Although Colin Kaepernick has not played since the 2016 season, the quarterback has remained a fixture in NFL news cycles for most of his free agency stay. And momentum appears to be growing for the former 49ers passer to receive another opportunity.
In discussing Kaepernick with some NFL head coaches, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates there is “far, far more interest” in the 32-year-old passer now than there probably has been since he became a free agent in March 2017 (video link). While a few hurdles would remain — particularly in this coronavirus-marred offseason — Rapoport adds that teams’ interest in Kaepernick for a backup job is “very real.”
It has been well-documented the former Super Bowl starter has received only one opportunity to visit a team; that came with the Seahawks in 2017. Pete Carroll said he now regrets not signing him at that point but added that his team is content at quarterback now. Although a handful of teams stayed in Atlanta for the NFL-organized workout Kaepernick rearranged at the 11th hour last fall, no franchise has brought in the polarizing free agent since the Seahawks did so in during the summer of 2017.
Kaepernick had drifted off the NFL radar to a degree after his workout last year, but the worldwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality over the past three weeks have reignited the push for the player that started the NFL protests on this front to receive another chance. Roger Goodell called for Kaepernick to be given another opportunity this week.
It will take a team to make that happen, and much like Cam Newton, Kaepernick would likely have to wait until free agents are allowed to visit teams to have the chance to sign anywhere. That window may not open until late July, when training camps begin. That said, recent Jets signee Joe Flacco is not expected to be recovered from neck surgery until at least September. Newton would rank higher on quarterback-needy teams’ pecking orders than Kaepernick, but the former MVP profiles more as a starter — potentially if a team’s QB1 suffers an injury. Kaepernick interest appears to be contingent on a backup gig.
One of the teams connected to Newton this offseason discussed Kaepernick on Wednesday. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said (via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com) Kaepernick would fit his system but added that such an opportunity would likely be contingent on an emergency-type situation (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Andrew Siciliano). Lynn said he has not spoken with Kaepernick.
While ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes (via Twitter) the Chargers have come up around the league as a potential Kaepernick fit, joining the Titans in that regard, Lynn said he was happy with the three quarterbacks he has. The Bolts — they of a Tyrod Taylor–Justin Herbert–Easton Stick QB depth chart — having passed on Newton earlier this year provides a pretty good indication they are content at quarterback for the time being.
Colin Kaepernick has been out of work 3.5 years now and failed to show up for his NFL tryout. Also, there is a glut of veteran QBs struggling to find work a la Cam Newton.
The only way to close the book on this guy once and for all is to bring him back and let him have his 15 seconds. After his inevitable epic fail he will no longer be news worthy.
That’s mighty white of you…
He’s trash. Can’t wait for someone to offer him and contract and than him say he was blackballed again. What a tool
You are
5 qbs last year had a better td-int ratio than kaep did in 16 and the team around him was trash.
umm I think I know that thanks
Though it seems like a longshot at this point, I hope he comes back and is still able to compete. I admire that he hasn’t given up on his dream after this long.
If football was his dream, he would’ve worked harder to not suck and would’ve shown up at his workout last yr.
Someone who works to get to the NFL, works to get to a superbowl, and works to stay in football shape for over 3 years if not having a job is someone who loves playing football.
and was a damn good player
Here is the catch… is a team going to catch more flack for signing him or when they may have to cut him?
if he still wants 25 million i doubt it. if he takes Winston money then maybe.
Gonna be interesting when some team signs him…..then cuts him because he just plain sucks.
i would love to see this happen just to see all the news that would come from it and people wanting him to fail. i mean it wouldnt be a bad idea for teams like the pats, chargers and panthers to look at him. heck even a team like the titans would be bad
Just stop. A below average QB who has been out of the league for 4 years? Stop w the self righteous nonsense
This is going to be like signing a tim tebow .. you get his followers and get a boost to jersey sales to “support” your player then he rides the bench … maybe throw some gadget plays his way every once in a while (similar to when he was backing up alex smith) to keep the fans happy.
“He’s been out of the league 10000 years….he’s gonna fail….MAGA!” Bunch of racist morons on this website., afraid of losing their seat at the table.
No one is scared LOL. Let him go out there. He will be absolutely horrific and only make the woke police look bad. He was 1-10 last time he played and that only win came in a tank bowl game
Im not even a defensive coordinator and i can tell you how to beat Kaepenick because he doesnt listen to his coaches and he does the same thing everytime.
Watch where he looks when he lines up, if he is passing thats where it is going. Once you lockdown his primary, he will take off running. Keep a robber linebacker for him and you have successfully shut down kaep. That is why he went 1-10 and had so few interceptions. He is not good at reading defenses or looking for other options.
I dont care about magaor any of that crap. I wouldnt want him because he would not give the team a better chance of winning unless he listens and based on his actions during his recent tryouts i dont think he has and thinks he is above everyone else.
I can say Kaep flat out sucked his last 2 seasons and I am as anti-Trump as they come. He was benched for a reason and was well before his Anthem antics
He’s going to get a back up job. People still complaining and wanting him to fail. Petty nonsense.
He’ll still be blamed for when Kyler Murray and a host of others start to kneel. Don’t worry all you “america love it or leave it” fans, you’ll have plenty more people to shame
Your a dumb snowflake Andy. You have the brains of Hillary and the Dick of Biden.
The insulting comments aside, there was a reason Kaepernick was on the bench when he started kneeling. He has never demonstrated any interest in taking advice from anyone, and judging from from his repetitive mistakes in his play, he extends that mentality to coaches. Deflecting to protests does not answer the question as to how his play will suddenly be worth the money he has demanded in the past.
Why would anyone want a QB that sucks and is a racist hypocrite?
The NFL is going to find out that they are not a necessity. Fans will leave, finding other outlets to pass their time.
Me, I’d rather go to the range and fire off a couple hundred rounds than watch a football game.
“I used to like football, until they decided that black lives matter and now I don’t like football.”
There’s a difference between thinking black lives matter (which obviously they do and nearly everyone would agree, unless you’re a liberal talking about the unborn and black on black crime) vs supporting the blm movement which wants to cause anarchy. They’re doing a pretty good job.
It’s going to take some time to clean up this abomination of a comment section
Anyone who signs him, will regret it if they release him because theyll calm it was racist
Chargers will sign him out of desperation to generate some sort of buzz surrounding the team In a city that couldn’t care less about them.
Cardale Jones would be a better signing.
Why? He was horrible, there are decent QB’s left who still can put play him.
I’m getting this feeling the upcoming season is going to be impossible to watch..
Signing Kaepernick and leaving Newton in free agency would raise a lot of questions, considering their respective resumes while equipped with similar abilities. And their respective ages.
Kap returns and gets hurt.
Hope the JETS sign him !!!
He’s a loser.. a losing record.. as a starter. No politics here. He’s a great athlete. But a backup at best. As well a sideshow and a obvious self centered individual. I’m all about protesting.. everyone is correct.. it’s not about the flag. It’s about the anthem… kneel for 8 minutes on the 50 yard line after or before the anthem. But when that song plays we all need to stand together. In the time we are in.. athletes need to play the game. Don’t bring this to the field. There are so many other forums of being proactive. Remember. You’re gonna be playing to no fans. The people that call y’all entertainers are wrong! Y’all are athletes. The best and highest paid in the world. But who am I to voice my opinion. I make 75000 a year trying to save a restaurant from closing. Literally doing whatever I can for my team of brave and wonderful employees. I do my job. They should do theirs
one man doesn’t make a team. Lamar Jackson or Pat Mahomes wouldn’t have done much better than 1-10 that year. 4/1 td:int was something only 6 qbs had last year. Thats what proves Kaep is great. not his record. Elvis Grbac and Rex Grossman won superbowls but sucked on the field. are they elite in your mind? And thank you to you and your employees.
this whole thread, wow….just….wow
I know right? No matter where you stand, a lot of this is embarrassing.
No doubt. How is judging someone based on their political affiliation not being prejudice. It’s no different than judging someone based off of their religious beliefs, skin color, or sexual preference. It’s embarrassing how so many people are clamoring for tolerance (and rightfully so), yet they are so intolerant. This is going to be a rough next several months until the election cycle passes. Really pathetic seeing so many childish comments being hurled back and forth.
Go cry somewhere else. Tears are flowing. Open your eyes to what’s happening right now. BLM is hate group. One cop commits a crime against a black man and social unrest occurs across the country. But yet no coverage of the police officers that have been murdered on and off duty. No coverage of whites killed by black people, No reports on black on black crime that is the biggest issue at hand. No reports on innocent people being beaten by rioters including the elderly. You all can go screw yourselves. A lot of people don’t want this communist/ socialists cop hating used up qb back in the NFL. AND besides the fact he’s not that good to begin with. Check his stats.
Not really sure about those facts.. Rex grossman and Elvis Grbac never won Super Bowls
And comparing Lamar Jackson and Pat Mahomes to Kaep is a crime! Lol.
I sign him just to cut his ass.
If Pete Carroll had balls he’d put his money where his mouth is
Any attempt to sign Kap now would be a publicity stunt. Just like Manon Rhéaume all those many years ago. But hey, at least she was “Hot”!! And she could play!!
And by the f—k. Kaepernick
They don’t want u thinking for ur selves
Hey hubcap , he donates his salary to children u ass wipe. All 450,000
It’s amazing we have such a WIMP as a Commissioner, but I guess if you get paid millions per year you can sit there with 0 backbone and plead to have Kap back in the NFL. I felt bad for him watching the video. Kap is a communist socialist idiot and that has nothing to do with his skin color. He is washed up and wasn’t that great even when he played. Lost his starting job, demanded millions, demanded being a starter.. Get real. What owner wants this drama queen and distraction in a locker room?? His significant other hates white people.. But I guess that’s ok in today’s sad society. Besides he had such conviction he sold out to the NFL and took a payout… LOSER