It’s time for Colin Kaepernick to rise up: Chip Kelly, the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, announced Tuesday that he's making the switch from the highly ineffective Blaine Gabbert to Kaepernick, NFL.com reports.
Much of the Kaepernick news has been less about his football ability and more about his protests against overpolicing of black and minority communities. During the preseason, Kaepernick sat during the national anthem, and when asked about why he was seated, Kaepernick noted that he couldn't stand and praise a country in which officers were killing unarmed men, women and children. Since then, several NFL, high school and college players have followed Kaepernick's lead and have protested by taking a knee, raising a fist or locking arms during "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Kelly told NFL.com that the move to Kaepernick had nothing to do with his soon-to-be-altered contract, which reportedly does not include injury guarantees. Despite contract and protest issues, NFL.com notes, Kaepernick underwent multiple surgeries during the offseason and consequently didn't do much during workouts to fight for a starting shot. But at this point, with the 49ers suffering from Gabbert's inconsistent play, anything has to be better.
You know the right wing is waiting to pounce as soon as Kaepernick does one thing wrong, so here’s to wishing Kaepernick all the best!
Read more at NFL.com.