Colin Kaepernick is all set to play for the NFL again, but it is quite unlikely that a return to the field is likely for the former San Francisco 49ers player. He has been a free agent since opting out of his NFL contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that the league has “moved on” from the quarterback, who has been a free agent since opting out of his NFL contract with his former team in 2017.
Goodell told reporters on Wednesday at the NFL winter meetings, “This was about creating an opportunity.” He said this while addressing a planned NFL workout last month, which was changed at the last minute following several disagreements, according to CNN.
The much-awaited workout was set in front of many NFL teams at the Atlanta Falcons. However, at the last minute, it was shifted hundreds of miles away to a high school in Riverdale, south of Atlanta. The team switched venues after a disagreement between the two sides about several factors, including media availability, ESPN previously reported.
Goodell added that “It was a unique opportunity — an incredible opportunity and he chose not to take it,” and further said, “I understand that. And we’ve moved on here.”
Furthermore, reports claimed that no NFL teams have reached out to Colin Kaepernick since the workout session.
Kaepernick told reporters at the workout, “I’ve been ready for three years,” and further added, “I’ve been denied for three years. We all know why I came out here. I showed it today in front of everybody. We have nothing to hide. So we’re waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams, Roger Goodell, all of them stop running. Stop running from the truth. Stop running from the people.”
When the workout venue changed unexpectedly, the NFL released a statement saying they were “disappointed” with the decision, claiming that they were informed of the venue switch 30 minutes before the workout was set to begin.
The NFL released a statement, noting the attendance of the representatives from the 25 teams, “Today’s session was designed to give Colin what he has consistently said he wanted; an opportunity to show his football readiness and desire to return to the NFL.”
NFL further said that their feeling for the last-minute change would not affect Kapernick’s “status in the league,” and that he would still have the ability to sign a contract with any team if he wanted to.
As reported previously by ESPN, there were only seven teams in attendance at the workout. According to the NFL, the new venue was a one-hour drive from the initially decided site.
Following the workout fiasco, sources told ESPN that no NFL teams reached out to work with or sign Kaepernick.
Thousands of Kaepernick supporters have come forward and signed a petition asking Maroon 5 to cancel the Super Bowl show to extend their support to the player.
Kaepernick made headlines in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest systemic oppression and police brutality. Approximately a year after that incident, in March, the athlete opted out of his contract with the 49ers and hasn’t played for an NFL team since.
