Source: Scott Cunningham / Getty
Since Colin Kaepernick can’t seem to get picked up by any NFL team during the offseason, Michael Vick decided to offer up a little advice.
The former NFL quarterback—whose involvement in a dog fighting ring led to a 21 month stint in federal prison—suggested that Kaepernick might get a job if he cut his now-famous Afro.
“First thing we’ve got to get Colin to do is cut his hair,” the retired Atlanta Falcon said. “Listen, I’m not up here to try to be politically correct. Even if he puts cornrows in there, I don’t think he should represent himself in that way in terms of just the hairstyle. Just go clean-cut. You know, why not? You’re already dealing with a lot of controversy surrounding this issue. The most important thing that he needs to do is just try to be presentable.”
Ironically enough, Vick made the comments on FS1’s Speak For Yourself.
Kaep is a free agent and spent his first six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he made it to the NFC Championship and even made a Super Bowl XLVII appearance. His fall from the good graces of the 49ers began the next year under new head coach Jim Tomsula and was soon fighting for his starting spot with second string quarterback Blaine Gilbert.
Then, in the 2016 preseason, we were introduced to a political-minded version of the Nevada graduate, when he first decided to sit down during the National Anthem.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” ” Kaepernick told NFL reporters at the time.
After an uproar, Vick decided to clarify his comments, explaining, “Colin Kaepernick’s hair has nothing to do with him not being on a NFL roster right now. Let’s be clear! I wish only the best for Colin. I stand by what I’ve said about him being signed at some point this season to help a NFL club. I think he is a great kid who has a bright future and I’m looking forward to seeing him on the field again. Trust and believe what I said was not in malice.”
Kneeling before games seems to have gotten Kaepernick unofficially banned from the league. While his arm and accuracy aren’t what they used to be, similar quarterbacks—who aren’t as politically vocal— like Josh McCown, Mike Glennon and Ryan Fitzpatrick had no problem landing gigs in their respective cities.
The free-agent appeared to respond to Vick on Twitter, by tweeting out the definition of Stockholm Syndrome.
