Ravens still pondering options on Kaepernick
OWINGS MILLS, MD. » Joe Flacco’s health. The salary cap. And of course, potential negative fan reaction. The Baltimore Raves are weighing all these factors — and then some — as they continue to wrestle with the decision whether to sign free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
It’s been a week since Ravens coach John Harbaugh floated the idea of adding Kaepernick, a veteran with Super Bowl experience and the baggage that comes from his decision last year to literally sit out the national anthem on game day.
The topic of Kaepernick came up on the first day of training camp because Flacco, the team’s starter for the past nine seasons, arrived with a bad back. Flacco still hasn’t taken a snap, though he insists he’s on the mend.
Kaepernick remains an option, particularly since backup Ryan Mallett has not performed well in practice. One problem is the Ravens face in signing Kaepernick is they don’t have much space under the salary cap and still have plenty of holes to fill, including on a porous offense line.
But the biggest challenge for the Ravens is gauging the potential backlash that might be created by signing a player who gained widespread attention last year for his decision to sit — then eventually kneel —during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.
So, the Ravens will weigh all their options before deciding if Kaepernick is worth the money.
“It’s all linked,” Harbaugh said. “People want to draw big broad lines about, ‘It’s about this’ or ‘about that,’ but it’s never one thing. So, we’ll just have to see where it goes and try to do the best thing for our football team, organization and everything.”
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has interviewed current and former players on the topic, including retired linebacker Ray Lewis and tight end Benjamin Watson, now in his second year with the team.
“I was surprised mainly because I don’t get a vote,” Watson said Wednesday after practice. “This organization will make decisions for all the guys on the field right now. It’s about: Can he help us win games?”
Giants’ Shepard rolls ankle
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » The New York Giants may be without starting wide receiver Sterling Shepard for a little while. The team’s second-leading receiver last season rolled his left ankle running a short route in Wednesday’s training camp practice.
After the workout, coach Ben McAdoo said the injury appeared to be a sprain, but he added that further evaluations were planned.
The second-year receiver got up after being hurt and hopped to the sideline, where he immediately fell to the grass in pain. He was taken off the field on a golf cart and did not return.
A second-round draft pick from Oklahoma, Shepard had 65 catches for 683 yards and eight touchdowns last season playing mostly in the slot.
Rams’ Easley to miss season
IRVINE » A stalwart defensive line has been the Rams’ biggest strength in recent years, and they returned to Los Angeles last season with a starting quartet reminiscent of their hallowed Fearsome Foursome of the 1960s.
The Rams’ foundation is being severely tested after just a few workouts in their second season back home.
Defensive lineman Dominique Easley will miss the season with a torn knee ligament, the team learned Wednesday. His absence left the Rams with just one healthy projected starter for their fifth practice at UC Irvine.
Easley’s right knee buckled without contact while he chased a ball-carrier Tuesday, ending yet another season for the gifted but oft-injured lineman.