Colin Kaepernick's NFL exile continues as another team owner backs away

[turbinetree]

Colin Kaepernick’s hopes of playing in the NFL again have been hurt by the Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, according to a report.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini said John Harbaugh, the team’s head coach, and general manager Ozzy Newsome are keen on recruiting Kaepernick as a backup to their starting quarterback Joe Flacco, but Bisciotti has blocked the move.

It’s doubtful Bisciotti objects to Kaepernick as a player: the quarterback led San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII, and threw 16 touchdowns with four interceptions in 12 games for the 49ers last season – a far better ratio than many starting quarterbacks in the league.

But his refusal to stand for the national anthem in protest against police brutality and racial injustice became a far bigger story than his on-field performance, and he was accused by some NFL fans of being unpatriotic and disrespectful to the military. Baltimore, close to the United States naval academy in Annapolis, has ties to the military.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/aug/02/colin-kaepernick-baltimore-ravens-nfl

So let me get this straight, the worthless ravens and other NFL teams that take money from tax payers to build stadiums, and other venues, think that it is just fine and dandy to violate the first amendment of individuals, because after all the single owners of the team are god, jury and executioner, and they get a lot of tax breaks off the tax payer to discriminate against someone, because of some anthem



Well guess what, the f*cking anthem is racists

http://www.theroot.com/star-spangled-bigotry-the-hidden-racist-history-of-the-1790855893

[Dreamer Tatum]

1. His first amendment rights aren't being violated. nt

[turbinetree]

3. I disagree you have a right to protest, just so long as you do not yell fire to get a seat

thank you

[Dreamer Tatum]

5. He could be protesting right this moment.

Not paying him millions to take a knee doesn't equal violating his rights. Sorry.

[metroins]

8. Private business

Can hire or fire you based on your actions.

He's not protesting for better work conditions, so the players union doesn't really apply.

Honestly, I wouldn't hire him either. A football team is a business and K would cost money (loss in fans). He wants to protest? Don't do it at work.

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. The NFL is a cess pool! n/t

[HAB911]

7. Full of millionaires with brain rot

When will idiots stop supporting it?

[oberliner]

4. "Whoever is making these claims is wrong."

Link to tweet

[Moostache]

6. I was no fan of his UNTIL he took his stance...

The jingoism and fake patriotism of the NFL is legion. Its fan base is skewing to more mouth-breathing troglodytes every year and the game itself is being exposed as a large scale brain destruction activity.

EVERY American patriot should applaud Kap's RIGHT to protest in a personal and non-violent manner. He explained his actions, why he was doing them, what he hoped to put light on and then did what he did without calling the cameras over and giving press conferences every week...yet the pseudo-patriot crowd...the flag-pin = 'Murica moron brigade...the useful idiots being led by their noses without even realizing it...they were OUTRAGED!!!! OH MY GOD, CLUTCH THE PEARLS AND GET THE VAPORS...A NEGRO IS DARING TO HAVE AN OPINION AND A PROTEST!!!

Its goddamn sad that there are so few organizations supporting him....so few unions willing to say "we stand WITH you when you KNEEL for your beliefs and your RIGHTS to express them". The hypocrisy is too thick and the irony too lost on the people who claim to be deeply hurt or offended by an American citizen exercising his rights to peacefully assemble and seek redress of grievances.

Sometimes I love the IDEA of America more than I can abide my fellow citizens in the decaying corpse of America in the world...

[exboyfil]

11. The cop as pig socks got me

He may want to think of a way to make amends. Perhaps a $1M to the police benevolent society in any city he signs with.

It would be nice if he did have another opportunity to play.

[Iggo]

14. "I was no fan of his UNTIL he took his stance..."

Yep.

[left-of-center2012]

9. Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti ...

He can hire whomever he wants.

[Brother Buzz]

10. Colin Kaepernick was a head case long before he discovered political activism...

That kneeling shit is just a distraction from the fact the Kaepernick is damaged goods, and EVERY NFL team knows it

[FLPanhandle]

12. Do whatever you want on your own time, but not in your employer's time

There are plenty of things that I support and am willing to protest for on my time, but if I did those things, not as an individual, but as a representative of my employer, then I would be out of a job.

[Iggo]

13. My favorite part of this on the sports news shows today...

...is how the media is flocking to a murderer (Ray Lewis) for cover against a guy who was protesting police murdering unarmed black people. (Ray Lewis is telling you top shut the fuck up, so you should shut the fuck up. Preach it, Brother Ray!)

They're also saying money is the only thing that matters. In other words, money matters more than black lives.

[roscoeroscoe]

15. Hang in there Kap!

Hope he can hang tough. If US owners won't sign him, I hope he goes to the Canadian football league and just kills it. He can win new fans and get his football mojo back

[nini]

16. So..in the NFL you can be a wife beater, drunk driver, drug issues, etc..

but if you peacefully protest a wrong in this country - you will never play again?

And why do people still support that organization on any level?

[Brother Buzz]

18. Johnny Manziel resembles that remark, yet he remains unsigned too

Coincidence: Johnny Manziel and Colin Kaepernick are signed by the same sport agency, Select Sports Group.

The boys at Select Sports Group must be really depressed they can't make it rain.

[mythology]

19. Depends on talent

Oddly most teams don't want a distracting backup quarterback who plays in a way that would require reworking the entire offense since Kaepernick can't actually read an NFL defense. Similarly Robert Griffin and Tim Tebow don't have jobs in the NFL.

Sure he didn't do himself any favors with the protest, but other players protested and they have jobs. The underlying reason he doesn't have a job is he isn't good enough to start and his style of play (only reading half the field, running to run instead of moving to look for a pass) aren't worth the disruption to the offensive game plan. Football has too many moving parts to bring in a quarterback who plays a completely different style as a backup.

[MiddleClass]

17. You do know, the First Amendment of the Constitution protects citizens from the government

Telling you to shut up only, right.

Another article guarantees you the right to pursue happiness.

Neither which guarantees you can upset a money stream, causing your boss to lose money and still pay you.

He stood his ground for a point, which was the OPPOSITE of the pursuit of happiness.

That was his choice, right or wrong, I haven't a clue