It’s not too often that backup quarterback signings generate national headlines. But such is the NFL world in which Colin Kaepernick is a free agent.
The Seattle Seahawks made a relatively minor transaction Monday, signing veteran quarterback Austin Davis to serve as Russell Wilson’s backup. The big news here, of course, is who Seattle didn’t sign — Kaepernick, who met with the Seahawks and generated plenty of buzz on social media but still is without a job as training camp rapidly approaches.
Head coach Pete Carroll gave a simple explanation for not acquiring Kaepernick, in essence saying he’s too good to be a backup. That might suggest the Seahawks didn’t have the cap room to sign him, despite reports that the 29-year-old isn’t demanding to be paid like a starter and likely would be willing to take a pay cut. Gregg Bell of the Seattle Times pointed out Seattle’s seemingly odd mindset Monday.
Of course, there’s also the elephant in the room: the rumor — propagated, ironically enough, by Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman — that NFL teams are “blackballing” the veteran QB because they view his political activism as a distraction.
Whatever the case, Seattle signing Davis means it officially has passed on Kaepernick, leaving the former Super Bowl starter with dwindling options in free agency. In Davis, the Seahawks will get a 28-year-old who spent the 2016 season backing up Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch on the Denver Broncos.
Davis has started 10 games in his career — eight with the then-St. Louis Rams and two with the Cleveland Browns — and owns a career 80.4 passer rating.
Thumbnail photo via Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports Images