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It seems like teams are just as confused everyone else as to why the NFL is scheduling an impromptu workout for Colin Kaepernick on Saturday.
On Tuesday ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the NFL had organized a workout with all 32 teams to showcase controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
NFL clubs were informed today that a private workout will be held for Colin Kaepernick on Saturday in Atlanta. Session will include on-field work and an interview. All clubs are invited to attend, and video of both the workout and interview will be made available to clubs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 12, 2019
The NFL arranged this workout opportunity for Colin Kaepernick, and teams will have the opportunity to evaluate his readiness and level of interest in resuming his NFL career. His agents have said he wants to return to the NFL, and the league hopes this provides that chance.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 12, 2019
Today, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson broke down the details of how the NFL informed Kaepernick about the workout and only gave him two hours to accept it.
Via Charles Robinson Yahoo Sports
Two years, eight months and eight days into one of the most uncomfortable free agency purgatories in the history of the NFL, this is how the league arranged a surprise “private workout” offer for Colin Kaepernick:
First, a representative from the league called a select group of reporters last week and suggested they should be available on the following Tuesday for a worthwhile news development. The NFL wouldn’t say what it would be. Just that the reporters should be ready to share some breaking news. When the day arrived, the NFL called Kaepernick’s representatives for the first time in more than a year, instructing them that the league was willing to hold a private pro-day style workout for Kaepernick in Atlanta in four days. If he accepted, a memo would be sent to every NFL team inviting them to attend.
The league wouldn’t answer why it was suddenly making the offer. It wouldn’t say who came up with the idea. It wouldn’t say who would attend. And it wouldn’t say why the workout was roughly 96 hours away and on a Saturday when most NFL teams were preparing for a game.
But the NFL would say this: After nearly three years of waiting for this offer, Kaepernick had two hours to accept it.
While several teams have already announced that they would be attending the showcase, several others have reached out to Kaepernick to tell him they would not be attending because they were confused by the purpose of the workout.
Several executives with teams have reached out as a courtesy to Colin Kaepernick’s representatives saying they couldn’t attend Saturday’s workout and were confused by the purpose of the NFL scheduling this workout.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2019
There has been skepticism by at least one team official who believes the entire workout is a sham constructed by the NFL for PR purposes.
NFC West team official on the Kaepernick workout this weekend: “This entire thing is a sham. The NFL is full of shit. It’s a show. But he should do it because some of us are sincere. Some of us see him for what he is: a good man.”
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) November 13, 2019
Update: The NFL has declined to provide Kaepernick with a list of teams/executives who are attended the workout.
After initially agreeing to provide the list of personnel executives and coaches that would attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout, the NFL has reversed course and said it will not, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2019
1/2 NFL source: League never promised to provide list of attendees to Colin Kaepernick workout and said multiple clubs are attending.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 14, 2019
2/2 So Kaepernick camp says it was promised list of attendees and can prove it, and an NFL source said league did not make that promise.
Another source in Kaepernick’s camp said he was on the phone call when the NFL said how it would provide the names of attendees. On it goes.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 14, 2019