Colin Kaepernick attorney notes Trump’s involvement in collusion case

The attorney for Colin Kaepernick confirmed on Sunday that they have filed a grievance under the collective bargaining agreement in which they accuse the NFL of colluding against the free agent quarterback.

Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year — a moot point since the Niners were going to cut him anyway. He has remained a free agent ever since, going unsigned as teams added starters and backups both before the season and since injuries occurred during the season.

Kaepernick was supposedly close to a deal with a team before training camp that faded away. Then he was mentioned in talks for the Baltimore Ravens, but that consideration supposedly ended over a racist tweet.

In his statement on the case, Kaepernick’s attorney Mark Geragos said the NFL is supposed to be a meritocracy and that Kaepernick should not be punished for his peaceful protest during the national anthem.

Statement from Mark Geragos, counsel for Colin Kaepernick. pic.twitter.com/Z7rWpuwb2g

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 15, 2017

Garegos also made mention of “political provocation” by the executive branch of the government — a reference to President Donald Trump pressuring NFL team owners to make their players stand for the anthem.

Kaepernick began a social movement last year when he sat down during the national anthem to bring attention to racial and social injustice, as well as cases of police brutality. He later began kneeling after speaking with a military member. Even though he is no longer in the league, other players have continued the movement by kneeling during the anthem.