Kaepernick Reiterates Blackballing Claims as League Enters New Season

Former NFL quarterback Comcast Corporation-owned NBC News.

Kaepernick, who last played in the 2016 season, stated that he has not watched a professional football game since his departure. He explained that he cannot support an organization he believes is actively excluding him and targeting other players who participated in the protests. Instead, he noted that he continues to follow college football.

The quarterback’s comments come as he prepares to release a new memoir titled “The Perilous Fight” on Sept. 15. Kaepernick indicated that the book and his recent return to the public eye are driven by a desire to clarify his legacy for his community. He emphasized that his message is that fighting for racial justice should not result in the end of one’s career, a sentiment he feels is particularly urgent now that he is a father.

While Kaepernick maintains he is being kept out of the league, NFL leadership has historically offered different perspectives on the situation. In 2017, Commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized that roster decisions are made independently by individual teams aiming to improve their squads. However, Goodell later shifted his tone in a 2020 interview, admitting he wished the league had listened to Kaepernick’s concerns about police brutality and racial injustice earlier.

As the NFL season progresses, the league continues to be a major driver of media revenue and engagement. Comcast, the parent company of NBC which aired the interview, holds significant interests in sports broadcasting through its Media segment. The company’s stock was recently trading at $26.375, reflecting the broader market environment for media and telecom services.

What to watch

• Release of Kaepernick’s memoir “The Perilous Fight” on Sept. 15 and potential market impact on related publishing or media coverage.
• Upcoming NFL viewership ratings and broadcast advertising revenue reports for the current season.
• Comcast’s quarterly earnings updates regarding performance in its Media and Studios segments.

Source: original release