every chance in the world to become a quarterback in
the National Football League. I still stand by it. If our
coaches and general manager want to bring him in or want
him to be the quarterback on this team. I would welcome them
with open arms.
That was four weeks ago. Mark, Davis. The owner of the Las
Vegas. Raiders opening the door
for his football team. Umm, if the coach in the GM
so desire to take a closer look at Colin Kaepernick and this
one came
out of the blue on Wednesday afternoon,
the Las Vegas, Raiders working out. Colin Kaepernick,
the first
workout. He has received since becoming a free agent
in 2017.
Not a single team had even brought him in for
a workout. The Seahawks brought him in for
Visit no workout.
And the conclusion was
well, he's a starting quarterback in this league. We
have a starting quarterback. So we have no use for never mind.
The whole always compete
motto that the Seahawks Embrace always compete, except at
the quarterback position where we have some concern that there.
Be some guys in the locker room. That would think Colin
Kaepernick is better than our current starter and then we
have a problem. That's why
the Seahawks didn't want anything to do with Colin
Kaepernick in 2017. That's the truth there. I don't know why
they don't want.
Anything to do with him now because you'd be the best
option. They have quite frankly, if you had a chance to
learn the offense and get up to speed, if he still has
the abilities. He had five years ago. He's better than Geno
Smith and Drew lock right now. I think I
don't know maybe you disagree with me,
but they share right now. I totally should at least bring
him in. Yeah. That but they should at least bring him in
and see what he can do. Well at least bring him in and see what
he can do. Sure. I'm like, I don't know. I'm it's awesome
day that this is happening. I mean, it's well well overdue.
No, I'm not ready to join you in that. He's better than Gene.
Smith and Drew lock at this point right now. No, definitely
not ready to say that. Does he have the potential to be better
than them? Certainly. We know that for sure.
Yes, no doubt about it. But you know again this is a little bit
more than just hey getting back and riding on the bike here and
like, oh, I got it. No problem. This is like we've never seen
a quarterback. Take this amount of time off or have this amount
of time off and go this
long. So that's where it's different and we didn't didn't
didn't know my choice though. That's why I don't drop my keep
having with this. He's he's harmed by
his absence. But his absence
was wrongfully imposed upon him and we had this conversation
a couple of years ago. There's a certain point where he's out
for so long. He's no longer desirable, but it's not his
fault that he's been out for so long. No. No, I know it is.
It's like,
you know, the the cart or the horse or the chicken or
the egg. I know it's bull crap. It's totally bullcrap from that
standpoint 100%. But the fact of the matter is,
we seek Our backs every year who missed two or three weeks
and then it takes them a few weeks to get back going again
and playing good. Or, I mean, we saw Russell Wilson this
year, miss a few games, come back. I know he wasn't totally
100% when he came back, but really was not himself for five
or six weeks because of the absence. So that that's that's
where I'm saying. But as far as the story itself and him
getting the chance to work out, I mean come on, he's been
screwed
over like nobody else in the history of football from that
standpoint know and and and it's great. Great. That he's
finally going to get this chance. It really is. It's
well, well long long overdue.
The Raiders have several other quarterbacks on the roster.
They acquired Jarrett Stidham from the Patriots, two weeks
ago. Yeah. They also have Nick Mullens and chase garber's
behind starter Derek Carr and look. I don't view this
as
the ideal Fit For What Colin Kaepernick wants to do? Because
he said this on the IMF leave. Podcast a few weeks back and
I thought that maybe it would hurt him and getting
an opportunity,
because he said, I'm willing to come in on, basically
the ground floor. It's not an exact quote, but close enough. And
then, when I prove, I'm
good enough become the starter and there was a
presumptuousness. Sure that right, that could turn a team
off because as we've said, there's two types of backups
the backup, who knows? He's there sold it to be
supportive and ready to go in the event. The starter gets
injured and the backup. Who is there to try to knock
the starter off his perch
now? Look in Las Vegas.
They
they're behind Derek Carr for now, that contract that he
signed really gives the team a lot of freedom. If he chooses
to exercise it after this year, remains to be seen whether
the team will. There's no reason at this point to think it will.
We talked about that when the contract details came out, but
it doesn't seem like a place where there's an opportunity
for Colin Kaepernick. If all of a sudden he shows up and it's
a Miriah meteoric, rise any and he's oh my god. Look how great
he's playing. Maybe he'll be the starter. They're not going
to put him on the field
instead of Derek Carr.
So I think what this does is
it's the it's the first toe in the water. Sure.
And maybe it gives other teams that would have greater needs
at the position.
Cover. Yeah, or at least an example. Sure. World didn't
end,
right? The writer. You'll you.
There's no there wasn't
Tickets weren't all cancer.
Yes. So, so, and that, that's, that's the potential benefit
to it. And that's why I admire Mark Davis, Dave Ziegler Josh
McDaniels for doing this because I don't think they
really need him,
but they've opened the door for the teams that may be due to
follow them through it. Yeah, they break the ice. They break
the barriers. No, no doubt about it. I mean, I'm with you.
This is I think one great for the NFL.
It is great for the Raiders 100%.
No doubt about Out that
I think it's it's actually like even bet the best person that
benefits from it from anybody is Josh McDaniels. In my
opinion.
You want to like,
endear yourself to the locker room and get Street credit
that you're working out Common Kaepernick, and you might sign
them, and you're the first coach to do that. Damn. He's
gonna, he's gonna have guys in his locker room. That might
have been, like, giving them the side eye or how's this
new New England way
that are not going to go into his corner and be like, all
right. Josh, McDaniels was cool with me. This is a big move
that he's even giving this guy a chance when the rest of
the NFL won't. So that's where it's cool.
And then I think on the football field, like you said
it, right? I mean, Kaepernick's gotta just be happy to get in
the building and get somewhere. First. Let's just dip the toe
and let's get going. Let's
not talk about being a starter or second string or anything
like that. Let's just get in get playing, show them your
team guy
and this is a place to me that I do. Look at Mike. I think we're
you know, you were kind of saying it
where are ya? Like they have a Stidham in a Mullins, okay.
Great, they can play. And you know, they've got a little
experience if we need them,
but you're not blown away and going. Oh man, there definitely
are backups. And we trust them with everything and Kaepernick.
We know has the type of talent to where he can maybe get to
that point. And that's where
I think it's actually Smart in all areas for the Raiders and
I give them a lot of credit to, but I think it makes sense,
even football wise for them.
And it really is amazing. It took five years for it to
happen, the NFL set up that group work out. November of
2019, both sides were to blame. I believe in the failure of
that to proceed. As scheduled.
There was some language on a release on a waiver, for
presumably, any physical injuries. That would happen.
Kaepernick's, Camp, interpreted, it more broadly.
That the NFL was trying to get a silver bullet for a potential
follow-up to the collusion lawsuit. That resulted in a
Between five and ten million dollars
to Colin Kaepernick because they did collude against him in
violation of the CBA. And
I think that neither side trusted the other, and that's
the reason why it fell apart. So they both had dirt on their
hands
for that one. Yeah. I mean, I'm not surprised I guess
a chance. Yeah. Like I said at the time any team could bring
him for workout anytime but no one wants to do it because
yeah, run the risk of immediately activating 30%
of your fan base.
Base against you because they hate Colin Kaepernick for
kneeling
during the national anthem. They refused to accept why
they refused to acknowledge that. It was
a proper exercise of his rights. They refused to
acknowledge that, it was within the confines of the rules of
the NFL, the rules of the NFL, the NFL created, the rule,
requiring players to be on the sidelines, but not, requiring
them to stand for the national anthem. They
allowed that defect
in the They wrote the rule, they wrote the rule,
someone committed malpractice in writing that rule
to allow that loophole.
So he was fully within his rights
to not stand but there are folks who refuse to accept
the fact that you know, I had a time when we're talking so much
about the Second Amendment, you know, I know I know people
don't know. A lot of people, a lot of people don't have much
regard for the first amendment. I really hey, I love
the hypocrisy and
radical is crazy. The
their country. It's
I'm okay to be radical here, but there.
How dare you be radical?
That's it's where it's all over the place. There that map,
but I'm not surprised. You didn't get a shot again. I'm not.
I was one of those that I'm no joke bike. You can go back and
look for some of the reasons you're saying here where when
he kneeled I went, this will be his last year, in the NFL.
I set it all the time at the time because we know
that the NFL is very political and right-wing ish that way and
it just wasn't going to fly with some of the owners. Jerry
Jones, Etc. I
I'd really, I didn't think we would ever actually get to
the point. We're at today. I'm not. And I think, I think
a lot of things had to happen
to finally, get it there. And I think really for the NFL, this
would be a good thing right now where they're taking Haymakers
about all certain types of subject from everywhere. Right
now. This is one where
maybe you get the Goodwill of the people back on your side
a little bit here. And I think that's really where it's good.
I do want to ask you this mic like
I don't know. I mean, does it do they put more pressure on?
Do you have to sign them now that you work them out? And
I thought about that too, like you put tremendous pressure on
yourself. Now that you've, you know, that's out there. He's
worked
out for you. And now I feel like there's so much pressure
to, okay. Sign him. Let him have his next chance here. Let
him go into OTAs and and get some Reps.
Don't you feel like there's going to be that pressure there
from the Raiders now though.
Yes, I do. But I look at their roster. They got four quarter
pax5
unless one of your guys is injured, not participating.
Five is a lot to have four is the right number. When you have
90 guys on the roster and you're trying to distribute
the footballs to the various running backs receivers and
tight ends during the Reps you're
taking and all the various drills that
happen. So somebody would have to go with. Chase Garber. Go
would
Nick Mullens go? Jarrett's didn't just got there. They had
to give up low-end draft. Pick compensation.
To get him in those familiarity there between
stem in the coaching staff. So,
I think that,
I think that when you step into
that Spotlight of working out, Colin Kaepernick number one,
right? You're going to potentially activate
a loud, minority
of your fan base on one side,
and then if you don't sign him,
you potentially activate a loud minority or potentially loud
minority of your fan base on the other side. Now,