Fooch’s update: Never mind
UPDATE:Agent for @Eagles rookie Myke Tavarres tells me his client "Will stand for national anthem". Reversing what he said in @espn report
— Chris O'Connell (@CoconnellFox29) August 29, 2016
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick told the media on Sunday that he plans on continuing to sit during the National Anthem. And now, he has at least one player joining him. Philadelphia Eagles rookie free agent Myke Tavarres said earlier today that he plans on sitting on Thursday when the Eagles face the New York Jets in their preseason finale. He did not get into specifics in that article, but it sounds like similar reasoning to Kaepernick.
Tavarres signed with the team shortly after the draft, and I am not seeing anything indicating he is likely to make the roster. Of course, that seems to play into Tavarres’ decision:
"In this situation, I've really got nothing to lose," he said. "I'm a rookie free agent, haven't signed any major contract, so there's not a lot of money on the line, I don't have any big endorsement deals on the line. Really what's at stake is my pride and what kind of man would I be and what kind of African-American would I be if I didn't stand my ground on this issue we have today?”
I’d be curious to see what he would do if he were a draft pick likely to make the roster, and potentially did have something to lose. Colin Kaepernick has plenty to lose, but he also seems to be in a fairly secure financial situation. Given the lack of guaranteed contracts, and the short length of NFL careers, will we see anybody of note take a similar stand (or seat, as it were)? That gets even more interesting if Kaepernick is released by the 49ers at some point. If he is still choosing to sit, does any other team sign him?
Teams will look past virtually anything for talent (most notably, beating women), so I can see how someone would sign him. But if they are not sure he can get back to his 2012, 2013 level of play, my guess is he ends up not signing anywhere else for the foreseeable future. There’s a lot to be determined between now and roster cuts, and now and the end of this season, but that’s where it stands right now.