The Ravens are disputing a report that Owner Steve Bisciotti is "resisting signing" free agent QB Colin Kaepernick "despite a preference" from Exec VP & GM Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh to do so, according to Edward Lee of the Baltimore SUN. Newsome in a statement said, "We are going through a process, and we have not made a decision. Steve Bisciotti has not told us we cannot sign Colin Kaepernick, nor has he blocked the move. Whoever is making those claims is wrong." The report cited sources as saying that Newsome and Harbaugh "support adding Kaepernick to the roster." After yesterday’s practice, Harbaugh said that he had "no new information on the Kaepernick front." Ravens TE Benjamin Watson said that Kaepernick would be "accepted in the locker room if the club thought he could help the team succeed." Watson: "It’s about, can you help us win games? And that’s it. Inside of our locker room, we have guys who have all types of political stances, religious stances, people that are from the country, the city, people that are different ethnicities, and we respect each other" (Baltimore SUN, 8/3).
BLOCK IT OUT: ESPN.com's Dianna Russini, who had the original report, said Bisciotti has to "consider the implications of this from a business standpoint for this organization." She added there are "implications with sponsorships, ticket sales." Russini: "He needs to discuss what the value is to the team and fully understand Colin Kaepernick's contribution from a football standpoint." ESPN's David Lloyd said, "This is the furthest we've gotten in the Colin Kaepernick sweepstakes." ESPN’s Herm Edwards added the Ray Rice situation "has probably affected (Bisciotti) in this situation, weighs heavy on his heart. He knows that Kaepernick is a guy that could help this football team as a backup quarterback." ESPN’s Field Yates: “This is a fascinating wrinkle to the story." Lloyd said, "You would think the owner would sort of have to give his okay to authorize them even going this far in the process. I wonder why it's gotten to this point where now we know the head coach and the GM want in and the owner has got to almost make a public statement saying no." ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said it is a "natural reaction on the part of white billionaire owners who care more about their bottom line than anything else" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/2). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab noted the Ravens have "put themselves in a bad spot" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/2). NBCS Bay Area's Ray Ratto said the Ravens are "trying to make it look" as though they are "really giving this some thought." Ratto: "The point is if you're going to do that out in the open and then talk about Kaepernick, all you are really doing is stirring this up and then at some point in a day or two, they're going to drop it because they're not signing him" ("The Happy Hour," NBCS Bay Area, 8/2).
NOT THE SAME: Seahawks CB Richard Sherman said, "The funny thing about it, when you’re not being blackballed, you don’t have to say he’s not being blackballed. When football’s a safe game, you don’t have to say, ‘Football’s a safe game.’ It seems like [NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell] always has to say things to justify something." Sherman added, "It's not about football or color. It's about, 'Boy, stay in your place.'" Sherman: "Not a lot of guys are willing to step out there. So the guys not speaking up for him are doing him a disservice. There should be a lot more guys saying something. Most guys are like, ‘I don’t want my job to end up the same way.'" Seahawks DE Michael Bennett said, "It shows the racial divide in the league. There are (accused) rapists and drunk drivers in the league. But he’s somebody who didn’t do anything to anybody. But you hear owners say, ‘We have to ask our fan base first.’ But the Giants kept [K] Josh Brown (amid a domestic violence issue). [Steelers QB] Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of rape twice. The organization didn’t turn their back on him." Sherman added, "For you to say you have to check with sponsors and fans because this guy took a knee and made a statement? Now if you told me this guy threw eight pick-sixes last year and played like a bum, had no talent, that’s one thing. But Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett or whoever is playing for the Jets right now -- whoever is starting for the Jets is terrible -- have jobs. You’re telling me fans would rather you lose and put a worse player out there because a guy took a stand? That’s where it’s so troublesome to me" (USA TODAY, 8/3). FS1's Kristine Leahy said the Ravens have "openly supported guys who have done pretty terrible things that you can't even compare to anything with Colin Kaepernick, so it actually makes sense to me" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 8/2). FS1’s Shannon Sharpe said owners view Kaepernick's actions as "worse than a guy who went to prison for dog fighting, worse than using the racial epithet, worse than a guy who abused his wife and told you he did it” (“Undisputed,” FS1, 8/3).
PRINCIPLE OF THE MATTER: In N.Y., Michael Powell writes Kaepernick has a "principles problem, which is to say he possesses too many" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/3). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Charean Williams noted former NFLer Kordell Stewart offered Kaepernick advice that was "similar" to what former NFLer Ray Lewis gave earlier -- "keep quiet about social activism." Stewart: "Right now he’s not giving himself a chance. I don’t think it’s the owners; I think it’s more or less Colin Kaepernick in my mind. Stay off of social media, and when it comes to the political side of everything, you can express yourself, you can do it quietly. I mean people are looking for former athletes and athletes out there doing some things that can be headline news. Do it from a charitable standpoint. Stay low-key about it. You don’t have to be so [loud], especially in this world of politics in the game of football" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/2).
PROTECTING THE SHIELD? PFT's Mike Florio said the issue is "not about football, it's not about race, it's about being the guy who is taking what the owners ultimately own." Florio: "What they own is the game. ... The field, the stadium, the uniforms, the logos. Everything about it, everything that falls under the umbrella of the shield, they own. Kaepernick took it last year and he twisted it into his own personal use and it caused a major problem for the NFL" ("PFT," NBCSN, 8/3). The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone said until Kaepernick "has a contract in the NFL commensurate with his resume and his skill, this is an ongoing problem for the league, not just the Ravens." The L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke added, "This is a black mark in the history of the NFL the way it's turning out" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 8/2).
FAN-SOURCED DECISIONS? YAHOO SPORTS held a round table discussion about whether or not owners should seek input from fans on personnel decisions such as this one, and Zach Pereles said, "No. Never. There’s a reason for GMs, coaches, scouts and players, right? That’s who you consult." But Jordan Schultz added, "There is no downside and all upside to affording fans the opportunity to assume the role of GM for a day. Besides, [it is] not like there is an obligation to actually listening to the advice." Schwab said teams should "never" seek fan input. He added, "Don’t even think about it. ... This is one of the worst ideas imaginable." Jay Busbee said, "A decent chunk of Americans can’t be trusted to turn off the TV when (insert your least-favorite TV show here) comes on, and we’re talking about trusting them with a decision on a football team? ... In all seriousness, what Bisciotti is doing is just giving himself cover" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/2).
