Former Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson spoke out on Saturday to claim that he had tried to get his team to sign Colin Kaepernick when the former NFL quarterback opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers back in 2017, but the team ended up going a different route.
Cleveland Brown Coach Claims He Wanted To Sign Colin Kaepernick
Hue Jackson, who was the coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018 and led them to an abysmal 0-16 season in 2017, told ESPN Radio that he had been interested in signing Kaepernick that year.
“I wanted him. It just didn’t work out. Obviously, those things do have to work from a finance, draft, whatever all that is. And that wasn’t my decision,” he said.
However, this is very different from what Jackson actually said about Kaepernick when he was asked about him in 2017.
“We haven’t really discussed Colin,” Jackson said of Kaepernick in March of that year. “Here’s other players at this point that we’ve had a lot of conversations about to see if we can put them on our team. Not saying it won’t come up later on. You have to exhaust everything. But at this point, he hasn’t come up.”
It sounds like recent events ‘jogged’ the former Browns’ coach’s memory.
Colin Kaepernick Made Headlines For Kneeling
Kaepernick made headlines during the 2016 NFL season for taking a knee during the national anthem before his games to protest against racial inequality in America.
Many fans were offended by this, as they saw the NFL quarterback taking a knee during the anthem as a sign of disrespect to the American flag and to those who have fought and died for it.
Kaepernick left the 49ers at the end of the 2016 season, and he has remained a free agent ever since. Many of his supporters claim that he has not been resigned because the NFL is “racist.”
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Others, however, have pointed out that Kaepernick led the 49ers to a losing record during his final season with the team. They argue that it’s actually his own lack of football talent that has led to him not being resigned.
Though it’s been years since Kaepernick played football professionally, The Washington Post claimed that there are “increased hopes” that the current climate of the NFL makes it more likely that a team will sign him.
This claim comes days after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell publicly issued an apology. Goodell said the league was wrong for not “listening” to black players when they tried to speak out against racism.
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NFL Commish Roger Goodell’s Apology
“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,” Goodell said.
“We, at the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter,” he added. “I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much needed change in this country.”
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
Colin Kaepernick has shown time and time again that he cares far more about media fame and promotional dollars than he does about actually playing professional football again.
He should have to earn his way onto a team just like everyone else. Kaepernick had his chance late last year when the NFL arranged a special workout for him.
What did the so-called NFL hopeful do? He changed the venue last minute to prioritize media coverage ahead of actual NFL team rep turnout. So, of course, he didn’t end up getting signed even though one of his receivers at hte workout did.
BACKSTORY: Colin Kaepernick Gets Burned When NFL Signs Receiver From His Special Workout
It’s no wonder many teams consider Kaepernick a liability given his losing record, controversial apparel deals, and spotlighting. NFL teams want actual team players – someone who will put the team before their own self interests.
We hope that no one caves to the pressure from radical liberals by putting Colin Kaepernick on their roster simply as a political statement.