Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr thinks it’s obvious Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed from the NFL.
One of the most accomplished free-agent quarterbacks on the market, Kaepernick has not signed with a team since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March.
"Oh, he is being blackballed. That's a no-brainer," Kerr said on Monday on Pod Save America with Dan Pfeiffer. "All you have to do is read the transactions every day, when you see the quarterbacks who are being hired. He's way better than any of them."
Kaepernick, a second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012 and the NFC Championship in 2013. The former Nevada quarterback threw for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns and rushed for 2,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in six seasons with the 49ers— five as starter.
Kaepernick filed a grievance on Oct. 15 accusing NFL owners of collusion to prevent him from being signed to another team, according to ESPN.
Since Kaepernick began taking a knee in protest of police brutality and social injustice during the playing of the national anthem last season, several other NFL players have joined in, drawing criticism from fans.
Kerr recognized that Kaepernick’s protests can be unsavory to the NFL fan base, which tends to lean to the conservative side.
"The NFL has a different fan base than the NBA,” Kerr said. “The NBA is more urban, the NFL is more conservative, and I think a lot of NFL fans are truly angry at Kaepernick, and I think owners are worried what it's going to do to business."
