The Panthers were willing to not just sign a guy who kneeled during the national anthem, they extended him. So obviously it wasn’t bad for football, or their bottom line.
But now-secured safety Eric Reid was not optimistic about the chances of the guy he used to kneel next to.
Via Joe Person of The Athletic, Reid expressed skepticism about Kaepernick’s future moments after signing his own three-year extension with the Panthers.
“Knowing what I know, my hope tank is on E,” Reid said.
If he wasn’t sure, last year should have been all the evidence he needed.
With guys such as Josh Johnson (Kaepernick’s old backup who hadn’t thrown a pass in the league since 2011) and Mark Sanchez getting jobs last year — and retired guys such as Tony Romo and Matt Hasselbeck getting calls — it’s clear the NFL is not in a rush to employ Kaepernick again.
When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about it at the Super Bowl, he reverted to his original explanation, that teams would do what they thought would help them win. That’s ridiculous on its face, with a parade of less-able-to-win quarterbacks securing employment.