Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who's been exiled by team owners for protesting racial injustices since 2016, has yet to fulfill his goal of returning to the league in any role. But earlier this week, one franchise cracked open its door of opportunity, as the Las Vegas Raiders invited the 34-year-old to throw in a private workout. According to NFL Network, the team was "impressed" by his session, although no deal is imminent.
The Raiders' interest in Kaepernick was somewhat predictable. Raiders owner Mark Davis -- whose late father, Al Davis, championed diversity and inclusion for decades -- told reporters in April that Kaepernick "deserves every chance in the world" to play in the NFL once again. Although the Raiders don't need a quarterback -- Derek Carr recently inked a three-year, $121 million extension -- Kaepernick told reporters last month that he'd accept a backup role.
"I think this falls under the umbrella of the league's renewed review of itself, post-Brian Flores litigation and lawsuit that's going on," CBS Sports HQ host and reporter Josina Anderson told After Hours with Amy Lawrence on Friday. "You can't force people to hire who they don't want to hire. So, how do you get over the bridge? By breaking a comfort barrier. And that comfort barrier comes from what they were doing in Atlanta this past week, having different interactions with ownership, coaches, and front office [at league meetings].
"I think, finally, the Raiders giving Kaepernick a workout is an extension of the feeling... I think they're individuals, who make up the league, who're sincerely trying to figure this out... I do feel, however, relative to Kaepernick's situation, this has also been a disturbing mark for the NFL, with the fact that he couldn't get back in... To answer your question, I do think there's well-heartedness at the root of this, and you can more reflect that in the outcomes that happen."
The entire conversation between Anderson and Lawrence can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow After Hours With Amy Lawrence on Twitter @ALawRadio and @AfterHoursCBS, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.