McCoy says Kaepernick a distraction
Bills running back LeSean McCoy isn’t surprised Colin Kaepernick has had difficulty finding a job.
Some teams, McCoy said following practice Thursday, might consider it not being worth the “chaos” to take on a polarizing player such as Kaepernick to fill what’s likely to be a backup role.
“You’ve just got to look at all sides like, if I’m an owner or the GM of a team, do I want to put him on my team?” McCoy said. “Is he good enough to be on the squad to even deal with everything that’s going on?”
Kaepernick remains unsigned after opting out of his contract with the 49ers after last season. Critics have accused the NFL of punishing the sixth-year player for refusing to stand for the national anthem to protest police brutality against blacks. “That may have something to do with it, but I think also it has a lot to do with his play,” McCoy said. “There’s certain players that could be on the team with big distractions, and there’s other players that it’s not good enough or not worth it.”
He said it’s easier on teams to take on a distraction if it involves a star player because, unlike Kaepernick, they would immediately fill starting roles.
McCoy didn’t change his stance when his former Eagles teammate Michael Vick was brought up as a comparison, even though Vick had been convicted of a crime, signing with Philadelphia after spending 18 months in prison on dog fighting charges. Kaepernick has not been accused of any crimes.
“He’s 10 times better than Kaepernick,” McCoy said. “So you’ll deal with that situation, you’ll deal with that attention, the media aspect of it, the good, the bad attention to it compared to Kaepernick.” Marshall might kneel: After the recent racially charged conflict in Charlottesville, Va., Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall said he’s considering reviving his take-a-knee protest during the national anthem.
Marshall, one of the first NFL players last year to follow the lead of Kaepernick, his teammate at the University of Nevada, ended his kneeldowns after a month and a half and after spurring a change in the use-offorce policy by the Denver Police Department.
No Broncos have protested before their two preseason games so far, but Marshall indicated this week that several players are considering doing so prior to kickoff Saturday night against Green Bay.
Asked Thursday what he would hope to accomplish by taking a knee again, Marshall said, “I’m still thinking about that, honestly. I haven’t come up with it.” Panthers 24, Jaguars 23: Cam Newton was perfect in his preseason debut, completing both of his passes for 21 yards and a touchdown against host Jacksonville. Newton’s 9-yard slant pass to Kelvin Benjamin capped a 10-play opening drive. Newton spent the rest of the night on the sideline. Eagles 38, Dolphins 31: Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz threw touchdown passes to Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery. Playing his second game since coming out of retirement, Miami’s Jay Cutler was 5-of-8 for 105 yards — including a 72-yard pass to DeVante Parker — with one TD. Briefly: The Giants signed defensive back Tim Scott, filling a roster spot that opened when veteran Valentino Blake left the team . ... Bryan Bulaga, the Green Bay Packers’ right tackle, is cautiously optimistic he will be ready to go for Week 1 after injuring his right ankle at practice.