Media fascination with America-hater Colin Kaepernick continues as strong as ever as the NFL readies for its third season without his acidic presence. TMZ Sports is thrilled that Kaepernick gave a shout-out to former teammate Eric Reid, who plans to carry on the despicable spectacles Kaepernick inspired during the 2016 season, his last in the NFL. Former NBA player Grant Hill told CNN's Van Jones that athletes like Kaepernick have the right to be outspoken, and diehard media are still holding out hope that some team would be foolish enough to sign him.
Reid, a safety for the Carolina Panthers, told the Charlotte Observer Sunday, “If a day comes that I feel like we’ve addressed those issues, and our people aren’t being discriminated against or being killed over traffic violations, then I’ll decide it’s time to stop protesting. I haven’t seen that happen.
“We’ve got to keep fighting. Got to keep agitating. Got to keep making sure that we put pressure on the people who make the laws, and the decisions, in this country.”
Reid's angry remarks got Kaepernick (see the two of them kneeling prior to a game in 2016 in above photo) all stoked up about his former teammate, TMZ Sports reports. Kaepernick said Reid is "unwavering" in carrying on the disrespectful spectacle of kneeling when the national anthem is played prior to kickoffs.:
"Unrelenting. Unflinching. Unapologetic. Love you Brother!"
CNN's Paul LeBlanc reported that Hill celebrated the "powerful" ways young athletes can use their platform:
"Their influence and their profile and the connection that they have in the audience and the fan base, I mean that's powerful."
Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrarr noted that Baltimore Ravens' quarterback Robert Griffin III is out with a broken thumb and asks why the team hasn't reached out to Kaepernick. "Perhaps Kaepernick could help Lamar Jackson with the finer points of (offensive coordinator Greg) Roman’s system, as he ran it as well as anyone has once upon a time."
Farrarr also writes:
"It’s an interesting time for Baltimore, and Kaepernick’s involvement would certainly make it more interesting. At the same time the president of the United States is making ridiculous and unfounded accusations against Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, whose reach covers more than half of the city, most of the majority-black precincts in Baltimore County, and most of Howard County, the Ravens are doing their level best to do what most NFL teams have refused to do over time: Take a black quarterback (Jackson) and allow him the time and training to develop, as opposed to giving up on him at the first mistake."
Kaepernick and the Ravens have an interesting history, Farrarr says. This is based on the team's consideration of signing him after he became a free agent in 2017. "But with more prominent names taking more pointed potshots at Baltimore and one of its most distinguished politicians, perhaps it’s time to let bygones be bygones and investigate the possibilities."
Last March, Kaepernick held a Know Your Rights Camp for young potential social justice warriors in Baltimore, and he tweeted support for the city recently:
The San Francisco Chronicle's Scott Ostler headlined a story "Colin Kaepernick ready and waiting ... and waiting ... ". Sounding like the director of the Kaepernick fan club, he writes:
"He is not too cool for the NFL. He is not too busy with his politics and his activism and his camps for inner-city kids and for kids with heart ailments. Those activities do occupy his time, but on every team he played on, he was the hardest worker. He is not so wealthy from his Nike ads that he doesn't want to get his hands dirty on a football field."
If called on, Ostler says Kaepernick would be game-ready as quickly as instant coffee. He knows, however, that the phone call isn't forthcoming because, "He is being grayballed from the NFL, a murky kind of exclusion that isn't officially orchestrated but is carved in imaginary stone."
Ostler adds that President Donald Trump once said maybe Kaepernick should find a country that works better for him, but "Kaepernick ignored that friendly advice and instead settled down in a country he wants to help make better ― his own. It's not a perfect country. Sometimes it punishes peaceful protesters. Sometimes it rewards racism. But it's got potential."
