Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio claimed that former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has the talent to play in the league but remains unsigned for other reasons.
Kaepernick has been out of the NFL for three years now after he created controversy for the league by deciding to kneel during the national anthem in an effort to raise awareness about police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. As he protested, and others joined in, Kaepernick felt the ire of many in the league and throughout the country, including President Trump, who called him a “son of a bitch.”
“I’m not an NFL owner, but I can tell you I don’t think there are 64 better quarterbacks,” Rubio told TMZ this week. “That’s obviously not football that’s keeping him away.”
The TMZ reporter then asked the senator whether or not the Jacksonville Jaguars should consider bringing on Kaepernick. Nick Foles, the Jaguars’ starting quarterback, required surgery after breaking his clavicle during Sunday’s season opener. He will miss a minimum of eight games. With a rookie quarterback now starting for a team with playoff aspirations, some hypothesized that this could be an opportunity for Kaepernick.
“If I were an owner, and he was the best guy, I’d bring him in despite the other stuff. But, there’s a lot that goes into that,” Rubio answered.
Prior to the first game of the season, Kaepernick tweeted a video of him practicing with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The video began with a tally of the number of days that have passed since the former quarterback “has been denied work,” and that number is 917 days.
From putting in work predraft, to staying ready against the odds! Love to my Brother @obj – #StillReady
?: @REL @djtonedef @GaryNgUSC pic.twitter.com/mcSCn8vpHE
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 4, 2019
