about the possibility of signing Kaepernick and many responses that suggested they weren’t opposed to the idea, no team would come close to him.

For that reason, when Mark Davis was asked a couple years ago about whether he would be open to giving Kaepernick a shot, his response saying he had given his blessing for it didn’t generate much in the way of headlines.

Then just a month ago, Davis seemed to reiterate in somewhat stronger language his willingness to bring Kaepernick on board.

This response made some waves, but there is still a big difference between what Davis — or anyone for that matter — says the “would” do versus what they “will” do.

Still, with a whole new coaching staff and personnel department, it seemed a pretty clear message where he stands.

Now today, reports have the Raiders following through with their owner’s wishes and are giving Kaepernick a workout — something he has long sought, but rarely received.

It’s unclear whether Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler felt some pressure to give Kaepernick the shot Davis had wanted, or if they had been thinking about it already and his words gave them permission to pull the trigger. Regardless, there’s little doubt the Raiders are now proving Davis’s words were not same empty lip service we have heard from most around the NFL when Kaepernick’s name has come up.

Colin Kaepernick working out for the Las Vegas Raiders

Free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick will work out for the Las Vegas Raiders later this week.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is scheduled to work out for the Las Vegas Raiders this week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news on Wednesday afternoon:

Kaepernick last played during the 2016 season, when he started 11 games for the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco lost ten of those games, but Kaepernick completed 59.2% of his passes for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns, against just four interceptions. He started six playoff games during his time with the 49ers, helping the organization win four of those six games.

Kaepernick started Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens, and threw for 302 yards and a touchdown in the 34-31 loss.

The quarterback became the focus of national attention due to his practice of kneeling during the national anthem to protect fatal police shootings. Kaepernick initially had decided to sit during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but after meeting with former NFL player and military veteran Nate Boyer, Kaepernick started to kneel as a means of showing respect while trying to bring attention to his cause.

Former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick to work out for Raiders

Colin Kaepernick has a workout scheduled with the Raiders. #49ers

Colin Kaepernick may have a chance to return to the NFL. ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday reported Kapernick has a workout scheduled with the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport later reported the workout is Wednesday.

Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016, the same year he kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice in the United States. That year he completed 59.2 percent of his throws with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions for the 2-16 49ers. He went 1-10 in his 11 starts.

Workouts have been sparse for Kaepernick since the 49ers released him ahead of the 2017 campaign. This session with the Raiders is the first formal workout he’s had with a team.

Las Vegas is led by new head coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. They have Derek Carr at the helm, but he’s backed up by former Patriots backup Jarrett Stidham, former 49ers backup Nick Mullens, and rookie Chase Garbers.

Kaepernick was a second-round pick of the 49ers in 2011, and he spent all six of his NFL seasons in San Francisco. In 58 starts he went 28-30 while completing 59.8 percent of his throws for 12,271 yards, 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He led the club to the Super Bowl in 2012 and to the NFC championship game in 2013.

The 49ers face the Raiders in Week 17 this season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

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Colin Kaepernick slated to work out for Raiders this week

The Raiders are hosting Colin Kaepernick, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016, for a workout this week.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is scheduled to work out for the Las Vegas Raiders this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The workout will happen on Wednesday, added NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016, which was the same year that he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

As far as Las Vegas’ quarterback situation goes, there’s no question that Derek Carr is the starter with Jarrett Stidham, who the Raiders traded for earlier this offseason, backing him up. Las Vegas also has Nick Mullens under contract.

This offseason, Kaepernick was training with NFL players across the country to stay in shape for any potential opportunities. Kaepernick’s former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh recently invited him to throw during the halftime of Michigan’s spring game.

But this will be Kaepernick’s first workout with an NFL team since he last played in the league in 2016.

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Former Bucs WR Antonio Brown calls Colin Kaepernick ‘trash’

See what former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown had to say about Colin Kaepernick

Antonio Brown’s departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was memorable, but now he’s making headlines with his comments about another former player who doesn’t seem to have much interested from NFL teams.

Appearing on “Cigar Talk,” the former Bucs wide receiver was asked about Colin Kaepernick, who hasn’t played in the NFL since his peaceful protests against racism and police brutality, and AB didn’t hold back (via TMZ Sports).

Brown called Kaepernick “trash” in regards to his on-field play, criticizing his decision to take a financial settlement from the NFL back in 2019, among other things.

Here’s some of what Brown had to say, via TMZ Sports:

“All that is cap,” Brown said. “We ain’t respecting that, bro. You took the money, the commercials. We don’t see you outside. We don’t see him in the hood. He don’t do nothing. Like, we cool. But, nah, we ain’t even stan Kaepernick.”

Brown continued, “He not even from the hood. He haven’t even been in the trenches. We like Kaepernick and all, but we ain’t really on that.”

AB went on to wonder out loud how much Kaepernick has really done for those in need.

“He built a foundation,” Brown said. “What it do, though? I’m being real. What superhero he enforce? Who he put on? Who he help?”

After signing with the Bucs halfway through the 2020 season and winning Super Bowl LV, Brown’s tenure in Tampa Bay came to a dramatic end when he left in the middle of a game last season following a sideline outburst.

Brown subsequently claimed mistreatment by the Bucs in regards to an ankle injury he was dealing with at the time of his departure, while head coach Bruce Arians claims the situation arose because Brown was frustrated with a lack of passes coming his way.

Since being released by the San Francisco 49ers following the 2016 season, Kaepernick has maintained that he still wants to play in the NFL, most recently holding workouts at Michigan’s spring game, and with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Kaepernick and Brown both remain unsigned by NFL teams.

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Why Antonio Brown is completely wrong about Colin Kaepernick

Antonio Brown accused Colin Kaepernick of not putting his money where his mouth is. Here’s why Brown couldn’t be more wrong.

Receiver Antonio Brown and quarterback Colin Kaepernick have one thing on common — neither of them have an NFL team at this point. Kaepernick hasn’t had an NFL team since 2016, absolutely because he decided to protest police brutality against people of color by kneeling during the National Anthem.

Brown doesn’t have an NFL team right now for multiple other reasons — he was cut by the Buccaneers after he left the field during a game against the Jets. Brown’s history of off-field incidents throughout his estimable on-field career will undoubtedly serve as a cautionary tale for any team wanting his services in the future.

So, why was Brown recently spouting off about Kaepernick? It appears that Brown believes Kaepernick has not put his money where his mouth is. We won’t embed the video of the interview because there’s all kinds of NSFW language, but here it is.

And here’s a safe for work excerpt:

Well. It wasn’t Brown who donated more than $1.75 million in 2020 alone to aid “Black and Brown communities” and assist with COVID-19 relief. These donations, done through Kaepernick’s “Know Your Rights” camp, were in addition to the $200,000 earmarked to groups Atlanta, Detroit and Miami to help cover bail funds for protests following the killing of George Floyd, and an additional $450,000 was given in grants for essential living costs and rent relief for those protesting who might have been arrested.

Whether Brown is talking about the collusion settlement Kaepernick received from the NFL, or his lucrative endorsement deal with NIKE, is unknown.

Brown’s philanthropic exploits are far less expansive — there is the 2020 case of the the Hollywood (Florida) Police Department cutting ties with Brown for the betterment of its athletic league after Brown engaged in an outburst against the police and the mother of his children.

See, that’s the thing about shopping for attention — there are always receipts.

Should Colin Kaepernick consider spring football leagues?

Colin Kaepernick made public his desire to compete and play football in the NFL. Mackenzie Salmon believes if he dominates a spring football league it will only heighten pressure for NFL teams to sign him.

Colin Kaepernick made public his desire to compete and play football in the NFL. Mackenzie Salmon believes if he dominates a spring football league it will only heighten pressure for NFL teams to sign him.