Another week of NFL Preseason football happened all over the place this weekend and we learned a few things. I’ve already gone over the injuries, some season and career defining, earlier. Now we’re going to get to the real football lessons learned.
And, yes, we’ll talk more about stupid stuff too.
Colin Kaepernick has accidentally become a cultural touchstone
Before you put any nefarious intentions behind San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to honor the America he sees by spreading his ass cheeks on the bench and listening to his taped-over Beats by Dre headphones, understand one thing. Kaepernick didn’t announce he was doing this. He’s evidently been sitting all preseason as a personal protest. The only reason we know about it is some reporter caught him, took a photo, and posted it on social media. He was asked about it after the game and explained himself.
Kaepernick didn’t do it for attention, but he’s getting plenty of it now. For their part, the 49ers have basically told Kaep he’s on his own.
“I have followed it and I think it’s personally not a good thing,” Republican presidential candidate and harbinger of Abholos, the gray festering blob of infinite malevolence, Donald Trump said. “I think it’s a terrible thing, and you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try. It’s not going to happen.”
Of course Trump was going to say something, but what about Kaepernick’s NFL peers?
“The great thing about this country is that we have the freedoms that allow you to speak out openly about any issue,” New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees told USA Today. “So I’m not commenting on the issue itself… But the American flag is what represents those freedoms. It represents the very freedom that Colin Kaepernick gets the opportunity to exercise by speaking out his opinion in a peaceful manner about that issue. Like, it’s an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.”
Kaep has every right to express his feelings/beliefs and ppl have every right to disagree. That's ok folks!
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) August 27, 2016
“I don’t necessarily see that as a solution to anything,” Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster told the Miami Herald. “This is me talking. This is Arian talking. If that’s what he felt, that’s his form of protest, I support his right to protest. Those are his thoughts, his opinions. I understand 100 percent what he’s doing. He’s frustrated, just like me. He’s just like my brother. He’s just like my cousins out there. He’s frustrated. It’s hard seeing people get murdered and killed without repercussions.”
Activists changed USA for better but have to associate Nat Anthem w/ military that die for ur right to protest. Stand up. Find another way
— Tyler Polumbus (@Tyler_Polumbus) August 27, 2016
“Colin is his own man,” Victor Cruz told ESPN. “He decided to sit down and that is his prerogative, but on a peronal standpoint, I think you have to stand up there with your team and understand that this game and what’s going on around the country are bigger than you.”
Kapernick is well within his rights to do what he did. I'm not saying I agree but I do understand why he felt morally obligated in his acts.
— OKUNG 🐆 (@RussellOkung) August 27, 2016
There’s plenty more. But the most important voice as far as Kaepernick’s future goes is from NFL general managers, coaches and owners. They sign the checks.
Texts coming in from coaches, players, front office execs from around league on Kap. So far every player backs him. No coach/exec does.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) August 27, 2016
As for Kaepnernick, he’s married to this now. He can never stand up for an anthem again as long as he’s in the NFL. Luckily for him, that probably won’t be much longer.
Somebody blinked in Chargers’ Bosa deal
At the end of the day, Joey Bosa will finally make his way to the San Diego Chargers’ practice field, just four months or so later than he should have. The Chargers reached an agreement with their No. 3 draft pick Monday. The issue keeping Bosa and the team apart was a prorated signing bonus and salary offsets and none of those details have been specified. What is out is that Bosa’s contract is a fully guaranteed $25.8 million deal with a $17 million signing bonus.
Chargers compromised on cash flow in years 2,3,4 + gave Joey Bosa largest upfront signing bonus in Chargers history; SD got offset language.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2016
I thought there was a real chance Bosa would sit out all season and make the Chargers eat their draft pick. Money, as usual, has the final say in such things.
“I am very relieved,” Bosa told reporters. “I knew it was going to get done. I was just surprised how long it took… We came to a fair deal. There’s no animosity between any of us, me towards them or them towards me.”
