Written by John Morley
After the settling of his collusion case against the NFL, Colin Kaepernick is available to be drafted back into the league.
With much speculation surrounding who will sign Kaepernick, his agent has been touting the possibility of the former San Francisco 49er moving to the Carolina Panthers or the New England Patriots.
That Eric Reid, a former teammate of Kaepernick's and another notable figure involved in the protest that has hampered Kaepernick's career, signed with the Carolina Panthers two weeks ago has made the former suggestion all the more plausible.
However, Mike Carlson dismissed the notion that any such move is likely to materialise.
"It wouldn’t have happened under Jerry Richardson, the previous owner, I’m convinced of that," Carlson stated on Monday's OTB AM.
"The Panthers needed Reid when they signed him, they had had injuries and they needed to fill that spot."
Yet Carlson believes a cruel twist of fate for Cam Newton could benefit Colin Kaepernick.
"Cam Newton is coming off a shoulder injury in the off season," Carlson noted.
"Kaepernick is a relatively similar player to Cam Newton in terms of his skills set.
"It would make sense for the Panthers to sign him as at least a temporary replacement and possibly a long-term replacement if the surgery doesn’t work out."
Of a potential move to the Super Bowl winning Patriots, Carlson holds little hope.
"I can’t see the Patriots signing him," Carlson baldly stated.
"Although it makes a certain amount of sense, Brady is going to be forty two.
"The Patriots are an interesting case too, because [Robert] Kraft is a “liberal enough” owner in terms of causes that he has supported."
Kraft's close relationship with President Donald Trump should, however, stifle such liberal leanings.
"He’s a Democratic party voter but he’s also friends with Trump," Carlson said.
"He was a donor to Trump as well on a kind of personal basis, which was true of Tom Brady as well."
Patriots and Panthers aside, Colin Kaepernick’s unquestionable ability will make him a prime candidate for any club suitably brave enough to sign him.
