Aaron Rodgers believes Colin Kaepernick’s political views are keeping him off of an NFL roster.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback gave an extensive interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes, and he touched on the national anthem protest that set the league on fire.
Not surprisingly, Rodgers thinks Kaepernick should be signed, and only isn’t because he kneeled.
Kimes wrote in part:
I ask Rodgers what he thinks, and he demurs at first, then says it would be “ignorant” to suggest Kaepernick’s stance didn’t play a role in his employment status.
A few weeks later, he reaffirms his point. “I think he should be on a roster right now,” he says. “I think because of his protests, he’s not.”
Rodgers tells me that while he doesn’t plan on sitting out the anthem, he believes the protests — which he describes as peaceful and respectful — are positive, mentioning that he’s had conversations with a new teammate, tight end Martellus Bennett, about the issues they represent. “I’m gonna stand because that’s the way I feel about the flag — but I’m also 100 percent supportive of my teammates or any fellow players who are choosing not to,” he says. “They have a battle for racial equality. That’s what they’re trying to get a conversation started around.”
I grew up in Wisconsin, and I can promise you this answer will not go over well with the home crowd. People in middle America are extremely patriotic, they’re pro-police and they don’t tolerate people who disrespect the homeland. Kaepernick doesn’t have many supporters in the Midwest. That’s a simple fact.
It’s also very telling about Rodgers he was willing to give this answer. It means he’s more concerned about mainstream attention and accepted by the Hollywood crowd than he is about going with the vibe of Wisconsin. Of course, he spends most of his summer in California, so not too surprising.
I’ve said it many times, and apparently I have to say it again. If Kaepernick were a star player he’d be on a roster. Russell Wilson could carry an ISIS flag on the field, and could still find employment. Why? Because he’s a superstar that has proven he can win a Super Bowl. This isn’t rocket science and there isn’t some global conspiracy against Kaepernick. His talents simply just aren’t high enough to offset the distraction he brings to the table.