Raiders owner says of quarterback Colin Kaepernick: 'I would welcome him with open arms'

[brooklynite]

Source: The Hill

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said he would welcome free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick “with open arms” as the star quarterback continues his quest to return to the league after a six-year hiatus.

In an interview with NBC Sports’s Bay Area affiliate, Davis said he believes that Kaepernick deserves a chance to play in the league, though he suggested the decision lies with team’s coaches and executives.

“I believe in Colin Kaepernick,” Davis said in a “Race in America: A Candid Conversation” episode set to premiere on Wednesday.

“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,” he added.

Read more: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/3473220-raiders-owner-says-of-quarterback-colin-kaepernick-i-would-welcome-him-with-open-arms/

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. "If our coaches and general manager want to bring him in......"

That's the rub, isn't it? IF the coaches want to bring him in. There's no indication that they do.

[richdj25]

2. Sorry to come across

like this but that's akin to Dr. King's approval numbers amongst white people going up after his death. Isn't it a little late for the NFL to start embracing Colin to return?

[Slammer]

6. doubtful

There's almost no one who is capable of playing at an NFL level who could take six years away then make a successful comeback and make a roster.

I don't care how much you take care of yourself and work out as much as you're able.

You just aren't going top retain the muscle memory and game skills to play at that level.

[DenaliDemocrat]

32. His shoulder is toast and he's skinny

He’s never been a pocket passer. He’s done physically at this point.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Weird thing for Davis to say "to be the quarterback on this team" considering Carr was re-signed

to a big contract extension very recently

That said, The Raiders/Davis family have always been one of the best teams in the league on social issues though, trailblazers in hiring minorities and women to high positions in the organization over their history.

And I don't think this is the first time Davis has made comments along these lines re: Kaep.

[TwilightZone]

4. Story broke a few days ago....

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/04/27/mark-davis-i-believe-in-colin-kaepernick/

[Angleae]

5. We already have 4 QBs on the team now.

Derek Carr, Nick Mullens, ,Garrett Gilbert, and now Chase Garbers. There just isn't any room for Kaepernick.

[C Moon]

23. Derek Carr is awesome!

[IronLionZion]

7. I was hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers would take him

it would anger all the right people

[rpannier]

14. Doubt their Head Coach would take him

[maxsolomon]

8. It's not JUST his political stance.

He was in danger of losing his starting job regardless. Now he's 34 and inactive for 6 years. Pro Football is a young man's game, with rare exceptions.

He'd have been well advised to go to the CFL and play his way back to the NFL like Kurt Warner.

[brooklynite]

11. Or perhaps the USFL reboot.

[Angleae]

15. He was offered a position in the AAF

He refused, not enough money.

[MichMan]

9. Didn't he turn down a couple potential offers a few years ago?

Because the money wasn't big enough or he wasn't guaranteed a starting position? I seem to recall something like that.

[Angleae]

16. He turned down the AAF a couple years ago.

I believe he also turned down offers from the Broncos & Cowboys soon after being released by the 49ers. All for the same reason. Not enough money.

[UnderThisLaw]

18. He received no NFL offers

after leaving the 49ers. This article may dispel some misconceptions that are passed around too often

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/08/nfl-broncos-john-elway-colin-kaepernick-contract-collusion-case

[onetexan]

10. One of the networks need to give him a job. 34 is retirement age for NFL. He could have more time to

devote to social activism or some worthy cause. Too much time has passed & i believe the QB ship has sailed for him.

[oasis]

17. Should Kap's lack of employment become a responsibility of the "networks"?

Why?

[onetexan]

19. You misinterpreted. What i meant is he'd make a damn good analyst

For the networks.

[C Moon]

24. That's true.

[oasis]

26. I follow the NFL but never heard Kap speak from the broadcast booth.

Have you?

[C Moon]

28. I think he'd be a great addition to an NFL network.

[oasis]

29. Because.......

[BidenRocks]

12. No freebies!

If you get through basic training and show talent, you made it.
Nothing personal.
Good luck Colin!
I really mean that.

[twodogsbarking]

13. Someone speaks for Kaepernick. I have only praise.

[childfreebychoice]

20. Kap's been out too long. IMO. Nt

[oldsoftie]

25. Yes. Nobody out of the league 6 yrs is going to perform at that level anymore.

The league defenses had already figured out how to defend him before he quit anyway. Its the same as Tom Brady or Mike Vick; figure out their weakness. Tougher with Brady, because his weakness is getting hit, so you MUST defeat the OL. With Vick, teams started keeping a "spy" to stop the run. Similar with Colin.

[ificandream]

22. So sign him then, Raiders.

Put your money where your mouth is.

[eissa]

27. Not going to happen

The Raiders have a contract with Carr, and Kap is not willing to accept a back-up position. When the league arranged a workout with some coaches, Kap changed venues at the last minute to a location an hour away. Only a handful attended, and not many were impressed.

Kap was great in his first couple of seasons with the Niners, until (as always happens) the teams figure you out. He was benched BEFORE his activism. Having said that, he of course was deserving of a starting spot on another team, but a combination of being blackballed, and his own attitude (why come back to an organization that he ludicrously compares to slavery?) have made it near impossible. Brady aside, this is a young man's game; there are plenty of talented athletes without the baggage that Kap brings that teams are willing to sign.

[TheProle]

30. May 25th Update [Go Raiders!]

Colin Kaepernick, who last played professional football in 2016 -- the year he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice -- is scheduled to work out Wednesday for the Las Vegas Raiders, league sources told ESPN.

It will mark Kaepernick's first workout with an NFL team since being exiled, and it will be the first time the former star quarterback visits with a team since he flew to Seattle to meet with the Seattle Seahawks in May 2017 before they passed on the opportunity to sign him.

Kaepernick played at the University of Nevada, Reno, the only school to offer him a scholarship. Currently, the pro team in Nevada is the only one in the NFL that has given the civil rights activist another opportunity.

Raiders owner Mark Davis is following in the spirit of his late father, Al Davis, who was active in civil rights. Al Davis became the first NFL owner in the modern era to hire a Black head coach, Art Shell, and a woman chief executive, Amy Trask. He also became the second NFL owner to hire a Hispanic head coach, Tom Flores.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33983642/colin-kaepernick-work-las-vegas-raiders-week-sources-say

[Emile]

31. Only republicans can call kneeling as a sign of disrespect

and get away with it.