Colin Kaepernick has caused quiet the conversation, but a much needed one.
What has stopped athletes from backing the strong stance of 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick? Is it money? fear? or lack of understanding? Whatever it is, NFL execs and athletes alike have shielded away from the topic, all except one.
Undrafted Eagles rookie, Mike Tavarres has stated his allegiance with Colin Kaepernick. Tavarres spoke with ESPN and stated that he plans to join Kaepernick in sitting during the National Anthem.
“We’ve got an issue in this country in this day and age, and I feel like somebody needs to step up and we all need to step up,” Tavarres said to ESPN. “We’ve got that right. There’s just a lot going on that people don’t want to talk about, and I feel like us as athletes, we’re looked at as role models.”
“In this situation, I’ve really got nothing to lose,” he said. “I’m a rookie free agent, haven’t signed any major contract, so there’s not a lot of money on the line, I don’t have any big endorsement deals on the line. Really what’s at stake is my pride and what kind of man would I be and what kind of African-American would I be if I didn’t stand my ground on this issue we have today?”
This feels genuine. With Tavarres being an undrafted free agent, he has nothing to gain or lose. Sometimes all it takes is one person to start a chain reaction and not only start conversation, but to start change.