Free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick has gone full-blown social justice warrior.
His refusal to stand for the national anthem was only the beginning. He followed that up by wearing “pig” socks, wearing a pro-Fidel Castro t-shirt, refusing to vote in any elections in November, and compared cops to slave patrols.
But a recent rumor about Kaepernick could destroy all of the activism brownie points he’s amassed.
Kaepernick allegedly turned down a contract offer of approximately $900,000, which is a far cry from the eight figures he was making with the 49ers the past few seasons.
Kaepernick’s representatives vehemently denied the rumor.
From Breitbart:
A story ran in the Daily Caller on Monday, based on an NFL source who claimed that Colin Kaepernick had indeed received an offer from an NFL team. Then, in hopes of inciting a racially driven media backlash, Kaepernick turned down the offer in hopes of using the media pressure to get “a more lucrative deal.”
On Tuesday, Kaepernick’s representatives emphatically claimed that no such thing happened. According to TMZ Sports, “Multiple people in the QB’s inner circle say there’s absolutely zero truth to a Daily Caller report that Kaep shot down an offer from an unnamed NFL team in order to stir up “a media frenzy that eventually leads to a more lucrative deal.” As one well-connected Kaepernick source tells TMZ Sports, “Colin NEVER had any talks about any contract or any money” with any NFL team.
“Several teams have reportedly considered making an offer to Kaep — including the Ravens and the Dolphins — but as of yet, no one has pulled the trigger.”
While it’s entirely believable that no one has “pulled the trigger,” if by pulling the trigger we mean putting an actual contract in front of Kaepernick. It’s entirely not believable that Kaepernick has never had “any talks about any contract.” What were Kaepernick, or his representatives doing in Seattle that whole time if they never discussed money?
Same thing with Baltimore, clearly Kaepernick wasn’t doing burpee’s or running 40-yard dashes all day. So, if the two sides had mutual interest, which they claimed they did, then what else could they have discussed? Other than money?
None of this proves the Daily Caller’s source to be correct, the mere fact Kaepernick has discussed money, or, even turned down a contract. Doesn’t mean that he did so out of any intent to “play up the race card.” However, the fact remains that Kaepernick’s crew “doth protest too much.” NFL free agency is all about money and contracts. Why try to hide that?
It’s impossible to know if Kaepernick turned down an offer because the only two parties that would be privy are Kaepernick and the alleged team; it’s in neither side’s best interest to disclose the truth.
Kaepernick would instantly lose credibility, and the NFL team would be excoriated for releasing private contract negotiations and details.
Though the veracity of the claim can’t be confirmed, it lines up with a rumor from earlier in the summer that Kaepernick was seeking more than backup money.
It isn’t difficult to believe Kaepernick got an informal offer at or below $1 million and turned it down in hopes of a bigger payday.
The bigger payday never came, and now he finds himself in this quagmire.