Colin Kaepernick Could Be Cut Before the Season Begins for "Football Reasons"

Colin Kaepernick hasn’t been a good NFL QB for the past two seasons, but the potential for him to return to Super Bowl form was certainly still there. I was excited to see it after the 49ers hired Chip Kelly.

But after Kaepernick’s decision to not stand for the National Anthem and then his comments about the United States “oppressing black people and people of color,” it’s safe to say we probably won’t see Kaepernick again under center anytime soon in a regular season game for San Francisco.

Two days after Kaepernick’s stance, the “news” began to trickle out: “Regardless of politics or not, he has a very, very big uphill battle to make this team … He lost a ton of weight this offseason, had three surgeries, couldn’t work out, lost that double threat, that size-speed ratio … He’s regressing as a player. I’d be shocked if he’s on this roster by the end of this year. He may not be on it in the next two weeks.”

Where do you think that came from?

Of course, the surgeries, size/speed ratio – these aren’t new things. But you know what’s new? Kaepernick’s stand – or sit-in, whichever you prefer – and that’s a Distraction with a capital D. It’s all anyone is talking about. It’s all the players are getting asked about. Management now has to handle the unhappy fans and blogs will eat up the burning of jerseys. All because the guy who was the face of your franchise for a couple years decided to take a stand this way.

Or maybe that’s what Kaepernick wants? Earlier this year, he demanded to be traded.

Kaepernick is well within his right to sit for the National Anthem. And the 49ers are well within their right to cut him, and that’s probably what will happen before the season begins. They’ll release him, and then cut him a check for about $12 million and say thanks for your service with the team, best of luck. It was about football, nothing else.

And nobody will believe them.

And then, the real fun begins. Will anyone sign Kaepernick? The guess here is no.