At halftime of the University of Michigan's spring game Satuday, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick -- an honorary captain for the game -- held a throwing exhibition for NFL scouts already in attendance for the scrimmage.
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted, this gesture by Jim Harbaugh -- Kaepernick's first NFL coach -- allowed some NFL scouts to get a look at Kaepernick without it becoming a polarizing news story that a specific team watched the 34-year-old.
It's true that a percentage of every fanbase would get mad at the idea of their team working out Kaepernick, something that you wouldn't want your public relations department to have to deal with unless and until you actually signed him. Another percentage of your fanbase that supported Kaepernick's peaceful protest during the National Anthem against police brutality and systematic racism in America would be upset if their team worked out the quarterback, only to decide not to sign him.
Footage of some of Kaepernick's passes has surfaced:
It has been five years since Kaepernick last played in the NFL, and the former second-round pick appears willing to accept a backup job if that allows him to return to the league.
"I can help make you a better team -- I can help you win games," Kaepernick told Jeanna Trotman of ABC 7 in Detroit when asked about what his message to potential suitors would be. "I know right now that the situation likely won't allow me to come in and step into a starting role. I know I'll be able to work my way to that, though, and show that very quickly. So to the teams that have questions, more than anything, I would say I'd love to come in for a workout ... I'd love to sit down with you and have that conversation about how I can make you a better team."
In parts of six NFL seasons, Kaepernick tossed 72 touchdowns to 30 interceptions, while adding 2,300 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. He had a 28-30 regular season record as a starter, along with a 4-2 postseason record, including leading the 49ers to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII.
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