Colin Kaepernick settled his collusion grievance against the NFL, ending a nearly two-year long battle for the controversial former quarterback.
A resolution announced Friday ended the 2017 grievance filed by Kaepernick and former teammate Eric Reid which alleged that the National Football League and its 32 teams blacklisted him and prevented the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback from being signed due to his kneeling protests during the national anthem.
The undisclosed settlement was announced in a joint statement issued Friday by attorney Mark Geragos and the NFL.
“For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL. As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party,” the statement read.
— Mark Geragos (@markgeragos) February 15, 2019
The NFL Players Association expressed its support after the decision was announced.
“We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well.”
Many celebrated the news as a win for Kaepernick, including current and former players.
Black History Month:
It’s rare to win a lawsuit against the NFL, but Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid did. Amount is confidential. (Meaning the internet will find out shortly!) ????♂️
Congratulations Kaep, he secured the biggest bag without playing!#TakeAKnee & #TookTheBag ? pic.twitter.com/tBscGhfr4k
— Jerome Trammel (@MrJeromeTrammel) February 15, 2019
To recap:
Colin Kaepernick used his platform, sacrificing his #NFL career to incite a 2+ year nationwide conversation about racial and social injustice.In the end, he seemingly proved NFL owners colluded to keep him out of the NFL & he STILL got paid.
Well done @Kaepernick7.— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) February 15, 2019
I bet that boy Kaep got PAID!
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) February 15, 2019
BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG MADDDD https://t.co/VpHCzzPlTE
— Damon Harrison Sr. (@snacks) February 15, 2019
Kaepernick and Reid had the challenge of proving that collusion occurred, something the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement notes is not based on a player just not being signed, according to ESPN. But some have suggested that the fact that the case was settled points to something more.
The NFL did not want to see this case go to trial. They were going to lose. All this would have been is another mountain of bad publicity. https://t.co/1y0ynFUz1H
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 15, 2019
NFL likely is paying BIG money to keep secret any deposition transcripts, text messages, emails, etc. that may have shown an effort by the league office to discourage teams from signing Kaepernick.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 15, 2019
His collusion case was based on the NFL discriminating against him because of his politics, aka kneeling. He could have taken case to trial & if he proved this happened & won, changed NFL behavior as it relates to player politics forever. Instead he took money for his silence.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 16, 2019
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk thought the NFL “made a wise and prudent move” by settling with the “buying of peace” and avoiding a hearing which would disclose “a likely treasure trove of emails, text messages, and deposition transcripts,” he wrote Friday.
“Silence becomes a big part of what the league paid for, via a confidential settlement that may never be leaked but that will invite speculation that the NFL — which rarely settles anything — paid huge money to make Kaepernick and Reid go away,” Florio added.
The settlement details remain under wraps but there was much speculation about the financials. Florio estimated at a number around $50 million for the settlement.
Over-under for the Kaepernick settlement: $49.5 million.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 15, 2019
NFL columnist Mike Freeman of the Bleacher Report put his guess at between $60 million to $80 million.
Number NFL team officials are speculating to me is the NFL paid Kaepernick in the $60 to $80 million range.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) February 15, 2019
Twitter users weighed in on the settlement and its mystery contents.
The great thing about the Kaepernick decision is that whatever side you’ve been arguing you still don’t have to change your opinion.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) February 16, 2019
That’s why the NFL settled. Even if they won the collusion case no one would change their minds so why waste the headlines.
— GMC ATL (@gmc_atl) February 16, 2019
The best part is we dont have to hear his name anymore. Take your money Colin and just go away. Thank you NFL money well spent!
— Tim Columbus SR. (@Timco1492) February 16, 2019
In the end, like most people who claim to be motivated by social justice, Colin Kaepernick was all about the money. NFL gave him a rounding error on their balance sheet to settle all his claims against them forever. They paid him money to shut up and he took it.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 15, 2019
So #Kaepernick wins his collusion suit ……He still ain’t getting no job in the @NFL so keep kicking rocks buddy!
— nick mantia (@nikko5170) February 15, 2019
So Colin Kaepernick gets $60 million for.disrespecring the Anthem? Welcome to Liberal Hell.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) February 16, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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