Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, had some choice words for Colin Kaepernick. Vick said Kaepernick should cut his hair, and that would help him get a job in the National Football League (NFL). Vick’s comments are not only tone deaf, it also seems like Vick has forgotten, the impact he had on current NFL players. The player who made wearing braids and an afro cool in the NFL, was Vick. Based on these comments Vick seems like a big hypocrite.
Vick also said, “First thing we’ve got to get Colin to do is cut his hair. Listen, I’m not up here to try to be politically correct. Even if he puts cornrows in there. I don’t think he should represent himself in that way in terms of just the hairstyle” (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20090307/michael-vick-advises-colin-kaepernick-cut-hair-effort-rebuild-image, 7-17-17).
Vick was a talented player and a bonafide superstar in the NFL. However, Vick was sent to prison for 23 months because he was found guilty for running a dogfighting ring at his Virginia home in 2007. There is no comparison between what Vick did to get excommunicated from the NFL, and what Kaepernick did.
Kaepernick took a stand for what he believed in and did not stand for the national anthem. While, a lot of fans, some journalists, and a lot of owners want to act like that is a crime. It is not a crime. Kaepernick exercised his right to free speech. Since, he opted out of his contract in April, there has not been a team that has shown interest in Kaepernick.
Most people believe it is because of Kaepernick’s stance not because of his play. Last season, Kaepernick had a 90.7 passer rating, he completed 16 touchdown passes and threw four interceptions. Kaepernick has also made it to a super bowl. Usually, a player like Kaepernick would be a valuable addition to a team. However, as of this writing Kaepernick is still not on a team.
For Vick to go on a TV show and further add to the character assassination of Kaepernick, by saying it is his play and his appearance that causes him to not have a job, is not only very tone deaf, but it sounds like Vick forgot that if it was not for the Philadelphia Eagles given him another chance. He would not have been back in the NFL either.
Kaepernick does not need to change his appearance he needs to keep on doing what he has been doing, let his actions do the talking for him. The fact that he has lived by what he said since he took his stand should be all the proof, NFL teams need that Kaepernick is not only a valuable player, but a positive influence in his community and the locker room.
