Photo credit: Football Schedule via flickr
The CFL season is still a few months away, but there’s a golden opportunity for Canada’s league to bring in a famous and talented player.
In the middle of February, Colin Kaepernick reached a settlement with the NFL with regards to their collusion grievances against the league. With the NFL free agency in full swing, it seems very unlikely that an NFL team would sign Kaepernick despite his battle against the league seemingly coming to an end.
CFL teams announce their oft-speculative negotiation lists each year, and it just so happens that Colin Kaepernick currently features on the list of the Montreal Alouettes.
Colin Kaepernick's NFL settlement was reportedly worth $60 to $80 million:https://t.co/HBi7d1OE29 pic.twitter.com/KfRlmLwX8R
— Highsnobiety (@highsnobiety) February 18, 2019
Colin Kaepernick has regularly stated his intent to play professionally again, and Canada could give him the perfect opportunity to do so. The quarterback led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII and then to the NFC Championship the following year, in 2013. Through the team’s ensuing rebuilding seasons and the undeserved scrutiny brought down on him due to his protests against racial injustice, Kaepernick still managed to put in strong performances up to his final game on New Year’s Day 2017.
During the season in which Kaepernick commenced his protests, the team went 2-14, but have only improved to 6-10 in 2017 and then 4-12 in 2018, with the rebuild still underway. So it’s clear that it wasn’t Kaepernick who ushered in the sub-par seasons in San Francisco. In fact, even with new QB Jimmy Garoppolo and running back Jerick McKinnon expected to return, the 49ers are joint-ninth to win the NFC Championship in the NFL betting at +1600 next season, trailing the +350 leaders, the Los Angeles Rams, by a large margin.
It may take a while for Kaepernick to get back into the rhythm of competitive play, so if he is overlooked during the NFL free agency – which seems very likely – but does want to play again, he could set his sights on playing further north
If Colin Kaepernick returns to the NFL, why aren't the Raiders a possible landing spot?https://t.co/kZb7sPSfro pic.twitter.com/3umZSpSQS9
— Raiders on NBCS (@NBCSRaiders) February 17, 2019
While exact values haven’t been released, per the stipulations of the settlement, it’s believed that Kaepernick received between $60 million and $80 million from the NFL. He’s flushed with cash, so money shouldn’t be a factor if he wants to play again.
There is a salary cap in place in the CFL, with its highest paid players earning C$700,000, but by signing with a CFL team, Kaepernick would most likely be given a starting role and plenty of game time to shed the rust. Now 31-years-old, he can’t afford to have another inactive season if he wants to make his way back into the NFL.
The Montreal Alouettes have shown a lot of interest in playing Kaepernick in the past, and as they recently booted former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel, the winners of the 98th Grey Cup certainly have a space open. If Kaepernick were to sign for the Alouettes, he’d be following former Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Brown who signed for the team in February.
The CFL is offering Kaepernick the perfect opportunity to get sharp again and potentially become an NFL player once again. If he could sign a one-year deal, get accustomed to the different form of football, and then impress, NFL teams could come knocking next offseason.
