Colin Kaepernick has reportedly filed a grievance against NFL owners for collusion.

[kpete]

Last edited Sun Oct 15, 2017, 06:41 PM - Edit history (1)

After remaining unsigned through six weeks of the 2017 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick claims the league is participating in collusion.

According to Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has filed a grievance against the owners for collusion under the latest collective bargaining agreement.

Per Freeman, Kaepernick has hired attorney Mark Geragos to help him in the legal situation.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports also reported the quarterback's plan to file a grievance.

Kaepernick opted out of his contract at the conclusion of last season with the expectation he would find a new landing spot but has not gotten a new deal and has received surprisingly little interest compared to how well he played last season. He finished the year with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 12 games.


MORE:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2738805-colin-kaepernick-reportedly-files-grievance-against-nfl-owners-for-collusion
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21035352/colin-kaepernick-filing-grievance-nfl-owners-collusion?sf122262788=1

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Bleacher Creature]

1. There was a VERY brief when I believed that his unemployment was performance-based.

And there's no question that his game had been going backwards the last couple of years. But then I saw the nobodies who were getting chances to play - I mean seriously, who the hell us CJ Beatherd!?! - and there's no chance that he's not being blackballed.

I hope he takes them to the cleaners!

[brewens]

3. I didn't think he was all that great the last couple years but that's not always a QB's

fault either. So he shouldn't have expected to sign for as much as he had been used to making maybe. I have no idea what his agent might be telling any teams that have been interested. It would really stink if his agent wasn't getting any calls.

[tymorial]

7. Yeah I have to agree at this point too.

He isn't ever going to be great or even start (likely) but it makes no sense that he hasn't been picked up as a second or third given that there are players beneath his ability.

[aggiesal]

13. CJ Beatherd is ...

Bobby Beatherd’s I believe nephew?
Bobby Beatherd used to be the General Manager for the San Diego Chargers. So CJ has NFL roots. I do believe if his name was not Beatherd, he would not even be looked at.

In the right system, Kaepernick could be very successful. Why was he so successful under a Jim Harbaugh offense but terrible under a Chip Kelly offense?

He’s definitely better than some of the current backups, so yes I agree there is some sort of collusion.

[uponit7771]

20. IKR !?!?!?

[eissa]

21. While I support Colin's lawsuit

and believe the good 'ol boys have definitely made a pact not to sign him (although good luck proving that) I have to defend CJ Beathard and the 49ers here. Kap was the one who walked away from the Niners. He opted out of his contract in order to be a free agent.

[Bleacher Creature]

23. You're totally right.

I started thinking the same thing right after I posted. QBs get so much attention at every level that it sometimes shocks me to hear about an NFL player who I never heard of (other than his last name).

Lap shouldn't be on a bad team as he's just not good enough to carry a team with too many holes. That said, he absolutely would help a team with a good QB and a win-now mentality. Given the time to learn the system and a good team around him, he just has to be a better option than guys like Brett Hundley, Landry Jones, or Kellen Moore in GB, Pitt, and Dallas.

[eissa]

24. Yes, there are plenty of teams he would have fit well on

if not as starter, than definitely a back-up. Indy is dying without Luck, and GB is really going to suffer without Rodgers. The only team I'd give a pass to for not giving him a chance is Miami. You can't praise Fidel and expect to become a Dolphin!

[Rollo]

2. Good for him

[Initech]

4. I hope he sues the shit out of the NFL!

And I'd like to see Fox News and Trump named in this suit as well.

[TheRealistRealist]

5. Wishful thinking but maybe....

Maybe this will lead to an abuse of power claim against Trump. I have always wondered if the owners were blackballing Kaep on orders from Trump. I personally believe he called each owner and told them not to hire Kaep. Possibly threatened their tax status if they did so. Funny how Trump has suddenly gotten very quiet about the NFL on Twitter. Maybe he found out Kaep was going to take action against the owners. My theory is that Trump will be removed for abuse of power.

[unblock]

26. the nfl gave up its non-profit status in 2015

and of course, the teams themselves have always been for-profit.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. This has been Race from the get go.

The Guy has a skill set better than most of the so Called back up QB's.

Hope he burries these Racist for tens of millions plus admission of collusion.

[trof]

8. About time.

All the best to him.

[SHRED]

9. That'll be tough to prove

Good luck to him though!

[fallout87]

10. This is going

To be nearly impossible to prove. Plus it would set a precedent for a lot of other free agents that dont get signed.

[certainot]

11. those teams didn't hire him because limbaugh and spawn screamed

and then trump screamed and the teams were intimidated

basically whatever team hired him knew they'd get hell from the political correctness cops on the
KKK radio stations and the racist trump base they control, 'inform', motivate

ironically, 43% of limbaugh stations and probably that many of all rw radio stations depend on pro and college teams, with majority black athletes, to keep broadcasting on them and attracting advertisers and community standing so they can make excuses for trump and racism all day.

[roamer65]

12. Sue the shit out of the NFL and head to the CFL in Canada, Colin.

I think he would be hired up there in a heartbeat.

[Ellipsis]

14. Green Bay will pick him up now that Rodgers is out

[ileus]

15. Look for Romo to get a call.

[snooper2]

22. LOL

[fallout87]

33. doubt it

Looks like GB is going with their backup. Kaepernick is blackballed for sure now. The lawsuit changes everything, and I'm sure he knew that.

[Not Ruth]

16. Time for the NFL to get Weinstein'd and go to Europe for rehab

[MichMan]

17. What happens if a team offers to sign him at substantially less than he is asking?

Does that negate his lawsuit ?

[smirkymonkey]

18. Good for him!

I support him completely.

[sharedvalues]

19. NFL is afraid of collusion charges. They've lost before.

[JoeStuckInOH]

25. Didn't Kaepernick Opt-Out of his contract 3 years into the 7 year deal?

If you basically quit only 3 years into a 7 year contract after drawing significant media attention to yourself for sideline/off-field political antics the previous season... well is it much of a surprise that many owners are going think twice?

I don't think it will end well for him to try and prove collusion. I think his best hope is for arbitration and an out of court settlement.

Has he received ANY offers from teams to play in the 2017 season and simply refused sign a contract because the money is not as high as he wants?

[eissa]

27. Yes, I don't think he appreciated the backlash

What bolsters his suit is not that he hasn't received any offers, but I don't think he's even gotten an opportunity to just try-out for any team, starting or not.

Look, I'm a lifelong Niners fan, and I support Kap. But there are some things that have to be considered, and will probably be used against him in this suit. Alex Smith got us halfway to the SB, and while Kap did a phenomenal job finishing that season, it pretty much went downhill quick after that. Furthermore, he wasn't the most liked person in the locker room, and while not everyone gets along with their teammates, the QB is supposed to be the leader, and it appears he didn't play that role well. Teams do shy away from players who don't get along well with others; the players may agree with his political stance (as evidenced by them voting Kap their 2017 MVP) but may have issues with actually having him on their team. This is just speculation on my part, but I can see it being brought up in litigation.

[Johonny]

29. It is well known the 49ners were going to cut him anyways

The he opted out thing is totally misleading. He was going to be cut. It's been well documented by the sports media.

[JoeStuckInOH]

30. You either opt out yourself... or you get cut.

I don't think he can go to court and say "well they were going to cut me". That's conjecture based on events that haven't happened. And to cite the media is heresay of somebody else's conjecture. Even if it's common sense, and everybody "just knew it"... it's still conjecture.

They had a 7 year deal, and he wasn't working out so they agreed to give him more guaranteed money in 2016 and allow him to CHOOSE to be a free agent in 2017. He wanted to go elsewhere and be a starter (at the time, he had warmed the bench the first 4-5 games of 2016) and they didn't want to be on the hook for 4 more years of paying a starting salary to someone who probably wouldn't start. Win-win. He felt he could play the market as a free agent and end up starting elsewhere with more money. But it was 100% his decision to restructure and his decision to leave. It was a gamble.

So basically it was a contract year and instead of being on one's best behavior he invited litany of media stories and attention to his protest. I'm not saying someone can't have values or political opinions or be allowed to protest. They do. But the manner of delivering his message is certainly worth raising an eyebrow given that it was potentially a contract-year for him. Openly protesting while wearing an NFL uniform at an NFL venue on gameday? The cause might be righteous, but I'm not surprised if many managers & coaches across the league soured on a player that put extracurricular activities in front of the team on gameday - inviting a media frenzies and distractions directly preceding game time.
Not great foresight on Colin Kaepernick's part.

[MichMan]

31. Appears that the Ravens were serious about signing him until..........

According to Ray Lewis, the Ravens were very serious about signing him until Kaepernick's girlfriend Nessa Diab sent a tweet comparing a picture of Raven's owner Steve Bisciotti with Lewis to a picture from Django Unchained of a slave and slave owner

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20597810/ray-lewis-said-baltimore-ravens-sign-colin-kaepernick-girlfriend-racist-tweet

[Iggo]

32. ...and I believe Ray Lewis about as far as I can throw him. (n/t)

[Iggo]

28. Good.