Mike Freeman’s 10-Point Stance: Kaepernick Anger Intense in NFL Front Offices

If you thought fans on Twitter were upset about Colin Kaepernick, you should talk to some people around the NFL.

1. ‘I Can’t Stand Him’

Across NFL front offices, there are team officials who are not offended, and even embrace, the controversial position of Colin Kaepernick. They are out there. Statistically, they have to be. But they are keeping a low profile.

They seem to be far outnumbered by the members of NFL front offices who despise him. Truly, truly hate him. 

“I don’t want him anywhere near my team,” one front office executive said. “He’s a traitor.”

A traitor?

He wasn’t alone in the anger directed toward Kaepernick. In interviews with seven team executives, each said he didn’t want Kaepernick on his team. This is far from scientific, but I believe this is likely the feeling among many front office executives. Not all. But many.

All seven estimated 90 to 95 percent of NFL front offices felt the same way they did. One executive said he hasn’t seen this much collective dislike among front office members regarding a player since Rae Carruth. Remember Rae Carruth? He’s still in prison for the plot to murder his pregnant girlfriend.

Personally, I think the dislike of Kaepernick is inappropriate and un-American. I find it ironic that citizens who live in a country whose existence is based on dissent criticize someone who expresses dissent.

But in NFL front offices, the feeling is very different.

“He has no respect for our country,” one team executive said. “F–k that guy.”

Another said that if an owner asked him to sign Kaepernick, he would consider resigning, rather than do it.

There could be some executives who have no issue with Kaepernick, but I doubt there are many. Each executive said he believes Kaepernick will likely get released by the 49ers—and never play in the NFL again.

This team formation for the National Anthem is not Jeff Fisher approved. #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/SqHHdw0aoj

— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) August 27, 2016

That is one of the main themes here. Like these executives, I feel we won’t ever see Kaepernick play for another NFL team. There is precedent for this. Chris Kluwe, a former Vikings kicker, said on CNN this week he believes he was banned from the NFL for expressing his views on gay rights.

When challenged that Kaepernick didn’t break a law, or an NFL rule, and that it’s his right to sit during the anthem, the response, consistently, was that it’s also a team’s right to not sign him. And to also dislike him.

Why? It seems the executives feel this way because they believe Kaepernick to be un-American. They also don’t believe he appreciates what he has. Many of them pointed to Kaepernick’s salary and said he would never make that kind of money if not for football.

“In my career, I have never seen a guy so hated by front office guys as Kaepernick,” one general manager said.

This is a league that has signed domestic abusers, accused murderers, players who killed another person while driving drunk and dudes who park in handicap spaces. But Kaepernick is the most hated person he’s ever seen? A non-violent protest? Really?

Yes, apparently, really.

    

2. Kaepernick’s Days in S.F. May Be Numbered

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One last thing on Kaepernick from these team officials: They think it’s only a matter of time before the …

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