UPDATE 11/13, 7:00 p.m. ET: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the NFL will not reveal which "personnel executives and coaches" will attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout.
Schefter adds that various team executives have already said they won't be attending Saturday's workout, adding that they were "confused by the purpose" behind it.
UPDATE 11/13, 10:53 p.m. ET: ESPN's Adam Schefter thinks NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell feels bad about everything that's went down with Colin Kaepernick and feels that's the reason why the league has set up a private workout for the former 49ers player.
"I think Roger Goodell, there’s a part of him, the Commissioner, that feels bad about the way that this has unfolded," Schefter said. "And I think that he believes that he must do his part to try to get a workout for Colin Kaepernick, to try to get interviews with Colin Kaepernick, to try to do his part to get Colin Kaepernick in front of teams."
As Colin Kaepernick tweeted, the NFL didn't inform his reps of Saturday's workout in Atlanta until this morning. Kaepernick's reps asked for workout to be on a Tuesday, the day of most workouts, but NFL said it had to be this Saturday. He asked for a later Saturday; NFL said no.
See original story below.
In what might mark the beginning of the end of his time not being in the league, Colin Kaepernick will work out for a range of interested NFL teams on Saturday. Reporter Adam Schefter shared that the NFL itself organized the upcoming event in Atlanta and will share footage of the workout with any teams who want it.
"NFL clubs were informed today that a private workout will be held for Colin Kaepernick on Saturday in Atlanta. Session will include on-field work and an interview. All clubs are invited to attend, and video of both the workout and interview will be made available to clubs," he wrote on Twitter. "The NFL arranged this workout opportunity for Colin Kaepernick, and teams will have the opportunity to evaluate his readiness and level of interest in resuming his NFL career. His agents have said he wants to return to the NFL, and the league hopes this provides that chance."
Colin later took to Twitter to address the news. "I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday," he wrote. "I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday."
I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday. I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday.
Kaep isn't the only one excited with the news. J. Cole took to Twitter to say he's very much looking forward to Kaepernick's jersey. "Show out bro," he wrote.
Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. The quarterback, who carried the team all the way to Super Bowl XLVII, had become a lightning rod of controversy after opting to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality. In spite of the fact that he consulted with a veteran about the proper way to protest and stated the target of his protest clearly, right-wing politicians and NFL fans contorted his kneeling into disrespect of military veterans. Given the league's conservative fan base and close ties with the US military, no teams offered to bring the QB aboard.
Kaepernick filed a grievance against league owners for allegedly colluding to keep him out of the NFL, a case that was settled for somewhere between $1 million and $80 million. Now that the complaint is in the past, it looks like owners are willing to take another look at the former star.
