Six weeks have already passed, and Colin Kaepernick remains jobless. While he is not alone, the fact that he is a high-profile NFL player adds to the mystery on why the 29-year-old continues to be passed up by teams in need of a quarterback. The latest news on the embattled player is that he has filed a grievance against owners for allegedly violating terms of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
According to lawyer Mark Geragos in a report from the AFP, they filed a grievance under the CBA on behalf of Kaepernick. He added that it was done only after pursuing other possible avenues with NFL teams and their respective executives.
Are teams conspiring against Kaepernick?
The group of Kaepernick is claiming that owners violated terms of the CBA, particularly the part where teams are prohibited from acting together against a player’s employment status. Kaepernick last played for the San Francisco 49ers before deciding to opt out and test free agency. So far, that search has ended in futility.
Kaepernick did the kneeling protests last NFL season have been singled out as one reason. In an effort to raise awareness of social injustice, the 29-year-old’s actions have garnered both support and backlash.
But even with Kaepernick still without a team this season, other NFL players have taken a knee or locked arms to protest. The list includes Malcolm Jenkins of the Philadelphia Eagles and Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs. The protests have gotten the ire of US President Donald Trump who has unleashed proverbial jabs at the league.
Where does he really fit in?
Despite growing belief that his activism is the root cause for being left out, critics point out Kaepernick’s brand of play.
There are teams in need of a quarterback like the Tennessee Titans and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Titans opted to go with Brandon Weeden with coach Mike Mularkey singling out that Kaepernick never worked out with the team. He emphasized importance on familiarity, and apparently the 29-year-old never came close to landing the job.
For the Bengals, Andy Dalton has been not that efficient for head coach Marvin Lewis. Kaepernick was mentioned as an option, but nothing went beyond that.
Looking ahead, there is no question that Kaepernick has the talent to help any NFL team. That injury was a major speed bump to his career, something that sent his momentum in disarray.
For NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the plight of Kaepernick is not because of his activism but his style of play.
Being a quarterback-driven league, the curious case of Colin being left out is something that is befuddling. With the grievance filed against NFL team owners, Kaepernick may have just made the task of potentially playing pro football once more just got even harder.