With public approval of BLM on the rise, Colin Kaepernick could actually draw in fans.
On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated in an interview with ESPN that he encourages NFL teams to sign Colin Kaepernick. The former 49er QB hasn’t played since the 2016 season but according to his trainer, Josh Hidalgo, Kaepernick is still training for an NFL return.
5 a.m. on the dot we are on the field, warming up, sprint work, conditioning, throwing, lifting, and stretching. Then immediately after Kap’s training is done he is off to meetings … then we are back at it 5 a.m. on the dot.
TMZ Sports
With the commissioner making statements like this and after the league released a statement against racial injustice and police brutality, would it now be a good PR move to sign Colin Kaepernick? The league has switched its stance on the Black Lives Matter movement and so has the general public. In a New York Times report, Americans’ support for the movement has increased almost as much in the past two weeks as it had since Kaepernick began his protests.
Wasn’t that the main issue with NFL team’s not signing him? They were afraid that they would lose fans and that would translate to fewer ticket sales. Now, with the public’s support, teams can gain fans and increase ticket sales. This could be a huge boost for a team like the Chargers, who have struggled to fill their half-sized soccer stadium. Head coach Anthony Lynn has put Kaepernick “on the workout list” per Chargers beat writer, Daniel Popper.
Lynn went on to clarify that the QB is not in any of the Chargers’ plans as of yet.
The Chargers are not the only team that has been projected to land Colin Kaepernick. Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports made a list of eight possible destinations where he could end up.
The Chiefs are number four on this list, so that begs the question: would he be a good fit in Kansas City? My answer is, yes. He would be a good fit in Kansas City, as a backup. Obviously, he would have zero shot at a starting gig as a Chief. But wouldn’t he be an upgrade from Chad Henne? Look at what Andy Reid was able to do with Matt Moore last season. If that situation were to happen again (heaven forbid), imagine what Reid could do with a more mobile QB.
Reid has already shown that he could resurrect a QB’s career after missing multiple seasons. Michael Vick was that QB and Andy Reid made him a Pro Bowler after Vick spent two years in prison. He wouldn’t have to go to that level with Colin Kaepernick. He would just have to have him ready in case Pat went down.
Radio host Doug Gottlieb shared similar sentiments on his show earlier this month. He went on to add,
There are plenty of Andy Reid family guys that are in the National Football League as coaches that would give [Kaepernick] an opportunity to get another job next year.
The Doug Gottlieb Show – Fox Sports Radio
Signing with the Chiefs is also a smart move for Kaepernick’s development. What better way to get back into the league than to practice alongside the best QB in the game? Even though Colin is 8 years older than Patrick Mahomes, it doesn’t mean that he couldn’t pick up some new tricks from the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
Say what you want about the politics of having Colin Kaepernick return to the NFL. The first amendment allows all of us to have an opinion. Kaepernick fitting in with Kansas City is purely based on the football aspect of it. The Chiefs don’t need a PR bump because they’re the reigning champs, but they got that title by having solid QB play from the backup position. Colin Kaepernick could provide that in 2020.
