Should the NFL give the controversial QB another chance?
Riley Dulin - Sports Editor
With former 49ers standout Colin Kaepernick shocking the NFL by doing a workout in Atlanta Georgia, it is important to ask the question: should any NFL team want the controversy-ridden QB?
What we know right now is that Kaepernick’s tryout currently still leaves no team with interest in signing him. While this may come as a surprise to many, it does not surprise me at all. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with his decision to kneel for the National Anthem, one fact is for certain: Kaepernick is just plain bad.
In his last year with the 49ers in 2016, they finished with a 2-14 record. In those games, he had a completion percentage of just under 60% and only threw for 187 yards per game. While many do not blame Kaepernick for the 49ers’ abysmal season, let’s look at a QB with similar stats up to this point in the season: Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky has been criticized by Bears fans and NFL fans alike for the Bears’ struggles this season. With that being said, he has thrown for a similar 176 yards per game and a completion percentage of 62%. Both of these players have had similar seasons, and yet Trubisky is the one that should be released while Kaepernick deserves to be on a team. Why? Should we reward mediocrity on the field as long as the mediocre player makes a politically correct social statement? The NFL should not reward bad players because of politics, and that has been the case, as no NFL team seems to want to deal with the bad QB with more baggage than talent.
Liam Meyer - Contributing Writer
Colin Kaepernick had finally gotten his chance to work out in front of NFL teams. His NFL eligibility has been in question for the past three years purely based on his work for racial equality. I think it’s a shame that it has taken the NFL this long for Kaepernick to get his chance to prove that he is a better quarterback than some starters in this league.
According to ESPN, the NFL scheduled his workout to be on a Saturday. Kaepernick said in a tweet after hearing the news, “I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday. I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday.” Although this sounds great, it doesn’t make any sense. Why would the NFL schedule a workout a day before games? Most teams are traveling to or preparing for their games on that Sunday. Because of this fear of lack of attendance caused by the league, ESPN reports that Kaepernick requested for it to be moved to a Tuesday, a more reasonable date for NFL scouts, but was denied by the NFL. This clearly hints at the NFL’s lack of support for him. The NFL also informed all 32 teams just three days before the Saturday they were supposed to show up. According to For the Win, the NFL also asked Kaepernick to sign a waiver that prevented the media from attending the event, so obviously, Kaepernick refused to sign, then moved the workout to a local high school.
In terms of his performance at the workout, he was reported to have thrown strong. Slate reports he looked well and in shape since the last time he played in 2016. Videos of him throwing deep balls to receivers were scattered all over twitter with plenty of people commenting on how good he looks. I personally believe he looked good enough to be signed to a backup quarterback position. Due to the NFL’s lack of support, I am afraid this whole workout was designed to be a publicity stunt, rather than an actual event of achievement.