Nobody owes Kaepernick a damn thing

Having the right to do something versus you should do something are two entirely different things.

In case you have been living in technology exile, current/former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is biracial and formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, started a movement against racial inequality and police brutality when he declined to stand for the National Anthem during an exhibition game, initially sitting but later opting to take a knee. The stand continued elsewhere throughout the season and has continued into the 2017 NFL exhibition season with Seattle’s Michael Bennett and Oakland’s Marshawn Lynch to name a couple.

On the positive side, there were recent forms of racial solidarity in Oakland and Philadelphia. In Oakland, Derek Carr, who is white, put his arm around Khalil Mack’s, who is black, shoulder while in Philadelphia Chris Long, who is black, used the same gesture for Malcolm Jenkins, who is black. Mack and Jenkins were standing for the National Anthem.  

These gestures are significant because the racial divide in the United States has intensified within the past year on the heels of the most toxic election in United States history between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. In addition, there was the rally last week that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, that resulted in fatal violence involving white supremacists and counter protesters.

Because of his declining play on the field and sullied relationship with the 49er brass, Kaepernick opted out of his contract when the free agency period began in March. The surprise to many folks is that here we are in August, just two weeks shy of the regular season beginning, and Kaepernick is still NFL unemployed despite the fact that one narrative has him ranked ahead of nine teams that currently field starting quarterbacks. Also, most fans and talking heads claim that backups Kaepernick is superior to have jobs and he does not.

Both points are valid but the talking heads and fans miss several points in their attempt to paint Kaepernick as a victim:

1. Freedom of speech is a slippery slope: Kaepernick had the right to take a knee during the National Anthem. However, his movement lost ground a) when wearing “pig” socks depicting police officers, b) admitting he never voted nor has he ever been registered to do so and c) espousing Cuban politician Fidel Castro in Miami of all places.

For Part A, there are police officers that sully the profession’s reputation but wearing such socks is antagonistic so don’t expect any police officer to be long on understanding. For Part B, I get not wanting to vote for divisive candidates but don’t get on your soapbox and tell me how there needs to be change if you’re not going to vote. Plus there were two third parties on the ballot, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. Part C demonstrates that it was not just 65-year old white conservatives that Kaepernick angered. The espousement of Castro went over in the Cuban community like a screen door in a submarine. Last time I checked, Cubans are also minorities.

2. He was trending down as a player and that goes back to the last season of the Jim Harbaugh era in 2014. Kaeperback flashed greatness from 2011-2013, leading the 49ers to two straight NFC Title Game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance. Sure, the talent and organizational structure around him plummeted. The Kaepernick apologists will point to a 16 touchdown to 4 interception ratio for a 2-14 team in 2016 under Chip Kelly. They also forget that he has shown little ability to read defenses and throw from the pocket. Those are two skills that are a must to have longevity as an NFL quarterback. At best, Kaepernick is a fringe starter.

3. Money: While I concur that Kaepernick is superior to most if not all current NFL backup quarterbacks, because of his experience as a starter and skill set, Kaepernick commands more money than the normal backup. If a team has a quarterback that’s any good, that team will have a lot of money committed to said player.

The Seattle Seahawks, for instance, were interested in signing Kaepernick even though barring injury there is no way on God’s green Earth he would unseat Russell Wilson as a starter. The Seahawks were willing to sign him but head coach Pete Carroll intimated the decision not to sign him was because they were convinced Kaepernick would be a starter. Sounds like a euphemism for “Kaepernick was offered backup quarterback money but still believes he is a starter.”

I have no problem with celebrities speaking out on social and/or political issues if the matter is something they have passionate feelings about, as long as a) they are educated on the topic and b) they don’t belittle those with dissenting views.

Kaepernick may have been right and just to address the aforementioned issues but he articulated his message very poorly. If you are going to take on a topic that deep, you need to be prepared on how to articulate your message because you will face the firing squad. We live in a world where people look to cut down even the most trivial opinion. For aforementioned reasons, such as Item No. 1, Kaepernick pissed all over himself.

Let’s say for a moment that Cam Newton or Russell Wilson took a knee during the National Anthem? How would the backlash be? I use those two as examples because Newton is black and Wilson, like Kaepernick, is bi-racial. They would get blowback but they would also still have jobs because they are Top Ten level quarterbacks.

Those categorizing Kaepernick as a victim also need to realize that the NFL is like any other business. It is a privilege, not a right, to have a job. Most employers in the real world are at-will employers. Translation, you have your rights as Americans but they also have the right to hire you or not hire you.

Neither the NFL nor its 32 teams owe Kaepernick a damn thing.