Over two months into NFL free agency, Colin Kaepernick still hasn't signed with a team, and the concerns over why are growing louder.
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The NFL world has been souring on Colin Kaepernick for years, and his national anthem protest has only fueled the fire
People around the NFL have reportedly doubted Colin Kaepernick's skill and attitude, and his national anthem protest hasn't helped his case in free agency.
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One of the common beliefs is that Kaepernick's national anthem protest has turned off teams who disagree with his politics or don't want to deal with the media attention that follows him.
In an offseason in which Mike Glennon got $18 million from the Bears and Ryan Fitzpatrick got $3 million to back up Jameis Winston on the Buccaneers, many people find it hard to believe that Kaepernick's unemployment is solely due to football.
However, as detailed by ESPN's Mike Sando, Kaepernick's protest may just be another factor working against him. Sando collected quotes from NFL executives, personnel directors, and coordinators from December 2013 to now, revealing the evolving opinions of Kaepernick around the NFL. One thing stands out: some within the league have changed their opinions of Kaepernick and have been souring on him as a franchise quarterback for years.
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While some NFL insiders always worried about Kaepernick's inability to make throws that weren't fastballs, many liked other attributes of his game. Said one GM after Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million deal with the 49ers in 2014, "
"There is something missing there with him. I don't know what it is. Maybe it is the desire to play. That is the feeling that I get from watching him and when he talks about football and all you hear [around the league]. I just don't know if he loves the game, and for me, a guy who has talent like that to be so inconsistent, if he doesn't love it, he is never going to be that great."
Rumors of Kaepernick's desire to play have surfaced this offseason as well. MMQB's Peter King reported that some people within the 49ers wondered if football was Kaepernick's top priority. Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman reported in August 2016 that some people expected Kaepernick to pursue social work if he was cut by the 49ers.
After sitting behind Blaine Gabbert to start the 2016 season, Kaepernick played 12 games for the 49ers, completing 59% of his passes for over 2,200 yards, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 90.7 passer rating — decent numbers, all things considered.
Kaepernick opted out of his contract and became a free agent in March but has not received serious interest from any teams. According to some NFL insiders, it's not worth designing a specific system for Kaepernick to succeed in — not for a backup.
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One executive told Sando, "
"You bring him in, and it is a media onslaught. It is not good or bad. It's just, every time there is a social issue or anything that comes up, they are going to call him, they are going to want his feedback. Is that wrong? No, it's not wrong. But he has thrust himself out there, much like Tim Tebow has with other various items or agendas. Is it really worth it?"
It remains unclear where Kaepernick may end up. On Wednesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Kaepernick will meet with the Seattle Seahawks, who have mentioned that they may be interested in signing him. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter also reported that the meeting was "standard" and nothing imminent.
In the meantime, Kaepernick has been working out in New York City, with his trainer telling King that Kaepernick is in excellent shape and dedicated to continuing to play football.
With training camp only three months away, it will be revealing to see how much longer Kaepernick is on the market, and if he ends up with a team, which one and in what capacity.
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