NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is, unsurprisingly, disputing those who believe there is a concerted effort to keep Colin Kaepernick off an NFL roster.
Speaking at a “Rams All-Access” event in Los Angeles, Goodell argued that teams passing on Kaepernick were making a football decision, and it was not in relation to his national anthem protests in 2016.
“All [teams] want to get better. And if they see an opportunity to get better as a football team, they’re going to do it,” Goodell said, via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. “They’re going to do whatever it takes to make their football team better. So those are football decisions. They’re made all the time. I believe that if a football team feels that Colin Kaepernick, or any other player, is going to improve that team, they’re going to do it.”
Goodell was asked about comments made by New York Giants owner John Mara that would seem to undermine his argument.
“It did spark conversation, which I think is a part of what Colin Kaepernick intended to do,” Goodell said. “I don’t think that’s going to affect people from saying, ‘I’m going to do what’s in the best interest of my football team and give my team the best chance to win,’ because that’s what every team wants to do.”
Goodell also demurred when asked if he’d like to see Kaepernick land a job.
“I don’t get involved in personnel decisions with the clubs,” he said. “Those are decisions that the 32 clubs are going to have to make individually. They’re going to give whatever player they think can help them win that opportunity. And I think that’s what’s great about the NFL is that we’re a meritocracy, and you earn your opportunities and you get to keep your opportunities on the way you perform, ultimately. That’s what the NFL is about. I think that’s why fans love the game. People go out and they earn those opportunities, and it’s a competitive league, which is great for us.”
Some players have spoken of their belief that Kaepernick is being blackballed, and Goodell doesn’t really effectively refute that very well. On the other hand, in his position, he would likely argue that he’s not supposed to be influential with regard to roster construction.
