Cam Newton thinks Colin Kaepernick should be in NFL

Cam Newton was asked about Colin Kaepernick, and he added a couple words to otherwise common thoughts.

At this point, with Week 1 on the horizon, it’s no secret why Colin Kaepernick is not on an NFL roster. His ability as a quarterback, or lack thereof for those who see it that way, has taken a backseat to his decision to kneel for the national anthem last year and lingering questions about his overall commitment to playing football.

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers are preparing to play the San Francisco 49ers this week. That makes Kaepernick a convenient narrative to address, as a former-49er without a job in the league. So of course Newton became the latest employed NFL quarterback to be asked about Kaepernick’s status.

Newton tried to keep the focus strictly on Sunday’s game in San Francisco, as expected. But he couldn’t completely avoid giving at least a glimpse of his thoughts on Kaepernick, and his comments were pretty strong.

Newton is not the first, nor will he be the last, NFL player to say Kaepernick belongs in the league and is surely worthy of a least a roster spot somewhere. But his use of the words fair and unfair is a bit unique, and without using the dreaded term “blackballed” Newton seemed to strongly hint at it in regard to how the league’s front office and ownership powers view Kaepernick.

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After Week 1, when salaries for vested veterans no longer have to be fully guaranteed, it will be interesting to see if Kaepernick gets rumored consideration from any NFL teams. It’s not necessarily likely, and the possible financial commitment is a very small part of the Kaepernick equation. But a notable Week 1 quarterback injury may open the door, and any fan backlash would be quelled if Kaepernick ultimately helps win some games.