5 reasons why Colin Kaepernick's NFL comeback will be short-lived
Colin Kaepernick's workout with the Las Vegas Raiders went well. He suitably impressed, and no physical issues were brought to the team's attention.
Whether or not he is signed by the Raiders now remains unclear, although the signs are more positive than they have ever been with regards to Kaepernick returning to the NFL.
Should the Raiders or another team choose to offer him a contract for 2022, there are several issues he will need to overcome.
While the quarterback has now recognized he can't expect to be a starter upon his return, it is still difficult to envisage his return as a sparkling success.
Five reasons why Colin Kaepernick's NFL return is destined to be short-lived?
#1 - The NFL has changed since 2016
Colin Kaepernick hasn't played in the NFL since he left the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
The game and league have changed a lot in that time, with quarterback mobility being far more critical than ever before.
Furthermore, with offenses becoming more high-powered across the league, there is now an onus on scoring more points and spending more money on defensive free agents.
Kaepernick was one of the players who started to follow this trend during the early stages of his career. He was a dynamic, mobile quarterback, but he was nowhere near the level of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. A trendsetter, perhaps.
But it's challenging to imagine Kaepernick returning to the league and playing in the same way that is required to be successful in the NFL in 2022.
#2 - Scrutiny will follow Kaepernick in every game
There is an uncomfortable reality that the 34-year-old needs to face upon his return to the NFL. Scrutiny will follow him around for reasons that are uncomfortable to discuss.
One of the main obstacles to Kaepernick's previous attempts to make an NFL return was that many fans would turn away from teams/the sport if he were involved in it.
The incredible social justice work done by the former 49er isn't seen as positive by everyone in the United States. People are, unfortunately, living in a wonderland if they think the player won't be booed at every stadium he visits in 2022.
Colin Kaepernick in 2016: “…You can become a cop in six months and don’t have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist…Someone that’s holding a curling iron has more education and more training than people that have a gun and are going out on the street to protect us.”
The scrutiny creates a level of inescapable pressure, and you wonder whether or not the player himself will find this problematic and reason to cut short a return, especially as he will only be a backup.
Kaepernick is incredibly strong, mentally and emotionally, but teams will only stick with him for so long if ticket sales and viewing figures drop.