OK I'll Say It

Colin Kaepernick hasn't played in the NFL since the 2016 season. That season he started 11 games for San Francisco and the 49ers went 1-10 with Kaepernick as the starter.

1-10.

There's many reasons why Kaepernick hasn't played in the NFL in years and yes him kneeling during the National Anthem in protest is part of why he's been unemployed. Nobody should deny that. But that's not the sole reason.

Kaepernick probably saw himself as a starting QB not a back-up. NFL coaches and GM's probably disagreed. Kaepernick may have also wanted to be paid like a starting QB. And since he's been unemployed for three years I'm guessing coaches and GM's disagreed with him there too.

And the kneeling was controversial. What NFL coach wanted that controversy and distractions in their locker room when they are trying to win games? No NFL coach that I'm aware of.

And who knows if Kaepernick even wants to play football anymore. Doug Flutie and Warren Moon were denied opportunity to prove themselves in the NFL for different reasons. But they wanted to play so they took opportunities to play in the CFL in Canada where they showed they were NFL caliber QB's. But Kaepernick was not interested in playing in the CFL. 

Now NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he encourages a team to sign Kaepernick. But that would be up to the teams. Really Roger? If you really want that outcome I'll tell you how to do it.

First you say that any team who signs Kaepernick gets an extra roster spot for the year so that Kaepernick would not be taking a spot away from another player. Second you award the team that signs Kaepernick a compensatory draft pick between the first and second rounds of the draft. That's a BIG incentive. But the team that signs him has to carry him on the roster for a full year. I can't see the Players Association having a problem with these conditions

Two simple incentives guaranteed to get a team to sign him. But you won't do that Roger will you?

It's a farce but nobody will come out and say it.