DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NFL, Colin Kaepernick reach resolution in collusion case

I agree 100 %, but hell , look at how Dr Kings character was assasinated , and that was way back then. Modern media and our current politcal climate is even worse now. Its never about the message anymore , it is about destroying the messenger if you dont like, or cant face the messsage.

If that's the case, I'd suspect that he was able to show collusion. otherwise, why in heavens name would they pay him that.

I don't think the Kaep team had any single smoking gun piece of evidence, but they did have a few owners make public statements about the publicity hit they'd take if they signed him AND there were a dozen plus QBs that took the field that were way worse than Kaep ever was. Meaning, there was at the very least enough circumstantial evidence to get it to trial.

Thing is, if it goes to trial, all the owners are called in for discovery, have to get on the stand and then all sorts of financial documents must be turned over and become public record. I would guess this was 95% of the reason they settled. It was easier for each owner to pitch in $2M and walk away from it, then fight it and have everything in the league exposed to the public.

I would bet the NFL would win, but it would "cost" them way more in lost privacy.

Sometimes it's just easier and better to make things go away.

80m plus he signs an NDA.....way better than going to court.

This. 110%.

Wow. $10 million total, before lawyers get paid and however it's split up ...... That sure makes it all seem worthwhile.

Report - Kaepernick grievance nets under $10M
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26323226/report-kaepernick-grievance-nets-10m

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and current Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid settled their collusion grievances against the NFL, but according to a Wall Street Journal report, they will receive less than $10 million total.

Kaepernick filed a grievance in October 2017 under the collective bargaining agreement, alleging collusion against signing him to an NFL contract. He had led the movement of players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality. While with the Niners, Reid was the first player to join Kaepernick in kneeling.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, which cited people briefed on the deal, it's not clear how the money will be split and how much the players will net after legal fees. To put Kaepernick's split of the $10 million in perspective, his base salary in 2016 alone was nearly $12 million.

The filing on the grievances, which demanded an arbitration hearing on the matter, said the NFL and its owners "have colluded to deprive Mr. Kaepernick of employment rights in retaliation for Mr. Kaepernick's leadership and advocacy for equality and social justice and his bringing awareness to peculiar institutions still undermining racial equality in the United States."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, several owners and at least two other NFL executives were selected to be deposed and asked to turn over all cellphone records and emails in relation to Kaepernick's case against the NFL.

Kaepernick drew national attention in 2016 when he knelt during the national anthem before games to protest social injustice. His kneeling led to a movement that has spread throughout the league while also being vilified by some, including President Donald Trump.

Kaepernick has not been with an NFL team since severing his contract with the 49ers in March 2017. Reid, who played for the 49ers from 2013 to 2017, signed with the Panthers before the team's fourth game of the 2018 season and received a three-year deal in February worth more than $22 million.

Kaepernick and Reid faced a difficult challenge to meet the burden of proof for collusion as defined in the league's CBA. The statute makes clear that unemployment alone does not mean collusion occurred.

According to the CBA: "The failure by a club or clubs to negotiate, to submit offer sheets, or to sign contracts with restricted free agents or transition players, or to negotiate, make offers, or sign contracts for the playing services of such players or unrestricted free agents, shall not, by itself or in combination only with evidence about the playing skills of the player(s) not receiving any such offer or contract, satisfy the burden of proof set forth."

To prove collusion, according to the CBA, Kaepernick and Reid would have had to show that a "club, its employees or agents" had "entered into an agreement" to restrict or limit whether to offer them a contract.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.

I'd donate all of that to Black Lives Matter.

Playa gotta eat!