Colin Kaepernick sitting and kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games has caused much condemnation as well as much praise. However, a recent poll states that his recent controversy has hurt his public image because he is currently the most disliked player in the NFL.
A recent poll conducted by E-Poll Marketing Research asked 1,100 Americans to name the player they dislike the most out of the more than 350 NFL players. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback was “disliked a lot” by 29 percent of the respondents, making him the most unlikable. Kaepernick is liked by 42% of African-Americans that were polled and only 2% dislike him “a lot.”
This hostility and adoration stems directly from his protest of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” to raise awareness to police brutality towards black citizens because the last time the poll was taken in August 2014, Kaepernick was only “disliked a lot” by 6% percent of those surveyed.
The hate for Kaepernick has grown so much that the mattress store Beds Beds Beds has Colin’s jersey as a doormat for people to wipe their feet on.
https://twitter.com/MentalityMag/status/778952621927301121
Despite the poll, people are supporting Kaepernick by buying his jersey. The 49ers QB did have the highest selling jersey in the NFL through the first week of September.
Other NFL players that people have the most disdain for are Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (22%), Miami Dolphins defensive end Ndamukong Suh (21%), New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (13%), and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (10%).
[ESPN]