Ravens still mulling Kaepernick as an option
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 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.”
Hall of Famer visits Garrett
Myles Garrett had a special visitor at Browns training camp.
Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, who has taken a keen interest in the NFL’s top overall draft pick from Texas A&M, stopped to watch practice and came away impressed by the 21-year-old Garrett.
Smith says Garrett is the perfect blend of speed, smarts and he expects him to have a major impact in his rookie season.
The league’s career sacks leader with 200, Smith doesn’t think it will take long for Garrett “to figure this game out.” Garrett worked with Cleveland’s starting defense for the first time in camp and went head-to-head with Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas.
On one play, Garrett easily went around Thomas to sack Cody Kessler. Smith spoke with Garrett between drills, offering some of the tips that made him one of the game’s best pass rushers.
Prosecutors draw ire in Irvin case
Attorney Gloria Allred blasted Florida prosecutors, saying they violated the privacy of her client after the woman accused former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin of sexual assaulting her last spring.
Allred said at a Fort Lauderdale news conference the statement issued by Broward County prosecutors last week when they decided not to charge Irvin was “irresponsible.” She’s particularly angry the statement included details of Erica Berg’s prescription and illicit drug use. The Associated Press does not usually name alleged victims of sexual assault but Allred said Berg, 27, was going public to “protect future victims.”
“For whose benefit are they attempting to justify a decision not to prosecute?” Allred said. “Who does that help and who does that hurt? The impact of that is that it hurts the person who makes the allegation. Absolutely, the public has a right to know if they decline to prosecute. I have no problem with that, but it is this level of detail and the fact that they focus only on the person who has made the report to the police and prosecutor. Where is the equal scrutiny of the accused and why is that not there?”
Odds and ends
Antonio Gates will skip the Chargers’ first practice at their new stadium to attend LaDainian Tomlinson’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. Philip Rivers will stay in California for Saturday’s practice, coach Anthony Lynn said. …
The 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 practice. …
A person with knowledge of the situation says Rams defensive lineman Dominique Easley is expected to miss the season with a torn knee ligament. … Chargers rookie offensive lineman Forrest Lamp tore a ligament in his right knee during the fourth practice of training camp.