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The Kaepernick Debate: Football move, or business decision?

By Chris Schisler

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers walks to the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers walks to the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers walks to the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers walks to the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

  My Final Statement:

I can’t stand the whole kneeling during the anthem thing. I love this country and kneeling isn’t my favorite thing to see during the anthem. However, I don’t hate Kaepernick or have a problem for him doing this. In fact, I think peaceful protesting should always be encouraged because conversations about our problems need to be had. When I look at this country, I do it with admiration (but not a blind admiration). The problem with Kaepernick’s protest is not the message he sends but that because people feel disrespected they don’t listen to him. Kaepernick’s method is flawed but I have a lot of compassion and empathy for what he is trying to say. In the end, neither side is right or wrong but both sides think they’re entirely right.

I look at this from an entirely football perspective. I look at James Hurst at right tackle, with questions at center and no depth and I want to be proactive. A 16 game season is brutal when things go poorly so I’m in favor of signing Kaepernick. Even if Flacco is ready for week one, there is no promising that the Ravens won’t need to rely on a backup. I’d rather go with Kaepernick than Mallett.

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Kaepernick is a law-abiding citizen. He has the right to protest. The Ravens have the right not to employ him, if they don’t want to. However if the Ravens brass thinks it makes sense from a football perspective, politics shouldn’t keep the Ravens from making the move. I understand both sides, and I have tried to steer the conversation directly in the middle in that respect. I’m now done talking about it until something actually happens.

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