Former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick recently shared his thoughts on whether he believes Colin Kaepernick can return as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Michael Vick via Outkick 360 YouTube
Kaepernick left the NFL following the 2016 season after the San Francisco 49ers hired Kyle Shanahan as their new coach in the offseason and he reportedly planned to cut Kaepernick if he did not opt of his contract and become a free agent.
Kaepernick would opt for free agency, but he would not be picked up in the offseason and subsequently sued the NFL claiming he was being purposely kept out of the league. He would eventually withdraw his suit after reaching a settlement with the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 9, 2012. Photo by Mike Morbeck. Photo Credit: Mike Morbeck, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Most recently, Kaepernick reportedly participated in a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders according to an ESPN source.
Kaepernick had previously told YouTube channel I AM ATHLETE his goal was to return to the NFL in an interview in April. He said, “Absolutely. That’s without question. To your point, that’s five years of training behind the scenes to make sure I’m ready, and stay ready at the highest level. You don’t do that if you don’t have a passion and you don’t believe you’re going to find your way on that field.”
Source: I AM ATHLETE YouTube
Vick, who was convicted on dog fighting charges in 2007 and served a 23-month prison sentence keeping him out of the NFL, joined Outkick 360 where he provided his opinion on Kaepernick trying to return to the league after five years.
Vick first provided his opinion about how he thought he would be able to jump back into the swing of things right away, but found out quickly that was not the case.
He explained, “I think the biggest thing for me was physically being able to perform, especially the first year I was back. I took it for granted. I really thought I would be able to come back into the game, I would be able to come back and play the game at a high level and not miss a beat, and that everything would flow smooth.”
Michael Vick via NFL Films YouTube
“But I found that, really quickly, that the game was way faster,” he elaborated. “Offenses were a little more complex and that I had to really take that year off in football to get my strength and conditioning back. So I needed some time off because it’s just different movement. It’s different than when you’re just working out — you just show up one day and you just work out, you throw the football around, and drop back. You got practicing with guys coming at you, you got to make moves, you got to think. It’s a little more rigorous.”
“Not to say that Kap can’t do it, it’s just gonna be a little tough,” Vick said. “But I think Kap is young enough where he can survive it. He’s only 34-years-old so he got some good years left in him. And I wish him all the best.”
When asked if he believes Kaepernick can be a starter, Vick answered, “I think it’ll happen in due time. Typically with a quarterback, you know in Kap, who knows his position — he’s been out of the league for a couple years and he hasn’t played in a long time. It probably would be smart to just come in in a backup role. And just play that backup role for another two or three years and when you get that opportunity to start you show that you can play.”
“You win a series of games. You win five or six games and then maybe the year prior somebody be looking at you in terms of bringing you in and giving you a chance to compete for the starting job.”
Michael Vick via NFL Films YouTube
“But everything in the NFL has to be earned,” he stated. “I think Kap understands that. It’s highly competitive and he knows that. I think in time he become a starter. Whether it’s through injury or just outplaying somebody ahead of you. It can be done.”
“So if I was him, I would just err on the side of just saying optimistic about my opportunities that could come and enjoy the game when he get back,” he concluded.
Michael Vick via NFL Films YouTube
What do you make of Vick’s thoughts on Colin Kaepernick? Do you think he should ride the bench for the first couple of years if he gets back in the league?