Colin Kaepernick takes aim at NFL in intense workout video after being 'denied work for 889 days'
Even after being denied work for nearly three years, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick posted a workout video on Twitter on Wednesday, August 7, proving that he was still fit to return to the National Football League if and when he was called.
The video was captioned, "5am. 5 days a week. For 3 years. Still Ready," which said it all.
It showed the 31-year-old professional player working out in the gym, lifting dumbells, doing pull-ups, arm curls, push-ups, the chest fly, and lateral arm, among other weight lifting exercises. The camera zooms in on his biceps and tattoos as he sweats it out.
Not unlike his caption, the video begins with eye-grabbing graphics that read: "Denied work for: 889 Days."
The same words are repeated by Kaepernick at the start of the video which is set to a piece of upbeat music.
The 59-second-long clip ends with a shirtless Kaepernick tossing his sleeveless Nike shirt at the camera.
More than anything else, the video seemed to be aimed at NFL which banned him from playing in any of their games since the 2016 season.
The football star had ignited a nationwide controversy by taking a knee during the national anthem in order to protest inequality and racist police brutality.
Following in his footsteps, other football players had also chosen to demonstrate their dissent in a similar fashion.
One such protester was Eric Reid, who, along with Kaepernick, filed an official grievance letter with the NFL in October 2017, alleging that, influenced by President Donald Trump, team owners and the league colluded to prevent their employment due to their protest activities.
Both of them successfully reached out-of-court settlements in February for their respective cases.
In March 2017, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers after anticipating that they were going to let him go from the team regardless, and has remained a free agent ever since.
As to whether he is qualified to play for the NFL has been a topic of national debate.
Before Super Bowl LIII, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the respective decisions about Kaepernick were made by the teams individually.
"If a team decides Colin Kaepernick or any other player can help their team win, that's what they'll do," Goodell said, Daily Mail reported. "Our clubs are the ones that make decisions about players they want to have on their roster. They make it individually. They all want to win. They are going to do whatever they need to do to win. That's our focus. It will continue to be our focus."