(ThyBlackMan.com) It is looking more and more likely that quarterback Colin Kaepernick will not be signed by any NFL team prior to the beginning of the 2017 NFL season. He is the most accomplished free agent quarterback available and there has not been any significant interest in him since he met with the Seattle Seahawks in late May. It has been quite a surprising turn of perception by a quarterback who was once considered a star quarterback in the NFL whose political stances are now an inseparable part of any discussion about him.
Coming out of college after being a record breaking quarterback at Nevada, Colin Kaepernick was viewed as a quarterback that had great physical tools but needed development because of the college 
offense that he excelled in. Quarterbacks who enter the NFL from college are not only evaluated by their physical abilities but also their intangibles that cannot be measured. Unsurprisingly now, Colin Kaepernick was also highly regarded for his toughness and leadership abilities when he was coming out of college into the NFL.
After being taken in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, he sat as a backup to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith for a couple of years before an exciting NFL debut in which his production over an extended period nearly led to a Super Bowl victory. His 49ers playing career was full of exciting ups and frustrating downs but what Kaepernick faced on the field was nothing compared to what he faced off the field during the 2016 NFL season.
Colin Kaepernick’s well-publicized protest of the National Anthem first gained national notice during the 2016 NFL preseason and his eloquence in explaining his protest have made him arguably the most polarizing figure in sports. By taking a stance against the oppressed, he also pointed out the significant gap of race issues between white people and black people, who viewed Kaepernick’s protest very differently. Although professional athletes are often criticized for being materialistic and concerned only by the incredible amounts of money that they make, Kaepernick’s protest woke up several athletes to speak out about police brutality and other social issues. He also has turned critics of his into supporters since his initial actions. During the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick maintained his work ethic and drive despite the attention he received and while his team really struggled through a losing season.
One of the criticisms of Colin Kaepernick’s protest was that it was just symbolic and that he should make real change against social injustice instead of protesting the National Anthem. Kaepernick has more than backed up his words with actions that show he is clearly about changing society for the better in his mind. Earlier this year, he donated his substantial sneaker collection to homeless people in San Francisco. In March, he helped raise funds to fly a plane full of food and water to help the struggling population of Somalia. He has also made a $50,000 donation to Meals on Wheels. His assistance with the disenfranchised also includes donating hundreds of custom suits to a charity that helps people get a job after they’re released from jail. As interesting as the various ways Colin Kaepernick has been making an impact in the lives of others was his recent actions during a trip to Ghana to find his own independence. His transformation from NFL quarterback to polarizing political and social figure has been unbelievable.
Staff Writer; Mark Hines
