NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 17: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers talks after the game to Dree Brews #9 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 17, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Hue Jackson admitted he wanted the Cleveland Browns to sign Colin Kaepernick in 2017
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played in a game since 2016, with fans still scratching their heads at the thought that no team has made a serious push at giving him another shot.
Well, according to former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, he was set on getting Kaepernick into town to compete to be his starting signal caller back in 2017. So, what happened?
Former Browns coach Hue Jackson says he wanted to sign @Kaepernick7 in 2017; the Browns instead drafted DeShone Kizer, started the rookie in 15 games, and went 0-16 https://t.co/0sm91j1PTi
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 6, 2020
The Browns ended up drafting DeShone Kizer and became the second team in NFL history to go winless in a season. They joined the 2008 Detroit Lions for that embarrassing club.
Hue Jackson tried to get Cleveland Browns to sign Colin Kaepernick in 2017
“I wanted him,” Jackson said of Kaepernick during a radio appearance on ESPN Radio in Cleveland. “It just didn’t work out. Obviously, those things do have to work from a finance, draft, whatever all that is. And that wasn’t my decision.”
What’s important to remember here is that back during free agency in 2017, Jackson said numerous times the Browns hadn’t discussed bringing in Kaepernick. Now, more than three years later, Jackson is saying he wanted the Nevada product to be his starter, but wasn’t backed up by the front office?
You can make the argument all you want that Kaepernick didn’t deserve to be a starter in the league anymore, especially after throwing a lowly 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the 2015 and 2016 campaigns combined. However, to think he hasn’t even been worthy of competing for a backup job is simply nonsensical.
Shorter version: I’m sorry Colin Kaepernick. https://t.co/nMMICYiiO3
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 5, 2020
There’s wide belief the NFL and its owner blackballed Kaepernick over his National Anthem protests.
Jackson’s latest comments during his ESPN interview only add fuel to that fire.