Colin Kaepernick’s lawsuit against the NFL may be over, but the desire to play quarterback in that very same league continues.
Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos, appeared on a CNN segment to discuss whatever he could (due to the confidentiality of the settlement) about what the future holds for Kaepernick and is optimistic that the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback could take snaps under center.
“I’m going to make a bold prediction,” Geragos said, “one of three teams pick him up.”
What are those three teams? Geragos named two and suggested one other.
The first was the Carolina Panthers. whom Kaepernick’s co-plaintiff Eric Reid recently signed a three-year extension with.
“If [Panthers quarterback] Cam Newton is out,” Geragos said, “then the natural place to be is to play with Eric in Carolina.”
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said earlier this week that some competition could help Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton. Newton just finished a season with the best completion percentage of his career at 67.9. Despite the improved accuracy, he threw 24 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. He also will be coming back from a shoulder injury and while the Panthers are optimistic of a return to form, bringing in another quarterback may be necessary.
Reid joined the panthers in 2018. During his season he was subject to a high frequency of drug tests. Drug tests the NFL said were by the book. In the 2019 offseason, Reid signed a three-year extension to remain with the team.
The next team? The New England Patriots.
“Besides the Panthers,” Geragos said, “it would not surprise me if [ Patriots owner] Bob Kraft makes a move.”
Kraft was one the NFL team owners deposed in the Kaepernick/Reid lawsuit.
The Patriots are coming off a Super Bowl win with a 41-year-old Tom Brady. Ironically, they traded their backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers. Garoppolo was once considered the future in New England.
President Donald Trump took issue with Kaepernick’s protests in 2017, suggesting that players should be fired for kneeling. Kraft, a Trump supporter, took issue to the comments and supported his players’ right to protest.
The final team?
“It would not surprise me if his [Kraft’s] former coach also makes a move.” Geragos said.
In the segment above, it suggests a former, unnamed coach. The first to come to mind could be Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, whom Kraft fired from the Patriots after the 1999 season. The Seahawks brought Kaepernick in for a workout, but did not offer him a contract saying he was too good to be a backup.
If you want to get technical, a former coach may not be just limited to Carroll. It could be one of the Patriots assistant coaches who left for head coaching jobs. The Miami Dolphins for instance have said they are moving on from Ryan Tannehill. They hired Brian Flores, a disciple of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to be head coach of the Dolphins, so that could also be an option.
After saying it was a former coach of Kraft’s, Geragos then said, “I’ll test your knowledge.” Hinting that it may indeed be Carroll.
Regardless of which team is hinted at, Kaepernick’s representatives are optimistic he’ll be back in the NFL. Playing NFL football was all he wanted in the first place.
[If you can’t see the video above click here]