Assignment 16 - Rob Gilligan - Speech Manuscript

In 2013, Colin Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers all the way to the super bowl at only 25 years old. Despite losing by three points, the young quarterback had already accomplished more than most only two years into his career. Kaepernick continued to torch NFL defenses leading his team to 12-4, and 8-8 records the following two years despite playing with the statistically worst defense in the NFL according to Jon Bois of SB Nation. Yet, if you look for Kaepernick on an NFL roster today, you won’t find him. Healthy and in the prime of his career, no one wants him, and it’s no secret why. In 2016, he decided to kneel during the national anthem to express his dissatisfaction with racial justice, or lack thereof, in America. He wouldn’t stand for something he did not believe in all the values of. And so, the 49ers cut ties with Kaepernick, and the other 31 teams blacklisted him, refusing to sign him. Now that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has officially decreed that the league has moved on, it’s safe to say the Colin Kaepernick era is over. Two important questions remain about perhaps the worst public relations saga in NFL history. First, how do we know this isn’t about his ability as a player, but an issue of racism, and nationalism? And second, which side should we be on throughout the entire chain of events? 

“His arm talent is still elite, the same as when he came out of college.” Per NFL insider Adam Schefter, team scouts had high praise for Kaepernick following his 2019 workout. Meanwhile, players like Nathan Peterman, who in 2018 had a 1 to 7 touchdown to interception ratio, start games, and have roster spots. Mentioned earlier Jon Bois of SB Nation compiled relevant statistics regarding Kaepernick's skill, related to his lack of a job. In 2016, his quarterback rating was higher than half the league’s starters. If he’s now considered a former quarterback, he would be the youngest by far to leave the league with a QB rating of over 90 since 1987. He would have the lowest ever interception percentage of a quarterback in history, falling at 1.8%, while the aforementioned Peterman is near 10%. He would have the fourth highest net yards per attempt, the most accurate statistical judgement of quarterback skills according to NFL statisticians, of any active quarterback who has appeared in the playoffs. For those of you confused about everything I’ve said, let me put it simply, he’s certainly good enough to play. Yet, the league with only two minority owners follows the biggoted stance of one Donald Trump, a man who declared Kaepernick should “leave the country if he didn’t like it,” (Walker). Fans hold signs asking him when the last time he thanked a veteran was, congressional candidates from our own state call him “the real racist,” and anti isalmic rhetoric floods twitter (Bailey). The predominantly affluent white owners blacklist Kaepernick. The quarterback would file a collusion lawsuit against the NFL, settling out of court. The NFL broke Kaepernick to the point of him promising to end his protest. They deprived him of working, essentially forcing him to accept money to stay silent on the issue (Beydoun). However, in doing so they made it abundantly clear that it’s more than just about ability, it’s about race. 

“Get that son of a bitch off the field right now; he's fired. That guy that disrespects our flag; he's fired” (Hassanein). Aside from the clear racial tone of those opposing Kaepernick, they also exude pervasive nationalism similar to the Donald Trump quote I just read. Their rhetoric revolves around the argument that kneeling during the anthem disrespects the flag, and the military. The entire protest stems from violence against African Americans, particularly police brutality against black youth, who are 250% more likely to be shot than white children (Walker). Kaepernick associates with the Black Lives Matter movement. His opponents often cry that all lives matter, but consider this; I care about all my fingers, but when one of my fingers is continually stomped on by others I’m going to devote particular attention to protecting and supporting that finger. Same goes for African American lives.     

Kaepernick has not disrespected the flag, he’s embodied what it stands for. He exercises his freedom of speech to protect and defend a marginalized group. He sacrifices when others are too scared to. He represents the flag. In 2016, A group of forty army veterans wrote an open letter to him, thanking him for fighting, for kneeling (Walker). They condoned his methods, promoting his challenge to the current state of affairs. Despite this, support reached an all time low when, earlier this year, the NFL offered Kaepernick a tryout. However, they refused to allow media coverage, wanted him to sign a waiver absolving them of all wronging past or present, and wanted to select the players he’d conduct drills with. So the workout was refused, and he conducted one on his own at a local high school. People who previously supported Kaepernick turned from him, saying he simply didn’t want to play. But why does their support wane now? When the all powerful NFL forces the quarterback into a corner, we expect him to obey. Now, we expect him to kneel! No. He’s been robbed of what should have been his prime. He fights through persecution. While we worship at the shrine of the American flag, we must not forget those who use it to provide equality for all. 

A saint to some, a demon to others, Kaepernick is divisive. I certainly hope his story is not over, even if that means he has to move on creating change off the field. His story should be looked upon with admiration as one of the bravest athletes in this era. He was the face of a movement in sports for racial equality. The controversy surrounding him propelled his story and message to national news for months. Colin Kaepernick forced the conversation on racial equality and paid the price. The change he continues to make should garner out respect and admiration as he impacts the world.

Works Cited

Bailey, Phillip M. “Kentucky Lawyer Says Colin Kaepernick Is 'by Definition Racist'.” Journal, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sept. 2018, www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/05/kentucky-lawyer-alex-white-says-colin-kaepernick-real-racist/1200310002/.

Beydoun, Khaled. “Colin Kaepernick: Mix of Racism, Anti-Islam Rhetoric Are Increasingly Toxic.” The Undefeated, The Undefeated, 3 Sept. 2016, theundefeated.com/features/colin-kaepernick-mix-of-racism-anti-islam-rhetoric-are-increasingly-toxic/.

Bois, Jon, director. Let's Talk About Collin Kaepernick. Chart Party, SB Nation, 30 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0cUTXwr-k.

Hassanein, Rokia. “Not Standing For It: NFL Players’ Protests Put The Spotlight On Conscience-Based Objections To Patriotic Rituals.” Church & State, vol. 70, no. 10, Nov. 2017, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid,cpid,url&custid=s1176192&db=a9h&AN=126030672

Walker, Rhiannon. “An Open Letter from American Military Veterans in Support of Colin Kaepernick.” The Undefeated, The Undefeated, 3 Sept. 2016, theundefeated.com/features/an-open-letter-from-american-military-veterans-in-support-of-colin-kaepernick/.