The union for police officers who work San Francisco home games says its members may boycott policing the stadium if the 49ers don’t discipline Colin Kaepernick for refusing to stand during the national anthem and for his statements about law enforcement.
Advertisement
San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has announced that Blaine Gabbert will be the starting quarterback for the 2016 season. Kelly had telegraphed that move to keep Kaepernick earlier in the week when he called him one of his team’s two best quarterbacks. His refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice last week when he remained seated on the 49ers’ bench before a preseason game against Green Bay.
“How he’s handled himself and how he’s been with us, I have no issues with Kap at all”. But Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and one-time aspiring National Football League player who met with Kaepernick before a game on Thursday, told USA Today on Saturday that the quarterback would like to meet with officers and work with them to address the issue of police brutality. “He continues to display that every day he’s been in this building”. “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem”.
Eric Reid made his dad a proud papa by joining Colin Kaepernick’s protest.
Four days later, he threw a touchdown pass in a preseason game against Denver. The veteran quarterback is attempting to regain the starting job that he lost last season, and he likely helped his cause with a 103-yard passing performance while playing the entire first half in the 49ers’ 31-21 victory over the Chargers. He was slowed in the offseason after undergoing operations on his non-throwing shoulder, right thumb and left knee and did not get any practice time.
Kelly said the 49ers would have only two quarterbacks in uniform on game day. Kaepernick’s $11.9 million salary for this season became guaranteed when he was on the roster in April.
One way or another, it’s entirely possible the Niners will have to make another decision on whether or not to play Kaepernick this season.
Kaepernick’s teammates supported his protest and Reid even joined in.
Advertisement
Kaepernick has said he doesn’t intend his stance to be a criticism of the military, claiming he has “great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country”.
