Colin Kaepernick Should Be On An NFL Roster
- By Shaki N. Wilson
- May 31, 2017
- 4 min read
New York Giants owner John Mara stated that he wouldn’t sign quarterback Colin Kaepernick because of backlash from some Giants fans.
“In all my years in the league, I never received more emotional mail from people than I did about that issue,” Mara said. “It’s an emotional, emotional issue for a lot of people, more so than any other issue I’ve run into.”
Kaepernick’s protest of the national anthem drew more attention than the reason why he was protesting. Kaepernick used his status and the NFL platform to speak out-- or in this case, kneel down-- about police brutality against Black Americans. This is one problem I have with those who were/are against his stance. Police brutality against Black people is an epidemic that needs to be solved and fast. Kaepernick didn’t make up the murders of Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tanisha Anderson, and Walter Scott (I could go on and on). These were just a sampling of what Kaepernick was protesting.
Yet when a Black American decides to speak out against injustice in the good ole U.S of A, that person is immediately labeled controversial; see Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, Jr. Malcolm X. How can someone be controversial when the topic(s) they are protesting are real?
Mara represents the hypocrisy of the NFL and America. On one hand he can’t bring himself to sign Kaepernick, but he employed kicker Josh Brown, who had a history of domestic violence. Mara’s father, Wellington, didn’t mind having Lawrence Taylor, who had drug issues, on his roster. I’m not faulting the Mara’s for keeping Taylor; he was only the greatest defensive player ever, but keeping Brown was a conscience decision, even after the Ray Rice video.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones falls into the same hypocrisy category. Entering his 28th year as the Cowboys owner, Jones saw his fair share of players who had personal issues, yet he managed to keep them, often using the term second chance as a reason. He’s right. People should be given at least a second chance to make up for mistakes made earlier in life. No one is perfect, as Jones can attest to. He’s been involved in some scandals, yet the NFL didn’t threaten to take the Cowboys away from him. He signed Adam “Pac Man” Jones, Greg Hardy and Alonzo Spellman. Hall-of-fame wide receiver Michael Irvin and all-pro guard Nate Newton both had run-ins with the law. Jones almost drafted Johnny Manziel, who is no longer in the league because of domestic violence, drug and alcohol issues. But Kaepernick is the controversial one?
Kaepernick, who has no history of drug and alcohol abuse and no history of violence against women, would bring unwanted attention to a team. Kaepernick has donated $50,000 to Meals-On-Wheels in Oakland, California because the Trump Administration budget thought it necessary to cut funds from a program that helps feed senior citizens. It was Kaepernick who donated millions to programs that help inner-city kids after another cut in the Trump budget. Kaepernick bought and gave away suits to men who couldn’t afford them for job interviews. He’s the distraction? He would bring tension into a locker room?
There are those who say Kaepernick was bringing attention to himself because he lost his starting job. Where was this Kaepernick when he was leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl? Just because he didn’t make his views public at that time doesn’t mean he wasn’t conscientious about any issues.
Police brutality has existed since the days of slavery. Unfortunately it’s nothing new. But sometimes a certain incident will galvanize a person and stir up feelings that were deeply rooted. I imagined that’s what happened to Kaepernick. Any person who demonstrated qualities like the ones mentioned in the previous paragraph, a company would be honored to have that person as a part of their organization. Plus, just as important, Kaepernick has the talent to stay in the NFL.
No owner or general manager can look me in the eye and tell me Ryan Fitzpatrick is a better quarterback than Kaepernick; that Josh McCown is a better quarterback. Yet both are currently on an NFL roster. Fitzpatrick and McCown have combined for a 69-111-1 record. Kaepernick has 69 wins himself, including the aforementioned Super Bowl appearance plus an NFC championship game the following season. Kaep’s resume far exceeds most in the league, yet the only suitor for his services at this time is the Seattle Seahawks, who have since declined to sign him.
Tony Romo is gone (at least I think he is). Dak Prescott is the man in Dallas. This offseason the Cowboys re-signed Kellen Moore and signed undrafted free agent Austin Appleby. Heaven forbid something happens to Prescott, are the Cowboys comfortable Moore? Skills wise, Kaepernick would not be a drastic drop-off from Prescott. It makes sense. Kaepernick’s salary would be Kaep-friendly (pun intended).
If putting a roster together is about having the best talent on your team, the Cowboys must and should consider signing Colin Kaepernick. Mara said what many NFL owners believe. Yet they have a problem giving an opportunity to an intelligent man of conviction and principles, but have no problem employing the convicted and troubled. Now that is un-American.
photos courtesy nymag.com, the Undefeated, abc7.com, The DeadSpin
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