Is Kaepernick Really Interested in Playing? What Happened This Weekend

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick switched the location for a scheduled workout for 25 NFL teams an hour before the original time and place for the event.

Why Suddenly Change the Location?

“I’ve been ready for three years. I’ve been denied for three years. … We are waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams and [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell to stop running. Stop running from the truth, stop running from the people,” Kaepernick told reporters after the workout.

The ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback threw passes for close to an hour to several free agent receivers and proceeded to sign autographs for fans afterwards.

Out of all the teams meant to be there for the workout, The Associated Press reported only six had made it – including representatives from the Eagles, Jets, Redskins and Chiefs.

The whole basis on why the location and time was shifted seems to be that Kaepernick had requested “a transparent and open process.”

“Most recently, the NFL has demanded that as a precondition to the workout, Mr. Kaepernick sign an unusual liability waiver that addresses employment-related issues and rejected the standard liability waiver from physical injury proposed by Mr. Kaepernick’s representatives. Additionally, Mr. Kaepernick requested all media be allowed into the workout to observe and film it and for an independent film crew to be there to ensure transparency. The NFL denied this request,” a statement by Kaepernick’s representatives said.

The league said it had sent a standard liability waiver to Kaepernick’s reps, however, what was received from them later, they said was “a completely rewritten and insufficient waiver,” adding that the league also found out that Kaepernick wanted to bring his own video crew and that it had agreed to a Nike ad, featuring Colin and all present NFL teams to be mentioned.

Difference of Opinions – Clash Between Eric Reid and Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith and a former teammate of Kaepernick, Eric Reid, had a word fight on Twitter, regarding the Kaepernick situation.

.@stephenasmith Tap dancing for the NFL like ⬇️. Damn straight Colin wants to control the narrative! He supposed to trust the organization that blackballed him and has done absolutely nothing in good faith??? Born on Tuesday, just not last Tuesday. https://t.co/EKztmcrDbu pic.twitter.com/gz0xnDe10e

— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) November 17, 2019

After the initial clash on Twitter, the argument moved to Instagram, with Reid talking about his support for Kaepernick when others try to bring him down, with Smith responding with quite the paragraph, ending it with a few simple sentences:

“We just have a difference of opinion. I still respect the hell out of your immature, belligerent self. But I’m going to call it like I see it. Kaepernick made a mistake the way he handled all this… … IF he really wants a job in the NFL. Period. And your contribution to all of this doesn’t help. It hurts. It ain’t about you being wrong. It’s about you needing to grow the hell up. Your decision. Your life! Do you!” Smith wrote.