Colin Kaerpernick took another staꦿnd on Saturday — t𝓰his time against the NFL.
Just 15 minutes before the lightning-rod quarterback was scheduled to work out for 25 NFL teams at the Falcons’ training complex in Flowery Branch, Ga., as part of a league-arranged event, Kaepernick’s rep📖resentatives announced the session had been moved 60 miles away t꧋o a high school in Riverdale — south of the city, near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Kaepernick’s rꦛepresentatives said they h𓃲ijacked the workout so the media could watch and videotape Kaepernick on the field.
The NFL had previously declined to allow any media or 𓆉cameras at the workout, as Kaepernick had requested. The 32-year-old’s representatives also said the NFL “demanded” as a precondition for this workout and that he sign an “unusual liability waiver.”
“From the outset, Mr. Kaepernick requested a legitimate process and f💜rom the outset the NFL league office has not provided one,” his representatives said in a statement.
The stunning move, which left the NFL “disappointed” and seemed to catch everyone off-guard, came about an hour before the sc🐭heduled workout was set to begin, puttingܫ many in scramble mode.
Only eight teams showed up for the workout, Kaepernick’s camp said, and an NFL executive that the former Pro Bowler’s arm talent was “elite” and he threw the ball well.
The Giants and Jets were slated to attend the original workout, and a ꦡGetty Images photo from Saturday showed one man at the workout wearing Jets apparel, however, it’s ☂unclear if he was there representing the team.
Meanwhile, several NFL fans showed up to the Falcons🥃’ facility early Saturday with signs for and against Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback who hasn’t played in the league since 2016 after kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality.
Once the workout finally took place, Kaepernick thanked the media and team representatives for attending and said, “our biggest thing with everything today was making sure we had transparency with what went on.
“We weren’t getting that elsewhere… I’ve been ready for three years, I’ve been denied for three years… We’re waiting for the 32 owners of the 32 teams, (commissioner) Roger Goodell, all of them to stop running. Running from the truth. Stop running from the people,” said Kaepernick, who settled a collusion grievance with the league for an undisclosed amount last winter.
Kaepernick wore a “Kunta Kinte”ꦑ T-shirt, based on the fictional African slave in the 1976 novel, “Roots: The Saga of an American Family.”
In a staꦅtement, the NFL said it was “disappointed that Colin did not app🌟ear for his workout.”
The league referenced recent negotiations with Kaepernick’s representatives over the workout and citing, among others, media availability and a liability🦩 waiver.
“Colin’s decision has no effect on his status in the league. He remains an unrest⛄ricted free agent eligible to sign with any club,” the NFL statement said.
Kaepernick said he was alerted of the initial workout only last week. The NFL in February settled a collusion grievance Kaepernick and former team🔥mate Eric Reid filed against the league. Reid now plays for the Panthers, and was at the newly scheduled work♏out.
Free agents Bruce Ellington (Ka🌸epernick’s former teammate in San Francisco), Brice Butler and Jordan Veasy were also at the workout, according to multiple reports.
— With AP