Colin Kaepernick confirms desire to play in NFL, per CBS report

Michael McCarthy

Colin Kaepernick confirms desire to play in NFL, per CBS report image

UPDATE: CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora clarified that he did not speak to Colin Kaepernick about standing for the national anthem specifically.

Original story:

An interesting report about Colin Kaepernick from CBS NFL insider Jason La Canfora on Sunday's "The NFL Today": Kaepernick will stand for the national anthem if an NFL team signs him this season.

Kaepernick has stayed mostly silent during his free agency in 2017, only speaking indirectly through NFL insiders such as La Canfora, Cris Carter of FS1 and Adam Schefter of ESPN. La Canfora did not provide video or audio of his interview with Kaepernick, but the reporter shared his finding with CBS' James Brown on Sunday.

MORE: Colin Kaepernick timeline

Said La Canfora on Kaepernick: "He’s not planning on kneeling. He's going to donate all his jersey sales. He’s planning on standing for the anthem if given the opportunity."

Some other details shared by La Canfora:

— Kaepernick is working out religiously in the New York-area. He gets up at 4 a.m. ET to throw 100-plus passes a day at an undisclosed field in New Jersey, then returns to New York City to work out at the gym.

— Kaepernick doesn't want to go on camera because he thinks he would be labeled a "distraction" by NFL GMs looking for quarterbacks. His agent continues to talk with various clubs to try to get him back on an NFL field this season.

— Kaepernick pleased and proud that other NFL players and athletes have joined his protest against racial injustice. But Kaepernick has not been involved in the talks between players and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Michael McCarthy

Michael McCarthy Photo

Michael McCarthy is an award-winning journalist who covers Sports Meda, Business and Marketing for Sporting News. McCarthy’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC.com, Newsday, USA TODAY and Adweek.