Colin Kaepernick
Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012
|
| Free agent |
| Position: |
Quarterback |
| Personal information |
| Date of birth: |
November 3, 1987 (age 29) |
| Place of birth: |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Height: |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: |
230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information |
| High school: |
Turlock (CA) Pitman |
| College: |
Nevada |
| NFL Draft: |
2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36 |
| Career history |
|
|
| Career highlights and awards |
- 2× WAC Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2010)
|
| Career NFL statistics as of 2016 |
| TD–Int: |
72–30 |
| Passing yards: |
12,271 |
| Completion percentage: |
59.8 |
| Passer rating: |
88.9 |
| Rushing yards: |
2,300 |
| Rushing touchdowns: |
13 |
| Player stats at NFL.com |
|
Colin Rand Kaepernick (KAP-er-nick;[1] born November 3, 1987) is an American footballquarterback who is currently a free agent. Kaepernick played college football at the University of Nevada, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Offensive Player of the Year twice and became the only player in NCAA Division I FBS history to amass 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career. After graduating, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Kaepernick began his professional football career as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith, and he became the 49ers’ starter in the middle of the 2012 season after Smith suffered a concussion. He then remained the team’s starting quarterback for the rest of the season, leading the team to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. During the 2013 season, his first full season as a starter, Kaepernick helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game. Over the next three seasons, however, Kaepernick and the 49ers failed to qualify for the playoffs. Kaepernick’s performance was pointed out as a major reason, which led to him being benched multiple times over that span.
During the 2016 season, Kaepernick gained nationwide attention when he began protesting by “taking a knee” (and not standing) while the United States national anthem was being played before the start of games. His actions were motivated by what he viewed as the oppression of people of color in the country.[2][3] Kaepernick’s controversial behavior prompted a wide variety of responses, which included additional athletes in the NFL and other American sports leagues protesting the anthem in various ways. Following the season’s end, he opted to drop out of his contract with the 49ers to become a free agent. His free agency status has also been the subject of discussion and controversy, with some believing that his protests, and not performance, were the reason he was not signed with a team for the 2017 season.
Early life
Kaepernick was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Heidi Russo, a 19-year-old white woman of Irish and Bohemian[dubious – discuss] descent who was single at the time.[4] His birth father, an African American man, left Russo before Colin was born.[5][6] Russo placed Colin for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a white couple who had two children—son Kyle and daughter Devon—and were looking for a boy after losing two other sons to heart defects.[5][7] Kaepernick became the youngest of their three children. He lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, until age four, and attended grade school in Turlock, California.[8][9]
When Kaepernick was eight years old, he began playing youth football as a defensive end and punter. He then became his youth team’s starting quarterback at age nine, and he completed his first competitive pass for a long touchdown.[8] A 4.0 GPA student[10] at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, Kaepernick played football, basketball and baseball and was nominated for All-State selection in all three sports his senior year. He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Central California Conference in football, leading his school to its first-ever playoff victory. In basketball, he was a first-team all CCC selection at forward and led his 16th-ranked team to a near upset of #1 ranked Oak Ridge High School in the opening round of playoffs. In that game, Kaepernick scored 34 points but Ryan Anderson scored 50 to beat the Pitman.[11]
College career
Recruitment
Kaepernick achieved most of his accolades in high school as a baseball pitcher and received several scholarship offers in that sport,[8] yet he desperately wanted to play college football. He was almost 6′ 5″ as a senior, but weighed only 170 pounds (77 kg) and his coaches generally kept him from running the ball to limit his risk of injury.[9] He also had poor throwing mechanics, despite his strong arm.[8] During his junior year, Larry Nigro, Pitman’s head coach at the time, made a highlight tape that Kaepernick’s brother, Kyle, copied to DVD, then sent to about 100 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, then known as Division I-A) programs. Kaepernick received some interest but no scholarship offers.[8] Even as a senior, he received little attention from FBS schools. Although the University of Nevada, Renocoaching staff frequently watched video of his high school team, no one from the Nevada Wolf Pack football staff came to Turlock to see him play during his senior football season.[9] Nevada head coach Chris Ault decided to offer him a scholarship after one of his assistants, Barry Sacks, saw Kaepernick dominate a high school basketball game on an evening he was suffering from a fever of 102 °F (39 °C). Nevada was the only school to offer him a football scholarship, but was concerned that he would opt for baseball until he signed in February 2006.[9]
Baseball
Kaepernick was a two-time California all-state baseball player and was listed as a draftable prospect on Major League Baseball‘s website in the class of 2006. He earned Northern California athlete of the week honors as a pitcher. As a senior in high school, he threw a 92 mph (148 km/h) fastball, as reported during Kaepernick’s first college football start in 2007 against Boise State.[12] He was also a member of the Brewers Grey squad in the 2005 Area Code games. In his senior year of high school Kaepernick had an ERA of 1.265 with 13 starts and 10 complete games. He finished the year with an 11–2 record with 97 strikeouts and 39 walks.[citation needed]
In the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, Kaepernick was drafted in the 43rd round by the Chicago Cubs.[13] He decided that he wanted to continue to play football at the University of Nevada and chose not to sign with the Cubs.[14]
2007 (freshman season)
Kaepernick started his college career at Nevada playing in 11 of the team’s 13 games. He finished the season with 19 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and 2,175 passing yards with a 53.8% completion percentage. Kaepernick also added 593 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns as the Nevada Wolf Pack finished 6-7.[15]
2008 (sophomore season)
As a sophomore, Kaepernick became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a single season. Some of his notable statistical achievements were:
- Only NCAA quarterback in 2008 to pass for 2,500 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards.
- Ranked second among all NCAA QB’s in rushing yardage with 1,130.
- Ranked seventh among all NCAA players with 7.02 yards per carry.
- Was tied ninth among all NCAA players with 17 rushing TD’s.
Kaepernick, with 1,130 rushing yards, and running back Vai Taua, with 1,521 rushing yards, made 2008 the first year in school history that Nevada had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.[16]
Despite playing the entire second half with an ankle injury, he set a new Humanitarian Bowl record with 370 yards passing and was awarded the MVP in a losing effort. He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the end of the season. He was the first sophomore to win this award since Marshall Faulk of San Diego State did in 1992. He was also named first team All-WAC quarterback.[citation needed]
2009 (junior season)
Kaepernick was named the pre-season WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the WAC Media’s event in July. On August 3 it was announced he was named to the Davey O’Brien Award pre-season watch list. On August 14 it was announced that he was named to the pre-season Maxwell Award watch list and on August 17 to the Manning Award watch list. Kaepernick led the Wolf Pack to an 8–5 record and a second-place finish in the WAC behind undefeated Boise State. He was named second team All-WAC quarterback. He was the first player in Nevada history to earn the team’s MVP award twice, doing so in 2008 as well.[citation needed]
He finished the 2009 season with 2,052 passing yards and 1,183 rushing yards. He became the first player in NCAA history to record back-to-back 2,000/1,000 yard seasons. His 1,183 rush yards along with Luke Lippincott’s 1,034 and Vai Taua’s 1,345 makes him a part of the first trio of teammates in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards each in the same season.[citation needed]
2010 (senior season)
Passing against
Hawaii in 2010.
Entering the 2010 NCAA season, Kaepernick ranked first among active college football players in rushing touchdowns. He was second in yards-per-carry (behind Wolf Pack teammate Vai Taua), total offense-per-game, and touchdowns scored. He ranked third in yards-per-play and fourth in pass touchdowns and total number of offensive plays. He was a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy event in Thibodaux, Louisiana, during the 2010 camp. His performance drew praise from various NFL and ESPN personnel including former New York Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer who said of Kaepernick, “by far, the strongest arm in the camp”.[17]
Kaepernick in 2010.
It was also announced that Kaepernick, along with teammates Taua and Lippincott, would have a display in the College Football Hall of Fame commemorating their being the first players in NCAA history to each break 1,000 yards rushing on the same team during the same season.[18] Kaepernick was named to the watch list for six major college football awards: the Manning Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Paul Hornung Award, the Maxwell Award, the Unitas Award, and the Walter Camp Award.
On November 26, Kaepernick led his team to a 34–31 overtime victory against the previously undefeated Boise State Broncos, snapping a 24-game win streak that had dated back to the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl. This game was played on Nevada’s senior night, the final home game for Kaepernick. Nevada Head Coach Chris Ault would later call this game the “most important win in program history”. During this game, Kaepernick surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for this season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have over 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing for three consecutive seasons. Along with Taua’s 131 yards rushing in the game, the duo became the NCAA’s all-time leaders in rushing yards by teammates (8,285) passing the legendary SMU “Pony Express” duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James (8,193).[19]
On December 4 against Louisiana Tech University, Kaepernick joined Florida’s Tim Tebow as the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 in the same season. Later that same evening, Auburn’s Cam Newton joined Tebow and Kaepernick as the third. Kaepernick’s three rushing touchdowns in that game also placed him in a tie with former Nebraska quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch for most rushing touchdowns in FBS history by a quarterback with 59 in his career.[20] Nevada claimed a share of the WAC title after defeating Louisiana Tech. Kaeperick was named WAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year with Kellen Moore, who won the award in 2009.[21]
Kaepernick is the only quarterback in the history of Division I FBS college football to have passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 4,000 yards in a collegiate career. He is also the only Division 1 FBS quarterback to have passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season three times in a career (consecutively).[citation needed]
Kaepernick graduated from Nevada in December 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[citation needed]
| Passing |
Rushing |
| Season |
Team |
GP |
Att |
Comp |
Comp % |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
RAT |
Att |
Yards |
Avg |
TD |
| 2006 |
Nevada |
– |
Redshirt |
| 2007 |
Nevada |
11 |
247 |
133 |
53.8% |
2,175 |
19 |
3 |
150.8 |
105 |
593 |
5.6 |
6 |
| 2008 |
Nevada |
13 |
383 |
208 |
54.3% |
2,849 |
22 |
7 |
132.1 |
161 |
1,130 |
7.0 |
17 |
| 2009 |
Nevada |
13 |
282 |
166 |
58.9% |
2,052 |
20 |
6 |
139.1 |
161 |
1,183 |
7.3 |
16 |
| 2010 |
Nevada |
14 |
359 |
233 |
64.9% |
3,022 |
21 |
8 |
150.5 |
173 |
1,206 |
7.0 |
20 |
| Career |
1,271 |
740 |
58.2% |
10,098 |
82 |
24 |
142.5 |
600 |
4,112 |
6.9 |
59 |
Professional career
Upon graduation, Kaepernick signed with XAM Sports and Entertainment. He spent time in Atlanta, Georgia, training for the NFL Scouting Combine at Competitive Edge Sports with trainer Chip Smith and quarterbacks coach Roger Theder.
2011 NFL Draft
Pre-draft measurables
| Ht |
Wt |
Arm length |
Hand size |
40‑yd dash |
10-yd split |
20-yd split |
20‑ss |
3‑cone |
Vert jump |
Broad |
BP |
Wonderlic |
6 ft 4 5⁄8 in
(1.95 m) |
233 lb
(106 kg) |
33 1⁄2 in
(0.85 m) |
9 1⁄8 in
(0.23 m) |
4.53 s |
1.62 s |
2.63 s |
4.18 s |
6.85 s |
32 1⁄2 in
(0.83 m) |
9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m) |
x reps |
37 |
| All values from NFL Combine[22] |
On April 29, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers traded up with the Denver Broncos from the thirteenth pick in the second round (#45 overall) to select Kaepernick as the fourth pick in the second round (#36 overall) at the 2011 NFL Draft. The Broncos received picks 45, 108, and 141 overall in exchange for the 36th overall pick.
San Francisco 49ers
2011 season
For the 2011 preseason, Kaepernick completed 24-of-50 passes for 257 yards and five interceptions.[23] Kaepernick spent the 2011 season as backup to Alex Smith and played his first game in Week 4 (October 2) on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.[23] On third down and 17 during the first quarter, he came in for Smith as quarterback with the offense in shotgun formation and handed off to Frank Gore, who ran for five yards.[24] In the Week 5 (October 9) home game, a 48–3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kaepernick completed three passes for 35 yards. However, he failed to complete two passes in the 49ers’ Week 13 (December 4) game, a 26–0 win over the St. Louis Rams.[23] The 49ers finished the 2011 regular season 13–3 but lost the NFC championship to the eventual Super Bowl championNew York Giants.
2012 season
In 2012 against the New York Jets, Kaepernick scored his first career touchdown on a seven-yard run.[25] Throughout the early season, Kaepernick was used as a wildcat quarterback.[26] In Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick replaced starter Alex Smith, who had suffered a concussion in the first half. However, the game would end in a rare 24–24 tie, the first tie in the NFL in four years.[27]
With Smith still recovering, Kaepernick got his first NFL start the next game on November 19, during a Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park.[28] Kaepernick completed 16-of-23 for 246 yards with two touchdowns in a 32–7 win against a highly ranked Bears defense. 49ers head coachJim Harbaugh spoke highly of Kaepernick’s performance after the game, leaving open the possibility of Kaepernick continuing to start. “Usually tend to go with the guy who’s got the hot hand, and we’ve got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand”, Harbaugh said.[29] A quarterback controversy began. Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating (104.1), led the league in completion percentage (70%), and had been 19–5–1 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength.[30][31]
Smith was cleared to play the day before the following game, but Harbaugh chose not to rush him back and again started Kaepernick. In a rematch of the 2012 playoffs against the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers won 31–21 with Kaepernick throwing for a touchdown and running for another.[32][33] The following week, Harbaugh announced that Kaepernick would start for the 8–2–1 49ers against St. Louis. Harbaugh stated that Kaepernick’s assignment was week-to-week, not necessarily permanent,[34] but he remained the starter for the rest of the season.
In his first career postseason start, the 49ers won 45–31 against the Green Bay Packers, and he set an NFL single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 181, breaking Michael Vick‘s record of 173 in a 2002 regular season game.[35] He also broke the 49ers postseason rushing record, regardless of position.[36] Kaepernick carried the ball 16 times for 181 yards and scrambled five times for 75 yards, including touchdowns of 20 and 56 yards, and collected another 99 yards rushing on zone-read option plays. He also passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. In total, Kaepernick had 444 yards of total offense with four touchdowns. Kaepernick became the third player after Jay Cutler in 2011 and Otto Graham in both 1954 and 1955 to run for two touchdowns and pass for two others in a playoff game.[35] In the NFC Championship game, the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28–24 with Kaepernick completing 16-of-21 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown. The team advanced to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans against the Baltimore Ravens. Kaepernick threw for a touchdown and ran for another, but the 49ers fell behind early and could not come back, losing by a score of 31–34.[37]
2013 season
Kaepernick in 2013.
In the season opener of the 2013 season against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns, the first 400-yard game by a 49ers quarterback since Tim Rattay on October 10, 2004. Of the total 412 yards, 208 yards were to newly acquired teammate Anquan Boldin, making his debut as a 49er. In addition, Kaepernick’s performance also marked the first 400-yard passing with three touchdowns performance by a 49ers quarterback since Jeff Garcia in the 1999 season.
In the NFC Championship Game against eventual Super Bowl championSeattle Seahawks, Kaepernick rushed for 130 yards, including a 58-yard run, and passed for 153 yards. The 49ers led until the fourth quarter. Two turnovers by Kaepernick led to the Seahawks having a 23–17 lead with a few minutes left. Kaepernick drove the 49ers to the red zone but with 22 seconds left, Kaepernick’s pass intended for Michael Crabtree was tipped by Seattle’s Richard Sherman and intercepted by Malcolm Smith, ending the 49ers’ season and attempt to return to the Super Bowl. Kaepernick ended the season with 3,197 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He also finished with 524 yards rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
2014 season
On June 4, Kaepernick signed a six-year contract extension with the 49ers, worth up to $126 million, including $54 million in potential guarantees, and $13 million fully guaranteed.[38]
On September 17, Kaepernick was fined by the NFL for using inappropriate language on the field.[39] On October 9, he was fined $10,000 by the NFL for appearing at a post-game press conference wearing headphones from Beats by Dre, while the league’s headphone sponsor was Bose.[40] In a game against the San Diego Chargers, he recorded a 90-yard run for a touchdown. The 49ers finished the season 8–8 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Kaepernick threw for 3,369 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He rushed for 639 yards and one touchdown. Following the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach the University of Michigan.
2015 season
In 2015, Kaepernick struggled under new head coach Jim Tomsula. A day after a 27–6 collapse at St. Louis in Week 8, Kaepernick lost his starting job to backup Blaine Gabbert for Week 9 against Atlanta.[41] With Gabbert starting as their new quarterback, the 49ers narrowly won 17–16. On November 21, the 49ers announced that Kaepernick would miss the rest of the season because of an injured left shoulder that required surgery.[42] He finished the season with 1,615 yards passing, six passing touchdowns, five interceptions and 256 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown.
Head coach Tomsula was fired following the season and the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as his replacement.[43] In February 2016, Kaepernick expressed an interest in being traded.[44]
2016 season
Kaepernick entered the 2016 season competing for starting quarterback position with Gabbert.[45] On September 3, 2016, Kelly named Gabbert as the starter for the beginning of the 2016 season.[46] Prior to the 49ers Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills, Kelly announced Kaepernick would start, marking his first start of the season. On October 13, it was announced that he and the 49ers restructured his contract, turning it into a two-year deal with a player option for the next season.[47] He completed 13-of-29 passes, with 187 passing yards, one passing touchdown and 66 rushing yards in the 49ers 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[48] On November 27, he recorded 296 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 113 yards rushing in the 49ers’ 24-31 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He joined Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Randall Cunningham, and Marcus Mariota as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record at least three passing touchdowns and 100 yards rushing in a game. In a Week 13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Kaepernick threw a career-low four yards before getting benched for Gabbert. He returned to the starting lineup the following week and threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ 13-41 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. On December 24, Kaepernick recorded 281 total yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown, and a two-point conversion on the game-winning drive as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 22-21 to get their first victory on the season with Kaepernick as the starter.[49] For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[50]
On March 3, 2017, Kaepernick officially opted out of his contract with the 49ers, an option as part of his restructured contract, therefore making him a free agent at the start of the 2017 league year.[51]
U.S. national anthem protest
Before a preseason game in 2016, Kaepernick sat down, as opposed to the tradition of standing, during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner“. During a post-game interview, he explained his position stating, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder”, referencing a series of events that led to the Black Lives Matter movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like “[the American flag] represents what it’s supposed to represent”.[52][53][54] In the 49ers’ final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer.[55] After the September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott,[56] Kaepernick commented publicly on the shootings saying, “this is a perfect example of what this is about.”[57]
Kaepernick soon became highly polarizing as numerous people took public stances either supporting or maligning Kaepernick’s actions; in many cases this polarization correlates with racial divisions.[58] Various members of the NFL and other athletes across the United States, such as Megan Rapinoe, also began kneeling and/or raising their fist like the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. Some U.S. military veterans voiced support using the social media hashtag “veterans for Kaepernick”.[59] In the following weeks, Kaepernick’s jersey became the top-selling jersey on the NFL’s official shop website.[60] An NFL fan poll was taken during the beginning of the 2016 NFL season and Kaepernick was voted the most disliked player in the NFL; this poll was polarized, with 37% of caucasians disliking him “a lot”, and 42% of African-Americans liking him “a lot.”[58] A few people posted videos of them burning Kaepernick jerseys. Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason called Kaepernick’s actions “an embarrassment” while an anonymous NFL executive called Kaepernick “a traitor”.[61] The 2016 NFL season also saw a significant drop in their television ratings. Polls suggest that fans boycotting the NFL because of Kaepernick-inspired protests were a contributor to the decline in viewers.[62]He also claims to have received death threats.[57]
In September 2016, sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson wrote of the double bind faced by black people: “Black folk have, throughout history, displayed their patriotism by criticizing the nation for its shortcomings, and they have been, in turn, roundly criticized.”[63]Dyson suggested that the wisdom of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass maintains relevance to racism in the context of Kaepernick and protest.[63] Dyson concluded, “When a black athlete bravely speaks up, we punish him.”
In August 2017, former NYPD officer Frank Serpico gave a speech live on Facebook and stood with police officers at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Kaepernick.[64][65] The same month, Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime civil rights activistJim Browntold an interviewer that he would never desecrate the flag or “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Kaepernick did.[66]
Controversy over free agency
Following his departure from the 49ers, Kaepernick went unsigned through the offseason and 2017 training camps.[67] Some commentators argued that he was not signed because his performance had declined,[68][69] while others disputed those interpretations and argued that he was being blackballed because of his on-field political actions.[70][71][67] By August 2017, the statistics website FiveThirtyEight concluded that “it’s obvious Kaepernick is being frozen out for his political opinions”, calling it “extraordinary … that a player like him can’t find a team”, after finding that “no above-average quarterback [measured by the total quarterback rating] has been unemployed nearly as long as Kaepernick this offseason”.[72]PresidentDonald Trump took credit for Kaepernick’s situation, claiming he would use Twitter to create a public relations crisis for any team that signed him.[73][74]
In late July and early August, the Baltimore Ravens were working to extend an offer to Kaepernick. According to Ray Lewis, the offer was terminated after a tweet by Kaepernick’s girlfriend compared the Ravens team owner Steve Bisciotti to a slave owner. According to other reports, Bisciotti had been objecting to signing Kaepernick even before the incident.[75][76]
Professional statistics
Regular season
| Year |
Team |
Games |
Passing |
Rushing |
Sacked |
Fumbles |
Record |
| G |
GS |
Comp |
Att |
Pct |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Int |
Rtg |
Att |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Sack |
Yds |
Fum |
Lost |
Win-Loss |
| 2011 |
SF |
3 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
60.0 |
35 |
7.0 |
0 |
0 |
81.2 |
2 |
−2 |
−1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0–0 |
| 2012 |
SF |
13 |
7 |
136 |
218 |
62.4 |
1,814 |
8.3 |
10 |
3 |
98.3 |
63 |
415 |
6.6 |
5 |
16 |
112 |
9 |
2 |
5–2 |
| 2013 |
SF |
16 |
16 |
243 |
416 |
58.4 |
3,197 |
7.7 |
21 |
8 |
91.6 |
92 |
524 |
5.7 |
4 |
39 |
231 |
6 |
4 |
12–4 |
| 2014 |
SF |
16 |
16 |
289 |
478 |
60.5 |
3,369 |
7.0 |
19 |
10 |
86.4 |
104 |
639 |
6.1 |
1 |
52 |
344 |
8 |
5 |
8–8 |
| 2015 |
SF |
9 |
8 |
144 |
244 |
59.0 |
1,615 |
6.6 |
6 |
5 |
78.5 |
45 |
256 |
5.7 |
1 |
28 |
166 |
5 |
1 |
2–6 |
| 2016 |
SF |
12 |
11 |
196 |
331 |
59.2 |
2,241 |
6.8 |
16 |
4 |
90.7 |
69 |
468 |
6.8 |
2 |
36 |
207 |
9 |
3 |
1–10 |
| Total |
69 |
57 |
1,011 |
1,692 |
59.8 |
12,271 |
7.3 |
72 |
30 |
88.9 |
375 |
2,300 |
6.1 |
13 |
171 |
1,060 |
37 |
15 |
28–30 |
Playoffs
| Year |
Team |
G |
GS |
Passing |
Rushing |
Sacked |
Fumbles |
Record |
| Comp |
Att |
Pct |
Yds |
Y/A |
TD |
Int |
Rtg |
Att |
Yds |
Avg |
TD |
Sack |
Yds |
Fum |
Lost |
W/L (as starter) |
| 2012 |
SF |
3 |
3 |
49 |
80 |
61.3 |
798 |
10.0 |
4 |
2 |
100.9 |
25 |
264 |
10.6 |
3 |
5 |
32 |
1 |
0 |
2–1 |
| 2013 |
SF |
3 |
3 |
45 |
82 |
54.9 |
576 |
7.0 |
3 |
3 |
74.0 |
26 |
243 |
9.3 |
1 |
6 |
26 |
3 |
1 |
2–1 |
| Total‡ |
6 |
6 |
94 |
162 |
58.0 |
1,374 |
8.5 |
7 |
5 |
87.3 |
51 |
507 |
9.9 |
5 |
11 |
58 |
4 |
1 |
4–2 |
Personal life
Kaepernick was baptizedMethodist, confirmedLutheran, and attended a Baptist church during his college years.[78] Kaepernick spoke about his faith saying, “My faith is the basis from where my game comes from. I’ve been very blessed to have the talent to play the game that I do and be successful at it. I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I’m at. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I am thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field. I think if you go out and try to do that, no matter what you do on the field, you can be happy about what you did.”[79]
Kaepernick has multiple tattoos. His right arm features a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18:39 written on it. Tattooed under the scroll are praying hands with the phrase “To God The Glory” written on them. To the left of both the scroll and praying hands is the word “Faith” written vertically. His left arm features a Christian cross with the words “Heaven Sent” on it referring to Jesus. Written above and below the cross is the phrase “God Will Guide Me”. Written to the left and right of the cross is the Bible verse Psalm 27:3. His chest features the phrase “Against All Odds” and artwork around it that represents “inner strength, spiritual growth, and humility”. His back features a mural of angels against demons.[80][81][82]
When he was ten years old, Kaepernick acquired a pet African spurred tortoise named Sammy. The tortoise since has grown to weigh 115 pounds.[83] When he was in fourth grade, Kaepernick wrote himself a letter, predicting that he would be 6 feet 4 inches, 190 pounds, and would “then go to the pros and play on the Niners or Packers even if they aren’t good in seven years”,[84] predictions which became accurate except for his weight.
Near the end of the 2012 NFL season, Kaepernick’s signature touchdown celebration earned him a photo fad by his namesake, called “Kaepernicking”. The signature touchdown pose involves flexing and kissing the bicep of his right arm. Kaepernick says he kisses his “Faith”, “To God The Glory”, and Psalm 18:39 tattoos and the reason he does the celebration is because “…it’s my way of saying I don’t really care what people think about my tattoos” and “God has brought me this far. He has laid out a phenomenal path for me. And I can’t do anything but thank Him.”[80]
Kaepernick reportedly started dating radio personality and television hostNessa in July 2015,[85] and officially went public about their relationship in February 2016.[86] Kaepernick began following a vegan diet in late 2015.[87]
In November 2016, Miami Herald reporter Armando Selguero asked Kaepernick about a shirt Kaepernick had worn in August showing Fidel Castro meeting with Malcolm X with the phrase, “Like minds think alike.”[88] Kaepernick said the shirt was a comment “about Malcolm X and what he’s done for people, but when pressed about the Castro aspect, added, “One thing that Fidel Castro did do is they have the highest literacy rate because they invest more in their education system than they do in their prison system, which we do not do here, even though we’re fully capable of doing that.”[89]
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Kaepernick
The Pronk Pops Show 971, September 25, 2017, Story 1: American Sport Fans Vs. National Football League and Players — Not Respecting The American People, National Anthem, American Flag and United States By Kneeling During National Anthem Should Not Be Tolerated by Team Owners or League –NFL Not Enforcing Their Own Rule About National Anthem — Public Relations Disaster Destroying Brand and Team Franchises — — Political Correctness Collectivist Conformity Is Not Unity or Equality — Videos
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Story 1: American Sport Fans Vs. National Football League and Players — Not Respecting The American People, National Anthem, American Flag and United States By Kneeling During National Anthem Should Not Be Tolerated by Team Owners or League –NFL Not Enforcing Their Own Rule About National Anthem — Public Relations Disaster Destroying Brand and Team Franchises — Political Correctness Collectivist Conformity Is Not Unity — Videos
“…The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.
During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses. …”
~National Football League game operations manual, pages A62-63
Fans Boo When
Cowboys kneels owner Jerry Jones kneels with team before national anthem
Jerry Jones & ENTIRE Dallas Cowboys Team Kneel before Anthem, Hannity Reacts
Morning after analysis: Cowboys found a middle ground
Sean Hannity 9/25/17 – Hannity Fox News Today September 25, 2017 TRUMP-NFL PROTEST, STEVE BANNON
BREAKING NEWS America Football fans are Going To Boycott all NFL Sponsors like Anheuser Busch ,Gato
“Spoilt brats” Tucker Carlson Reacts to NFL Players kneeling during anthem
Special Report with Bret Baier 9/25/17 – Special Report Fox News September 25, 2017 NFL VS TRUMP
“DON’T Pull That Cr@p on Me!” Tucker Gets MAD at NFL Player for Disrespecting the Anthem and Flag
Patriots Fans Boo Anthem Protesting NFL Players
Jim Brown Cuts Colin kaepernick Throat
Ditka on Kaepernick
George Foreman Delivers Devastating Blow to Colin Kaepernick, Calls Out his ‘Privilege’
After 12 Cleveland Browns Kneel, All Stand After Who Showed Up Before The Next Game
After Browns Players Refused to Stand for Anthem, Cleveland Cops Respond With Their Own ‘Protest’
Former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva Is Only Steelers Player To Stand For National Anthem
Former Army Ranger Is Only Steelers Player To Stand For National Anthem, Alejandro Villanueva
BREAKING: NFL Executives Just Woke To Devastating News About The Rest Of Their Season Today
Trump responds after a day of NFL protests
Trump: I wish NFL owners respected US flag
“NFL Ratings will go down” Ben Shapiro Reacts to NFL Players taking the knee during national anthem
New Election Themes: Two Americas (NFL Prima Donnas v. America) & Alejandro Villanueva, Patriot/Hero
NFL Dolts, Cretins, Boeotians and Meatheads Misread the Kneel Protest Lunacy
NFL Pansies: The REAL #TakeTheKnee Problem | Louder With Crowder
LIMBAUGH: Trump Is Redefining What A Politician Is
‘GENUINE SADNESS’: Rush Limbaugh Didn’t Watch ‘Sunday Night Football’ For First Time In 45 Years
Limbaugh Warns Sports Media People Who Support Actions Against The Flag: ‘NO WAY Trump Loses This’
LIMBAUGH: The Lefts Success In Destroying The NFL Is Working To A Tee
Rush Limbaugh: NFL players want to do something that will drive away more fans (09-21-2017)
RUSH: IT’S OVER! NFL Is Never Gonna Be What It Was
Bob Costas on NFL protests and patriotism (full CNN interview)
Badass Cowboys Owner Just Went On LIVE TV And Pissed Off Every Racist Player With BIG Announcement
Eagles QB Just Shut Up Every Whiny Protester In The NFL With Shocking Announcement He Made
Chiefs Fan EXPLODES With Rage After Seeing What Disrespectful NFL Player Suddenly Did On Field
The Truth About The Colin Kaepernick National Anthem Controversy
Colin Kaepernick explains why he won’t stand during National Anthem
Kaepernick comes SO close to new NFL deal, then BLM activist girlfriend dashes dreams
Navy admiral burns Colin Kaepernick
Vet who lost legs has message for Kaepernick
[youtbe=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpsM6zoSPuE]
NFL Legend John Elway Just ENDED ALL Racist Player Protests After League Commissioner Refused
ROGER GOODELL IGNORING LEAGUE’S OWN RULES IN LETTING PLAYERS PROTEST ANTHEM
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is such a stickler for adhering to the intricacies of the NFL’s league rule book that he infamously waged a years-long, multi million-dollar battle with the New England Patriots trying to prove that balls used in the 2014 AFC championship between the Pats and the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated.
After a federal vacated Goodell’s four-game suspension of Tom Brady, Goodell appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; by 2016, the Pats appeared to lose their will to keep fighting the case and eventually accepted the penalty (Brady’s four game suspension, $1 million fine, and the loss of two draft picks).
Yet the NFL commissioner, notorious for his unusually massive compensation package — rumored to be north of $40 million/year, making his total compensation of $156 million higher than Tom Brady’s — is taking a decidedly less fastidious approach to the rules governing the national anthem at NFL games.
The NFL rule book specifically requires both teams appear on the field for the playing of the anthem, standing, remaining quiet, and holding their helmets in their left hands. Failure to do so can result in fines, suspensions, and the loss of draft picks.
The rules are found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual:
The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.
During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.
On Sunday, almost a hundred players took a knee during the national anthem. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Beats, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans all opted against even coming out on the field for the anthem.
But rather than warn these players and team they’re violating league rules, Goodell is focusing his anger at President Trump, who said in a speech Friday that the NFL team owners should require their players to stand during the anthem.
“The way we reacted today, and this weekend, made me proud,” Goodell said. “I’m proud of our league.”
On Saturday, Goodell responded directly to Trump, accusing the president of disrespecting the league, which asipires to “create a sense of unity in our country and our culture”:
The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we’ve experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.
We’ve reached out to the NFL, asking if any of the players or teams that skipped the national anthem will face discipline; we’ll update this report with their comments.
Goodell hasn’t always been so supportive of his players engaging in free speech on the field.
UPDATE: Snopes.com claims that this rule does not, in fact, exist. The article cites the rule quoted above and reports “No such wording appears in the 2017 version of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League.”
Yet the NFL’s Game Operations Manual — the 200-plus book the league refers to as its “bible” — is different than its rulebook. It is not available to the public. The rule cited above comes from the league itself, via the Washington Post.
The Post reported Sunday that the NFL confirmed the rule’s existence but emphasized their ability to enforce it selectively:
Under the league rule, the failure to be on the field for the anthem may result in discipline such as a fine, suspension or loss of a draft pick. But a league official said the key phrase is “may” result, adding he won’t speculate on whether the Steelers would be disciplined.
The specific rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual, according to a league source.
UPDATE TWO: After Grabien contacted Snopes.com, bringing the above facts to their attention, the author amended his article, confirming the existence of the above-state rule, and changed their description of this story from “false” to “mixture.”
https://news.grabien.com/story-roger-goodell-ignoring-leagues-own-rule-book-letting-players
The Politicization of Everything
Everybody loses in the Trump-NFL brawl over the national anthem.
Healthy democracies have ample room for politics but leave a larger space for civil society and culture that unites more than divides. With the politicization of the National Football League and the national anthem, the Divided States of America are exhibiting a very unhealthy level of polarization and mistrust.
The progressive forces of identity politics started this poisoning of America’s favorite spectator sport last year by making a hero of Colin Kaepernick for refusing to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games. They raised the stakes this year by turning him into a progressive martyr because no team had picked him up to play quarterback after he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL is a meritocracy, and maybe coaches and general managers thought he wasn’t good enough for the divisions he might cause in a locker room or among fans. But the left said it was all about race and class.
All of this is cultural catnip for Donald Trump, who pounced on Friday night at a rally and on the weekend on Twitter with his familiar combination of gut political instinct, rhetorical excess, and ignorance. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired,’” Mr. Trump said Friday.
No doubt most Americans agree with Mr. Trump that they don’t want their flag disrespected, especially by millionaire athletes. But Mr. Trump never stops at reasonable, and so he called for kneeling players to be fired or suspended, and if the league didn’t comply for fans to “boycott” the NFL.
He also plunged into the debate over head injuries without a speck of knowledge about the latest brain science, claiming that the NFL was “ruining the game” by trying to stop dangerous physical hits. This is the kind of rant you’d hear in a lousy sports bar.
Mr. Trump has managed to unite the players and owners against him, though several owners supported him for President and donated to his inaugural. The owners were almost obliged to defend their sport, even if their complaints that Mr. Trump was “divisive” ignored the divisive acts by Mr. Kaepernick and his media allies that injected politics into football in the first place.
Americans don’t begrudge athletes their free-speech rights—see the popularity of Charles Barkley —but disrespecting the national anthem puts partisanship above a symbol of nationhood that thousands have died for. Players who chose to kneel shouldn’t be surprised that fans around the country booed them on Sunday. This is the patriotic sentiment that they are helping Mr. Trump exploit for what he no doubt thinks is his own political advantage.
American democracy was healthier when politics at the ballpark was limited to fans booing politicians who threw out the first ball—almost as a bipartisan obligation. This showed a healthy skepticism toward the political class. But now the players want to be politicians and use their fame to lecture other Americans, the parsons of the press corps want to make them moral spokesmen, and the President wants to run against the players.
The losers are the millions of Americans who would rather cheer for their teams on Sunday as a respite from work and the other divisions of American life.
http://www.dailywire.com/node/21448#
802,931 Your Ultimate Guide to Buying Bitcoin
By: Ryan Phillips | 24 hours ago
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the crowd at StubHub Center for a
San DiegoLos Angeles Chargers game was awful. A huge portion of the crowd were Kansas City Chiefs fans, and for the fourth time in four games at the stadium (including two preseason contests) there were plenty of empty seats. And just a friendly reminder, StubHub only seats 27,000.How bad was it? Well, the Chargers knew the crowd was so pro-Chiefs that they didn’t even do player introductions over the public address system due to fears their own players would get booed. In their home stadium. In a new city the league told us was so desperate to have the NFL that it could support two teams. A city Dean Spanossaid contained 25 percent of the team’s fans.
So, the “Fight for LA” is going swimmingly it appears.
Check out some of the tweets and crowd shots from the day:
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
These are from the second quarter:
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
To add yet another embarrassment to this mess, this banner was flying over the stadium before the game:
As I and may others have said repeatedly, the Chargers move to Los Angeles was moronic, mishandled and has been a disaster. Ultimately it will be a failure and the league knows it.
UPDATE: The Chargers claim the game was a sellout:
To explain that “sellout,” remember the NFL only counts “tickets distributed” not the amount of people who go through the turnstiles. At this point it’s clear ticket brokers bought up a ton of the team’s season ticket packages hoping there would be demand for re-sale tickets. The demand isn’t there, which is why those tickets have been purchased but don’t have people in them. The brokers haven’t been able to unload those tickets on anyone.
Los Angeles Chargers Welcomed Another Embarrassing Crowd In Week 3
Confirmed: NFL Losing Millions Of TV Viewers Because Of National Anthem Protests
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 25: Hayes Pullard #52 of the Jacksonville aJaguars nd Dante Fowler #56 raise their fists in protest during the singing of the national anthem before the game against the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
A headline for a story in the Sporting News this morning: “Shock poll: A third of NFL TV viewers boycotting games because of Colin Kaepernick-led protests.”
Shock? Why?
The Sporting News article says “Nearly one-third (32 percent) of adults say they’re less likely to watch NFL game telecasts because of the Kaepernick-led player protests against racial injustice, according to Rasmussen’s telephone/online survey of 1,000 American adults conducted Oct. 2-3. Only 13 percent said they were more likely to watch an NFL game because of continuing protests by Kaepernick and supporters such as Antonio Cromartie of the Colts (who was cut only two days after raising a fist during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in London on Sunday).”
This was very predictable.
Three weeks ago I wrote that “the national anthem protests that began with San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and has since been copied by other players have angered many fans. And that anger may be one reason why the television ratings for the first week of NFL games were bad.” As my colleague, Brandon Katz wrote: “Both CBS’ Sunday afternoon game and NBC’s Sunday Night Football saw their lowest ratings in seven years. Throw in last night’s lackluster debut and the 2016 NFL season is off to its slowest start in recent memory in terms of TV ratings.”
Two weeks ago I wrote “it is starting to look like disrespecting the country during the national anthem is accomplishing what the concussions, domestic violence and deflategate could not do–drive down television ratings for the National Football League. Through two weeks of football the NFL’s television ratings are down across the board. The drop in ratings and viewership is unprecedented in recent years and has occurred during the protest of the national anthem, started by San Francisco 49ers backup QB Colin Kaepernick. Just last year some opined that the league’s ratings had no ceiling. That appears to be false.”
And last week I explained that “there can be no more excuses for the bad ratings, like the one offered by Billie Gold, vice president and director of programming research at Amplifi, the global buying arm of media company the Dentsu Aegis Network, who said it’s (the bad NFL tv ratings) the lack of big games and prominent names that have sacked the league the past two weeks. Nonsense. Something more visceral is causing ratings to fall. My opinion: Fans are ticked about the players protesting the national anthem.”
This morning it was confirmed by the fact that through four weeks, good games and bad, games with marquee quarterbacks and big markets, ratings are way down this year.
This poll is predictable, not shocking. Who will ultimately pay if the ratings continue to sink? The players and owners.
The National Football League will rake in roughly $4.6 billion in television fees from CBS CBS +1.85%, Walt Disney-owned ESPN , Comcast-owned NBC, Fox and DirecTV that it will equally share with its 32 teams this year. The NFL commands such a rich bounty because advertisers pay up for football’s huge ratings.
The television money is a big reason why the average NFL team is worth $2.34 billion and the average NFL player earns $2.1 million.
The networks that televise the games barely mention the protests anymore. But the fans have not forgotten.
Follow me on Twitter @MikeOzanian
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/10/05/confirmed-nfl-losing-millions-of-tv-viewers-because-of-national-anthem-protests/#76ec2d24226c
Colin Kaepernick Fact-Checked by Liberal Sports Media
by DYLAN GWINN28 Nov 2016136
Colin Kaepernick’s anthem-kneeling protest movement may have just lost all momentum, now that his traditional supporters have started fact-checking him.
The reliably liberal NBC site Pro Football Talk used Kaepernick’s contentious conference call with Miami media to check claims the 49ers quarterback made that Cuba has “the highest literacy rate” and that, unlike the United States, Cuba “invests more in their education system than they do in their prison system.”
Shockingly, Pro Football Talk took Kaepernick to task:
Pointing out the manifold fallacies in Kaepernick’s words, and occasionally in what he wears, is old hat for conservative media. Though, it marks quite the change for sites like Pro Football Talk who once slammed Donald Trump for his criticism of Kaepernick, lauding the quarterback for “trying to make things better” in America. They also called it “silly” for people to focus on Kaepernick’s socks, which depicted cops as pigs, even though he wore those socks less than two months after five Dallas police officers died by sniper fire.
So, to recap: Kaepernick lost his hero Fidel Castro, lost to the Dolphins, and lost Pro Football Talk. Kind of a rough week.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter: @themightygwinn
http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2016/11/28/colin-kaepernick-fact-checked-liberal-sports-media/
How Did Kaepernick Become A Leftist?
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
ByROBERT KRAYCHIK
September 24, 2017
61.5k views
Colin Kaepernick’s leftism crystallized as he attended courses at the University of California, Berkeley, after joining the NFL as a San Francisco 49ers quarterback in 2011.
The New York Post’s Shaun King spoke of Kaepernick’s political “metamorphosis” with The Intercept’s Jeremy Scahill in an interview published last Sunday:
Colin [told me] he’s always, you know, he’s always been bothered by police brutality, but he never understood it as the systemic problem that it was. And he’s a young guy — he’s 21 when he came into the league — and he literally started auditing a few classes at Berkeley, and from those classes began understanding what systemic racism was, began understanding the systems behind mass incarceration or white supremacy or police brutality. And he was doing this with very few people, including myself, not knowing. I had no idea he was auditing classes. He was kind of undergoing a personal metamorphosis, and he was doing it while he was recovering from the surgeries that he had had.
And it just caused him to be more acutely aware and sensitive to it. And during last summer, he saw the deaths of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and they just affected him personally. And really without talking to anybody, he decided at a pre-season game that he wasn’t going to stand up for the national anthem. And so Colin and I had been talking for couple of months at that point, and I think it really was a spur of the moment, gut decision, where he heard the anthem and just decided like, “I’m not going to stand up for that. I don’t feel like it. I don’t believe it.” And he did that for two weeks before anybody even noticed. These were just preseason games. And when they noticed, a local reporter asked him about it at the end of the game, and that he hadn’t prepared any bullets and he just said: Listen, I’m disturbed by the crisis of police brutality in America. I don’t believe that America keeps its promises to black people in particular. And, you know he was doing this to be in solidarity with victims of police brutality.
Kaepernick has “a fierce love for this country,” alleges King, adding that “a lot of what Colin does is because he wants to see this country get better.”
Throughout the interview, both King and Scahill frame African Americans as a neo-proletariat in modern America via their shared neo-Marxist sociological lens.
Kaepernick’s class selection included one on “the history of black representation in popular culture,” taught by Ameer Hasan Loggins.
Loggins wrote of his friendship with Kaepernick in an August-published post, praising Kaepernick’s anti-Americanism as a moral endeavor:
Time has proven Colin to be on the right side of history. The sentiment around him has become more nuanced amongst those that support him and his stance. But his detractors are still using dispelled, preseason talking points: that he’s disrespecting a song that has been proven to celebrate the institution of slavery; a false narrative about dishonoring the troops, while troops across the country have publicly come out in support of him and his protest; that pig socks make whatever else he does irrelevant. …
Colin will forever be known as a champion of the people.
http://www.dailywire.com/node/21448#
Colin Kaepernick
Colin Rand Kaepernick (/ˈkæpərnɪk/KAP-er-nick;[1] born November 3, 1987) is an American footballquarterback who is currently a free agent. Kaepernick played college football at the University of Nevada, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Offensive Player of the Year twice and became the only player in NCAA Division I FBS history to amass 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career. After graduating, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Kaepernick began his professional football career as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith, and he became the 49ers’ starter in the middle of the 2012 season after Smith suffered a concussion. He then remained the team’s starting quarterback for the rest of the season, leading the team to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. During the 2013 season, his first full season as a starter, Kaepernick helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game. Over the next three seasons, however, Kaepernick and the 49ers failed to qualify for the playoffs. Kaepernick’s performance was pointed out as a major reason, which led to him being benched multiple times over that span.
During the 2016 season, Kaepernick gained nationwide attention when he began protesting by “taking a knee” (and not standing) while the United States national anthem was being played before the start of games. His actions were motivated by what he viewed as the oppression of people of color in the country.[2][3] Kaepernick’s controversial behavior prompted a wide variety of responses, which included additional athletes in the NFL and other American sports leagues protesting the anthem in various ways. Following the season’s end, he opted to drop out of his contract with the 49ers to become a free agent. His free agency status has also been the subject of discussion and controversy, with some believing that his protests, and not performance, were the reason he was not signed with a team for the 2017 season.
Early life
Kaepernick was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Heidi Russo, a 19-year-old white woman of Irish and Bohemian[dubious – discuss] descent who was single at the time.[4] His birth father, an African American man, left Russo before Colin was born.[5][6] Russo placed Colin for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a white couple who had two children—son Kyle and daughter Devon—and were looking for a boy after losing two other sons to heart defects.[5][7] Kaepernick became the youngest of their three children. He lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, until age four, and attended grade school in Turlock, California.[8][9]
When Kaepernick was eight years old, he began playing youth football as a defensive end and punter. He then became his youth team’s starting quarterback at age nine, and he completed his first competitive pass for a long touchdown.[8] A 4.0 GPA student[10] at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, Kaepernick played football, basketball and baseball and was nominated for All-State selection in all three sports his senior year. He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Central California Conference in football, leading his school to its first-ever playoff victory. In basketball, he was a first-team all CCC selection at forward and led his 16th-ranked team to a near upset of #1 ranked Oak Ridge High School in the opening round of playoffs. In that game, Kaepernick scored 34 points but Ryan Anderson scored 50 to beat the Pitman.[11]
College career
Recruitment
Kaepernick achieved most of his accolades in high school as a baseball pitcher and received several scholarship offers in that sport,[8] yet he desperately wanted to play college football. He was almost 6′ 5″ as a senior, but weighed only 170 pounds (77 kg) and his coaches generally kept him from running the ball to limit his risk of injury.[9] He also had poor throwing mechanics, despite his strong arm.[8] During his junior year, Larry Nigro, Pitman’s head coach at the time, made a highlight tape that Kaepernick’s brother, Kyle, copied to DVD, then sent to about 100 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, then known as Division I-A) programs. Kaepernick received some interest but no scholarship offers.[8] Even as a senior, he received little attention from FBS schools. Although the University of Nevada, Renocoaching staff frequently watched video of his high school team, no one from the Nevada Wolf Pack football staff came to Turlock to see him play during his senior football season.[9] Nevada head coach Chris Ault decided to offer him a scholarship after one of his assistants, Barry Sacks, saw Kaepernick dominate a high school basketball game on an evening he was suffering from a fever of 102 °F (39 °C). Nevada was the only school to offer him a football scholarship, but was concerned that he would opt for baseball until he signed in February 2006.[9]
Baseball
Kaepernick was a two-time California all-state baseball player and was listed as a draftable prospect on Major League Baseball‘s website in the class of 2006. He earned Northern California athlete of the week honors as a pitcher. As a senior in high school, he threw a 92 mph (148 km/h) fastball, as reported during Kaepernick’s first college football start in 2007 against Boise State.[12] He was also a member of the Brewers Grey squad in the 2005 Area Code games. In his senior year of high school Kaepernick had an ERA of 1.265 with 13 starts and 10 complete games. He finished the year with an 11–2 record with 97 strikeouts and 39 walks.[citation needed]
In the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, Kaepernick was drafted in the 43rd round by the Chicago Cubs.[13] He decided that he wanted to continue to play football at the University of Nevada and chose not to sign with the Cubs.[14]
Football
2007 (freshman season)
Kaepernick started his college career at Nevada playing in 11 of the team’s 13 games. He finished the season with 19 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and 2,175 passing yards with a 53.8% completion percentage. Kaepernick also added 593 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns as the Nevada Wolf Pack finished 6-7.[15]
2008 (sophomore season)
As a sophomore, Kaepernick became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a single season. Some of his notable statistical achievements were:
Kaepernick, with 1,130 rushing yards, and running back Vai Taua, with 1,521 rushing yards, made 2008 the first year in school history that Nevada had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.[16]
Despite playing the entire second half with an ankle injury, he set a new Humanitarian Bowl record with 370 yards passing and was awarded the MVP in a losing effort. He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the end of the season. He was the first sophomore to win this award since Marshall Faulk of San Diego State did in 1992. He was also named first team All-WAC quarterback.[citation needed]
2009 (junior season)
Kaepernick was named the pre-season WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the WAC Media’s event in July. On August 3 it was announced he was named to the Davey O’Brien Award pre-season watch list. On August 14 it was announced that he was named to the pre-season Maxwell Award watch list and on August 17 to the Manning Award watch list. Kaepernick led the Wolf Pack to an 8–5 record and a second-place finish in the WAC behind undefeated Boise State. He was named second team All-WAC quarterback. He was the first player in Nevada history to earn the team’s MVP award twice, doing so in 2008 as well.[citation needed]
He finished the 2009 season with 2,052 passing yards and 1,183 rushing yards. He became the first player in NCAA history to record back-to-back 2,000/1,000 yard seasons. His 1,183 rush yards along with Luke Lippincott’s 1,034 and Vai Taua’s 1,345 makes him a part of the first trio of teammates in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards each in the same season.[citation needed]
2010 (senior season)
Entering the 2010 NCAA season, Kaepernick ranked first among active college football players in rushing touchdowns. He was second in yards-per-carry (behind Wolf Pack teammate Vai Taua), total offense-per-game, and touchdowns scored. He ranked third in yards-per-play and fourth in pass touchdowns and total number of offensive plays. He was a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy event in Thibodaux, Louisiana, during the 2010 camp. His performance drew praise from various NFL and ESPN personnel including former New York Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer who said of Kaepernick, “by far, the strongest arm in the camp”.[17]
It was also announced that Kaepernick, along with teammates Taua and Lippincott, would have a display in the College Football Hall of Fame commemorating their being the first players in NCAA history to each break 1,000 yards rushing on the same team during the same season.[18] Kaepernick was named to the watch list for six major college football awards: the Manning Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Paul Hornung Award, the Maxwell Award, the Unitas Award, and the Walter Camp Award.
On November 26, Kaepernick led his team to a 34–31 overtime victory against the previously undefeated Boise State Broncos, snapping a 24-game win streak that had dated back to the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl. This game was played on Nevada’s senior night, the final home game for Kaepernick. Nevada Head Coach Chris Ault would later call this game the “most important win in program history”. During this game, Kaepernick surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for this season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have over 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing for three consecutive seasons. Along with Taua’s 131 yards rushing in the game, the duo became the NCAA’s all-time leaders in rushing yards by teammates (8,285) passing the legendary SMU “Pony Express” duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James (8,193).[19]
On December 4 against Louisiana Tech University, Kaepernick joined Florida’s Tim Tebow as the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 in the same season. Later that same evening, Auburn’s Cam Newton joined Tebow and Kaepernick as the third. Kaepernick’s three rushing touchdowns in that game also placed him in a tie with former Nebraska quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch for most rushing touchdowns in FBS history by a quarterback with 59 in his career.[20] Nevada claimed a share of the WAC title after defeating Louisiana Tech. Kaeperick was named WAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year with Kellen Moore, who won the award in 2009.[21]
Kaepernick is the only quarterback in the history of Division I FBS college football to have passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 4,000 yards in a collegiate career. He is also the only Division 1 FBS quarterback to have passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season three times in a career (consecutively).[citation needed]
Kaepernick graduated from Nevada in December 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[citation needed]
Football statistics
Professional career
Upon graduation, Kaepernick signed with XAM Sports and Entertainment. He spent time in Atlanta, Georgia, training for the NFL Scouting Combine at Competitive Edge Sports with trainer Chip Smith and quarterbacks coach Roger Theder.
2011 NFL Draft
(1.95 m)
(106 kg)
(0.85 m)
(0.23 m)
(0.83 m)
(2.92 m)
On April 29, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers traded up with the Denver Broncos from the thirteenth pick in the second round (#45 overall) to select Kaepernick as the fourth pick in the second round (#36 overall) at the 2011 NFL Draft. The Broncos received picks 45, 108, and 141 overall in exchange for the 36th overall pick.
San Francisco 49ers
2011 season
For the 2011 preseason, Kaepernick completed 24-of-50 passes for 257 yards and five interceptions.[23] Kaepernick spent the 2011 season as backup to Alex Smith and played his first game in Week 4 (October 2) on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.[23] On third down and 17 during the first quarter, he came in for Smith as quarterback with the offense in shotgun formation and handed off to Frank Gore, who ran for five yards.[24] In the Week 5 (October 9) home game, a 48–3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kaepernick completed three passes for 35 yards. However, he failed to complete two passes in the 49ers’ Week 13 (December 4) game, a 26–0 win over the St. Louis Rams.[23] The 49ers finished the 2011 regular season 13–3 but lost the NFC championship to the eventual Super Bowl championNew York Giants.
2012 season
In 2012 against the New York Jets, Kaepernick scored his first career touchdown on a seven-yard run.[25] Throughout the early season, Kaepernick was used as a wildcat quarterback.[26] In Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick replaced starter Alex Smith, who had suffered a concussion in the first half. However, the game would end in a rare 24–24 tie, the first tie in the NFL in four years.[27]
With Smith still recovering, Kaepernick got his first NFL start the next game on November 19, during a Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park.[28] Kaepernick completed 16-of-23 for 246 yards with two touchdowns in a 32–7 win against a highly ranked Bears defense. 49ers head coachJim Harbaugh spoke highly of Kaepernick’s performance after the game, leaving open the possibility of Kaepernick continuing to start. “Usually tend to go with the guy who’s got the hot hand, and we’ve got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand”, Harbaugh said.[29] A quarterback controversy began. Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating (104.1), led the league in completion percentage (70%), and had been 19–5–1 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength.[30][31]
Smith was cleared to play the day before the following game, but Harbaugh chose not to rush him back and again started Kaepernick. In a rematch of the 2012 playoffs against the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers won 31–21 with Kaepernick throwing for a touchdown and running for another.[32][33] The following week, Harbaugh announced that Kaepernick would start for the 8–2–1 49ers against St. Louis. Harbaugh stated that Kaepernick’s assignment was week-to-week, not necessarily permanent,[34] but he remained the starter for the rest of the season.
In his first career postseason start, the 49ers won 45–31 against the Green Bay Packers, and he set an NFL single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 181, breaking Michael Vick‘s record of 173 in a 2002 regular season game.[35] He also broke the 49ers postseason rushing record, regardless of position.[36] Kaepernick carried the ball 16 times for 181 yards and scrambled five times for 75 yards, including touchdowns of 20 and 56 yards, and collected another 99 yards rushing on zone-read option plays. He also passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. In total, Kaepernick had 444 yards of total offense with four touchdowns. Kaepernick became the third player after Jay Cutler in 2011 and Otto Graham in both 1954 and 1955 to run for two touchdowns and pass for two others in a playoff game.[35] In the NFC Championship game, the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28–24 with Kaepernick completing 16-of-21 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown. The team advanced to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans against the Baltimore Ravens. Kaepernick threw for a touchdown and ran for another, but the 49ers fell behind early and could not come back, losing by a score of 31–34.[37]
2013 season
In the season opener of the 2013 season against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns, the first 400-yard game by a 49ers quarterback since Tim Rattay on October 10, 2004. Of the total 412 yards, 208 yards were to newly acquired teammate Anquan Boldin, making his debut as a 49er. In addition, Kaepernick’s performance also marked the first 400-yard passing with three touchdowns performance by a 49ers quarterback since Jeff Garcia in the 1999 season.
In the NFC Championship Game against eventual Super Bowl championSeattle Seahawks, Kaepernick rushed for 130 yards, including a 58-yard run, and passed for 153 yards. The 49ers led until the fourth quarter. Two turnovers by Kaepernick led to the Seahawks having a 23–17 lead with a few minutes left. Kaepernick drove the 49ers to the red zone but with 22 seconds left, Kaepernick’s pass intended for Michael Crabtree was tipped by Seattle’s Richard Sherman and intercepted by Malcolm Smith, ending the 49ers’ season and attempt to return to the Super Bowl. Kaepernick ended the season with 3,197 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He also finished with 524 yards rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
2014 season
On June 4, Kaepernick signed a six-year contract extension with the 49ers, worth up to $126 million, including $54 million in potential guarantees, and $13 million fully guaranteed.[38]
On September 17, Kaepernick was fined by the NFL for using inappropriate language on the field.[39] On October 9, he was fined $10,000 by the NFL for appearing at a post-game press conference wearing headphones from Beats by Dre, while the league’s headphone sponsor was Bose.[40] In a game against the San Diego Chargers, he recorded a 90-yard run for a touchdown. The 49ers finished the season 8–8 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Kaepernick threw for 3,369 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He rushed for 639 yards and one touchdown. Following the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach the University of Michigan.
2015 season
In 2015, Kaepernick struggled under new head coach Jim Tomsula. A day after a 27–6 collapse at St. Louis in Week 8, Kaepernick lost his starting job to backup Blaine Gabbert for Week 9 against Atlanta.[41] With Gabbert starting as their new quarterback, the 49ers narrowly won 17–16. On November 21, the 49ers announced that Kaepernick would miss the rest of the season because of an injured left shoulder that required surgery.[42] He finished the season with 1,615 yards passing, six passing touchdowns, five interceptions and 256 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown.
Head coach Tomsula was fired following the season and the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as his replacement.[43] In February 2016, Kaepernick expressed an interest in being traded.[44]
2016 season
Kaepernick entered the 2016 season competing for starting quarterback position with Gabbert.[45] On September 3, 2016, Kelly named Gabbert as the starter for the beginning of the 2016 season.[46] Prior to the 49ers Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills, Kelly announced Kaepernick would start, marking his first start of the season. On October 13, it was announced that he and the 49ers restructured his contract, turning it into a two-year deal with a player option for the next season.[47] He completed 13-of-29 passes, with 187 passing yards, one passing touchdown and 66 rushing yards in the 49ers 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[48] On November 27, he recorded 296 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 113 yards rushing in the 49ers’ 24-31 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He joined Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Randall Cunningham, and Marcus Mariota as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record at least three passing touchdowns and 100 yards rushing in a game. In a Week 13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Kaepernick threw a career-low four yards before getting benched for Gabbert. He returned to the starting lineup the following week and threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ 13-41 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. On December 24, Kaepernick recorded 281 total yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown, and a two-point conversion on the game-winning drive as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 22-21 to get their first victory on the season with Kaepernick as the starter.[49] For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[50]
On March 3, 2017, Kaepernick officially opted out of his contract with the 49ers, an option as part of his restructured contract, therefore making him a free agent at the start of the 2017 league year.[51]
U.S. national anthem protest
Before a preseason game in 2016, Kaepernick sat down, as opposed to the tradition of standing, during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner“. During a post-game interview, he explained his position stating, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder”, referencing a series of events that led to the Black Lives Matter movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like “[the American flag] represents what it’s supposed to represent”.[52][53][54] In the 49ers’ final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer.[55] After the September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott,[56] Kaepernick commented publicly on the shootings saying, “this is a perfect example of what this is about.”[57]
Kaepernick soon became highly polarizing as numerous people took public stances either supporting or maligning Kaepernick’s actions; in many cases this polarization correlates with racial divisions.[58] Various members of the NFL and other athletes across the United States, such as Megan Rapinoe, also began kneeling and/or raising their fist like the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. Some U.S. military veterans voiced support using the social media hashtag “veterans for Kaepernick”.[59] In the following weeks, Kaepernick’s jersey became the top-selling jersey on the NFL’s official shop website.[60] An NFL fan poll was taken during the beginning of the 2016 NFL season and Kaepernick was voted the most disliked player in the NFL; this poll was polarized, with 37% of caucasians disliking him “a lot”, and 42% of African-Americans liking him “a lot.”[58] A few people posted videos of them burning Kaepernick jerseys. Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason called Kaepernick’s actions “an embarrassment” while an anonymous NFL executive called Kaepernick “a traitor”.[61] The 2016 NFL season also saw a significant drop in their television ratings. Polls suggest that fans boycotting the NFL because of Kaepernick-inspired protests were a contributor to the decline in viewers.[62]He also claims to have received death threats.[57]
In September 2016, sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson wrote of the double bind faced by black people: “Black folk have, throughout history, displayed their patriotism by criticizing the nation for its shortcomings, and they have been, in turn, roundly criticized.”[63]Dyson suggested that the wisdom of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass maintains relevance to racism in the context of Kaepernick and protest.[63] Dyson concluded, “When a black athlete bravely speaks up, we punish him.”
In August 2017, former NYPD officer Frank Serpico gave a speech live on Facebook and stood with police officers at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Kaepernick.[64][65] The same month, Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime civil rights activistJim Browntold an interviewer that he would never desecrate the flag or “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Kaepernick did.[66]
Controversy over free agency
Following his departure from the 49ers, Kaepernick went unsigned through the offseason and 2017 training camps.[67] Some commentators argued that he was not signed because his performance had declined,[68][69] while others disputed those interpretations and argued that he was being blackballed because of his on-field political actions.[70][71][67] By August 2017, the statistics website FiveThirtyEight concluded that “it’s obvious Kaepernick is being frozen out for his political opinions”, calling it “extraordinary … that a player like him can’t find a team”, after finding that “no above-average quarterback [measured by the total quarterback rating] has been unemployed nearly as long as Kaepernick this offseason”.[72]PresidentDonald Trump took credit for Kaepernick’s situation, claiming he would use Twitter to create a public relations crisis for any team that signed him.[73][74]
In late July and early August, the Baltimore Ravens were working to extend an offer to Kaepernick. According to Ray Lewis, the offer was terminated after a tweet by Kaepernick’s girlfriend compared the Ravens team owner Steve Bisciotti to a slave owner. According to other reports, Bisciotti had been objecting to signing Kaepernick even before the incident.[75][76]
Professional statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
Personal life
Kaepernick was baptizedMethodist, confirmedLutheran, and attended a Baptist church during his college years.[78] Kaepernick spoke about his faith saying, “My faith is the basis from where my game comes from. I’ve been very blessed to have the talent to play the game that I do and be successful at it. I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I’m at. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I am thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field. I think if you go out and try to do that, no matter what you do on the field, you can be happy about what you did.”[79]
Kaepernick has multiple tattoos. His right arm features a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18:39 written on it. Tattooed under the scroll are praying hands with the phrase “To God The Glory” written on them. To the left of both the scroll and praying hands is the word “Faith” written vertically. His left arm features a Christian cross with the words “Heaven Sent” on it referring to Jesus. Written above and below the cross is the phrase “God Will Guide Me”. Written to the left and right of the cross is the Bible verse Psalm 27:3. His chest features the phrase “Against All Odds” and artwork around it that represents “inner strength, spiritual growth, and humility”. His back features a mural of angels against demons.[80][81][82]
When he was ten years old, Kaepernick acquired a pet African spurred tortoise named Sammy. The tortoise since has grown to weigh 115 pounds.[83] When he was in fourth grade, Kaepernick wrote himself a letter, predicting that he would be 6 feet 4 inches, 190 pounds, and would “then go to the pros and play on the Niners or Packers even if they aren’t good in seven years”,[84] predictions which became accurate except for his weight.
Near the end of the 2012 NFL season, Kaepernick’s signature touchdown celebration earned him a photo fad by his namesake, called “Kaepernicking”. The signature touchdown pose involves flexing and kissing the bicep of his right arm. Kaepernick says he kisses his “Faith”, “To God The Glory”, and Psalm 18:39 tattoos and the reason he does the celebration is because “…it’s my way of saying I don’t really care what people think about my tattoos” and “God has brought me this far. He has laid out a phenomenal path for me. And I can’t do anything but thank Him.”[80]
Kaepernick reportedly started dating radio personality and television hostNessa in July 2015,[85] and officially went public about their relationship in February 2016.[86] Kaepernick began following a vegan diet in late 2015.[87]
In November 2016, Miami Herald reporter Armando Selguero asked Kaepernick about a shirt Kaepernick had worn in August showing Fidel Castro meeting with Malcolm X with the phrase, “Like minds think alike.”[88] Kaepernick said the shirt was a comment “about Malcolm X and what he’s done for people, but when pressed about the Castro aspect, added, “One thing that Fidel Castro did do is they have the highest literacy rate because they invest more in their education system than they do in their prison system, which we do not do here, even though we’re fully capable of doing that.”[89]
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Kaepernick
Nessa
May 6, 1984 (age 33)
Nessa Diab (born May 6, 1984),[1][2] known mononymously as Nessa, is an American radio and TV personality and television host.[3][4]
Nessa first rose to prominence for her artist and celebrity interviews on San Francisco Bay Area Top 40 station Wild 94.9 and YouTube, which led to MTV seeking her out to be on Girl Code. She has also hosted various MTVand MTV2 shows. She currently hosts the drive time shift on New York City‘s top rated Hot 97.
Personal life
Nessa is a Muslim.[5][6] Her parents are Egyptian. She has two brothers.
She began dating Colin Kaepernick when he was an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL), in July 2015.[7] They officially went public about their relationship in February 2016. Previously, she had dated Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers.[8]
Filmography
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessa
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 510-518
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 473-479
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 408-413
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 354-359
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 346-353
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 338-345
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 328-337
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 319-327
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 307-318
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 296-306
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 287-295
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 277-286
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 264-276
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 250-263
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 236-249
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 222-235
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 211-221
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 202-210
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 194-201
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 184-193
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 174-183
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 165-173
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 158-164
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 151-157
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 143-150
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 135-142
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 124-130
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 118-120
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 113 -117
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Show 112
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 108-111
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 106-108
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 101-103
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 98-100
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 94-97
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 88-90
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 84-87
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 79-83
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 71-73
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 68-70
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 65-67
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 62-64
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 58-61
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 55-57
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 52-54
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 49-51
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 45-48
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 38-40
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Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 30-33
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 27-29
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 17-26
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 16-22
Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 10-15
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