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Colin Kaepernick nominated for NFL Hall of Fame, columnist slammed for backing decision: 'A slap in the face'

Kaepernick was nominated as a contributor by Bob Birkett of Vermont, who decided to submit an application for the same after discovering that there was no criteria in place restricting him from doing so

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been nominated to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which made many sports lovers seethe with rage. They were furthered angered by the fact that a USA Today columnist supported the nomination for the induction. 

Equating Kaepernick to legends like Dick Butkus and Mike Ditka, columnist Nancy Armour wrote: "Kaepernick, then with the San Francisco 49ers, began protesting four years ago after a series of high-profile shootings of Black men by law enforcement officers, most of whom were white. Despite the glaringly obvious -- that America has a different set of standards for Black and brown people, with harmful and sometimes even deadly consequences -- Kaepernick was vilified."

Kaepernick famously started a trend that would soon be followed by football players and other athletes when he knelt during the national anthem in 2016, saying at the time, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." After leading the team to a 1-10 record in games, he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and has not played professional football since then. 

"The current President of the United States raged at him. Fans derided him. And NFL owners ultimately decided profits were worth more than principles. Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season, effectively blackballed while guys like Austin Davis, Chad Henne and Josh Johnson were given a shot," Armour added. 

Kaepernick was nominated as a contributor by Bob Birkett of Vermont, who decided to submit an application for the same after discovering that there was no criteria in place restricting him from doing so. “You think, 'What can I do?'" Birkett said. “I can’t force an owner to hire the guy. But darn it! I can put him in the Hall of Fame.”

According to the Hall Of Fame, a contributor is defined as "an individual who has “made outstanding contributions to professional football in capacities other than playing or coaching." In his letter, Birkett made it clear as to why he thought the athlete deserved to be inducted into the prestigious position. “Mr. Kaepernick has shown exceptional courage in highlighting the damaging effects of racial injustice on black people and on our society as a whole. His respectful kneeling posture has created a powerful symbol for those who are oppressed by our society," he wrote. 

Backing Birkett's view, Armour wrote in the article, "It’s hard to argue that Kaepernick, who sacrificed his career because he wanted to make his country better, doesn’t at least deserve a debate." However, not many agreed with her viewpoint and took to social media to express their criticism of the move. Here are a few of the reactions:

"If any of u claim your boycotting the NFL & really don't, your disgusting as well, this is a slap in the face to true Hall of Famers, if you're okay with this you're the problem USA Today Columnist Supports Kaepernick's Induction Into NFL Hall of Fame"

"What? Staging a kneeling during our national anthem is a profound disrespect for our nation’s flag & what it stands for. If Kaepernick’s message is to draw attention to racial discrimination, why when playing our national anthem? NO to Hall of Fame! YES to Hall of Shame!"

"Nah, Kaepernick belongs in the P. T. Barnum Hall of Fame: The one with the motto, 'There's a sucker born every minute.'"

"And Colin Kaepernick was nominated for NFL Hall of Fame. Does anyone even take the league seriously anymore?"

"What's the NFL Hall of Fame? And Who is Kaepernick?"

"Kaepernick may leverage politics to bully his way into the Hall of Fame but he sure as hell won’t earn the honor based on his ability & performance given that all his career stats are below NFL averages."