Written by ESPN News Service at ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome support the signing of free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but they have met resistance from owner Steve Bisciotti, sources tell ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Sources say at least one other NFL team has wanted to add Kaepernick to its roster, but the move was blocked by the team’s owner.
Newsome said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that Bisciotti hasn’t pushed back on a potential contract for Kaepernick.
“We are going through a process, and we have not made a decision,” the statement said. “Steve Bisciotti has not told us we cannot sign Colin Kaepernick, nor has he blocked the move. Whoever is making those claims is wrong.”
Kaepernick’s name came up last week after Harbaugh said starting quarterback Joe Flacco would miss a week with a back injury. Backup Ryan Mallett has struggled while filling in with the first-team offense, throwing at least five interceptions during one practice.
On Sunday, Bisciotti said the team was still weighing whether to sign Kaepernick, who drew national attention last season when he knelt during the national anthem before games to protest social injustice. Sources have told ESPN that Kaepernick will not do that in 2017.
Kaepernick, 29, has been a free agent since March 1, when he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
“I do not have an update on Colin Kaepernick,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “I’ll frame that this way: There are other positions that we’re looking at too, and I don’t have any updates on those either. I think they’re all in the same category.”
The Ravens have said they’ve spoken with Kaepernick and discussed the possibility of adding him with current and former players — including Ray Lewis — as well as fans and sponsors. Lewis offered advice to Kaepernick on Tuesday in a video posted to his Twitter account, suggesting that Kaepernick be less vocal about his social activism.
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