Sportsbooks Suspect Kaepernick Heading to Baltimore
It was what USA sportsbooks like to a call ‘a lock.’ Joe Flacco’s back injury, which will have him sidelined for three to six weeks of training camp, seemed like the perfect opening for the Baltimore Ravens to sign rogue quarterback Colin Kaepernick – last seen trying to collect on El Jefe’s $1 million dollar contract on Alfredo Garcia. Head coach John Harbaugh even told reporters he "wouldn't rule out" signing the former San Francisco 49ers signal-caller, but the Ravens ultimately decided to go with illustriously unknown former Kansas City Phantoms of Champions Indoor Football QB Davild Olson – who just so happens to have played for John's brother, Jim, at Stanford. Isn’t that convenient?
According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, though, the Baltimore window has not fully closed yet on Kapernicus. The Ravens signed Olson “to help with reps in the short term, a move Harbaugh said doesn't preclude the team from bringing in Kaepernick,” Hensley wrote. Flacco himself has been optimistic if noncommittal about when he might return, saying “we’re being conservative and cautious” and calling the situation one in which “you have to be patient.” But even that may be a moot point seeing as how Ryan Mallet is for all intents and purposes Flacco’s backup. “He fits the offense,” Harbaugh said of Mallet. Kaepernick has more experience than Mallet, though; in fact, Kap has kneeled at more games than Mallet has started.
Speaking of which, the betting websites’ jury is still out on whether the afro-headed QB’s unemployment is due to how he chose to make use of his freedom of expression, or it’s simply because he’s stinks. “I really think the stand that he took has nothing to do with him not having a job of playing in the National Football League right now,” retired QB Michael Vick told The Herd. Then again he also implied – and later retracted – that Kap might find a job were he to cut his hair. And he is Michael Vick, so we shouldn’t expect him to be cracking eggs of wisdom here. On the other hand, and speaking from an entirely football-istic perspective, Kap has been long far from his mid-2010’s self.
Coincidentally, Colin’s descent into irrelevance started when the aforementioned Jim Harbaugh left the Niners for the Michigan Wolverines at the end of 2014. Could Kap enjoy a career renaissance under the guidance of Jim’s brother John? “He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times,” the Ravens head coach said of the unemployed QB. “His body of work speaks for itself. From what I understand, he tells me he's in first-rate shape and he's been throwing. He’s a really good football player and, like I said, I do believe he’ll be playing in the National Football League this year.” Is that just wishful thinking of the part of Harbaugh, or will it turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Kap returning to the NFL this is season is what online sportsbooks call an “upset,” but we hear the Kansas City Phantoms have an opening.
