Colin Kaepernick Takes a Stand: Smart or Not Smart?

The 2016 NFL regular season is approaching fast. The preseason games are in their final week. There will be several storylines to watch as the season kicks off. However, there is one headline that is going to continue to generate noise: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the National Anthem during a preseason game. Kaepernick said he wanted to represent all minorities in America who have been treated poorly. As reported by NFL.com,Kaepernick explained the reason behind his protest:“"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." Personally, I agree with him. However, a lot of criticism has risen up, mainly from those involved with the NFL and also at ESPN.

Kaepernick’s protest could not have come at a worse time. His job as the starting quarterback for San Francisco is hanging in the balance, and he has already dealt with injuries and slow decline in his athletic performance. Since leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012, Kaepernick has deteriorated, statistically: According to ESPN.com, last season Kaepernick threw for 1,615 passing yards and only six touchdowns with a passer rating of 78.5. These numbers are not what Kaepernick expected. It also doesn’t help that his team is not favored to make the playoffs. Tough circumstances.

If I were running the San Francisco 49ers, I would either cut, trade, or bench Kaepernick. Yes, he is attempting to be one of many athletes pushing for social changes in our country, but he is also disrespecting what the brave men and women fought for in order to provide our nation the freedoms we have today. I do hope Kaepernick gets his act together. He needs to remind 49er fans, as well as the rest of the NFL, why he took over the starting job from then starting quarterback Alex Smith in 2012. This kind of behavior that Kaepernick is displaying shouldn’t be tolerated. The coaching staff, the front office, and Kaepernick’s teammates all need to sit down with their franchise leader and talk things over. One more display of public outrage could cost him his job.