Colin Kaepernick Fired Back At Michael Vick, Who Told Him To ‘Cut His Hair’

Mike Vick added his opinion to the long list of takes about Colin Kaepernick and what he needs to do to return to the NFL. But unlike most other people, Kaepernick actually took the time to respond to some of the nonsense Vick had to say.

On Monday, Vick appeared on Fox Sports 1’s “Speak For Yourself” and said the first thing Kaepernick should do to get a spot on an NFL roster is “cut his hair.”

First thing we’ve got to get Colin to do is cut his hair. Listen, I’m not up here to try to be politically correct, but even if he puts cornrows in there, I don’t think he should represent himself in that way in terms of—just the hairstyle. Just go clean-cut. You know, why not? You’re already dealing with a lot of controversy surrounding this issue. The most important thing that he needs to do is just try to be presentable. All the social media stuff he’s doing—we get it, we understand it. It’s time for Colin to step up in a different way.

It’s certainly not something Vick or anyone else would say to a player like Clay Matthews, who does not need to worry about whether his look will allow him a spot in the NFL. As people reacted to the take, Vick backtracked on his stance by posting a Twitter message on Tuesday that said we have to believe that his comments were “not in malice.”

Kaepernick, however, was no so trusting. He posted the definition for Stockholm Syndrome on his Instagram page on Tuesday morning in a move that was clearly directed at the retired quarterback who spent 18 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring.

It should be noted that Vick was more respectful of Kaepernick and his situation on the radio on Monday. On The Herd, with Jason Whitlock filling in, Vick elaborated on his thought that he isn’t being ignored by NFL teams for his protest, but rather that he just didn’t play particularly well over the last two seasons.

He is careful, however, to say he “appreciated” the gesture he made to silently protest police brutality.

“It has nothing to do with him being blackballed. The gesture that he made last year hone he took the stand to do what he did—listen, we all appreciated it and reseeded it,” Vick said while Whitlock watched, grimacing.

“It was a good thing. I really think the stand he took has nothing to do with him not having a job or playing in the National football league right now. And being frank, Colin didn’t have the best two years his last two seasons. It wasn’t as productive as we’ve seen him do. And maybe has to do with coaching changes and musical chairs around him and the players but I think in terms of him getting back on the field it’s gonna have to be a team that suits his skill set.”

Vick thinks Kaepernick will sign with a team at some point this season, but I certainly wouldn’t expect he cuts his hair in order to improve his chances. Kaepernick’s spent the summer doing plenty of good outside the football field. If this is the end of the line for him in the NFL, he’ll find something to fill his time and keep his cornrows in place.