A digital needle in a haystack of communication is what Colin Kaepernick will be looking for when – or if – the former quarterback’s legal team gets the discovery it has requested in a grievance filed against the NFL. And as that potential discovery comes into focus, the legal shovels will seek to dig into a high-profile roster of targets.

Among them: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. President Donald Trump. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.

That list would just be the start, according to those familiar with the discovery plan.

“It will be a vast group, both broad and specific,” one source told Yahoo Sports of planned targets for discovery.

View photos Robert Kraft listens as President Donald Trump welcomes the Patriots to the White House in April. (Getty) More

Ultimately, Kaepernick’s legal team will seek to digitally pick through the inner-workings of why some teams entertained and then passed on the quarterback after he entered free agency in March. Specifically, what was the dialogue taking place between ownership, executives and the coaching staff? Did any communication take place between the franchises considering Kaepernick and the league office? Did any communication occur between owners at a time that it became public that teams like Seattle and Baltimore were considering him as an option?

In the broader picture, Kaepernick’s legal team will seek any communications owners began having about him starting in September 2016, when his protests began drawing widespread attention and condemnation. Of particular interest will be the periods of time surrounding league meetings or owner-related gatherings, the months since Kaepernick hit free agency, or other high-profile moments, such as when Kaepernick landed on the cover of Time magazine in October 2016.

Here’s what is clear from Kaepernick’s grievance – and also from speaking to members of his legal team – Trump’s involvement with owners and some of his public statements could become a useful tool in arguments.

One pivotal moment that will draw interest in discovery occurred long before Trump’s railing on anthem protests during this season. Instead, it was March 20, when the president engaged in some apparently unscripted bragging to a crowd in Louisville, Kentucky, about his influence in keeping NFL teams from signing Kaepernick.

“It was reported that NFL owners don’t want to pick him up because they don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump,” the president said. “Do you believe that? I just saw that. I just saw that.”

Of particular interest about that moment is that it came one day after Kraft had joined Trump on Air Force One for a flight between West Palm Beach, Florida, and Washington. Kaepernick’s camp hopes to prove that Trump has been one of the pivotal unifying forces of collusion in the NFL, either through his relationship with Kraft and Jones, or through his influence using his public platform.

The most significant goal of forensically combing through the NFL’s private communications would be to find “cross-boundary” communications about the quarterback, according to sources close to Kaepernick. More specifically …

• Owners or executives from at least two different teams communicating about Kaepernick’s protests; his impact on the league’s brand; his free agency; or anything else relating to his previous or future job status in the league.

• Owners or executives from at least one team and the NFL’s league office communicating about Kaepernick’s protests; his impact on the league’s brand; his free agency; or anything else relating to his previous or future job status in the league.

• Owners or the NFL’s league office communicating with President Trump – or even indicating communications with Trump – about anything relating to Kaepernick’s job status.

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