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Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid has reportedly made it clear that if his team needs a new player he has one very specific free agent in mind who would be a good fit: his former San Francisco 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick.
On Saturday, Kaep orchestrated his own workout on the same day that the NFL invited him to an Atlanta workout to showcase the quarterback’s skills three years after he was left unsigned in the wake of his kneeling protests. Although representatives from 25 of the NFL’s 32 teams were scheduled to attend the workout that he did not participate in, seven teams did go to the one he held in Riverdale, Ga.
Today’s NFL wire listed seven teams as having attended Colin Kaepernick’s workout on Saturday, per source.
The seven: Detroit, Kansas City, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 18, 2019
Although the Panthers didn’t send a team rep to the showcase and Reid had already publicly voiced his skepticism, he was still in attendance as a show of support to his close friend.
“I think we could use Colin’s help, I think every team could use Colin’s help. I would definitely be excited if he were here,” Reid told reporters Sunday, according to the Charlotte Observer. “Wait and see. All 32 teams could benefit from having a quarterback like Colin on their team. So now we wait and see.”
He also clarified that he wasn’t throwing shade at Kyle Allen, who replaced starter Cam Newton when he suffered a foot injury in a Week 2 loss against Tampa Bay which eventually ended his season.
“You can’t blame Kyle for (the loss),” Reid said. “But again I stand by what I said. I think Colin could help our team.”
Over the weekend there appeared to be a clash of wills when Kaepernick’s reps and the NFL couldn’t agree on the terms of the arranged showcase. Reid completely stands behind his friend’s decision to instead perform his own workout at a local high school.
“The whole goal of this was to show everyone that Colin is ready to play this game,” Reid told reporters. “He took his workout to a different location, and he showed that. He proved that. It was reported that his arm was elite. It’s always been that way.
“So why is the NFL, why is Jay-Z, why are all these other pundits trying to slander Colin? For him protecting himself and wanting transparency. The goal is accomplished, Colin proved that he can play his game. He proved he can throw the ball. Elite, that’s what an NFL executive said.”
OPINION: Is this Colin Kaepernick ‘workout’ the real deal or just more NFL shenanigans?
Meanwhile Kaepernick, who has seen public support and criticism from sports journalists like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, sent the video of his workout to all 32 teams, TMZ Sports reports, although it is unclear what their receptions were.
Representatives from the Seattle Seahawks were among those who were not at the impromptu workout. But coach Pete Carroll said they had intended to be there, but couldn’t due to their schedules, according to USA Today. Carroll says he has watched some of the video, but did not say if Kaepernick could possibly be brought on as a backup for starter Russell Wilson.
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