There were "internal discussions" between Texans coach Bill O'Brien and GM Rick Smith about signing Colin Kaepernick following last week's season-ending injury to QB Deshaun Watson, but the Texans "don't sound inclined to add him to the roster," according to Aaron Wilson of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. O'Brien yesterday said, "Colin Kaepernick's a good football player, hasn't played football in a while. These things are discussed daily and they'll continue to be discussed." Wilson notes the Texans would be an "extremely unlikely destination for Kaepernick in the wake" of Owner Bob McNair's comments at the recent NFL owners' meeting. Meanwhile, Kaepernick's grievance against the NFL for collusion has several owners, including McNair, "facing depositions in the case" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/7). ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported other organizations contemplating signing Kaepernick believe the "anthem issue is a huge problem, a roadblock." Mortensen: "There are some football people out there who said, ‘Colin Kaepernick is a good quarterback, but he was still 1-10 in his last year, 4-20 in his last 24 starts. He hasn't had a winning season since 2013.’ So football people will still make their own logical, or illogical, reasons when discussing a player such as Kaepernick” (“Monday Night Countdown,” ESPN, 11/6).
WORTH A SHOT: In Houston, Brian Smith notes O'Brien yesterday was "asked about Kaepernick six times" and was "more open than expected." No one "can say with any certainty that Kaepernick can play at a playoff-starter level in the NFL." However, the Texans are "barely standing" behind current starter Tom Savage and are "trying to save their season." Winning "trumps all" in the NFL, and Kaepernick "deserves a tryout and an interview" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/7). Also in Houston, Jerome Solomon wrote the "smartest move" the Texans "can make right now would be to give ... Kaepernick a call." Signing Kaepernick would have been "smart the minute" the Texans drafted Watson. Now, with the team at 3-5 with a "serious lack of talent" at QB, it is a "no-brainer." Solomon: "I don't need advanced analytics to prove that so-called distractions are less responsible for football losses than poor quarterback play" (CHRON.com, 11/6). The Texans have signed T.J. Yates and Matt McGloin to back up Savage, and ESPN's Louis Riddick notes "familiarity is the number one thing that coaches and the front office looks for" when signing a QB. That position "is unlike any other in the responsibility and the amount of learning that has to go on in order for you to get on the football field and be able to execute a basic professional offense" ("Monday Night Countdown," ESPN, 11/6).
I'LL BE THERE: THE UNDEFEATED’s Jason Reid reports Kaepernick has “agreed to join a group of players who have requested a formal mediation session with the league.” Attorney Mark Geragos, who reps Kaepernick, said that his client has “committed to attend the meeting -- which the league has not yet agreed to -- ‘if they do it … as proposed.’” Geragos also “could sit in during the mediation, which is not binding.” Meanwhile, Reid notes Kaepernick's grievance is “moving forward.” Geragos said, “Every day that goes by, the collusion case gets stronger and stronger. Even a passive fan of the NFL will tell you … it’s almost beyond any doubt that there’s collusive activity going on” (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 11/7).
