NFL
Kaepernick’s Lawyers Seek Trump Subpoena
According to a report by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, Colin Kaepernick’s lawyers are attempting to ensure that a subpoena is issued to President Donald Trump for his role in Kaepernick’s continued unemployment.
If they are successful, Trump would theoretically will testify in court as part of Kaepernick’s ongoing case alleging collusion on the part of NFL owners.
Kaepernick As A Player
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft. After serving as the backup in his rookie year, he supplanted Alex Smith as the starting quarterback in 2012. He impressed immediately, leading the team to Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Niners fell just yards short of a championship, but fans and analysts still hailed him as the future of the franchise and a young star of the league. Unfortunately, he was unable to replicate his early success, and after reaching the NFC championship the next season, the 49ers were unable to make the playoffs for the final three years of Kaepernick’s time in the bay.
As a result of the team’s struggles and a drop in Kaepernick’s statistical output, former Jaguars cast-off Blaine Gabbert started some games for the 49ers. This predicament placed Kaepernick’s future with the team in doubt, though he remained a fan favorite. Even at his statistical worst, he ranked near the average among starting quarterbacks in most metrics. In the aftermath of a disastrous 2016 season, the team fired head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke and hired Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch to take their places.
Unfortunately the scheme Kyle Shanahan intended to run was not well suited for a running quarterback like Kaepernick. Shanahan decided that neither Kaepernick nor Gabbert would play quarterback for him, and they both hit the free agent market.
Anthem Protests
Kaepernick’s final season with the 49ers and the ensuing offseason were fraught with controversy. Throughout the year, he knelt during the national anthem to protest injustices suffered by African-Americans at the hands of police. Also, this sparked much debate, with some lauding him for (metaphorically) standing up for his beliefs and others criticizing him for actions they believed to be disrespectful to America and its military.
President Trump was part of the latter group. Where he went on telling a Seattle radio host, “I think it’s personally not a good thing, I think it’s a terrible thing. And, you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him.”
When Kaepernick became a free agent, he received little to no interest from other teams despite having proven himself as a starting quarterback in the league. Many speculated that this could be a form of backlash to his vocalness. As a result, Kaepernick filed a case accusing NFL owners of conspiring with each other to blackball him.
Trump’s Involvement
The President’s impact on Kaepernick’s unemployment stems from his public comments and his private words to owners. In public he has frequently bashed the Anthem protest. In addition, even going as far as to call the protesters “sons of bitches.” Fans of Trump might refuse to watch or support a team where players kneel, thus hurting the revenue of the franchise and the league. Also, this incentivizes owners to avoid Kaepernick even if his play on the field might benefit their team.
Trump has also met directly with owners, including Robert Kraft of the Patriots. If he encouraged owners directly to keep Kaepernick unemployed during these meetings, it would aid the claim of collusion. This is likely a reason that Kaepernick’s lawyers hope for a subpoena. Trump’s testimony could go a long way in helping the case.
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This article was originally written by former TSJ101SPORTS writer
