Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › The Kaepernick wars go to Baltimore
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July 30, 2017 at 2:12 pm #71473
znModeratorReport: Fans rising up against possible Kaepernick signing in Baltimore
Mike Florio
Report: Fans rising up against possible Kaepernick signing in Baltimore
If recent comments by Ravens coach John Harbaugh regarding the potential signing of quarterback Colin Kaepernick were meant to be a trial balloon, it apparently is made of lead.
Mike Silver of NFL Media reports that the Ravens “have heard from numerous fans regarding Kaepernick in the last couple of days, many staunchly opposed to his signing.”
It’s hardly a surprise, given that Giants co-owner John Mara already has provided all anti-Kaepernick fans with the blueprint for shouting down a potential Kaepernick signing.
“All my years being in the league, I never received more emotional mail from people than I did about that issue,” Mara said in May. “If any of your players ever do that, we are never coming to another Giants game. It wasn’t one or two letters. It was a lot. It’s an emotional, emotional issue for a lot of people, moreso than any other issue I’ve run into.”
It’s impossible to know whether the fans from whom the Ravens have heard are only Ravens fans, or whether they are fans of other teams who simply want to see Kaepernick remain unemployed. Regardless, it’s no surprise that those who don’t want to see Kaepernick on an NFL team are trying to block it from happening at a time when it appears that it could.
Maybe those who support the employment of Kaepernick — you know, those who made his 49ers jersey the 17th highest-selling jersey in May — should start contacting the Ravens as well, regardless of whether they are Ravens fans.
Ultimately, the question becomes whether Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti will ignore the noise, positive and/or negative, and make a decision based solely on the objective of winning football games. After all, that’s what the Commissioner claims all teams do.
July 30, 2017 at 2:14 pm #71474znModeratorIs Ryan Mallett’s practice debacle enough reason for the Ravens to sign Colin Kaepernick?
Jeremy Gottlieb
First, Baltimore Ravens Coach John Harbaugh floated something of a trial balloon regarding the team signing Colin Kaepernick to backup injured starter Joe Flacco at quarterback. Then the Ravens signed another QB, one who last played in something called the Champions Indoor Football League.
But wait. There’s more
Next, NFL Media’s Michael Silver reported via Twitter that the Ravens have heard loud cries from their fan base regarding the possibility of Kaepernick joining the fray, and those cries are predominantly of the negative variety.
Michael Silver @MikeSilver
The Ravens have heard from numerous fans regarding Kaepernick in the last couple of days, many staunchly opposed to his signing…Which brings us to Friday’s Ravens practice, which reportedly saw second-stringer Ryan Mallett take the majority of the first-team snaps in place of Flacco, and basically toss them into a dumpster before lighting it on fire. Per ESPN’s Jamison Henley:
Keep an eye on: Ryan Mallett. The backup quarterback looked awful in filing in for Joe Flacco (back) with the first team on Friday. He was intercepted at least five times and was nearly picked off two more times. On his last interception, Mallett threw his white towel in the air. His struggles were noticed by linebacker Terrell Suggs. “Hey Marty [Mornhinweg, offensive coordinator], tell Mallett to throw to the guys wearing the purple jerseys [the offense],” Suggs said.
Read that again, carefully. Henley reports that Mallett tossed “at least” five picks. That means he may have thrown, say, eight or nine. Terrell Suggs was cracking on him. Mallett threw his towel in the air. Not great, Bob.
What does all of this mean? Well, for starters, it means that the Ravens had better hope Flacco’s cranky back settles down soon. Mallett, who was once cut by the Houston Texans while in possession of the starting job for oversleeping and subsequently missing practice, is probably not the answer, even as a backup. And one could safely assume that Harbaugh would rather take the snaps himself than send the Champions Indoor guy out onto the field.
Which brings us back to Kaepernick, a quarterback who once started a Super Bowl (against the Ravens, no less) and who, if you haven’t heard, is on the open market. Maybe he won’t be able to improve on Mallett’s meltdown, but that seems difficult to believe.
Again, if the Ravens are right about Flacco’s back issues and he’s back on the practice field next week, this story decreases in relevance. Flacco himself said that Baltimore “would be a good spot for [Kaepernick]” and “he can come here and have some fun.” That’s a fairly strong endorsement. But is it enough to sway owner Steve Bisciotti and General Manager Ozzie Newsome?
This story isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Stay tuned.
July 30, 2017 at 2:15 pm #71475znModeratorEven after adding camp arm, Ravens could still sign Kaepernick
Mike Florio
Even after adding camp arm, Ravens could still sign Kaepernick
On Thursday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh suggested that the team could sign quarterback Colin Kaepernick. And then the Ravens signed a player no one has heard from a team no one has heard of in a league no one has heard of.
On Friday, the brother of Kaepernick’s former coach in San Francisco confirmed that the door remains open for the free agent.
“It has to do with our need,” Harbaugh said Friday, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “Joe [Flacco] is day-to-day. Do we really need to make that move or not? That’s the decision that really has to be made. I think there are a lot of layers to it, just from a football stndpoint.”
Although many would say Kaepernick would be an instant upgrade over backup Ryan Mallett, Harbaugh seems to be committed to the one-time (for not a very long time) Texans starter.
“We like Ryan Mallett as the backup quarterback and he fits the offense,” Harbaugh said. “You just got to figure all that stuff out and see what’s best for your team. . . . [Kaepernick’s] body of work speaks for itself. From what I understand, he tells me he’s in first-rate shape and he’s been throwing. We’ll see how it plays out.”
It’s safe to assume that Kaepernick wasn’t offered the “camp arm” gig because he wouldn’t have accepted a minimum-salary deal and bottom-of-roster status. But it’s unclear whether the offer was made, and whether it would have been accepted.
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