Getty ImagesNFL coaches are all getting asked about how they’d respond if a member of their team followed 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead and sat during the playing of the national anthem.
Some answers are unsurprising, like Patriots coach Bill Belichick declining to offer a comment or Giants coach Ben McAdoo saying that the team doesn’t consider it “mandatory” to stand while adding he’d be disappointed if any players opted to sit.
Others create an opportunity for coaches to show off their knowledge of the French Enlightment writer Voltaire or at least of a quote erroneously attributed to him.
“Voltaire so eloquently stated, ‘I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend it until death your right to say it,'” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, via ESPN.com. “That’s a principle that our country is founded on. I don’t think you cannot deny someone the right to speak out or mock or make fun or belittle anybody else’s opinion.”
The quote actually came from Voltaire biographer Evelyn Beatrice Hall in 1906, but it is in line with much of Voltaire’s writings on freedom of expression. Harbaugh knows Kaepernick through his brother and said the quarterback is from a “great family” before adding that if a player does want to speak out, they should do it in a way that doesn’t “detract or disrespect the efforts of all the other players on the football team.”
No one is stopping him from speaking. Similarly, no one should stop me from thinking he is a coddled, oblivious idiot who has refused to be accountable for HIS actions. And his words might mean something if he spent a few of his millions making life fairer for others or if he were similarly incensed about the slaughter in Chicago, Baltimore, Houston, etc. of African-Americans by African Americans.
Best coach in the NFL by far. We are very lucky to have the best coach in the league on our sidelines representing our city. Go Ravens.
Kaps Twitter feed is a little disturbing too. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to hear he’s on a watch list of some kind.
Then not anyone should have a problem when others speak out against him.
I agree that you can’t deny anyone the right to speak out…even if that position is moronic and/or self serving. I can only imagine that Kapernick is trying to use his last vestiges of celebrity to make a name for himself in the minority community since he won’t be a starter in the NFL like…ever again.
Gabbert has rightfully displaced him as the starter in San Fran, and his narrow perspective on life has finally landed him just where he has chosen to be….on the bench. Hopefully the push back from this episode will convince the Niners to part ways with this distraction in the locker room. After all…many people will simply turn off the TV when the Niners are on now….or just decide to cut the grass rather than go see yet another poorly coach Niner team finish in the cellar.
Seems like Kaepernick is doing far less “speaking out” than a lot of other people.
What more needs to be said. I don’t care if he sat, stood or fell asleep, its his right to. Can we all please move on to real football news please and stop giving this anymore attention than it deserves.
As the saying goes, there’s a time and place for everything and the national anthem is neither.
He’s getting his last 15 minutes of fame…..Kaepernick will not be part of the Niners organization on opening day. He sucks, and has sucked for the last year plus. The only thing this bone-headed move over the National Anthem did was just making the Niners’ decision a tad bit easier.
If the Miranda rights were the Kaepernick rights.
You have the right to remain stupid. Anything you say can and will be used to prove that point.
Voltaire didn’t actually say that. It was intended as an illustration of his beliefs. But good on Harbaugh for being literate. Going back to college suits him.
That’s rich coming from arguably the most entitled and mouthiest coach in NFL history (next to Rex Ryan).
Arians is a distant 3rd.
Oops. Read the quote before reading the rest.
Serious question to the growing breed of NFL lawyerists…. can Kap be suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team”?
As a minority and a combat vet who served overseas, it’s his right to speak out..I don’t agree with how he did it..How are you effecting change by sitting down..go out and do something..the anthem represents those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to allow you to speak your mind without your tongue being cut off..you disrespected them..spit on their graves..
COACH, please get the attribution correct?
“I wholly disapprove of what you say—and will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Kaepernik is a lazy person and has a lazy attitude. He signed a $126 million contract – do you think that he could have set up some sort of foundation to support his beliefs. No he just gets another tattoo. He is a lazy person who will be broke in 5 years.
I can not agree with this guy and his actions. That is my right. Don’t tell me I have to respect any ones opinion thing, that also is my right.
These dam talk shows and the black analyst trying to justify that this country was created by white people who hated blacks and Kaperdink is bringing this to the forefront. Really?
senoreno says:
Aug 29, 2016 3:13 PM
As a minority and a combat vet who served overseas, it’s his right to speak out..I don’t agree with how he did it..How are you effecting change by sitting down..go out and do something..the anthem represents those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to allow you to speak your mind without your tongue being cut off..you disrespected them..spit on their graves..
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stop the insanity “he spit on their graves” nonsense. You’re a vet, I’m a vet. This country spits on the graves of every vet by the way they treat vets. Get over the flag waving faux patriotism. You know darn well most here have never served, and would never serve anyone but their own selfish desires, yet they’re yelling and screamin’ with faux offense. You volunteered for a war based upon a lie told by the powers that be. How do I know? Every war, and there have been many, since Vietnam has been a war based upon lies created by the gov’t slash military industrial complex. Eisenhower, in 1960, warned the country this would happen. Ike, was right.
guitarmaninks says:
Aug 29, 2016 2:58 PM
Then not anyone should have a problem when others speak out against him.
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Most people have no problem with those who speak out against him, it’s the malice, pure hatred and angst behind their words — much of which is unfounded and racist in tone — that people take umbrage with.
the team should have immediately fired him and said
“all of our players and staff are here for the purpose of winning football games. We are completely in support of everyones 1st amendments rights, but CK became a lightning rod of controversy and that action directly affected the team, so he’s fired as of right now”
That true BUT let another race say something about the wrong doing of Blacks shooting, lootings and destroying property and you have committed a number one sin. These actions are just as offensive in the eyes of many.
senoreno says:
Aug 29, 2016 3:13 PM
the anthem represents those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to allow you to speak your mind without your tongue being cut off..you disrespected them..spit on their graves..
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BS. How is he dishonoring anyone, if those people died to preserve for him the right to free expression?
Sounds like he is honoring them, to me.
That’s true and you also can’t deny that there are consequences to the actions we take. This guy is going to have a hard time getting on another team after he’s cut.
firecracker87 says:
Aug 29, 2016 4:34 PM
That’s true and you also can’t deny that there are consequences to the actions we take. This guy is going to have a hard time getting on another team after he’s cut.
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Kaepernick could have parachuted into the stadium with an American flag parachute, while singing the National Anthem, and he would have a hard time getting on another team after he gets cut.
hlmatty1 says:
Aug 29, 2016 2:50 PM
No one is stopping him from speaking.
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No but it seems to me that the majority of you who are upset with Kaep would force him to stand and keep him from speaking if you could.
When Ray Charles refused to play in GA to protest the segregation occurring at the time, he was decried for doing so. Ali did the same to protest the Vietnam war, and lost his titles amid serious public backlash. Tommie Smith and John Carlos suffered similarly for their Black Power salute at the 1968 games. The point is entertainers, and typically athletes, have long used their visibility to get a message out to people. This is no different.
raqaiw says:
Aug 29, 2016 7:25 PM
When Ray Charles refused to play in GA to protest the segregation occurring at the time, he was decried for doing so. Ali did the same to protest the Vietnam war, and lost his titles amid serious public backlash. Tommie Smith and John Carlos suffered similarly for their Black Power salute at the 1968 games. The point is entertainers, and typically athletes, have long used their visibility to get a message out to people. This is no different.
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The difference is simply that the others you referenced were talented individuals that forced society to listen to them. Kap is simply a washed out has-been trying to get another 15 minutes on the backs of others.
I think this move by Kap is a cry for attention and nothing more.
What apparently no one gets is this: the United States Constitution applies to the government, not to corporations (like the 49ers and the NFL). A private business, large or small, can legally ignore your freedom of speech. Where your employer is concerned, you have no such right. End of story.