Seahawks’ Carroll and Schneider deposed in Kaepernick case

Colin Kaepernick’s attorneys continue to try to build a collusion case against the NFL. This week, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider were deposed to answer question about what role Seattle may play in the grievance.

The Seahawks clearly like Colin Kaepernick the football player. Of course, they haven’t signed him to backup Russell Wilson at quarterback yet. Again, yet being the key word. And because of that Kaepernick continues on in his search for what he believes is justice.

And this article is not about whether Kaepernick is right or wrong. Or if the NFL is wrong. Or right. You can choose that yourself.

But I am beginning to wonder if partly why the Seahawks haven’t signed Kaepernick is because it would be a bit of a headache. I am also not saying that Kaepernick would create the headache, but the national media might. Especially those with a political bent.

Seattle let go of Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman. These two players were outspoken in and out of the locker room. I don’t think that Carroll and Schneider agreed, disagreed or cared about Bennett’s or Sherman’s political views. What the issue became was that the players appeared to think they became greater than the team itself. And this is something Pete Carroll will never tolerate.

Kaepernick himself

Kaepernick may not feel he is more important than a team. Or he may. I don’t know him. His teammates in San Francisco liked him from what people close to the team say. But the Kaepernick political issue might cause a disturbance that becomes a detriment to the team in Seattle. Carroll nor Schneider would want this.

As Schneider said in April

"That’s what I can’t get into. That’s stuff that, not just Colin but anybody we are bringing in, whether it’s a free agent workout we are talking about so obviously it’s pretty controversial, I understand that. But anyone we would bring in there are a number of things we go through, tons of different categories in the background before we bring guys in."

But this week Schneider and Carroll were deposed to answer questions about possible collusion in the NFL surrounding Kaepernick. The former 49er was the first player to take a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, among other issues. He hasn’t been on a team since 2016. This does seem a bit odd since Kaepernick is clearly better than most backups in the league and also better than many starters.

But the NFL doesn’t like change or players who speak out about politics. There may be collusion going on. But it will be difficult to prove because Schneider or Carroll would not let someone dictate who they bring in or not.

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But the political issue surrounding Kaepernick might be bigger than the player himself.