One of the most controversial ex-players in the NFL, Colin Kaepernick, is making headlines yet again.
On Saturday, Kaepernick in collaboration with the NFL hosted a workout session for talent scouts and managers. Its original purpose was to demonstrate Kaepernick’s ‘readiness’ and ‘level of interest’ to be back in the NFL. However, a last-minute venue change and the subsequent controversy has put a damper on the event’s success. His choice of clothing even being a problem for some.
Many teams have steered clear of Kaepernick due to his controversial kneeling protests during the 2016/2017 NFL football season. Despite his feature in Nike’s Emmy-award winning television commercial in 2018, Kaepernick still has not been able to sign a contract with a new franchise.
Kaepernick himself claims to be mentally and physically fit to play again. However, some suspect he isn’t really serious about getting back to work. Only time will tell if Kaepernick’s return to the NFL is for real or just another one of football’s chiropractic myths.
An Unexpected Change of Venues
The source of controversy surrounding the workout event is the last-minute venue change brought about by Kaepernick and his advisors. Originally arranged to be at the Atlanta Falcons’ stadium, the event was instead hosted by Kaepernick at a local high school’s facilities.
Kaepernick’s representatives claimed that the last-minute switch was to ‘ensure transparency’ by allowing all media representatives to attend. They also had a dispute over the NFL’s required liability waiver, which Kaepernick’s team claimed to be ‘unusual’.
25 teams were originally scheduled to be at the event. However, only seven were able to make it to the new location. This included the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans.
The NFL’s Frustrations
In a statement, the NFL asserted, “we are disappointed that Colin did not appear for his workout. He informed us of that decision at 2:30 p.m. today along with the public”.
The NFL put in a lot of effort to arrange the event, which also involved input from a new business partner, Jay-Z.
Instead of showcasing Kaepernick’s athletic abilities, the event rather further demonstrates the athlete is difficult to work with.
Publicity Stunts and Chiropractic Myths: Is Kaepernick actually ready to play?
Is Kaepernick actually ready to get back on the field, or is it just another one of football’s chiropractic myths? Speaking with reporters at his event, Kaepernick confidently said, “I’ve been ready for three years”.
However, Kaepernick’s agent, Jeff Nalley is not so optimistic.
Speaking with reporters, Nalley said, “I’ll be honest, I’m a little bit pessimistic because I’ve talked to all 32 teams. I’ve reached out to them recently and none of them have had any interest. I’ll tell you this: No team asked for this workout. The league office asked for this workout.”
