Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr hasn't been shy about speaking in mind and when asked about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and finding himself out of a job past the midway line of the NFL season, he was his usual blunt self.
“Oh, he is being blackballed. That's a no-brainer,” said Kerr during the Pod Save America podcast with Dan Pfeiffer, via ESPN. All you have to do is read the transactions every day, when you see the quarterbacks who are being hired. He's way better than any of them.”
“But the NFL has a different fanbase than the NBA. The NBA is more urban, the NFL is more conservative, and I think a lot of NFL fans are truly angry at Kaepernick, and I think owners are worried what it's going to do to business.”
Kerr has been known to have a grip on politics and social justice in the past, but this has been the most straight-forward statement regarding the former Niners starter.
Kaepernick started a trend of protesting racial injustice during the national anthem during the preseason of 2016, and Kerr said that is why NFL teams have been hesitant to sign him.
“If you are a general manager, you do have to worry about the circus that would erupt if you signed Kaepernick,” said Kerr. “That's not justifying not signing him, but it's understanding what you're getting into.”
The 2011 second-rounder out of Nevada filed a grievance against NFL owners two weeks ago, alleging they have prevented him from getting a job in the league again.
Kaepernick had a shaky end to his playing days last season, throwing for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 468 yards and two rushing touchdowns through his 1-10 record in starts for a depleted roster.
The 6-foot-5 long-striding QB also went 4-2 in the playoffs, leading the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in 2012, which was the franchise's first since 1994, where San Francisco lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Follow Us
Subscribe