Colin Kaepernick‘s Raiders workout occurred Wednesday, and although Josh McDaniels did not address how the high-profile free agent performed, some indications have emerged that the one-time Super Bowl starter accounted himself well.
The former 49ers quarterback displayed good arm strength and conditioning, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport also notes the 34-year-old passer impressed at his Las Vegas audition (video link), adding the door for a potential Kaepernick-Raiders agreement is open. Another source was high on Kaepernick’s arm strength and fitness, via USA Today’s Josina Anderson, while also pointing out the difference between a Raiders-organized workout and an independent session was noticeable at points (Twitter links).
Two other teams are believed to have shown some interest in Kaepernick this offseason, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio offers. It will be interesting to see if another workout takes place. Prior to the Raiders’ invite, Kaepernick had not been a fixture on the NFL radar in years. Kaepernick met with the Seahawks in 2017 and threw in front of a handful of NFL personnel at a Georgia workout he reorganized at the 11th hour two years later. Otherwise, it has been quiet for the the player who has not played in a game since New Year’s Day 2017.
Exiled from the league after his protests of racial injustice during the national anthem created one of the biggest controversies in NFL history, which also led to the league settling with Kaepernick and Eric Reid on a collusion lawsuit, Kaepernick is obviously short on time to make an NFL comeback. Mark Davis has signed off on a deal, if his football staff views Kaepernick as a fit.
The Raiders used Marcus Mariota as Derek Carr‘s backup over the past two seasons, and the former Titans talent was featured in occasional sub-packages aimed to take advantage of his mobility. (Mariota is now with the Falcons.) As of now, it is not believed the Raiders would have such a plan for Kaepernick. They view him as a potential Carr backup option and not a player who would be used in specialty packages, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore.
Although Kaepernick displayed electric running ability as a young player, peaking with one of the NFL’s great playoff rushing performances in a 49ers rout of the Packers in the 2012 divisional round, his being away from the game for so long would stand to impact his athleticism. It also might be too early to speculate on a prospective role, given the unique circumstances surrounding the University of Nevada alum.
Currently, Las Vegas rosters Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens behind Carr. The Raiders also have rookie UDFA Chase Garbers (Cal) on their offseason roster. Stidham, who has attempted 48 career passes in eight games as a backup, played three seasons in McDaniels’ Patriots offense. He did not see any time in 2021. Mullens has far more experience, having made 17 starts in four seasons despite a being a former UDFA. He started a game for the Browns last season, with Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum out due to COVID-19. Carr has been one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks during his career, missing just three games (counting the Raiders’ 2016 wild-card playoff loss) in eight seasons.
Kap does not deserve any space on this website…
Yeah, another new thread when the other recent ones are still floating at the top and could’ve been updated. And all for a guy 5hat hasn’t played in years.
Kaep is certainly the story of the off-season at this point. Oh and Baker Mayfield and the Browns.
Is a backup QB worth this amount of headache? Thinking of this strictly from a business and football perspective. If he becomes a starter your season has gone horribly wrong. But, is signing a backup QB with this amount of baggage worth the season tickets that will immediately be canceled?
eugh, I think that angle is overplayed. if Kap is top-60 QB material and will play for a befitting price, than you make the deal. If the guys in the locker room are okay with him being there, than it’s not a distraction.
It really isn’t a distraction. The game itself is a media circus, so a few extra reporters or time on sports center isn’t going to affect the way these guys do their jobs. It’s just another one of those “I just really don’t like this guy for some reason” talking points.
Raiders will be branded as racists after Carr has two bad games if they don’t start kaep
“Patriots don’t protest the police!!! They bear mace them and beat them with flags!!!! Boooooo Kaepernick!!!”
Are you having your stroke in installments?
Multiple other people seem to have understood what you are unable or unwilling (or both) to process.
Multiple people didn’t need multiple exclamation points to get their thought across. Deep breaths.
What was the purpose of my use of exclamation points…do you know? Seems pretty clear that you do not.
What’s pretty clear is you can dish it out, but ya sure can’t take it.
Take what?
Your inability to understand what was said and why and that you are making it plain for all to see.
Why wouldn’t I be able to take that?
Watching the obvious clang off your head over and over and over is kinda painful to see, I guess.
How about the quotation marks? Let’s try that. ANY clue why those are there?
Apparently, the only point you have is the one on top of your head.
Apparently, you try to paper over your comprehension issues with dime store snark.
Haha! Thin skin is also a stroke symptom.
Ah, yes…the “stroke” you diagnosed from my excessive and completely sincere use of exclamation points making plain your obvious comprehension skills.
!!!!! (Sincerely:)
The only thing I can’t figure out is if you realized your error somewhere along the way and are just making a truly pathetic attempt to save face by pretending you are still clueless (as if that’s somehow better?) OR if you are still just utterly oblivious.
I am leaning towards the latter, though.
You’re lost as last year’s Easter egg, pal. Get some help.
OK, so it’s definitely the latter with a splash of still trying to save face even though you don’t understand from what.
Which explains trite cliche after trite cliche. You don’t even understand what you are responding to, so…you think you have to say something. Anything.
A wise man might work towards understanding and self improvement but if generic non sequitor pointy head and Easter egg jokes are more your speed…probably a futile effort, so go to town.
This is good stuff. Really. While you were preaching poetically about “self improvement” in the comments section (that’s a new one!), I was having a beer and a good laugh. Apparently you have a sense of humor after all. Will you be here all week?
What’s funny is that you still have no clue what you are trying desperately to laugh away.
None.
And it’s obvious to anyone and everyone but you.
But you are going to keep pretending like a kid covered in chocolate saying he didn’t eat the chocolate. In your brain, you think that will work and it’s that it’s not comically obvious.
I have to assume you have tried what passes for your best at this point, if only to have a less inane and embarrassing retort, but…still no clue.
All this because you can’t take a little ribbing about your first comment. Re-read this thread and ask yourself who is embarrassing themself. It’s kinda of a common thread on
any commenter who dares to disagree with you. Good luck with that bellboy.
I know you don’t know how, but you have just confirmed 100% that you didn’t and don’t understand what was said.
Honestly, I figured you’d figure it out by now…even if you kept pretending to not get it to make the stab in the dark retorts to try to save face, but no…you legit don’t get it and it doesn’t appear that will change.
Fair enough.
Ya know, repeating yourself over and over without a trace of introspection requires amazing obliviousness. Somehow you’ve actually have made an art form out of it. But sadly, while that may play with the “brave” computer jockey crowd in the shallow end of the pool, out here in the real world, where people have meaningful exchanges, and laugh sometimes (!!), it’s just boring. And that bellboy, is why they gave us the about to be pushed, mute button. Yay! So we don’t have to be bored to tears by trolls who try and make “saving face” a thing.
So open your ears, get a sense of humor and some thicker skin and you’ll be surprised how much more interesting you’ll be! Cheers!
When someone can’t even grasp the basis of a question, it requires repeating if they are ever to understand.
But, it’s all good. I got the clarification I needed. Eventually.
And you are content to chuckle away your confusion, so be it. Enjoy.
*shoots unarmed protestor*
‘The capitol police are heroes!! Here’s a billion dollars go open offices all over the country!!’
I hope the Raiders sign him – as his clubhouse distractions will cost them one or two wins this season.
His skill level wasn’t commensurate with what he wanted to be paid or the circus that accompanied. That’s not being “exiled from the league after his protests”.
This is what I remember reading a few years ago as well, he was asking for over backup money to begin negotiations. That coupled with the baggage that you know comes with it to begin with. All that said he definitely was black balled, due to a lack of any tryout when some of the practice squad tryouts are a joke
I can’t see how a backup is worth all this crap. It has been the way of the Raiders since forever. Mark haircut aside had made questionable decisions since taking over Gruden being the biggest. I also don’t think with the lawsuit and all the crap he has said about the NFL he deserves another chance. Being in the NFL is like any job how many of you could go out sue your employer bad mouth them and say really stupid stuff about them and still be employed? He doesn’t have a right to be on a team it should be an honor.
Exiled from the league for his protests? How about being a mediocre QB demanding top tier money? Yes, he can run, no he is not a great passer. Did his antics limit his suitors? Absolutely, did it exile him? Not at all.
He can’t play football. Let’s be real. He wasn’t ever good and being away from football for 6 years was going to make him better – yeah right! This guy is the biggest joke of a so called QB ever. I would pick Ryan Leaf over him…
None of this should be surprising. He looked like a guy who has played professional football before because he has.
I’m sure Joe Montana, Peyton Manning and Michael Vick would all be given the same types of reviews.
I just don’t think it equals an NFL contract. You can look good in a workout but teams really don’t want the other stuff that comes with it. If it only meant increased revenue, plenty of teams would leap at signing him. But people don’t want the crowds and potential problems that come from signing a 34-year old QB who hasn’t played in 5 years. There is more negative than positive from signing him as he won’t increase a win total for a good team.
Things to dislike Kaepernick for:
– calling Lamar Houston the N word
– praising Fidel Castro insulting many Cubans and Cuban Americans who’ve lost loved ones to his terror
– his GF calling the Ravens owner, who helped hire the first black gm in nfl history, and Ray Lewis racist and an uncle Tom respectively
– insulting fans opinions regarding him wearing a dolphins hat not a 49ers hat, totally mishandled that response
– not exercising his right to vote
– his horrible QB skills
Things that don’t make sense to dislike him for:
– exercising his right to protest
I never understood kneeling as a form of protest as kneeling is a subservient behavior like kneeling to pray to God or kneeling before royalty like a queen; it’s a sign of respect to authority and shows whatever you’re kneeling towards dominion over you.
But it’s still his right to protest how he wants, even if it makes 0 sense to choose that method. To each their own though.
If I protested while on the clock, I’d be fired. Idgaf what he does in his free time.
You also dont make your company millions of dollars. So there’s that.
Go figure. Profitable individual can get away with more at work than average replaceable worker.
You’d also be fired over a dui arrest. Not the NFL though, well not the ones that make the NFL money.
You assume an awful lot.
What’s he protesting? How the cops treat black people? Maybe he should be protesting how black people treat black people cuz from the numbers that’s a way bigger problem.
We should do both.
Expect better of cops individually and a race of people.
I’m not saying kaepernick was right in why he was kneeling. Just that he has the right to do so. You can agree or disagree with the reason.
I have a right to do jumping jacks during the national anthem to protest the horrors of communism but I don’t because it’s not gonna make me millions of dollars as an activist. Say what you want about his rights, he is doing it for the money.
His protest really started about losing his job and sulking on the bench. Weeks later when asked about it he claimed to be taking a stance. Being an “activist” means you’re “active”…same thing with the pig socks. He wore them in practice one day and weeks later a reporter/photographer was going through some pictures and noticed them. Again he was asked about the significance and Kap claimed it was because of police brutality. He was no activist, he was passive. Being an activist entails being out in front of the cause, instead the movement got behind him so it just appeared he was out in front. Somebody truly down for the cause doesn’t take a payout from the NFL to just go away and quite being a nuisance, but he did. Congrats, now just go away!
Again. You can argue debate whatever his reason. His right to do so =/= his reason to do so. And you have my support to do jumping jacks during the anthem to protest communism exercising your right to protest.
Exercising while exercising my rights
Well america has an obesity problem. So it’s not the worst idea I’ve heard. Might actually help people lose weight get in shape. Go for it. Two birds 1 stone
Hoping the Raiders hire him.
Go Colin!!!
Presumably, Kap will be required to forfeit his settlement award the moment he signs a contract to rejoin the league.
Best case scenario he tears an acl in camp and they cut him
Best scenario is he makes the team and gets earholed game 3 of the preseason and quits in shame
No not this again! I figured after 6 years it had all gone away. Now it’s back! Just not right
Publicity stunt by one of the Worst run franchises in the NFL! Davis is a joke and so will be the Raiders.
Would love to see Mack and Bossa tear him up.
Carr has to be scratching his head…
Raiders always have to be in the headlines. If they will sign AB, they will sign anyone.