Colin Kaepernick has reportedly been invited to the next meeting between NFL players and owners, a league spokesman said Wednesday. That meeting, according to ESPN, is scheduled to take place next Tuesday in New York.
NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said there is no confirmation whether Kaepernick will attend the meeting, but the invitation was extended by the players, not the league.
"We look forward to him joining the conversation," Lockhart said.
Last week, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said he invited Kaepernick to a special meeting between NFL owners and players in New York, but Kaepernick turned down the offer. According to ESPN, that meeting included 13 current or former players, plus 11 owners and representatives from the league and the NFL Players Association.
Colin Kaepernick recently filed a grievance against the NFL owners on October 15th, alleging they colluded to keep him out of the league. ESPN reports that he is not working through the NFLPA, but has hired high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos to represent him.
“We can confirm that this morning we filed a grievance under the CBA on behalf of Colin Kaepernick, said Geragos in a statement. “This was done only after pursuing every possible avenue with all NFL teams and their executives.
“If the NFL (as well as all professional sports leagues) is to remain a meritocracy, then principled and peaceful political protest—which the owners themselves made great theater imitating weeks ago—should not be punished and athletes should not be denied employment based on partisan political provocation by the Executive Branch of our government.”
Although a number of quarterback injuries this season (and general incompetence at the position), Kaepernick has not been able to find a job.
Kaepernick went 1-10 as a starter for the Niners last season, throwing for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. Despite his status as a free agent Kaepernick has continued his charitable work off the field as well as his pledge to donate a total of $1 million to select organizations.
