Kaepernick remains unsigned after opting out of the final year of his contract with the 49ers and becoming a free agent. Many within the media believe that Kaepernick's protest of the national anthem in 2016 has a lot to do with the lack of interest on display. Meanwhile, other quarterbacks with less experience have been signed by NFL teams. Smith expressed disbelief that Kaepernick remains unsigned while quarterbacks with less on their resumes are being snatched up.
Of course, other than guys like Brian Hoyer of the 49ers, most of the quarterbacks being signed are doing so for far less money than Kaepernick is likely looking for. The former 49ers quarterback believes that he can still compete for a starting job. Plus, you have the 2017 NFL Draft kicking off in just over a month so it is likely that a number of teams are waiting to see what unfolds during the three-day event.
Smith is well aware that his two seasons in San Francisco were among his worst and feels that the lack of big numbers shows that he is unbiased in his opinion.
Smith doesn't believe that Kaepernick's protest was a distraction for the team and the only ones distracted by it were the media. He feels that the reason for the team's 2-14 record was a lack of consistency.
Academy Award-nominated director Spike Lee has come out and said that the league's refusal to sign Kaepernick "stinks to the high heaven."
The 49ers appear to have moved on from Kaepernick. Since he opted out of his contract, the team has signed two former Chicago Bears quarterbacks – Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. 49ers general manager John Lynch doesn't believe the chances of Kaepernick returning to the 49ers are very high.
"Here we are with two quarterbacks, but like we said, we're gonna look at every option," Lynch said on KNBR last week. "The likelihood of [Kaepernick returning] has probably gone down significantly, but we're not going to close our mind or our options on anyone, including him."
In the meantime, Kaepernick has stated that he will end his protest and will now stand for the national anthem in 2017. He also continues his humanitarian work, donating $100,000 every month to organizations that support his views on racial discrimination and social injustice, securing a 60-ton cargo plane to help send food and water to the needy in Somalia, and donating $50,000 to Meals on Wheels.
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