Colin Kaepernick held an exhibition of his skills for NFL teams in Atlanta on Saturday, an attempt to showcase his abilities as a quarterback in an effort to get an offer of employment from a team. The showcase was originally organized by the National Football League, which had settled a collusion case Kaepernick had levied against the organization earlier in the year.
There was plenty of talk about the reasons why the exhibition was happening in the first place, as some reports indicated that Jay-Z pushed the NFL to hold it after taking criticism for partnering with the league over Super Bowl musical acts while other artists boycotted the league over Kaepernick’s situation. Regardless, the workout was scheduled for Saturday in Atlanta, but reports from early that morning indicated Kaepernick’s representation and the NFL had not come to an agreement on certain legal paperwork for the event.
NFL declined to allow media and cameras into Colin Kaepernick’s workout as he had requested for transparency, per source. Workout now will be moved to alternative location in Atlanta this afternoon that will be open to the media and all NFL representative as allowed under rules.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2019
Part of the issue with the framework the NFL wanted was that outside media would not be allowed to view the event, something that Kaepernick refused to allow.
https://twitter.com/hbryant42/status/1195787360346296325
Colin Kaepernick’s workout at the Falcons’ training facility at 3 pm is off; his workout now will be at another Atlanta location at 4 pm today.
Here is the official announcement: pic.twitter.com/d9dIfJSbY3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2019
As a result, Kaepernick moved his exhibition to another location in Atlanta and held it without the NFL. The league issued a statement about the change, but an exhibition did happen without their approval.
NFL’s response to Colin Kaepernick opting to do his own workout today in Atlanta: pic.twitter.com/uvUZGH7CQ5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2019
CK’s agent says eight teams made the trip to the second workout.
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) November 16, 2019
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, an NFL executive described Kaepernick’s throwing ability as “elite” after the workout.
After today’s workout in Atlanta, an NFL executive at Colin Kaepernick’s throwing session said his arm talent is “elite” and is the same as when he came out of college. He said that Kaepernick threw the ball well.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2019
Whether Kaepernick will get an offer from an NFL team is unclear, but it’s increasingly difficult to consider Kaepernick as not deserving of at least a backup role in a league where numerous teams feature sub-par quarterback play out of their starters. One important thing to note, however, is that Kaepernick doesn’t seem to be ready to stop speaking out against the NFL as a league, as well as systemic police brutality against people of color.
CK talking to the media: “we’re waiting for the owners and Commissioner Goodell to stop running from the truth.” pic.twitter.com/BPILWFcCO5
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) November 16, 2019
If that’s something that continues to keep him unemployed, it will be the only thing. This has been the case ever since he found himself on the free agent market, but after Saturday, it’s northing short of ignorant to claim that ability is what’s keeping Kaepernick out of the NFL.
