Kaepernick says he’s ready to go back to the NFL, and President Trump encourages him…with a catch

As Americans continue to divide themselves down the lines of political bias that the media has drawn for them, protests are inevitable.  It is our right to do so – an important fact not often recalled in this day and age.

But, your protest is yours and yours alone to reap the consequences of.  Counter-protests are constitutionally protected as well, and those who cross certain lines will be subject to criticism themselves.

Second string NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was just such a man, whose strong beliefs about the decay of the American Dream were worn on his sleeve socks.  Former NFL’er was once spotted with cartoon pigs dressed as police officers rising from his cleats mid-practice.

And, of course, Kaepernick popularized the idea of kneeling during the National Anthem.  This drew national outrage, and began a long-lasting debate about the NFL’s culpability or responsibility in these protests.  Perhaps the league felt as though the protests would draw in crowds, controversy, and ratings.  Instead, the league suffered enormous losses in revenue and attendance – a miscalculation made all the more embarrassing by Commissioner Roger Goodell’s consistent insistence on not addressing fans’ concerns.

Now, after several years off the field, Colin Kaepernick wants a shot at stardom again, and he’s getting an unlikely cheerleader in the form of President Trump.

“Frankly I’d love to see Kaepernick come in if he’s good enough, but I don’t want to see him come in because someone thinks it would be a good P.R. move,” he said.

And, let’s be honest, if anyone knows the power of a P.R. move, it’s the President.  Trump reiterated the catch, however.

Trump said he knew many NFL owners such as New England Patriots Owner Bob Kraft.

“If he’s good enough, then sign him,” Trump said about Kaepernick. “I know these people, they would sign him in a heartbeat, they will do anything that they can to win games.”

“If he’s good enough”.

With the NFL preseason beginning this week, we’ll soon find out whether or not Kaepernick is good enough.