The Baltimore Ravens have issued a statement denying reports that owner Steve Bisciotti is blocking the signing of free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The statement is in response to a report from ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Wednesday morning. According to her sources, Bisciotti resists the idea of signing Kaepernick, despite interest and support from Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome.
Speculation regarding the polarizing pivot joining the Ravens caught fire last week after Harbaugh heaped praise upon the 29-year-old at a news conference.
Even though Kaepernick put up respectable numbers last season (2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions in 12 games played), it’s been speculated that his political activism has scared teams off his trail. His refusal to stand during the American national anthem in protest was met with much controversy and many believe may be preventing him from landing on an NFL roster.
“Non-violent protesting is something that we’ve all embraced,” Bisciotti told the Associated Press earlier this week. “I don’t like the way he did it. I liked it a lot more when he went from sitting to kneeling. I thought that if it’s still a silent protest, the level of disrespect isn’t as strong that way.
“I hope we do what is best for the team and balance that with what’s best for our fans,” Bisciotti told AP.
‘Let your play speak for itself’
As part of “doing what is best,” Bisciotti consulted Ravens legend Ray Lewis on the Kaepernick decision. The retired 17-year NFL veteran also took to Twitter Tuesday to try to clear up his own personal thoughts on the Kaepernick situation.
In the two-minute video, Lewis was oftentimes incoherent and unclear where he stood on Kaepernick, but seemed to plead for the former San Francisco 49er to put his political battle on hold just to play football again.
“The people who really want to help you, if they really want to help you, man, they would pray for you brother,” Lewis said. “They would lead you the right way and stop encouraging you to be caught up in some of this nonsense. The battles you’re fighting, brother, people way before us [have] been fighting for many, many, many years. …
“The football field is our sanctuary. If you do nothing else young man, get back on the football field and let your play speak for itself. And what you do off the field, don’t let too many people know because they’re going to judge you anyway, no matter what you do.”
Lewis, a man who was put on trial for murder charges in 2000, also appeared to allude that Kaepernick’s activism is an error of judgment.
“Let me tell you something my man: I’ve made mistakes in my life, but I promise you if you look at my track record the mistakes I’ve made I’ve never repeated twice.”
Based on the apparent viewpoint of Bisciotti and Lewis, it looks as if the rest of the NFL views silent protest as a “mistake.”
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