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The controversy continues for Colin Kaepernick and the NFL. In the recent addition of this saga, a dubious workout was scheduled for Kaepernick in a weekend with misty details. In retaliation, Kaepernick scheduled a completely different workout an hour before, 50 miles away. There were supposed to be 25 NFL scouts at the originally scheduled workout; only eight showed up to the newly scheduled one.

After the workout, Kaep held press and answered no questions, but made a statement:

"I've been ready for three years … We're waiting on the 32 teams, the owners, Rodger Goodell to stop running," he said.

After the day's events were over, there was a lot of backlash directed towards Kaepernick. In all, the entire scene looked as if it were a PR stunt from both sides. However, what was the truth? What really happened in this strange event that has the entire world watching?

Kaepernick seems to have spurned a heavy amount of backlash by a lot of people surrounding this event. The main reason for the workout was he wanted to get back into the NFL. He had been lobbying through multiple media outlets to get a shot at playing and finally the NFL gave him an opportunity. But at what cost?

There appeared to be a waiver that Kaepernick needed to sign before the workout that would relieve him of the right to sue the NFL if they were to do him wrong again. Plus, the fact that Kaepernick couldn't bring his own media or receivers to the workout seemed sketchy on the NFL's part. It was as if they were trying to control the workout and the narrative.

Kaepernick took control of his own destiny, moving the workout to a field 50 miles away. The workout was rescheduled within an hour before the originally scheduled workout. This appeared at face value to be dubious in nature and seemed to turn off 17 of the 25 participants of the workout, as only eight scouts showed up to this workout. This turn of events reveals that one side is, in terms of pop culture, "capping".

Who's capping in this situation? Let's look at the details for both scenarios, starting with the NFL.

The NFL had "whiteballed" Colin Kaepernick in 2016 after he began kneeling against police brutality in America. By whiteballed, I mean the NFL colluded against the former NFL quarterback and denied him access to an NFL team when he clearly could play at a high level. As a result, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL and won in early 2019.

Then, Jay Z became a partner of the NFL and apparently pressured the NFL to give Colin Kaepernick a workout. There were rumors that Jay's reputation was damaged, which is why he made the move.

The NFL set up a workout on a Saturday, which is known to be unusual as workouts are regularly scheduled on Tuesdays. The NFL can schedule a workout on any day, but there is still a dubious nature as to why the workout was scheduled on a Saturday.

Then, there are the details such as the NFL not allowing Colin Kaepernick to use his own receivers, allowing media at the workout, and the NFL recording their own tape, having full control over the recording that they'll send to all 32 teams. All of this sounds odd and concerning for Kaepernick's camp.

Lastly, there's the waiver the NFL presented.

This waiver apparently takes away Colin Kaepernick's right to create a claim against the NFL if unfair play was incited. This meaning if the NFL does not fairly give Kaepernick a chance in the tryout, or unjustly delivers the video materials from the workout, Colin can’t sue the NFL again for any wrongdoing.

Now you can see how this was concerning for Colin Kaepernick and his camp. All of these details could have turned anyone away.

Now let's look at Kaepernick’s side. For years Kaepernick has been lobbying to get back into the NFL. There have been many different outlets, such as sports talk shows, that have been promoting Colin Kaepernick and his ability to play at a high level in the NFL.

Many people, such as the Stephen A. Smiths and the Shannon Sharpes of the world, have been promoting that Colin Kaepernick deserves a spot in the NFL. So when Colin changed the workout, there was a lot of dissent amongst those that vouched for him. One can see where that can come from.

Kaepernick also arrived at the workout in a Kunta Kinte t-shirt. This seemed like some sort of statement, a messages that he is a free and he will not be shackled by the rules and regulations of the NFL. Also, looking at the evidence one can ask, what was the purpose of Colin moving the workout if he so desperately wanted to get back into the NFL?

Another question is if this was publicity stunt on both sides. In my own personal opinion, I don't necessarily agree with Colin Kaepernick’s actions. I do believe he could have responded to the NFL's actions in a different manner because his actions made him look like he's the bad guy in the situation and an attention-seeking, egotistic person. That’s where I can see how the workout move looks like a publicity stunt.

However, I also believe that his actions are a testament to what he stands for. Kaepernick will not appease masters of the NFL. Not in this hard felt battle for social justice and social change. If Colin Kaepernick were to sign the waivers and play by the NFL's rules, he would give up everything that he fought for this entire time. Essentially, the NFL wanted him to stop kneeling and stop protesting police brutality on their platform. I don't believe Colin Kaepernick was willing to do so in order to play in the NFL. So why lobby for a workout? Well, Colin Kaepernick is a football player, after all. Colin Kaepernick loves the game and was wrongfully whiteballed out of the NFL. Why wouldn't he fight to get a position back in the NFL? Why wouldn’t he preview his skills and show that he still deserves a position in the NFL?

Getting back in the NFL, although it's potentially a step back, is a major push forward in Colin’s Legacy. This is something that everyone should realize. This isn't about football at this moment in time; this isn't about whether he wants to play or not. This is about Colin Kaepernick standing up for what he believes in and not giving up on that mission.

After the events of the NFL workout change, I believe it revealed to the masses that sometimes you have to stand for something or you will fall for everything. Sometimes you have to give things up in order to fight for what you are looking for.

People are asking what did Kaepernick he gain from kneeling in the first place. Let's look at the likes of Muhammad Ali. Ali gave up his title, he went to jail and fought many times for what was right. And now we him as a social justice leader and a man that fought for what he believed it. Colin Kaepernick appears to be no different. He is this generation's iteration of that concept.

At this moment, people will turn their cheek against Kaepernick, but 10 or 20 years from now, they will look back at this moment and remember the hard-fought battle that he gave everything for. We should be proud of him for what he did, even if it wasn't the best possible solution. This is Kaepernick not capping, but revealing to the NFL that they are capping.

This message Colin Kaepernick is working to send is bigger than himself — and I believe he realizes that. The message is for the next generation, for those who won’t have to fight for their rights. It's for the young Black and brown men and women who are unjustly and unfairly tried in courts, and unjustly and unfairly killed by police brutality each and every day. It's for the oppressed so they may see the sun in the darkness.

So yes, Kaepernick did keep it real at that Saturday workout, but he didn't go wrong. We may not see our victories come to fruition in the exact moment, but it is through our battles and sacrifices that we make sure our successors don’t face the same injustices we did. We must stop attempting to appease those that oppress us if we are attempting to be freed of their oppression.

518Donnie

Writing since April 2018 · 3 stories contributed