Colin Kaepernick to work out with Las Vegas Raiders
After five years in exile without a team, Colin Kaepernick finally has a chance to return to the NFL.
The former San Francisco 49ers star will workout with the Las Vegas Raiders this week, having thrown for undrafted NFL receivers in front of scouts during a half-time session at a Michigan game earlier this year..
Kaepernick has been out of the league since 2016, when he began kneeling in protest to racial injustice in the U.S.
He’s been praised for his actions by many, but also criticized by others. And since then, Kaepernick, and his playing career in the NFL, has been a controversial topic.
Why has Kaepernick not returned to the NFL sooner?
Some believe Kaepernick was blackballed from participating in the league due to his peaceful protest of kneeling.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” Kaepernick said after being questioned by media on why he was kneeling.
Kaepernick maintained that he wanted to play in the NFL, even filing a collusion grievance against the 32 owners of the NFL in 2017. He and the owners reached a settlement in 2019 and signed a confidentiality agreement.
In November 2019, Kaepernick was invited to a workout for all 32 teams at the Falcons stadium. After disputes on a waiver that had to be signed, he moved the workout to high school and only eight scouts attended.
The door seemed closed for Kaepernick. If no team was willing to sign him in 2017, 2018, or the following seasons that followed, why would they choose to move now?
Kaepernick deserves a chance
In June 2020, NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell filmed a video saying the league was wrong for silencing peaceful protests. With this admission came no direct apology to Kaepernick or no team interested in at least giving him a workout.
In April 2022, Raiders’ Owner, Mark Davis, said he’d be open to signing Kaepernick on NBC Sports’ Race in America: A Candid Conversation.
“Listen, I believe in Colin Kaepernick, and 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,” Davis said.
Davis’ words held true as he and his organization have given Kaepernick a chance to re-join the NFL. As a veteran quarterback who has made it to the Super Bowl, this could be a great move for the Raiders team on and off the field.
Bringing someone in who has that experience, and knows what it takes to get to a Super Bowl is important for a team who hasn’t been there since 2003.
The last time we seen Kaepernick, he put up over 2200 yards and 16 touchdowns to only four interceptions in 12 games played. He also added 468 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
A QB with a 4-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio, who is a dual threat and has championship experience is a great choice for a backup QB.
If Davis’ comments are any indicator of the future, Kaepernick will be a Las Vegas Raider this upcoming season.
He deserves this opportunity.
