The Colin Kaepernick discussion rages on with arguments from both sides heating up. All eyes will be on the San Francisco 49’ers QB on Thursday (September 1) when the team faces off against the San Diego Chargers for the final preseason game of the 2016 season on “Military night.” Kaep will be starting.
Check out some of the conversations still happening around Colin:
Colin Kaepernick got support from military veterans everywhere with the Twitter hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick
@Kaepernick7 I served 25yrs in the AF to protect everyone’s 1st Amend rights. I support you #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/Q7r7PfvryA
— Nicole (@dcmbrdiva) August 31, 2016
#VeteransForKaepernick Because we’re actually not all self-centered racists. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/VHnW5Pbxav
— Ed Beck (@DEdwardBeck) August 31, 2016
I serve to protect your freedoms, not a song #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/HcCkMsVMOh
— Marco (@BasedMarcoM) August 31, 2016
#VeteransForKaepernick because I didn’t volunteer to defend a country where police brutality is swept under the rug. pic.twitter.com/LtBkTvHHAn
— Baltic Avenue (@Baltic_Avenue) August 31, 2016
Because we demand our country protect all its citizens equally. THAT is what I defended! #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/xOqLAO0b1f
— Robert Young (@robertcyoung) August 31, 2016
I don’t agree with all of his points, but I’ll fight to the death for his right to say it. #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/0jeFlIv5RX
— Isaac wright (@I_Zac33) August 31, 2016
Meanwhile anonymous NFL executives describe how much hate they have for Kaepernick on his protest against the National Anthem. With one exec allegedly comparing Kaepernick to former Carolina Panther and convicted murderer Rae Carruth. In 2001 Carruth was found guilty of conspiring to murder his pregnant girlfriend Cherica Adams.
Michael Freeman of Bleacher Report talked to seven executives – job title or position unknown – who said this:
“I don’t want him anywhere near my team,” one front office executive said. “He’s a traitor.”
“He has no respect for our country,” one team executive said. “F—k that guy.”
Another said that if an owner asked him to sign Kaepernick, he would consider resigning, rather than do it.
“In my career, I have never seen a guy so hated by front office guys as Kaepernick,” one general manager said.
Each one believed that Kaepernick will never play in the NFL again if and when the 49ers cut him. One team official claimed 90 to 95 percent of NFL front offices have blacklisted Kaepernick. That same exec said he cannot remember this much “collective dislike” for a player since Rae Carruth, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft.
Former NFL quarterback and current analyst Boomer Esiason had a lot to say on Kaepernick and pro athletes activism overall.
At an event for CBS in New York Tuesday, Esiason said he believes Kaepernick’s decision is one of the most “disrespectful” things an athlete has ever done.
“I cannot say it in the strongest, most direct way, that it’s an embarrassment and it’s about as disrespectful as any athlete has ever been,” Esiason said, per Bob Glauber of Newsday. “And I don’t care what the cause is. The NFL football field is not a place for somebody to further their political ambitions. Can you imagine if a player went out on the field with a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat and let’s vote for (Donald) Trump? It’s the same thing.”
He then went on to throw out the pay comparison. This is the point where someone should have reminded Boomer Colin never said anything against the military or that there aren’t good cops.
“He is severely under-informed, and I welcome him to go ride in a cop car and take numerous 911 calls, going into places where guns and violence are everyday occurrences,” Esiason added. “Put on that blue (police) uniform and put the shield on and see what it’s like to put your life in harm’s way every single day, and then get back to me when you’re making $35,000 or $40,000 a year, as opposed to the $11 million he’s making.”
While Esiason did point out that Kaepernick is entitled to his opinion, he is incensed that the 28-year-old chose to express it at work.
“It’s an NFL football field, and he’s wearing an NFL uniform,” Esiason said. “At the end of the day, if he wants to do it in a news conference, if he wants to do it and talk about it at the ESPY’s and talk about it at an event he’s having, more power to him. Those are the places you should be doing it, like LeBron James is doing it, like Carmelo Anthony is hoping to do it.”
Boomer also said the NBA is paying Melo millions so he shouldn’t bring those things to the NBA court.
