The NFL Has ‘Moved on’ From Colin Kaepernick, According to Roger Goodell
“We created that opportunity. And he chose not to take it.”
Colin Kaepernick won’t be returning to the NFL anytime soon, according to comments from Commissioner Roger Goodell.
At the league’s winter meetings in Irving, Texas, Goodell addressed the controversial free agent quarterback’s tumultuous November workout for teams, telling reporters that the NFL has “moved on.”
“This was about creating an opportunity. We created that opportunity. It was a unique opportunity, a credible opportunity,” Goodell said, according to Fox News “And he chose not to take it. I understand that. We’ve moved on.”
The NFL originally announced that a special showcase of Kaepernick’s QB skills would be held at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters. After learning that media wouldn’t be granted access, Kaepernick and his representatives announced that they would not attend the workout less than an hour before it was scheduled to begin, citing their desire for a “transparent and open process.”
A huge thank you to all the people that made this happen in ATL. From our receivers @brice_butler, @BruceElling10, @TheJordanVeasy, @ariwerts – my trainer Josh Hidalgo, the educators at Charles Drew HS & so many more. Can't thank everyone enough. We stay ready.🎥: @RAVisionMedia pic.twitter.com/2bwDjtlstN
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 25, 2019
The workout was then relocated to an Atlanta high school about 60 miles away from Falcons facility. According to CBS reporter Jason La Confora, scouts attended from seven NFL teams: the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
“We all know why I came out here: to show you today, in front of everybody, we have nothing to hide,” he said at the conclusion of the workout, according to Yahoo Sports. “So we’re waiting for the 32 owners, the 32 teams, Roger Goodell, all of them, to stop running. Stop running from the truth, stop running from the people.”
Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016. Throughout that year’s season, he and other players kneeled during the national anthem as a symbolic protest of police brutality against African Americans. The 49ers later released Kaepernick at the conclusion of their 2-14 season.