NFL Exec explains why nobody is hiring Colin Kaepernick

The New York Post has written an article showing that in the rankings of NFL quarterbacks, Colin Kaepernick is certainly not the best, nor the worst. As they point out, “Colin Kaepernick’s problem isn’t a lack of talent.”

According to an ESPN survey, which polled “nine general managers, 13 coordinators, six personnel directors, five other executives, five head coaches, seven other assistant coaches, three analytics directors and two national scouts,” and asked them to place the league’s quarterbacks — and Kaepernick — into tiers, there are six teams that would benefit from his being their starter.

Kaepernick was the 28th-ranked QB overall, just behind Broncos signal-caller Trevor Siemian and Chicago’s $45 million man, Mike Glennon. Kaepernick outranked his successor in San Francisco, Brian Hoyer, Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles, the Rams’ Jared Goff, Houston’s Tom Savage, the Jets’ Josh McCown and whoever is the Browns quarterback (he outpaced Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler and the unranked DeShone Kizer).

And yet, Kaepernick is not on a team.

A NFL exec explained to CNN why nobody is looking in Colin Kaepernick’s direction:

“It is really not about his ability,” an exec told ESPN. “It’s about the risk of what happens to the team concept when you sign a guy — a quarterback — who has put his personal agenda ahead of what we are all charged to do, which is put the team first. As a team builder, I cannot risk that happening again, especially for a borderline starter who needs the entire offense catered to his style.

“Tom Brady or Philip Rivers would never consider making a stand on something like that, and it’s just because it’s not the place. I don’t disparage what he did. I understand and I’m all for people standing up for a cause, just not while they’re at work.”

Exactly. It’s not about race or even disagreement with his cause. He put his own personal agenda ahead of the team agenda and thus nobody wants him.

But what about as a backup? A defensive coordinator explained it like this:

“As far as his prospects as a backup, I don’t think he is being blackballed in terms of rich white owners saying, ‘We are not hiring this guy,’” a defensive coordinator said. “I think coaches are like, ‘Look, if this kid is not starting for us, why are you bringing in distractions not for a starter? We have a pretty good sort of locker room and mesh here. What is the risk-reward?’ I don’t think anyone is to the point of making him the starter, and that is the bubble he is getting caught in.”

In other words, Kaepernick has a ton of baggage and no team is willing to carry it for him because he’s not good enough to justify it.

If it were Tom Brady, I’m quite sure it’d be different. Not because Brady is white, but because at 40 years old Tom Brady is far, far better than Kaepernick will ever be.

Kaepernick has sabotaged his own career and now his legacy is threatening to sabotage the careers of others if they keep participating in his ridiculous National Anthem protest.


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