Why Colin Kaepernick Still Isn't Playing In The NFL Almost Six Years After He Took The Knee
The former 49ers player teased his return to professional football last week, but his fellow sportsmen are not convinced
After nearly six years away from the NFL, Colin Kaepernick has suggested he may be set to return – but not everyone is in agreement.
Kaepernick famously kick-started NFL protests against racial injustice after taking the knee during the US national anthem in 2016.
The incident attracted global media attention and, just one year later, Kaepernick found himself seemingly blacklisted from the league.
However, this week the 34-year-old teased his return after posting a clip of himself training with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, Tyler Lockett.
Nevertheless, NFL royalty Warren Moon believes Kaepernick will not be returning to his old job in professional football.
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Speaking to TMZ Sports, the former Houston Oilers quarterback said he doesn't believe NFL owners are ready to give the former QB another shot.
‘I just don’t know if he’s going to get that opportunity,’ Moon said. ‘I just don’t think the NFL wants that subject back into the league.
‘Just thinking off the top of my head, those owners, they have a very close-knit unit and once they make their minds up that they don’t want to do something, it doesn’t happen,’ he added.
Kaepernick has never shied away from his aspirations to play again, something he has made widely known on Twitter over the past six years.
‘The past 5 years I’ve been working out and staying ready in case the opportunity to play presented itself,’ he tweeted recently.
‘I’m really grateful to my trainer, who I’ve been throwing to all this time.
‘But man, do I miss throwing to professional route runners. Who’s working?? I will pull up.’
In August of 2016, Kaepernick opted to sit on the bench during the national anthem before San Francisco's preseason home game against Green Bay, a brave act that attracted huge media attention.
‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,’ Kaepernick told NFL Media after the game.
‘To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.
‘There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.’
He was then encouraged by Former Seahawks player Nate Boyer to take the knee in protest, rather than sit, out of respect to the flag, the country, and US soldiers.
It has been suggested Kaepernick has since been blacklisted by NFL team owners.
Nevertheless, the powerful gesture encouraged his fellow teammates to follow his lead, even after Kaepernick himself stopped playing.
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Topics: Sport, Colin Kaepernick, NFL
Abbi Murray