As you guys know, former #49ers quarterback #ColinKaepernick sparked the NFL protests last season when he decided to kneel during the national anthem. He received tons of backlash for the peaceful demonstration and now six weeks into the new football season Kaepernick still hasn’t been hired by a team!
According to NFL writer for USA Today Mike Jones, the football player has filed a grievance against owners of the NFL and is doing so independently of the NFL Players Association. He has reportedly accused owners of participating in collusion which means that he basically thinks that they are conspiring to keep him out of the NFL. The Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBA actually prohibits this from happening and if he can prove this it would be a huge deal.
“No Club, its employees or agents shall enter into any agreement, express or implied, with the NFL or any other Club, its employees or agents to restrict or limit individual Club decision-making,” the CBA states. This applies to “whether to negotiate or not to negotiate with any player” and “whether to offer or not to offer a Player Contract to any player,” among other things.
However, Kaepernick’s case may be difficult to prove since training unsigned doesn’t necessarily prove an occurrence of collusion.
“The failure by a Club or Clubs to negotiate, to submit Offer Sheets, or to sign contracts with Restricted Free Agents or Transition Players, or to negotiate, make offers, or sign contracts for the playing services of such players or Unrestricted Free Agents, shall not, by itself or in combination only with evidence about the playing skills of the player(s) not receiving any such offer or contract, satisfy the burden of proof set forth … above,” the CBA says.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and many team owners claim that they haven’t blackmailed him rather they are simply making individual decisions about signing Kaepernick based on what they think is best for them.
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on IG, @tallyohhh on Twitter!
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2738805-colin-kaepernick-reportedly-files-grievance-against-nfl-owners-for-collusion
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