NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is now effectively begging football teams to sign Colin Kaepernick, saying that he would “support” and “encourage” the quarterback’s return to the league.
Fox News reported that during an interview with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg on “The Return to Sports,” Goodell said that he has been actively pressuring NFL teams to sign Kaepernick.
Kaepernick has not played professional football since he stepped down as quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers after the 2016 season. That same year, he became infamous among many NFL fans for taking a knee during the national anthem to protest against racial inequality in the United States.
“Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s gonna take a team to make that decision,” Goodell said. “But I welcome that, support a club making that decision, and encourage them to do that.”
Not stopping there, Goodell suggested that he also wants Kaepernick to help the NFL behind the scenes when it comes to confronting racial injustice.
“If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities,” he said. “We have invited him in before, and we want to make sure that everybody’s welcome at that table and trying to help us deal with some very complex, difficult issues that have been around for a long time.”
“But I hope we’re at a point now where everybody’s committed to making long-term, sustainable change,” Goodell added.
It seems that pressure from Goodell and the public is having an impact as we reported earlier this week that at least one time is looking at Kaepernick.
RELATED: Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Just Got A Call From A Team Who’s Interested In Colin Kaepernick
Goodell’s ESPN interview comes less than 2 weeks after he posted a video to Twitter in which he apologized on behalf of the NFL for not doing more to listen to the players who joined Kaepernick in taking a knee during the anthem.
“We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier, and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” he said.
“We, at the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter. I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country.”
During his latest interview, Goodell also explained why the NFL decided to speak out on this issue.
“What they were talking about and what they were protesting and what they were trying to bring attention to was playing out right in front of us — and tragically,” Goodell explained. “And so all of us saw that, and it was difficult for all of us. And so that was an important point for all of us.”
This is quite the 180 in just a matter of weeks. So it’s a bit disheartening, to say the least, to see the NFL submitting to Colin Kaepernick this drastically. He went from an undesirable player – seemingly for his lack of talent and attitude – to being glorified by the media and the league.
RELATED: ‘The View’ Host Sunny Hostin Demands Colin Kaepernick Be Given ‘Nobel Peace Prize’
Millions of NFL fans still see Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem as a slap in the face to the American flag and those who have fought and died for it. Despite what Rev. Al Sharpton or New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins might say.
RELATED: Saints Player Joins Al Sharpton To Up The Pressure On NFL To Sign Colin Kaepernick
But, I guess seeing New Orleans Saints superstar quarterback Drew Brees swiftly and mercilessly crucified in the press and across social media was enough to put the fear of God (or leftists media and mobs, as it were) in the NFL. So now we’re glorifying those who kneel and denouncing any who dare defend or even respect our country and flag.
Do you have whiplash yet? It’s hard for many of us to imagine seeing Colin Kaepernick take the field in the upcoming NFL season. But at this point it seems more a matter of which team ultimately surrenders and chooses to sign him.
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