Controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick is counting on disparaging tweets from President Donald Trump in his grievance that accuses the National Football League of colluding with the president to keep him unemployed, CBS Sports reported Tuesday.
Trump’s "influence and power" will be a "central element" in Kaepernick’s case against the NFL, CBS said, citing a "source with knowledge of the situation."
The president has denounced Kaepernick as unpatriotic since the former backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers refused to stand for the National Anthem in a protest against police shootings of black men that began last year. He started kneeling during the anthem and soon inspired players across the NFL to take up the protest.
However, football fans responded by refusing to watch televised games, driving down viewership and threatening lucrative advertising contracts.
Some attorneys who practice employment law doubt Kaepernick will win on a claim of collusion.
"Unless he comes up with some smoking-gun email or text message, which isn't going to exist because these owners are smart people, it's going to be very tough," attorney Michael Elkins told the New York Daily News on Monday.
Kaepernick must prove that at least two teams "got together and agreed not to sign him because of his political viewpoint. He's going to need some direct evidence of that," Elkins said.
Kaepernick also must also show the NFL owners refused to hire him because of his political views instead of what some say is a mediocre pro-football career.
“If Kaepernick deserves a spot in the league, it’s only as a backup quarterback,” sports writer Colin Fleming said.
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