Colin Kaepernick wears socks portraying police as pigs

Check out the socks Colin Kaepernick wore to the August 10th practice at Kezar Stadium.

Do these socks change Kaepernick’s message? Do they make you feel any differently about his stance? And do you think he will make the 49ers’ 53-man roster?

UPDATE: Kaepernick has issued a response via Instagram:

This article has 269 Comments

  1. Do these socks change Kaepernick’s message? Nope they’re just socks. They can’t change, or do anything for that matter except keep your feet warm and comfortable.

    Do they make you feel any differently about his stance? Nope, he still doesn’t set his feet right when he throws and probably never will. I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face, the boy was meant to be a pitcher and he simply picked the wrong sport.

    And do you think he will make the 49ers’ 53-man roster? He’s trying very, very hard right now to make him self undesirable to a team that fired it’s coach for not winning with pride. I think the fact that they are playing him in tonight’s game is a big indication that they aren’t planning on releasing or trading him. At least not yet.

    If a trade was imminent then you know for sure he wouldn’t be playing at all, Driskel and Ponder would play the entire game. If they’re planning on cutting him then I suspect he’ll play but very little. If you see Kaepernick play into the second quarter my guess would be they are planning on keeping him at least until they feel more comfortable with Driskel.

    1. So if he wore a T-shirt with a swastika on it, you’d say it’s just clothing to keep him warm. Who cares? GOH

        1. Next time a bad person breaks into YOUR house,, make sure to call your mommy to protect you !!

    2. Socks! Socks! I agree Coffee’s for Closers, and I agree with the rest of your post. What I want to know is what is Grant’s agenda beyond clicks. Is there a there there?

  2. Kaepernck is showing his immaturity and contradicting his message. He’s just trying to get kicked off the team. I think the team is waiting for him to slip up so they can hit him wth conduct detrimental to the team.

    1. From the NFL -Conduct Policy:

      -Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.

      Sitting for the flag was questionable; wearing socks with police portrayed as pigs is extremely inflammatory and it puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL.

    2. Let’s hope he doesn’t “slip” his way into a serious injury where he can’t pass a physical by April 1, 2017.

  3. Yes, it deteriorates his message. You can’t decry crimes against minority’s only to perpetrate a generalization/insult against another group.
    It only makes it seem that he is as biggoted as those he rails against.

  4. I guess someone needs to ask him about the socks before an opinion can be formed. If it’s an intended slam against police then of course it changes everything about his anthem protest. If it’s just stupid socks that he put no thought into then it changes nothing.

    Having said that, this guy has become a huge distraction to the team. I can’t imagine Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke being happy about it. I can’t imagine how a coach like Bill Belichick would deal with something like this. Or a guy like Nick Saban. I think Saban’s head would explode on the spot if he had to attend a press conference answering questions about Colin Kaepernick.

    1. He accidentally put on socks with pigs in police hats?

      “If it’s just stupid socks that he put no thought into then it changes nothing.”

      Wow. Smh.

    2. Houston9er,

      Do you really think he randomly put on “police-pig” socks? That he put no thought into it at all? And that he also bought them without really thinking about the message? And that he happens to keep wearing them over and over to practice?

      You really ought to be a defense attorney, because I can’t think of anyone else on the planet that would have the guts to try and blow something like this off as mere coincidence.

      Kaepernick has got a serious problem now. If he had any credibility at all with the anthem sitting antics, it’s all gone now with this childish behavior. I have the feeling he is a deeply disturbed person.

        1. So then you guys are saying CfC is totally wrong by writing that these socks mean nothing and it doesn’t change anything about CK’s anthem protest? Is that what your saying?

          If so, I agree with you. Of course I think Colin knew exactly what he was doing when he put on those socks. What I’m saying is let’s not jump to conclusions about the full meaning until Kaepernick explains. If he says he wore the socks because he doesn’t like some police officers then it fits in with his comments on his anthem protest. If his message is more like the BLM marchers in MN saying “Pigs in a blanket, fry em like bacon” which seems to advocate for violence against police, or if he wore the socks to show solidarity with Gavin Long and Micah Johnson, whose attacks occurred a few weeks prior to this practice then Kaepernick needs to be cut from the team. All I’m saying is get an explanation before forming an opinion. On the surface it looks despicable and totally changes the anthem protest. But someone should ask him about it.

          1. If you guys are taking this:

            “Do these socks change Kaepernick’s message? Nope they’re just socks. They can’t change, or do anything for that matter except keep your feet warm and comfortable.

            Do they make you feel any differently about his stance? Nope, he still doesn’t set his feet right when he throws and probably never will. I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face, the boy was meant to be a pitcher and he simply picked the wrong sport.”

            And turning it into this:

            “So then you guys are saying CfC is totally wrong by writing that these socks mean nothing and it doesn’t change anything about CK’s anthem protest? Is that what your saying?

            If so, I agree with you. Of course I think Colin knew exactly what he was doing when he put on those socks. What I’m saying is let’s not jump to conclusions about the full meaning until Kaepernick explains. If he says he wore the socks because he doesn’t like some police officers then it fits in with his comments on his anthem protest. If his message is more like the BLM marchers in MN saying “Pigs in a blanket, fry em like bacon” which seems to advocate for violence against police, or if he wore the socks to show solidarity with Gavin Long and Micah Johnson, whose attacks occurred a few weeks prior to this practice then Kaepernick needs to be cut from the team. All I’m saying is get an explanation before forming an opinion. On the surface it looks despicable and totally changes the anthem protest. But someone should ask him about it.”

            Then you need to take a serious dose of chill the F out pills because all I was doing was answering the questions literally for the sake of levity. You’re clearly on some rabid tear to express your opinion on the matter and bully for you but please try and at least direct it towards the ones that are actually speaking on the subject.

            1. “Martin Halloran you can take your letter and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. What f’n business is it of yours to worry about what NFL players are doing on the field? Just worry about doing your own job. I sure hope you didn’t write this letter while on the clock? You owe taxpayers a refund for taking the time to express what are nothing more then personal feelings and opinions on a subject that you have no business being involved in.

              Go F yourself.

              Love (CfC)”

              MMMYEAH, you’re the voice of reason and levity. Uh huh.

              My opinion matters just as much as yours – which is not at all at the end of the day so you can take the same advice you gave Mr. Halloran.

              1. Maybe you don’t read my posts often enough, I wouldn’t blame ya or maybe you’re just too worked up on the subject but that letter was right in line with the kind of humor I use on here. Now, you can say that I was taking issue with Hallorans need to get himself involved in the matter but that isn’t me weighing in on the bigger conversation, I’ve gone out of my way to avoid that for the most part in any serious way.

                I really thought the Love, the 49ers was the tip off that it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.

              2. hmmmmm, ok. I did not take anything you wrote as humor. In that context then I guess I misunderstood.

    3. Hey Mr. Houston 9er – get a brain scan – ask him about socks with pigs in police uniforms???? I’m so glad we don’t know each other – your IQ is about half my shoe size! I guess he just reached in the drawer on this day and pulled out this particular pair – just like I could reach in my drawer and select a pair that has Lee Harvey Oswald sitting in a 6th floor window! People like you never cease to amaze me!

      1. Back off. Houston is one of the more sane and reasonable posters on this site. He also sounds like a rocket scientist compared to you.

        Have a nice day.

  5. answer to questions: Nope, Nope and I sure hope not.

    “We’ve got to stop being African-Americans or Hispanic-Americans. We’ve got to just start seeing ourselves… as Americans.” Pastor Mark Burns (a black man). Another smart man and there are plenty of them.

    Shaylee Estes
    Grant Ronnebeck
    Jess Benavides
    Emily Cortez (7 weeks old)
    Brandon lee Thorne

    Is it safe to assume that Coffee won’t become pee pee pants?

      1. If you and generations of your family were born in America, are you African American or an American who happens to be black? Morgan Freeman has an interesting view on it.

        1. What is an American? We’re a nation of immigrants. We shouldn’t forget our heritage. I’m a Jew.

          1. Grant:

            Out of curiousity what’s your take on the term “melting pot”. Do you think it no longer applies or maybe you think it never applied.

            1. Cubus
              I’ve been thinking about that ‘melting pot’ theme lately, and in many ways it’s a fairytale. But there is a nebulous collective point of view we share. So many friends have gone back to their roots country, enjoyed and been enriched by the visit, but return feeling very American, without being able to define it. An Austrian friend, Puerto Rican friend, and dozens of Italian heritage friends. My friend Don didn’t know his roots but went to Nairobi years ago and said he felt very American there and when he got home. Fwiw

              1. Don’t get me wrong, BT. I’m very much in favor of people not forgetting their heritage. I’ve been thinking about it as well because since my Mom passed away the ties to the “old country” have weakened significantly. Neither I nor my siblings nor my relatives abroad have done much to maintain them now that she’s gone. With the passing of generations it just seems that these ties weaken. Still, I know I could do more.

                As far as melting pot goes, I asked the question because I’m wondering if it is a generational thing. When your and I were growing up you heard that term used quite a bit; doesn’t seem to be the case now. I was curious what a young person’s POV was and Grant seemed to open the door for asking that question with his posts.

              1. I’m older than you think, I guess, hahaha!
                “Duck & Cover” was this ridiculous 1950s charade in schools where when they said that we had to slip out of chairs and huddle under our desks….get this….as protection from an impending nuclear attack. We had Fire Drills sometimes and Duck & Cover Drills other times. I guess it worked, in the sense that no one at any of my schools died from a thermonuclear explosion.
                I am not making this up.

          2. Do you consider yourself an American? Nobody asked you to forget anything. I’m Irish. I consider myself an American. My wife is Iranian and became a citizen. She considers herself an American and is proud to talk about Persian culture and traditions with people who ask her about her accent or nationality. Deracinating and forgetting heritage have never gone hand in hand with being an American. It’s the exact opposite. You only have to go out to eat to see that.

            1. Yes, I consider myself to be an American. But I also consider myself Jewish, and I think a lot of Jewish people in this country who are my age have deracinated themselves completely just so they can be more “American,” whatever that means. That’s where I’m coming from on this topic. Been thinking about this since college.

              1. My father would not teach us his father’s native language because he wanted us to assimilate.

                Helped us get along, but we could have profited from some more cultural awareness.

              2. I’m confronted with this regularly and I find it fascinating. I’m in an interracial marriage. It’s evident at family gatherings that people on my wifes side struggle with maintaining their heritage over time. It’s very interesting to see the connection between generations. I really notice this when young people who may have become more immersed in US culture for millennials interact with older people who are more tied to the traditions, customs, and heritage of the past. The young people seem to thirst for that connection. It’s almost like they are discovering their geneaology in real time.

              3. Some of Michener’s novels dwelt on that subject.

                I some one wants to become more educated on Islam, Judaism and Christianity, I would recommend -The Source.

              4. I have Jewish friends that consider themselves American and celebrate their heritage.

                “Yes, I consider myself to be an American.”

                We went from deracinating and questioning being an American to providing examples of the American melting pot and embracement of heritage. In the process you said you considered yourself an American after initially questioning what it meant to be an American.

                You can be proud to an American while being aware of its faults and you can embrace your heritage while making your America a better place.

              5. I am proud to be an American. I don’t have to deracinate myself to be one. I thought undercenter’s comment suggested deracination was the proper way to be an American.

              6. I’m half Black and half Jewish. As American as you can get.

                When individuals embrace their own ethnic heritage, the cultural capital they inherit and maintain not only enriches their own identity, but the identity and culture of the entire nation.

              7. It doesn’t say anything about deracinating nor does it imply it. It’s about the need to unify as a nation. Nobody wants anybody to forget their culture or heritage. There are 47 different countries on the continent of Africa. There are 22 countries with Spanish as the primary language around the world. Can you give me a univeral example of African or Hispanic culture?

              8. So you’re argument is linguistic, that “African-American” is vague and incorrect. That’s fine. Not what I was talking about. I thought it implied the way to be a true American is to cut yourself off from your past.

              9. Grimey,
                I love to cook. The only time I’m at a loss for words is when somebody (usually an in law) asks me what type of American food I like to cook…..

              10. Food is a huge part of cultural capital. Many immigrants have been successful in this country because of the food they have brought with them.

                Even hotdogs and hamburgers have roots elsewhere.

                Anybody ever watch Viceland? They have some great culture and food programming.

              11. Grant,
                There is no way that my argument can be interpreted that way, at all. Here was my exact statement with regards to your misinterpretation of Undercenter’s post:

                It doesn’t say anything about deracinating nor does it imply it. It’s about the need to unify as a nation. Nobody wants anybody to forget their culture or heritage.

                You’re linguistics take is hilarious and your reluctance to answer questions is telling. I feel like Brian in Oakland is going to pop up in a few minutes to agree with you.

              12. I couldn’t agree more with your point of view Grant.

                I always thought America was a great country because we could proudly embrace our heritage while still considering ourselves to be proud Americans.

                Nowadays, embracing ones heritage is being presented as un-American by people like undercenter. And that’s unfortunate.

          3. I’m from poor white trash of English/Irish raped by Vikings (according to my DNA) stock, with a smidgen of “plains first arrival immigrant American” thrown in at the great or great great grandmother level. My heritage is the Okie migration to California during the dust bowl.

            1. My roots are Scottish, Jewish, German, and Cherokee. My grandfather fought for America in WWII. He died before I was born so I never got to have these kind of discussions with him. Back when I partied every night I became drinking buddies with an 76 year old black man. As we became closer friends we started to talk about race. One night he showed me his family photo album. When he got to a certain page, he started to tear up and said that racism is real. That conversation made racism personal to me. Racism hurt my friend and his family. This post is dedicated to my Grandfather and my old friend. R.I.P. guys.

          4. First off, being Jewish is a religion (not unlike Buddhism, Hinduism, etc etc), which has no connection to your families pre-immigration origin as there are people of Jewish faith from all over Europe as well as Isreal and other arab nations…

            Secondly, I suspect if you go to England or France and talk to a black man there, he will not call himself “African-English” or “African-French”…hes just English or French.

            There are black men and women in this country who have family ties dating back 200 years, should we still refer to them as “African-Americans”? Most of my family emigrated to America in the early 1900s or late 1800s…should I call myself a “Polish-American”, “German-American”, “English-American”, “Native-American…American” (as you can gather I’m a mutt). Or am I just a “European-American”?

            And isn’t that extremely disingenuous to the very different and unique people of Europe, a Pol is very different than a Spaniard who is equally different than a Brit, much like I’m sure an Egyptian is very different than a South African who is different than a Sierra Leone(ian?) who is equally different than someone who belongs to the Maasai people or who belongs to the Zulu peoples.

            We need to drop the hyphen, we are all Americans…hyphens just segregate us more.

              1. Its no more a religion and an ethnicity as is being Catholic, Hindu or Muslim. Speaking as one myself, thats a bit of a hubris mindset which I’ve seen first hand from family.

              2. Jews are an ancient tribe of people who were outcasts from society for thousands of years. People all over the world didn’t want them to assimilate.

              3. Oh so now its a “i’m older” argument, because if it is, then Hinduism is an ethnicity, as is Buddhism and Taoism. They date back to the same eras as the original 12 tribes of Israel, and even predate it.

                Just because Christianity came later, and is a spawn of Judaism, does not make one different than the other.

                I understand the hubris one gets about their religions and their selves, but as someone of split religion, who basically was a real life version of Brendan Fraser in School Ties, I know how this argument goes.

              4. Jews are a tribe of people who have been displaced for thousands of years. We are not the ethnicities of the various places we were forced to flee to.

              5. Grant,
                The point you are making is perfectly clear. You don’t need to clarify to someone who refuses to hear [and thats coming from an old irish\italian catholic alter boy]

              6. Old Coach,

                I know just as much about the faith as Grant…or must I provide my Ashkenazi family name plate?

                For what its worth, my last name is translated into brewer…so drinks on me (which mixes well with my Irish side).

            1. The point is to embrace our differences and accept them, not try to make everybody the same. We can gain a lot from understanding other cultures. Understanding and knowledge alleviates fear.

              1. “We can gain a lot from understanding other cultures.”

                Yes. And our own. One’s cultural identity should go beyond what presently is politically correct in America.

              2. Grant,
                You seem to be struggling with your own cultural identity. I don’t know anybody that feels it’s politically incorrect to identify with their culture. Some people are newer to the country and some have been here for generations. Some are very into their traditions and culture and some aren’t. I have Muslim, Jewish and Indian friends that eat pork. I make better Persian food than my wife. We celebrate the Persian New Year. My friends mom teaches me how to make Indian food, while he and his brother have no interest. I think it’s great to have knowledge about your history, but there isn’t anything stopping anybody from gaining or embracing it.

              3. You seem quick to judge people you don’t know. I’m not struggling with my cultural identity. You’d be surprised how many Jewish and half-Jewish people my age are embarrassed/ashamed of being Jewish and know nothing about their roots.

            2. eMjay, Grant can answer your post much better but being a Jew is much more than being a member of a religion it is a blood line and an ethnicity

              1. On the other hand, being Muslim or Christian is not an ethnicity but purely a religion. There are Muslims and Christians of every race and every ethnicity.

                BTW: The word “Asian” has a totally different meaning in England than in America. In England Indians and Pakistanis are referred to as Asians. The people we called Asians here in America (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans etc) are usually referred to by their individual country.

                I guess that is because Indians and Pakistanis are probably the largest non-white segment of the population of UK.

                None it matters of course. If you cut us we all bleed red.

              2. My girlfriend is an Indian from Fiji. She has to check the “Asian” box when asked about her ethnicity.

              3. So those who convert are less a Jew? Come on now. The only reason it isn’t as diverse is cause Jews don’t try to get people to join, its like “meh, if you want to join, you can join what do I care”.

                And Rick…there are Jews of every nationality/ethnicity as well.

              4. Well hate to shock you but a lot of people who claim to be Jewish will probably have a hard time tracing their lineage back to Jacob and his 12 sons.

            1. And how does silently wearing pig socks do that?

              Do not want to be impolite, just do not see the applicability.

              Or are you saying that OTHERS should not do that, and Kaep is just being Kaep, and is just being true to himself?

              1. Seb, Grant was not “trying” he was being perfectly clear. I had to look it up. Maybe that’s why it was clear to me.

    1. Grant – I don’t think he was trying destroy heritage I think it was more of a voice of assimilation. No one is going to forget their heritage nor should they.

      In your response to what is an American

      Regardless of race, sex, religious preferance an American is a person that agrees to live by a certain set of unique rules that is suppose to apply to each and everyone of us equally. We all know there are exceptions – and I will leave that to be that.

      1. So an American is someone who follows the law and the constitution. Those things can’t tell you how to be a good person.

        Is total assimilation a good thing? Should everyone strive to be the same?

        1. That’s my version of an American. I don’t think the constitution was set up to make good people only to supposedly to make us all equal.

          If total assimilation meant that one losses his heritage that would be wrong and would never happen. Striving to be the same would in essence be like thinking the same. If that’s the case then no one is outside the box and of course that would be wrong. Like Al Davis use to say if people are thinking the same then is anyone really thinking.

          1. Exactly. You need more than your American-ness to be a complete person. We get our values from our heritage, not our country.

            1. Correct just because your an American or any nationality does not at all make you complete human, far from it. That’s why we have a certain unique set of rules to try encompass a variety of completeness.

              1. Then what the heck did you mean with this post undercenter?

                undercenter: “We’ve got to stop being African-Americans or Hispanic-Americans. We’ve got to just start seeing ourselves… as Americans.” Pastor Mark Burns (a black man). Another smart man and there are plenty of them.

              2. His point seems pretty simple 49. Time to stop segregating or classifying people.

                America is a multi-cultural society. It celebrates all multi-cultural backgrounds and beliefs, and stands for all races. Or at least it is meant to. There is, therefore, just Americans. Not different types of Americans.

              3. 49 Its quite possible I am the most confused person on this planet earth and only my dog understands me. If you don’t like what I have to say don’t read it. I been here for a long time and your the first to have a problem with comprehension, so be it, first for everything I suppose. I could bring in a pre school kid and explain life for you if need be. I am not going back and forth with you that’s for Seb and Tom and others. This will be my last response to you and you can continue with the name calling or demeaning people its not what I do. Have a great day.

              4. Cubus, we have a similar issue in this particular regard using the term ‘Indigenous Australians’ to refer to those of Indigenous heritage. I understand why it is done, and technically it is simply meant to refer to an Australian that has an Indigenous heritage (i.e. just a fact about a person, not about classifying a group of Australians), but I don’t agree with how it is used. I just think it perpetuates the idea that people of Indigenous heritage are different somehow, which inherently leads to some forms of racism.

              5. Scooter, thee is a difference between embracing your heritage and segregating or classifying people. Under center seem to have a problem with an African American referring to himself as African American. He seems to think it means your not American first and foremost. Implying it’s anti American to refer to yourself as African American. At least that is how I interpreted his post.

                And I disagree. It doesn’t matter if you want to call yourself Irish-American, or Mexican American if that’s h is you want to present yourself.

                I’m saying it

              6. But there are actually Scooter. Like Grant said, there are cultural difference. Mexican Americans can proudly express their heritage. And most of the Mexican Americans I know are Catholic, spiritual, family orientated people. There heritage makes them unique, and they are proud to call themselves Mexican Americans, and that’s OK, becuase it makes them no less American than Irish Americans or African Americans, etc.

                We are a culturally diverse country and that’s something to celebrate.

  6. Ray Ratto’s latest on the issue (issues, media circus, national Rorschach test)

    http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/takeaway-kaepernick-situation-right-now-we-suck

    CK had no idea what he got himself into. His old foes (real, or imagined because of his thin skin) didn’t like his tats, or criticized his play.

    It drove him nuts. He responded by getting into twitter wars, jawing matches with 2nd string ILBs, and mute scowling during press conferences

    Colin now has a whole different class of people going after him. People that actually make a living, pay their bills and send their kids to school by distorting facts and wrecking reputations. They are professionals at getting the public to dislike someone. They invented the lizard brain focus group techniques on changing peoples minds. And they have big budgets.

    Colin’s old foe – 90lb weakling keyboard toughguys still living with mom.

    Colin’s new foe – History’s most efficient opinion influencing machinery.

      1. Was running out the door so I didn’t respond to “Huh?”

        I’m on my tablet now so I can’t give a detailed response. Many later.

        CK’s been criticized and comented on by national figures….. Trump, White House, Rush Limbaugh etc. Politicians will be in a bash CK race so they can accuse their opponents of being “soft” in CK, or not “supporting the troops.”. Even tepid criticism can be a campaign liability.

        It’s a certainty the CK ” issue” is being explored by political advisors, opposition researchers, focus groups, PR firms as a potential wedge issue.

        1. Sorry, I thought that was supposed to be part of Ratto’s column and I couldn’t find it in there. My fault.

          1. That’s what I get for doing a blog-n-run while late for an appointment.

            I have yet to state my opinion on the Anthem issue directly. Maybe when the dust settles. As far as remaining a 49er based on football+salary, I’d cut him tomorrow if there are no trade takers. He could develop a $14m owie that lasts past April 2017 any time.

        2. Meant “may later”, not ” many later”. (Much to the releif of our blog friends)

      1. Probably. I haven’t read Ray’s article yet. In any case, there are a lot of national Propaganda Machines out there.

    1. So with the evidence of Kap wearing money socks in Denver don’t tell me he’s unaware of his actions.

    2. TrollD, Kaep is wearing his heart on his sleeve, or ankles, as in this case.

      He is not happy about cops shooting unarmed blacks, and this is the way he shows his anger without being violent.

      Funny, nobody objected then, but now their panties are in a twist.

      1. The problem with the socks is that they refer to cops as being pigs, without differentiating the vast majority of cops that are good people, and the few rotten apples that aren’t good people.

        I’ll admit the subject is complicated by the “blue wall of silence” that makes it harder to separate the bad apples from the rest.

        But, IMO, it’s simply irresponsible to wear socks in front of children, that refer to cops as pigs, without making the distinction.

  7. I mean this in all seriousness…I’m starting to wonder if Colin may have Asperger’s Syndrome. It would explain a lot of his behavior.

  8. I am so SICK of talking CK and anything non football. This entire thing is blown up and isn’t even about BLM. I personally hope CK goes out tonight and plays great football and we can talk about that. Also if he plays horrible we can speculate more on him being on the final 53…..

    1. >>I personally hope CK goes out tonight and plays great football and we can talk about that.

      What we’ll end up talking about is questioning how the Niners can keep such a distraction on the team.

  9. Regardless of how anyone of you feel about any of the issues, I fail to see how all these people posting failed to read that he wore them on Aug 10th.

    1. Kaep sat during the National Anthem for 2 games, and no one said a word. It obviously was not a big deal then, so why is it a big deal now?

      Non violent silent protest is a cornerstone of American principles.

      1. I thinks it more passive/aggressive trolling than principled protest but then again, I’m cynical.

          1. It’s really not that different from when he wore the Dolphins cap. He’s seems to enjoy antagonizing certain groups of people.

              1. I don’t think it was silly. The anger was more to do with Kaepernick’s response to the criticism. He could have apologized but instead he chose to mock the long time fans who weren’t feeling the cap. He was very respectful. That’s who he is.

      2. Technically one could argue violent protest is a cornerstone of American Principles if you go back to the American Revolution :).

      3. Actually getting off his hind end and spending what amounts to a pittance of his multi-million$, not to mention mentoring young blacks to remain in school and actually take responsibility would have been a far more healthy approach. Parking his butt during the national, disrespecting this country and its flag, and summarily impugning cops were acts of extreme selfishness and publicity-whore behavior.

  10. There seems to be some question as to whether or not CK’s helmet will sport the American flag. It appears that the NFL has stated that the flag decal must remain on the helmet and cannot be removed.

    It’ll be interesting to see if this is an issue this evening.

  11. Kaepernick can’t do his job, which Quarterback a NFL football team.

    So he is trying to get himself cut from the team purposely.

    The is the problem with these type of contracts.

  12. I think pig socks has finally put me over the edge on this subject. I’m ready to move on.

    Who besides Kap, is everybody watching tonight with interest? I want to see a WR step up like White or Anderson, and also if Will Redmond plays well.

    1. I think it’s important for Mike Davis to have a good game. It’ll be a good test for his hands as the scrub defenders will be extra desperate to try and strip the ball and look good.

    2. I’ll be watching Marcus Rush, Jeff Driskell [especially if CK stinks up the place] Will Redmond and all the ilb’s.

        1. Mood,
          Maybe he will get a chance to play against 2’s, so far he has mostly played versus 3’s. If he can beat their 2’s like he was beating 3’s that will put him a step closer.

    3. I’m watching Driskell and Rush. If Driskell performs as well as Kaep there is no reason to keep a 12 million dollar backup who could divide the locker.

      1. Shoup,
        I believe that even if Driskell out plays CK tonight that the team will keep him for the first 2 or 3 games to give Driskell just a little more time to master the system. imho

    4. Seriously. I like to follow sports to escape the bad things, the drama, the politics. He has killed it for me. Cut him and let’s get back to football and building a team

  13. Each time Kaep is sacked or throws a pick, I hope to hear a raucous USA USA USA! I’m 39, and for the first time in my life will be rooting against a 49er.

    1. I’m 33 and right behind you. Not because I wish him as a person ill, but because I want him cut so both our team and him can move on. I hope he plays awful…which he will, because he’s not very good. #truth

  14. Can’t wait tell he needs the cops in his personal life. I’ll bet they take their own sweet time to help him. Can’t blame them. Or he needs the fire dept. I’ll bet there response time is a lot longer than normal. He sucked in college and he sucks now.

      1. There are certain areas of NO they just don’t go and I honestly don’t blame them.
        During the floods rescue helicopters that were trying to save people off there roof tops were being shot at… That tells you how bad some areas are.

        1. You know that first hand as more that a false report in an extreme emergence. Show us some rescue copters with bullet holes.

    1. No, Kaep was the first QB in college history to pass for 10,000 yards while also running for 4,000 yards. If that is sucking, he may suck even more by attaining more records like running for over 181 yards in a playoff game.

    1. Where did the “agree” come in? I missed the negotiation.

      Maybe announced would be a better choice.

  15. Grant, do you think the SF area and its fans are reacting a bit more liberally to Kaepernick’s behavior than the rest of the country would if this happened on their team? I do. I think just about every other team would get rid of him today, saying, we don’t tolerate players making inflammatory, divisive statements at the facilities, in uniform, etc. When you’re in a 49er uniform, you represent our full organization and all of our fans. Your job–in addition to being a football player–is to be someone that helps to sell tickets, jerseys, and the 49er product.

    If the 49ers keep Kaepernick, I think the police in your area may start to wonder if a 49er jersey is really just a thinly veiled “f the police” statement.

        1. And he couldn’t win a suit based on being cut. They are just dancing around bad civil rights publicity.

      1. I hope so, because if they don’t cut him, the 49er brand is going to become synonymous with controversy. I’d like the brand to be about winning football games, the way it was when I became a fan in 1983.

        1. Currently it’s a brand that’s about bad football. This too will pass but some of us may not be here to see it. I wish myself a Happy Seventieth Season.

  16. I’m thinking about becoming the Yakov Smirnoff of American racial humor.

    “When you’re Black in America, egg whites beat you!”

    Still a work in progress.

  17. Where was Kaepernick when blacks were flooded out of their homes a few weeks ago in Louisiana? Are we to believe his role as Blaine Gabbert’s backup required every nanosecond of his time on the practice field, especially when he was recuperating from a “dead arm?”

    Where are the Colin Kaepernick Community Youth Centers in the inner cities?

    When has Kaepernick mentored fatherless boys in the mean-streeted neighborhoods of Chicago’s south side, or in Oakland, closer to his home in San Jose?

    And, speaking of that palatial home of his in San Jose, how many young black people is Kaepernick hiring to maintain the lawns, trim the hedges, or do any other kind of upkeep there?

    How many football teams in struggling inner-city schools has he outfitted with uniforms and gear? How many times has he conducted football camps or other positive programs for at-risk youth? Say what we want about the likes of Snoop Dog, but he at least established a youth football league for such kids in South Central L.A.

    In how many homeless shelters has Kaepernick served meals or dipped into his massive salary to provide actual homes to those in need?

    Finally… what point is he making by wearing a Fidel Castro T-shirt (see pic) at press conferences in which he lamely attempts to defend his deplorable act?

    Where are the deeds? BESIDES dishonoring the flag, the nation and those who shed blood defending them?

    1. Kaep only helps unfortunate children with heart problems. Since he does not help others enough, he must be un American……

      1. All popular football players help others, its part of their image/marketing campaign… This doesn’t mean they dont want to do it, but its standard practice.

      2. Seb why have you turned on CK? Only a few months ago he was a QB like no other? He was gonna take the world by storm? Now because of one protest he is nothing to you?
        What a load of Benedict Arnold! I knew you were a clown the moment you crawled on here!

        1. Prime, I must admit that I was extremely upset, and thought Kaep should direct his activism towards venues that do not push buttons and is counter productive.

          However, since I have read other posts, I realize that Kaep is standing for his principles decrying injustices. Like JH said , the method may be flawed.

          Like Voltaire said, I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

          1. But he put his teammates in a bad spot. An unnecessary distraction. He’s never been a good teammate and this just solidifies that.
            A d bag, just like you!

  18. Guess who he calls first when his McMansion is robbed and/or has someone snooping around? He might attract the wrong people with these antics, then he’ll have more respect for the people that risk their lives every day, for him to feel safe.

    He is going to be an ever growing distraction to a young team that needs to stay focused on football. Cut the cancer before it spreads.

  19. Socks-gate just got a featured spot on ESPN. And they say Kap sez it is symbolic, but makes a statement (I think on Instagram) explaining his meaning.

  20. The player I will watch tonight is LT Colin Kelly who more then likely will start. He has some family members who are policemen. What if he unintentionally misses a block and Kaep gets nailed? I doubt Colin Kelly would lower himself to do it on purpose but I am sure some would say he did.

    You cant just call this guy Colin and you just can’t call him Kelly and you can’t refer to him as CK.

    1. When Pears was cut, Colin Kelly’s personal prospects improved dramaticly to make the 53. He could kill those chances with a whiff leading to a shot on the QB; intentional,or otherwise. That said, if he is that type of guy who would do that, I’d not want him on my team.

      1. “That said, if he is that type of guy who would do that, I’d not want him on my team.”- quite agree.

    1. “Pigs” that ran into the World Trade Centers on 9/11 while everyone else was running out.

        1. No. There are a lot of other derogatory terms towards a number of groups, ethnic or otherwise, that are ingrained in American culture that I find offensive. This is one of them.

          1. You finding the imagery offensive doesn’t change the fact that I expressed no opinion. You assigned one to me.

            1. I assigned nothing to you. I asked you a question. That’s why I used a question mark instead of a period.

              1. Well then in answer to your question, of course I’m not fine with labels and generalizations.

                But you should recognize that your question was phrased in a rhetorical fashion.

              2. I think you’d have to be able to read his mind to know if that was a rhetorical question. I took it as an honest inquiry seeking an actual answer.

          2. I do too. For what it’s worth, Colin has been quoted as saying that he wore them to protest rouge police.

            For me, I would take that to mean those police who take the law into their own hands.

    2. You are correct Grimey, I remember seeing it in Monty Pythons Flying Circus as well. Police abuse of power seems to be everywhere. In the 70s Phillip Zimbardo did an experiment with regular people acting as prisoners and prison guards. Zimbardo said, “In only a few days, our guards became sadistic and our prisoners became depressed and showed signs of extreme stress.

  21. This never was a first amendment issue. The first amendment is a straw man argument against the business case for firing an employee who alienates a good percentage of the fan base.

  22. Kaepernick is a counter puncher. Someone hits him from the SFPOA, and he hits back. Die With Your Socks On….

  23. Quick Poll, if you don’t mind Grant:

    How many people here think you would get fired if you wore a t-shirt with the pig in a cop hat, depicted on CK’s socks, to work? (I say a t-shirt and not socks because most of you wear long pants to work).

    If not fired, would you get reprimanded… warned, etc? Also, please say if you live in the SF area or somewhere else.

    Here, in Dallas, I’m sure I would get fired.

    1. Alan
      I’m retired in the Bay Area. At my last job, the answer would’ve been No. I wouldn’t have been fired and highly unlikely I would’ve been reprimanded or counseled, but in that office 98% of our customer and vendor contact was by phone or e-mail. We had no dress code. If anyone had said anything to me it would be: “What? Are all your Hawaiian shirts in the laundry?”
      I realize that my experience there was atypical.
      At the job before that as a Sales Manager they just would’ve sent me home to change; period.

    2. I would be fired. And if my grown sons 22 and 24 would behave like this, I as their mother would beat their ass right there on the field before the first verse was over. As their mother I taught them better and the Flag and Pledge are a sacred gift. SHAME on fools who choose to disrespect it. And bless our Officers who try to keep us safe..

      1. Hmm advocating domestic violence against some one silently and non violently protesting. Good parenting skills.

  24. “Do these socks change Kaepernick’s message?” Yes. They take away from his message by making him look like a jerk.

    “Do they make you feel any differently about his stance?”

    There are issues that need to be addressed, but I don’t find this acceptable at all. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who put their lives on the line every time they go to work and this crosses a line for me.

    “And do you think he will make the 49ers’ 53-man roster?”

    Last week and earlier this week I thought he should be kept as the backup. This kind of stuff has changed my mind.

  25. Well, every position group is suspect, but I’ll be looking at OLT, OC, and NG tonight in particular.

  26. Cut this immature, overpaid, and overrated fool already. Any hope that he was actually tackling a serious issue in a smart and mature fashion just went out the window.

  27. I am interested whether Garnett plays tonight and how he looks. He did not have a good game against the Packers. I am also keeping an eye on: Rush; Reaser; Ponder; White; and Smith.

    1. Presidential
      1935
      FDR signs Social Security Act.

      FDR commended Congress for what he considered to be a “patriotic” act.

      Roosevelt had taken the helm of the country in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression, the nation’s worst economic crisis.

      In his public statement that day, FDR expressed concern for “young people [who] have come to wonder what would be their lot when they came to old age” as well as those who had employment but no job security. Although he acknowledged that “we can never insure one hundred percent of the population against one hundred percent of the hazards and vicissitudes of life,” he hoped the act would prevent senior citizens from ending up impoverished.

      http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-signs-social-security-act

      1. FDR helped seniors because seniors could not defend themselves (too old to earn a wage so were helpless).

        Maybe, in a way, Kap’s protest helps us all should we ever be faced against a police officer little training, in a dark alley.

      1. That makes two of us. ; )

        Thanks for the discussion on heritage. I know I didn’t comment on it, but I found it very interesting.

        1. Thank you. It’s a theme Philip Roth writes about a lot. He’s one of my favorite authors.

          1. Grant, I want to thank you too.

            I can’t imagine anyone covering the fourth preseason game even with a civil right protest going on. The day before walk through would be more interesting.

            The hypocrite that I am will be watching tonight, but I’ll be complaining that TV is ignoring the game itself.

  28. Given Kaep’s current flavor- cause of the month, I say there is an undeniable symbolic message being transmitted via his pig socks much like the symbolism of his butt on bench. Too bad this broom stick calves make the leg wear look so cheap.

  29. ****. Just cut him and get it over with. He’s not interested in football. He’s a ****ing whiner. And he’s gullible and ignorant. Just not interested in him or his BS.

  30. In a belated response to Grant’s question about the value of assimilation, IMO assimilation is good and necessary, but homogenizing the society is bad. No need to abandon cultural or ethnic heritage.
    Assimilation is necessary in a democracy because participation is required for a democracy to be and remain relevant.

    1. I agree, assimilation is necessary. You shouldn’t move to America and pretend you’re living in the Old Country.

      1. You know better than I the derivation of the word ghetto. Hostility creates defensive tactics by ethnic groups. Their lack of assimilation serves the interests of the status quo in a democracy in keeping groups marginalized, and socially and economically immobile. There were reasons for Chinatowns and Little Italy sectors in big cities. Anybody remember “INNA”? In the help wanted ads in the 19th century New England papers, it stood for Irish Need Not Apply. (So they all became cops and firemen!)

    2. Agree assimilation is necessary. But here’s the tricky question – is it the individual that should assimilate to society, or society that should assimilate to the individual?

      1. Our two countries and Canada are guilty of attempts to forcibly assimilate the children of the groups that preceded us.

        The basic assimilation I want for my country could be covered by one word — compromise. In a Democracy that implies that those who lose an election are not the enemy, but the Loyal Opposition.

        Far too many citizens in our country are moving toward some other system based on “destroy the opposition because they are traitors out to destroy us.”

        1. I agree HT, and I blame that and much of our socio-political gridlock on partisan (both major parties) gerrymandering. Some “Bomb Proof” districts have been created. There’s no incentive to compromise within the district’s constituency, so primary candidates get into ideological purity pee-ing contests, and then have no intention of ever compromising once in Congress or a State legislature.
          This provides another form of ethno-racial repression of voters. The Rube Goldberg district boundaries ensure that minorities (pick your color or flavor) get one or two reps who can be overwhelmed by the other members of the legislature, thus cancelling their voice.

      2. I think it’s on the individual and the new immigrants, but there needs to be an environment where they are welcomed to do so.

        1. Like I said, its a tricky question. If it is entirely up to the individual to assimilate, then their culture would not be accepted. In reality it needs to go both ways to some degree, though I agree the greatest onus is on the individual to assimilate.

          The important thing, which you allude to, is the environment (i.e. society) needs to be open to new ideas, cultures and beliefs also. Basically, society will gradually adapt to new ideas and change. The individual needs to be more dynamic.

        1. From refreshing the page and reading the posts above, I can see I was a little late with my comment…

  31. Colin is a very confused young man. Wearing socks that portray cops as pigs is complete prejudice and contradicts his message. You essentially group all cops into one message, that they are all pigs? Wow. Let’s see, should someone wear socks that portrays all black people as criminals? Would that be okay Colin? To lump the upstanding black community with the criminals? Make no mistake Colin, right now you are creating division and are part of the problem. There is no way your “friends” who are cops support those socks. What happened to you? Seems convenient you are creating waves as your career falls apart. This is a publicity stunt. It’s working. But you are not fooling me Colin. You are not fooling me

  32. More off-topic jive:
    Way back when, there was this weird conspiracy theory floating through my military unit in Vietnam. It was ’68. We could take an R&R 5-day vacation once during our tour. Free transport to Bangkok, Manilla, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Honolulu for married folks only, or Sydney. Sydney was a prize destination and 1 in 5 got their request. I got lucky and had a terrific time in Sydney.
    The scuttlebutt was that the Aussie guvmint only allowed Sydney as an R&R destination on the condition that no black Americans came. The narrative was that in 68 they were worried about radicalized black GIs would stir up the Aborigines.
    I still don’t know if this was true, but there were no black guys on the plane to or from Sydney. I heard it applied to officers too, and that the ‘lottery’ for Sydney was the cover.
    I never heard of one black guy ever making the trip in the 18 months I was in Nam.
    Now here’s the real slime. I never knew any white guy ever broach the issue to our black squadron mates. It was so potentially volatile that I’m not sure if any of the black officers and enlisted men in my squadron had ever caught wind of it, and I’ve never seen a word in print about it since.
    Secrets always leak out. If this is a real thing, the fact that it never leaked, is really, really, really creepy. I’ve never posted this on line but have told the story repeatedly. I recently ran it by a retired US Senator who served as a Marine jet pilot in Nam. He just said,”Not our proudest moment.”
    When people asked me about the land of oz after that, I said it was great and that it reminded me of Texas. Big friendly, outdoor-loving, life-loving folks who told you exactly what they were thinking. That’s what I think of Texas today and then. And there’s a few ideas I don’t agree with.
    This is no indictment of Aussies, it’s rather a harsh look in the mirror. Even if the Aussies had that requirement, the Dept of Defense bought in. What?

    1. Yeah, there were some serious racial issues in Australia at the time. We still have a lot of problems, but a lot of good things have been done to try and address the racial prejudice from 50 years ago, thankfully!

    2. I saw some of the Sydney left overs in Bangkok in 68 and 69. I arrived before my wife and children, and the only way to call home was at the main telephone office. The waiting line was usually three or four hours due to the R&R guys calling home.

      The way it worked, you would sign up and come back about thirty minutes before your time slot. The phone booths were partly open so for thirty minutes you would be listening to guys talk to their mothers or girlfriends. I’ve never had a more painful thirty minutes in my life other than visiting the Nam memorial in Washington DC.

    3. By the way. I’m complicit in the silence, but I was too embarrassed to broach it to guys who I considered my friends.

      1. I opposed nuclear war during my service, but the best I could manage was to ask for a transfer to Air Defense Command. Of course it was denied.

  33. Maybe all of this Kaepernick nonsense will lead to Gabbert and Driskel playing out the year, the 49ers finishing with the worst record, and drafting #1 in 2017.

    Then we draft Deshaun Watson, go from worst to first next year with the second black QB to win a Superbowl in 5 years.

    How about that for racial progress Kaepernick? It’ll all be happening while you’re on the BLM tour with Jeremiah Wright and Al Sharpton. Your chickens will all come home to roost.

  34. I told a friend that I was much less interested in the PD 49er blog because they can’t find anything to talk about but politics and now the insults are all about everyone’s political views. He said I should wait a couple of days and check back in because it would blow over. Talked to my friend this morning and he asked how’s the blog doing now? I said, they changed the topic to religion…. I’ll check back in a week or so.

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