12th Man Rising
FanSided

Seahawks might want to contact a certain free agent QB after all. Spoiler alert: I mean Kaepernick

By Todd Vandenberg

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Seahawks backup quarterbacks have looked like they’re ready. Sadly, only ready for Division III football. Will Seattle give Kaepernick a second look?

I was going to be coy and just write “a certain free agent quarterback”. If you didn’t realize I was talking about Kaepernick, sorry for the spoiler, but welcome to 2017. Here’s another spoiler alert: the Butler did it. If you don’t get that on both levels, you just made me very sad.

I realize there are some who claim they will boycott their beloved Seahawks if Kaepernick plays for Seattle. Before you get your knickers in a twist, let’s look at some stats. No, not football statistics; crime statistics.

According to this USA Today database, there have been 27 NFL players arrested in 2017 so far. I’m not implying that’s a lot of arrests. It actually seems lower than a random group. And those are arrests, not convictions. Of course, our own Trevone Boykin managed to make the rap sheet twice this year. Hopefully he’ll be found to not have been guilty. And I mean more than simply found “not guilty”. I hope he truly is innocent of the charges. Just as he has been found innocent of playing like an NFL quarterback in camp so far.

That doesn’t even touch the big cases. Sebastian Janikowski was involved in bar fights and arrested for both reckless and drunken driving. Yes, two separate incidents. Adam PacMan Jones could have his own true crime series, he’s been in trouble so often. Former Dallas Cowboy star Lance Rentzel pled guilty to indecent exposure – to a ten year old. The NFL only suspended him when he violated his probation by – horror of horrors – getting busted for marijuana. Then you have the superstars like Ray Lewis. If you need a reminder, Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a double homicide. Personally, I find cheering for criminals odd. But that’s just me.

More from 12th Man Rising

Enough crime – back to football

Yeah, about the backup quarterback situation. So far is definitely not so good. At the Seahawks scrimmage on Monday, neither Trevone Boykin nor Austin Davis looked good. The backups each led three drives. Their results were three punts, two picks, and a partridge in a – sorry, a field goal. It’s true they were facing the first team defense, but neither has looked like they could step in and play in the NFL during the entire camp. So the Seahawks need a backup plan to the backups. Hmmm… I think I’ve seen that phrase before.

By the way, you may have forgotten how Colin Kaepernick has played against the first team Seahawks defense. I’m happy to say he’s certainly had his bad days. That would include the three pick/three sack demolition in Seattle in 2013. And he’s only beaten the Seahawks once in eight starts. But Kaepernick has played pretty well at times too against Seattle. Remember last year’s gem when Kap completed 17 of 22 against the Hawks and almost pulled off the huge upset? Remember this, too. He doesn’t have to beat the Seahawks defense if he’s our backup. He just has to beat the other guys.

Colin Kaepernick
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 18: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers scrambles on a pass play during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Kaepernick may not be the answer you like, but he’s the answer you need

A few quick reminders are in order here. Neither Boykin nor Davis has the tenth highest career passer rating among active quarterbacks. Nor do they have a career touchdown to interception ratio of 2.4 to 1. Neither of them have the second lowest career interception rate in NFL history. And I could be wrong, but I don’t think either has run for 2300 yards or taken a team to the Super Bowl.

Surely, you can think think of someone who has accomplished all of those tasty football feats. But if you’d rather trust the potential of your teams wins and losses to a pair who aren’t getting it done, and haven’t been setting records in the past…well, let’s hope someone gets better very fast.

By the way, John Schneider has no doubts Kaepernick is committed to playing football. Yes, the Seahawks passed on Kapernick once already. I hope the switch flips for either Boykin or Davis soon, and at least one of them gets into a rhythm. But if not – the Seahawks know what Kaepernick can do, and believe he’s committed to playing.

It is every fan’s right to choose the athletes they’ll cheer. It’s also every fan’s right to choose the athletes they’ll jeer. For myself, I’ll cheer those who give my team the best chance to win regardless of their politics. I don’t care if my backup quarterback supports Black Lives Matter or the Tea Party. Don’t break any laws, and go win games.

Home/Seattle Seahawks News