The NFL arranging a workout for Colin Kaepernick on Saturday raises many questions about the process. How did the workout come about? And who was involved in arranging it?
We got a few answers to those questions via The Ringer’s Tyler Tynes.
Tynes says the league reached out to Kaepernick’s representatives out of nowhere on Tuesday, and adds that there had been no conversations leading up to that point. The league told Kaep’s representatives they wanted an answer within two hours about their offer to move forward with the plans for the workout.
Kap’s representatives were told that the NFL needed an answer “in two hours” if Kaepernick planned to go through with the workout. A lot of people had to rearrange their schedules. They thought it conflicted with college football scouting schedules and NFL Sunday game day prep
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) November 13, 2019
Kaepernick’s representatives were hoping for the workout to be on Tuesday, a few days later, or the following Saturday, but were told this was the day. It was essentially a take it or leave it offer.
Kaepernick’s representatives made it clear that if the process was legitimate, and the key decision makers from all 32 teams were there then he would participate in the process. They asked that a personnel list be provided and the NFL they would get it to them on a rolling basis
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) November 13, 2019
Kaepernick’s representatives are hoping to receive a list of which league personnel will be present at the workout to ensure its legitimacy.
The expectation is tomorrow & the coming days Kaepernick will get the lists form the NFL. The expectation, per the source, is that there will be reps from every team present. Source says there been no prior communications between Kaepernick & the league before this moment
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) November 13, 2019
Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season, when he became the face of a social justice movement in sports due to his kneeling for the national anthem. He sued the league alleging that they had colluded against him and settled the case earlier this year.
Skeptics of the workout will say the NFL is only doing it for show. They will argue that by hosting it on Saturday, when many team coaches are preparing for Sunday’s games and executives are scouting college players, the league’s effort is disingenuous.
On the other side of the debate, one could argue that the NFL is trying to pave the way for Kaepernick to make it back into the league. They could argue that teams have opted against signing and working out the free agent, and now the NFL is trying to initiate things and help out the quarterback by making a genuine effort to get him signed.
It’s hard to say what exactly is going on. If you thought Kaepernick was being blackballed beforehand, you probably feel this workout is just for show. If you thought Kaepernick was not being signed because owners felt the quarterback’s ability to help a team would not outweigh the negative publicity he would generate, you probably feel the NFL is trying to help the quarterback.
