Conor Orr discusses the double-talk that is typical of the NFL when it comes to Kaepernick.
The relief in Thursday’s ESPN report that the Seahawks postponed a visit with free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick (and subsequently signed a QB who has never played a down in the NFL) because he refused to guarantee he’d stand for the national anthem in 2018 is that we might be able to finally drop the pretenses.
We have routinely played interview footsie with important people in charge, asking them questions about issues we kind-of, sort-of know how they feel about already. We’ve allowed these canned responses to populate the air we breathe and reaffirm our beliefs regarding the limitations that should be placed on a player’s free speech in the workplace—if at all. So many coaches, general managers and owners were able to win for so long because the smart ones talked out of both sides of their mouth, leaving just enough birdseed for the Anthem Standers in one hand and Liberal America in the other.

Maybe that’s about to change. This is the second report in one week about a player being asked to spell out his plan regarding the anthem before signing with an NFL team. Eric Reid, one of Kaepernick’s original partners and an outspoken ally, remains unsigned despite being one of the best free agents at his position. If this were a year ago, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine Reid just sinking into the same quicksand that Kaepernick did—contempt with, or fear of his viewpoints disguised as banal, semi-negative assessments of talent, leading to an eventual, unspoken blackballing about which we can all feel better. Because why risk a business hit that would reveal yourself to the world? ...

Let’s get it all out in the open. Regardless of how you feel about a player’s right to kneel during the national anthem, two men have peacefully risked their livelihood and dreams to prove a point they feel is vital. It’s time for the coaches and general managers who have enjoyed playing both sides of the issue to throw their cards on the table, too.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/13/co...rkout-protests