NFL Paid Under $10 Million to Settle Colin Kaepernick Grievance

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, the NFL stars who alleged the league’s teams colluded to keep them off the field after they led protests during the national anthem, will receive less than $10 million to settle grievances with the league, according to people briefed on the deal.

The confidential agreement was widely celebrated as a victory for the players. But the settlement is far less than the tens of millions of dollars Mr. Kaepernick, especially, would have likely been owed if his grievance had prevailed. It couldn’t be determined how the payment is divided between the players and how much they will net after legal fees.

Mr. Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, and Mr. Reid, a safety, alleged in their grievances that they were blackballed by the league after they catalyzed a movement of protests—typically kneeling or holding up a fist—during the national anthem to draw attention to social issues and racial inequality. Mr. Kaepernick, who has gone unsigned the last two seasons, filed his grievance in 2017. Mr. Reid followed suit last year, and was later signed by the Carolina Panthers midway through the 2018 season.

An NFL spokesman declined to comment. An attorney for Messrs. Kaepernick and Reid said they are respecting the deal’s confidentiality agreement.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-paid-under-dollar10-million-to-settle-colin-kaepernick-grievance/ar-BBV4k0q

[Auggie]

1. My original guess is that the NFL just wanted this to go away

$10 million is chump change in a sport that earns billions. It was worth ending the bad PR, even knowing (IMO) that Kaepenick's attorneys faced a difficult challenge proving collusion. I believe Kaepernick/Reid were advised to take the settlements.

[JonLP24]

4. I don't think it was that difficult

I think they settled to cover up the evidence but the NFL wouldn't offer a settlement unless they had a case. Like the excuse that Michael Jackson settled because he was too sick to deal with a lengthy trial when clearly there was a case against him.

[Auggie]

5. Courts would need solid evidence of collusion ...

emails, testimony, recorded phone calls, etc. Good luck getting that. Heresay and speculation doesn't cut it.

If I testified as an owner or GM I could say Kaepernick simply didn't mesh with our playing philosophy. If I was asked why I signed a QB with worse stats I could say I believed he'd improve with coaching. It's too subjective.

This was a PR nightmare for the NFL. They wouldn't have settled otherwise.

[JonLP24]

6. Internal documents leaked where teams evaluated him as a starting quarterback so the testimony

Wouldn't fly and that doesn't apply to Eric Reid who no one argues can't play safety probably because quarterbacks are over scrutinised.

They probably have the evidence which is why the settled with a confidentiality agreement so more info of NFL collusion can't be leaked.

[Auggie]

7. That doesn't prove planned collusion among teams/owners ...

and I could still argue that being evaluated as a starter isn't a guarantee of a roster spot on any one particular team. Lots of starters are released every year due to the salary cap alone.

[JonLP24]

8. I just say the testimony wouldn't wash

Plus John Elway already hurt the NFL case with his testimony. Anyways his lawyers whose judgment I trust got a victory out of this and it is hard to argue over information that is confidential and will likely be kept from us.

[El Supremo]

2. Fuck Tat Boy

Fuck John Elway
Fuck Jerry Jones
Fuck Pat Bowlen
Fuck Mark Davis
Fuck Robert Kraft
Fuck Dan Snyder
Fuck Jed York
Fuck Roger Goodell
Fuck the NFL

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. I do not believe this