Are Politics Preventing Vikings From Signing Controversial Kaepernick?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. But are the Vikings desperate enough just two games into the season to sign controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick? Sports writer Jim Souhan went long in his latest column arguing that Kaepernick should already be wearing purple in spite of the baggage he brings for taking a knee during the national anthem.

Souhan took Vikings GM Rick Spielman to task for signing Case Keenum as a backup, instead of Kaepernick, essentially for political reasons. It didn’t help that the Vikes looked lackluster in a 26-9 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday with Keenum under center.

Last year, Keenum threw nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions before being benched. Last year, Kaepernick threw 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. Kaepernick is bigger, stronger, faster, possesses a better arm and has been a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl, where he came within one pass of winning.

So why hasn’t Kaepernick been signed and suited up? Souhan makes the case that NFL owners have calculated that the potential backlash over Kaepernick’s refusal to join in the national anthem outweighs his potential contributions on game day.

The NFL has conspiratorially blackballed Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem to protest the unjustified shootings of black Americans by police.

Some owners don’t want him on their team, wrongly conflating a peaceful protest with an attack on our country or our soldiers. Some owners, general managers and coaches don’t want the headache of Kaepernick’s presence and news conferences.

Clearly many fans take the view that Kaepernick effectively sidelined himself by becoming too much of a distraction on the sidelines. But in Souhan’s world, the former 49ers QB still gets to play the victim.

Kaepernick and quarterback-needy NFL teams are playing a form of social-justice chicken. He’s willing to miss games and paychecks to make a point. Will NFL teams desperate for quarterbacks self-sabotage seasons to make theirs?

What we’ve learned in just two weeks of real games is that there are not nearly enough competent quarterbacks in the league. Kaepernick would improve most, if not all, NFL teams as a starter or backup.

There’s no indication the Vikings management intends to make a play for the outspoken QB. But if the team does a Hail Kaepernick, the development might be just the distraction from the play on the field that some sports columnists are already looking for two games into the season.