Colin Kaepernick is still 'reaching out' to New York Jets despite fake reports of him having joined the team
Former National Football League (NFL) Colin Kaepernick is reportedly reaching out to the New York Jets despite multiple fake reports online of him already signing with the team.
There are multiple false reports being circulated on social media, stating that the quarterback has finally joined an NFL team.
A fake account on Twitter parodying Sports Center started the rumor by posting about Kaepernick's joining on Thursday, April 9, morning, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. The report swiftly spread across the popular micro-blogging site with multiple users sharing also sharing it on other social media platforms.
As per the site, the report was also picked up by a legitimate media outlet, where the website published an article reporting that the New York Jets football team had agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with Kaepernick.
TMZ reported just hours after the fake reports that Kaepernick plans to contact the Jets to see if they would be interested in taking him in. The 32-year-old quarterback had said that he would be a great fit with the team, however, it is not yet certain whether there is a mutual interest between the two sides, according to the outlet.
The New York Jets' current starting quarterback is listed as Sam Darnold, and David Fales is projected to be their number 2 quarterback for this year.
The controversial quarterback has not played a down in the NFL since opting out of his contract in 2016. With multiple NFL teams hunting for game-changing quarterbacks in the wake of injuries to their existing players, Kaepernick had expressed an active interest in pursuing those vacancies. However, reports state that his controversial reputation might be getting in the way of him being taken on by any team. Kaepernick was the first NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem as a protest against racism and police brutality.
The quarterback began his protest in 2016 when he was with the San Francisco 49ers at the time. The player stirred a national controversy in an effort to protest police brutality in the country. Other players soon took his cue and joined the protest in the 2016 season, while many others have continued the protest till now.
Kaepernick's movement drew heavy criticism from President Trump, who even called for the owners of the NFL teams to fire the players who were participating in it. The NFL, last year, had announced a rule which required all the players to stand during the national anthem. The association, however, gave an option to the players to stand off the field until the ceremony was over instead of kneeling outside.
The player, however, has continued to keep in shape, in hope that a franchise will sign him and he will get to play again. Kaepernick, who had led San Francisco to the 2013 Super Bowl, last February had reached a confidential settlement with the NFL after alleging that the league blackballed him.
The NFL had arranged tryouts for the quarterback at Atlanta Falcons training facility in Georgia last year, however, the location was shifted to a high school stadium at the last minute. Kaepernick, while commenting on the change, had stated that it was done so that the media could be present. Reports state that Kaepernick's team decided to move the location of his workout after they accused the NFL of not acting rightfully.