Opinion

Somerville: Kaepernick deserves an NFL job Commentary from KTVU's 5, 6, and 10 p.m. anchor

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick talks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Los Angeles. The San Francisco 49ers won 22-21. less San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick talks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Los Angeles. The San Francisco 49ers won ... more Photo: Rick Scuteri, Associated Press Photo: Rick Scuteri, Associated Press Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Somerville: Kaepernick deserves an NFL job 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

COMMENTARY

I know in the scheme of things that the situation involving Colin Kaepernick isn't that important. But it's still bugging me that no team has signed him. And my gut tells me that much of it has to do with him taking a knee during the National Anthem.

I have always been a Kaepernick fan. I admit he got a little too caught up in his celebrity for a while. But I still liked him. And honestly now I like him even more because he wasn't afraid to take a stand. And by doing that he got a lot of people talking about race and the police. And I think that's a good thing.

But now he can't seem to get a job in the NFL. Even though it's hard for me to believe that there are 96 other quarterbacks out there who are better than him. (Three on each of the 32 teams)

My guess is that no team wants to touch him right now because they think he's too "toxic" and they're worried that their fan base might get angry. They will never say that though. They will say he's washed up instead.

I'll be the first to admit that he's not the same quarterback he once was. But he also played for a horrible team.

I guess it all really boils down to this. Take away what he did during the National Anthem and ask yourself one question: Do you think Colin Kaepernick can still play in the NFL? My answer is "yes."

I hope that an NFL team signs him. Either way I will always be a Colin Kaepernick fan.

I admire people who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in. I also think that real patriotism is understanding that the beauty of our country is that Americans died defending the flag so that people like Colin Kaepernick could take a knee during the National Anthem.

That is what real freedom is all about. (At least to me).

Frank Somerville is a contributor to SFGATE and anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. news on KTVU. This post originally appeared on his Facebook page.