Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who alienated fans by leading protests against the National Anthem and likening police officers to pigs, reportedly worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders as he attempts a comeback after five years away from the game.
The 34-year-old quarterback, whose last NFL game was in 2017, had a workout with the Raiders Wednesday, according to ESPN. There was no word on how he looked, but he reportedly is ready to accept a backup role to get back into the league.
“You don’t bring in a player like this unless you are understanding of the ramifications and everything that comes along with it and what he can do for your offense,” said ESPN’s football maven Adam Shefter. “But he’s been looking for a chance to get back to the National Football League. He knows that he’ll have to come in as a backup, but again, this is something that’s interesting because the Raiders have always been a progressive organization.”
Colin Kaepernick is scheduled to work out for the Las Vegas Raiders this week, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/7ADURMTLr1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 25, 2022
In 2016, Kaepernick started the trend of “taking a knee” during the “Star Spangled Banner” to protest police brutality, a custom that angered many football fans but spread to other sports. The practice made him a hero to the woke Left and led to lucrative endorsements with companies including Nike, but prompted many NFL fans to swear off the game. Kaepernick also infamously wore socks that season that depicted a pig in a cop’s hat.
But it was poor play that earned him a spot on the San Francisco 49ers’ bench and then punched his ticket out of the league. He began his career with promise after being drafted out of the University of Nevada in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He led the 49ers to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII to end the 2012 season and went 12-4 the following year. But he got progressively worse as his five-year career unfolded. The team went 1-10 in his starts during his final season.
The Raiders have a solid starting quarterback in Derek Carr, but owner Mark Davis said last month Kaepernick is “misunderstood,” and that he would support his return to the league.
I hope the Raiders sign Kaepernick because he will stand on the sideline as the back up to Derek Carr. Unless Carr gets hurt, Kap will never play & this will confirm the reason he isn’t in the league is because he isn’t good enough to start. His martyrdom will be over. Forever.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 25, 2022
“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.”
Kaepernick showed what remains of his skills when he served as honorary captain at the University of Michigan’s spring game, and had a public throwing session at halftime which aired on television. In a recent interview with the “I Am Athlete” podcast, Kaepernick seemed unwilling to temper his activism in order to get another chance.
“You have ‘End Racism’ in the back of your end zone,” he said. “You have ‘Black Lives Matter’ on your helmet. Everything I’ve said should be in alignment with what you’re saying publicly,” he said. “It’s a $16 billion business. When I first took a knee, my jersey went to No. 1. When I did the deal with Nike, their value increased by $6 billion. Six billion. With a B.”
“So if you’re talking about the business side, it shows [it’s] beneficial. If you’re talking about the playing side, come in, let me compete,” he continued. “You can evaluate me from there. The NFL’s supposed to be a meritocracy. Come in, let me compete. If I’m not good enough, get rid of me. But let me come in and show you.”