A lot of noise has been surrounding a potential return to the NFL from blackballed quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who recently let franchises around the league know that he's ready to play again and willing to take a backup role.
Many coaches and athletes have been advocating for his return to the league with the Raiders owner Mark Davis being the latest person to welcome the idea of having the former 49ers QB back in the NFL.
In an interview for NBC Sports Bay Area's series “Race in America: A Candid Conversation,” which premiered this past Wednesday, Davis was asked about Kaepernick where he immediately went to bat for the QB, stating that he deserves 'every chance in the world' to make it back in the NFL and will stand behind his coaches and GM if they do decide to bring him in.
“I believe in Colin Kaepernick,” Davis said. “He deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League. I still stand by it. If our coaches and General Manager want to bring him in or want him to be the quarterback on this team, I would welcome him with open arms.”
Although Davis' answer can be perceived as admirable, the 66-year-old owner glossed over the fact that the Raiders already have Derek Carr (who just signed a massive extension), Garrett Gilbert and Nick Mullens on their roster. If first-year head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Zigler decide to bring Kap in and he performs well enough, they could just part ways with either GIlbert or Mullens who have thinner resumes than Kaepernick.
A potential wrench in a possible move to Las Vegas is that Kaepernick, although open to taking a backup role made an appearance on the "I Am Athlete" podcast with Brandon Marshall and Chad Johnson, stating that he expects to start once he proves his worth.
"I know I have to find my way back in,” Kaepernick said. “So, yeah, if I have to come in as a backup, that fine. But that’s not where I’m staying. And when I prove that I’m a starter, I want to be able to step on the field as such. I just need that opportunity to walk through the door. . . . More than anything, we’re just looking for a chance to walk through a door. I’ll handle the rest from there.”
Davis continued speaking on Kap, saying he actually spoke with him and admitted that he went into the conversation not fully understanding why Kaepernick took a knee but says he has gained more insight into why he protested in the first place and understood where he's coming from.
“I think Colin is a very misunderstood human being,” Davis said. “I’ve gotten a chance to talk to him. I never really knew Colin, and I didn’t understand him. I didn’t understand the kneeling, and what that meant initially. Over time, I have learned a little bit more about it. I understand where he was coming from. He’s got a message for society as a whole.”
Kaepernick, 34, was blackballed by the NFL after he exercised his right to protest during the national anthem throughout the 2016 NFL season in response to police brutality taking place in the black community. He has been a free agent for the past six years.
Will Davis' comments change anything? Probably not. However, on the positive, there is a lot of steam picking up behind Kaepernick returning to the NFL and once the owners' meeting commences in May, maybe they can be asked about Kap and put their pride to the side and support his return to the league.
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
