“It was reported that NFL owners don’t want to pick him up because they don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump,” he said. “Do you believe that?” – President Donald J. Trump
Twelve months passed since the world first noticed Colin Kaepernick’s protest, and nothing has changed for the better. Instead, racism continues to worsen in America, emboldened by a President who announced his candidacy two years ago with a racist speech.
Most observers missed the first weeks of Kaepernick’s protest, when Colin sat in civilian clothes during the U.S. national anthem. When he sat for the anthem in NFL armor, word spread quickly and his protest turned viral. Kaepernick has generated so much discussion that sportsbooks like BetOnline and TopBet offer money lines on his employment status during Week One of the 2017 NFL season.
The odds don’t look good for Colin, who remains unemployed while inferior quarterbacks find gainful employment. Instead of listening to the reasons for Kaepernick’s protest, far too many trip over themselves attempting to explain why NFL teams won’t sign him. Everyone knows that Kaepernick would increase a potential suitor’s Super Bowl futures odds. Yet still his phone remains quiet.
Influential NFL owners have a cozy relationship with President Trump, and the league enjoys an antitrust exemption. This creates an atmosphere where business owners legally collude against a former employee, blackballing him because he won’t just shut up and play. If Kaepernick isn’t hired soon, more people might finally begin to listen to what he’s been saying the entire time.
“It has nothing to do with him being blackballed… first thing we’ve got to get Colin to do is cut his hair.” – Michael Vick
Seven NFL franchise owners donated a million dollars towards Trump’s inauguration: Robert Kraft, Dan Snyder, Bob McNair, Jerry Jones, Shad Khan, Woody Johnson and Stan Kroenke. Ed Glazer of the Buccaneers cheaped out with a $250,000 donation, while NFL Ventures gave the Trump inauguration $100,000. A half-year after the inauguration, Woody Johnson was named the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, reaping the rewards from his Trump investment.
This was the first presidential inauguration which didn’t limit donations from corporations and individuals, breaking with tradition. The cash was earmarked for parties and concerts, and Trump’s inauguration committee never released details on how the money was spent. Even wannabe NFL owners, like Sheldon Adelson, donated millions to the inauguration.
Despite NFL owners being bedfellows with President Trump, the narrative has constantly shifted towards baseless, ad hominem attacks against Kaepernick. In May, Giants co-owner Paul Mara explicitly stated that he “never received more emotional mail from people than I did about that issue,” including letters which said, “if any of your players ever do that, we are never coming to another Giants game.”
Another owner who admitted apprehension towards Kaepernick’s protest is Steve Bisciotti of the Baltimore Ravens, who ignored advice from his coach and general manager instead of signing Colin to solidify a shaky QB situation. The irony deepens when you consider the fact that Kaepernick merchandise remains among the most popular in the NFL. This means that owners prefer making less money and fielding a less competitive team rather than hire the ostracized quarterback.
At this point, it’s clear that he’s dealing with owners who donate millions to a President who defends white supremacy and blames Black Lives Matter for instigating police shootings. At best, Kaepernick faces owners who worry about white fans feeling offended by his protest. In the scramble to defame the ex-Super Bowl QB, many ignore the obvious: Colin Kaepernick speaks truth about racial oppression and police brutality on the NFL stage. So far, NFL owners responded by colluding to blackball the pivot for exercising his first amendment rights.
“You have Hillary, who’s called black teens or black kids ‘super predators’. You have Donald Trump, who’s openly racist.” Colin Kaepernick, before the 2016 Presidential Election.
Kaepernick hasn’t assaulted, robbed or killed anyone, nor has he committed any crimes, unlike other controversial players welcomed back into the NFL fold. Colin broke unwritten rules by holding a mirror up to the NFL, and eventually the United States. Considering President Trump’s persistent support for white supremacist groups, and his initial campaign comments about Mexicans, the 45th President of the United States has been openly racist, just like Colin said.
“It will be very telling about what happens to the officer that killed him,” Kaepernick remarked after Terence Crutcher was shot to death by police, without provocation. Terence had his hands above his head with Betty Shelby killed him – she was acquitted of all charges.
These are the type of truths that NFL owners, and too many fans, want to sweep under the field.
“I wanted to support my African-American teammates today who wanted to take a knee. We wanted to draw attention to the fact that there’s things in the country that still need to change. I myself will be raising children that don’t look like me.” Seth DeValve
Colin Kaepernick joins a century-long history of black athletes who sacrifice comfort and career to fight against racial oppression and police. He started his solitary protest peacefully, but he’s no longer alone. White NFL players have joined in, taking a knee alongside black teammates. Around 80 members of the New York Police Department rallied in support of Colin, and the NAACP rallied a thousand strong in front of NFL HQ in Manhattan.
NFL ownership is an ultra-exclusive monopoly club, sliding millions in donations to politicians around the United States while accepting billions in taxpayer subsidies. Legally, the league can do whatever it wants, including the unofficial censure of Colin Kaepernick – even if it stains their franchises and the NFL brand.
History won’t look back kindly on the NFL.
