The bombshell announcement Friday that Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid have settled their collusion against the NFL came out of the blue.
So what does it mean?
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It's very early to try and divine the deepest answers to that question. But let's start with three quick takeaways from the news:
1. The timing was no accident.
First, it's not a surprise it happened on a Friday in mid-February and the same weekend as the NBA's All-Star Game (seems like there were some things going on in Washington, too, but we'll stick to sports … sort of.) Classic late-week news dump.
More to the point, though, the final hearing in Kaepernick and Reid's joint collusion case versus the league was set to take place this month before arbitrator Stephen Burbank.
The clock was ticking for the league not to be exposed to what appeared to have grown to overwhelming evidence that Kaepernick had been blackballed if not by the league at large then by owners who'd continually passed on signing him.
2. This had to be very expensive for the NFL.
Two things to consider: First, what would Kaepernick's earning capacity been in the seasons he hasn't played. He had quarterbacked a team to the Super Bowl and before his protests had proved to be a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, the kind the NFL has suddenly become enamored of again.
For context, in his six seasons with the 49ers, he made more than $43 million, according to Spotrac.
Second, Kaepernick previously had said he would consider withdrawing the case only if a lucrative settlement were secured, Yahoo Sports reported, citing unidentified sources.
Add those two things together — maybe toss in The Associated Press report that Kaepernick asked for $20 million to play in the nascent AAF — and you come up with a very big number, something social media quickly grasped.
How much do you think the @NFL paid @Kaepernick7? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/fdRCZUzM92
— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) February 15, 2019
Colin Kaepernick taking a shower pic.twitter.com/5xs3LHhXaw
— BUM CHILLUPS (@edsbs) February 15, 2019
3. The big question remains unresolved: Will Kaepernick get another shot?
As the NFLPA noted in its statement, following Friday's bombshell announcement, "We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well."
Reid has made a new way for himself with the Panthers, getting his foot in the door and proving his value. Thus far, Kaepernick hasn't gotten a shot (reports of offers were overblown at best, disingenuous at worst).
The quarterbacks who have gotten roster shots while Kaepernick, 31, hasn't have been well-chronicled.
So let's look at the numbers again: In six seasons, he completed 1,011 of 1,692 passes for 12,271 and 72 touchdowns with 30 interceptions. Pick most any backup quarterback in the league (at least ones not named Nick Foles), and you'll be hard pressed to find better.
The collusion case has been closed and much of the outrage has subsided (note the reaction to the Colorado store going out of business because of the Kaepernick-Nike decision it made), but it may be a stretch to think that some NFL team will see enough cover to at least take a chance.
Still, if there's a time over the past three-odd years, then this is it.
If the NFL truly is a meritocracy and Kaepernick and the league have settled their collusion case, then the time is right.
