By Perry Green, AFRO Sports Editor
The Baltimore Ravens announced April 4 the signing of former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, sending social media into an instant frenzy. But the buzz behind Griffin’s signing wasn’t about him landing in Baltimore. Instead, just about everyone who caught wind of the signing wanted to know why the Ravens picked up Griffin when Colin Kaepernick is still available, calling the maneuver a flat-out “slap in the face” to Kaepernick.
A former No. 2 overall pick, Griffin set the NFL on fire during his rookie season in 2012. The 28-year-old dual threat quarterback earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. But, he injured his knee towards the end of 2012, and his career has been on the decline ever since.
The Baltimore Ravens reached a one-year agreement with free agent Robert Griffin III, late Tuesday, April 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl that same year and his edge in career statistics support the argument that Kaepernick, though similar in playing style to Griffin, was the more productive quarterback of the two.
So, again, why would the Ravens choose to sign less productive Griffin over Kaepernick?
“With RG3 back in the NFL, I’m glad we can all finally agree that PC culture is the reason Colin Kaepernick isn’t,” ESPN reporter Pablo Torre tweeted, echoing the sentiments of everyone who believes Kaepernick is being blackballed from the NFL for kneeling during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality.
According to NBC Sports, Kaepernick’s lawyers summoned Ravens General Manger Ozzie Newsome along with head coach John Harbaugh to be deposed April 5 as a part of Kaepernick’s lawsuit against the NFL for alleged collusion. Newsome and Harbaugh are expected to be grilled with several questions about their reasoning behind signing Griffin over Kaepernick.
Fox Sports 1 commentator Shannon Sharpe said on his TV show “Undisputed” on April 5 that the reasoning behind the Ravens’ decision to go with Griffin over Kaepernick is obvious.
“I’m really at a loss (for words) guys. I don’t begrudge RGIII; I’m happy he got an opportunity,” Sharpe said. “But we know Colin Kaepernick did not sign with the Ravens last year for non-football reasons and for anyone in that organization to tell you otherwise would be disingenuous. They would be misspeaking the truth.”
Even Sharpe’s White co-host, Skip Bayless, agreed.
“To me this feels like a rather pathetic response to the criticism this organization took for not signing Colin Kaepernick ,” Bayless said. “To sign Robert Griffin, III, shell of himself, it’s just a transparent, pathetic attempt to say, ‘Look, we just signed a Black quarterback with Kaepernick’s same skillset.’ C’mon, stop it!”
