Fans outraged over Kaepernick need perspective
The early days of Ravens training camp have delivered all manner of discouraging news and one large dose of controversy.
The back injury that has sidelined Joe Flacco led to the revelation that the team has been in contact with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and continues to ponder bringing him into camp.
Kaepernick, of course, deeply offended a lot of Americans when he decided to sit or kneel when the national anthem was played before games last year. He has since let it be known that he will stand for the anthem if he plays in the NFL this season.
Still, there is a delicious irony to the possibility that Kaepernick might resume his football career in the city that spawned “The Star-Spangled Banner.” But even if he doesn’t, the negative reaction to that possibility — particularly on social media — illustrates just how clueless some fans are when it comes to keeping everything in its proper perspective.
This has all come about in the three days leading up to Sunday’s first public workout at M&T Bank Stadium, the timing of which presents a perfect opportunity to prove that point.
Lest anyone forget, it was at the first M&T Bank Stadium workout three years ago that fans cheered running back Ray Rice in the aftermath of his assault on his wife, Janay, in an Atlantic City casino elevator. That was before the release of the damning video that showed just how brutal the assault actually was, but Rice already had been suspended in the NFL’s original halfhearted attempt to deal with a spate of domestic abuse accusations.
NFL fans have proven they’ll put up with a lot from their favorite players. Ray Lewis is a god in this town 17 years after he was arrested in connection to a doublehomicide in Atlanta. Adam “Pacman” Jones has been arrested at least nine times during his career, but is back in camp with the Cincinnati Bengals to begin his 12th season in the league. Former Dallas Cowboys star Greg Hardy was hailed as a