Opinion

It’s Simple Why Johnny Manziel Has A Chance To Play Again And Kaepernick Doesn’t

(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

David Hookstead Sports And Entertainment Editor
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People really don’t seem to understand the simple reasons why Johnny Manziel will likely play in the NFL again but Colin Kaepernick’s career is dead in the water.

Both quarterbacks experienced epic falls from grace, but for very different reasons. Manziel had substance abuse and attitude issues off the field. It led to him being out of the NFL after two seasons. Kaepernick’s downfall began when he decided to repeatedly disrespect that national anthem and America.

Both players come with plenty of baggage, and some people think there are sinister reasons why Manziel is on the verge of playing in the NFL again, while Kaepernick can’t get a look.

Racism is not the reason Johnny Football still has NFL life in him and Kaepernick’s got about the same shot at playing in the NFL as I do. Manziel’s mistakes are pretty much all forgivable and can be explained by his young age, lack of support since his college days, enablers and money with little to no restrictions or supervisions.

A 22-year-old quarterback that can’t get off the bottle or drugs is not a good thing, but it’s something that can be fixed. Look no further than Brett Favre if you think those problems are unfixable. In case you forgot, Favre has a Super Bowl ring and had a historic NFL career.

Most importantly, Manziel has owned up to his mistakes. He has recognized the fact that the only person to blame for him not being in the NFL is himself. This is music to the ears of NFL general managers. It’s a sign that the Texas A&M legend is maturing.

Kaepernick has continued to double down on the behavior that got him in trouble in the first place. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback famously defended murderous dictator Fidel Castro, stating, “One thing Fidel Castro did do is they have the highest literacy rate because they invest more in their education system than they do in their prison system, which we do not do here even though we’re fully capable of doing that.”

He has compared police officers to slave catchers, routinely trashed America and most famously didn’t stand for the national anthem. To many, these actions are unforgivable because they represent a ideological problem within Kaepernick.

Anybody can take a look at the demographics of most football fans and quickly realize they don’t align with Kaepernick. There are some markets where the polarizing quarterback could never play. In fact, the only two markets where his left-wing views could be accepted are San Francisco and Seattle. He left the 49ers, and the Seahawks showed no interest after a brief meeting.

The reality of the situation is that teams and markets won’t turn their backs on Manziel because he partied too much, as long as he has moved forward. At the same time, good luck finding a team and fanbase that is cool with an anti-American quarterback on their roster.

There is, of course, the chance that neither quarterback ever plays again, but if it’s only one, then expect it to be Manziel.

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