Michael Irvin has shut down talk of the Dallas Cowboys bringing in Colin Kaepernick after Stephen A. Smith proposed the former quarterback as a solution to the franchise’s injury woes.
As Dak Prescott looks set to miss six to eight weeks with a fractured right thumb, ESPN’s Smith suggested the Cowboys look left of left-field in one of the more improbable takes he has had for some time.
On Monday’s edition of First Take, Smith floated the possibility of rolling the dice on the polarizing faded football-star-turned-activist.
Cowboys backup Cooper Rush will start at quarterback on Sunday as the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals travel to Jerry World.
Smith though, has other ideas for what the ‘Boys should do moving forward.
‘You know what, this is a different subject for another day maybe. It will never happen, in my opinion, might want to make that call to Colin Kaepernick,’ he said.
‘Might want to find out. He ain’t been around but he’s a playmaker with his legs who’s available, you gotta take that into consideration.’
Smith did explain that he felt Kaepernick’s arrival in Arlington would be fanciful, and yet not on the basis that he has not played in the NFL for 2,080 days.
Stephen A. Smith proposed Colin Kaepernick s a solution to the Dallas Cowboys’ injury woes
Colin Kaepernick has not played an NFL game since New Year’s Day of 2017 vs. the Seahawks
Cowboys’ QB Dak Prescott looks set to miss six to eight weeks with a fractured right thumb
Rather, the obstacle he says, is the people who reside in Texas — the home of the Cowboys.
‘Now I don’t think it will ever happen, because it’s in Texas,’ Smith said, ‘In the state of Texas, patriotic individuals that they pride themselves on being.
‘The whole Kaepernick situation was hijacked. that narrative was hijacked…and Jerry Jones ain’t going to let that get in the way of business.
Kaepernick’s controversial act of protesting saw some San Francisco fans set fire to his jersey
‘But I would think about it, I would say that. But getting back to reality, because I don’t think that’s reality.’
Irvin, who played for Dallas between 1988-1999, seemed utterly exasperated at the mere announcement of Kaepernick’s name in relation to his beloved Cowboys.
‘Before everybody grabs this and tries to run with it, let’s stop with this Colin Kaepernick stuff,’ Irvin retorted.
Michael Irvin swiftly shut down the discussion of ‘resurrecting Kaepernick’ to the NFL
Kaepernick became a global icon for kneeling during the national anthem for racial injustice
Kaepernick played in 69 games during his NFL career and led San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance where the 49ers fell to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31 in the championship match
‘Let’s just stop. Colin Kaepernick’s been out of football for five years.
‘Come on, let’s stop trying to resurrect Colin Kaepernick, and thinking he’s gonna come and resurrect a football team.
‘I’ll take my chances with Cooper Rush. I saw Cooper Rush win a football game last year. That’s all I’m saying.’
Rush will indeed get his opportunity this Sunday as Kaepernick continues to remain silent despite numerous personalities still clamoring for his return to the spotlight.
Kaepernick, who led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013, was the first athlete to take a knee to protest racially inequality and police brutality.
His controversial act of protest inspired many athletes to kneel during the national anthem and was an icon for the Black Lives Matter movement. However, his activism wasn’t well received by all and sparked a heated nationwide debate, which included some of his own fans setting fire to his jersey.
In wake of the controversy, the NFL in 2018 issued a ruling prohibiting players from sitting or taking a knee during the singing or playing of The Star-Spangled Banner before games. Although the ruling has not ever been formally rescinded, no player has been disciplined for taking a knee and, in 2020, league commissioner Roger Goodell promised to support players who peacefully protest.
His protests gained the attention of then-President Donald Trump who even called on NFL owners to fire any player who would kneel during the national anthem.
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