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A22 SPORTS
Thursday 8 June 2017
Column: Don’t expect to see Kaepernick on an NFL field soon

TIM DAHLBERG time.
AP Sports Columnist Take away the controver-
No less of a coach than sy, and Kaepernick would
Pete Carroll of the Seattle seem an attractive candi-
Seahawks believes that date for any team looking
Colin Kaepernick is “a start- for another quarterback.
er in this league,” whatever Though the 49ers went 1-10
that means. behind him last year, he
It certainly doesn’t mean threw for 16 touchdowns
Kaepernick will have a job against only four intercep-
in the NFL this coming sea- tions.
son. Not in Seattle, which He’s not dealing with any
declined to sign him, and injuries, is well-liked by fel-
probably not among the low players and donates
other 30 teams that — un- his time off the field to
der different circumstanc- several charities. He’s also
es — would be lining up to reportedly indicated he
outbid each other to sign a would stand for the an-
quarterback of his talent. them this coming season
A lot of NFL fans think that’s should a team give him a
a good thing. They hate chance to play.
the idea that Kaepernick In this Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) Still, there are no takers.
wouldn’t stand during the warms up before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif. Aside from Seattle, no
playing of his country’s na- Associated Press team has expressed any
tional anthem, and hate real interest.
any suggestion that the “He’s a starter in this league
team they love might sign ter bringing Kaepernick in welcomed anywhere else up for the national anthem and I can’t imagine that
a player so publicly out of a few weeks ago to sound in the NFL. There are no oth- may cost him his career. somebody won’t give him
touch with how they feel. him out about backing up er teams courting him — at He acknowledged as a chance to play,” Carroll
New York Giants co- Russell Wilson. The team least publicly — and time much at the time, knowing said last week.
owner John Mara said as isn’t explaining why, but is running out as teams get that what he did would not Actually, it’s pretty easy to
much when he told The their interest in Kaepernick their rosters ready for the be popular among the ma- imagine. You can kill dogs,
MMQB last month that Gi- suddenly waned to the opening of training camps jority of NFL fans. Indeed, be involved in sexual as-
ants fans made it clear to point that on Monday they next month. the backlash was so severe saults or do any number
him that Kaepernick — signed Austin Davis — who No, he’s not officially black- that some blamed Kaepe- of bad acts and still get
who the Giants were not didn’t even play last year balled from the league. rnick’s refusal to stand for a second chance in the
pursuing — would not be — instead of the former San But he might as well be the anthem for a decline in NFL, assuming you have
welcome at the Meadow- Francisco 49er. as teams in the last few the NFL’s television ratings. enough talent. Disrespect
lands. Not exactly the kind of months have signed lesser But Kaepernick said he the flag in a league that
“It wasn’t one or two let- move you’d expect a quarterbacks like Case could not show pride in a sells patriotism at every
ters,” Mara said. “It was team to make when it had Keenum and Mark San- flag of a country he be- turn, though, and good
a lot. It’s an emotional, a chance to pick up a chez without even picking lieves oppresses blacks and luck finding a job.
emotional issue for a lot of quarterback that just five up the phone to see if Kae- other minorities. Kaepernick is smart enough
people, more so than any years ago led his team to a pernick is interested. “If they take football away, to know that. Yet he felt his
other issue I’ve run into.” Super Bowl. Taking a stand often means my endorsements from me, cause was so just that he
Perhaps that’s what the If Kaepernick is too toxic for paying a price. In Kaepe- I know that I stood up for took a knee with the 49ers
Seahawks discovered af- Seattle, he’s not likely to be rnick’s case, not standing what is right,” he said at the anyway.q

APNewsBreak: Fox plans all-American World Cup broadcast crew

RONALD BLUM time that we embrace the is truly becoming a main-
AP Sports Writer American voices.” stream sport. I think it’s in
NEW YORK (AP) — Fox plans They will broadcast Thurs- the top four already. I think
to go all-American with day night’s World Cup it’s supplanted the NHL.”
its top broadcast crew for qualifier between the U.S. Fox announced its Con-
next year’s World Cup, pair- and Trinidad and Tobago federations Cup cover-
ing play-by-play man John in Colorado. Strong and age Wednesday, and Neal
Strong in the booth with Holden will call Sunday’s said the three-man booth
former U.S. national team qualifier at Mexico and will with Strong, Donovan and
players Landon Donovan be the primary announce Holden was likely to be the
and Stuart Holden. team for the Confedera- network’s top World Cup
“Soccer in our country is at tions Cup in Russia starting team.“At this moment,
a point now where I think June 17. Donovan will skip that’s where we’re look-
we’re ready to do that, the Confederations Cup ing. Obviously, we’ve got
and we have announcers while awaiting the birth of 13 months before have to
and talent that are capa- a child. lock it in,” he said. “Stu is
At left, in a Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Los Angeles Galaxy’s Land- ble of bringing educated “They’re American voices, effervescent, and Landon
on Donovan acknowledges fans after the team’s MLS soccer options,” Holden said in a diverse American voices,” is probably a little more la-
match against Orlando City, in Carson, Calif. At right, in an Oct. telephone interview with said David Neal, executive conic. It really is a perfect
4, 2010, file photo, U.S. men’s soccer player Stuart Holden runs The Associated Press. “I producer of Fox’s World pair of personalities that
drills in Bridgeview, Ill.
Associated Press think it’s time. I think it’s Cup coverage. “Soccer can help each other.”q