Colin Kaepernick isn't the first quarterback ever to be criticized. But when he says criticism toward him stems from "stereotypes" and "prejudice," he tends to sound a tad naïve at first.
Colin Kaepernick blames himself for getting involved in a bad situation
Except that enough evidence exists to support his claims.
CBSSports.com, using an interview that the San Francisco 49ers quarterback conducted with quarterback-turned-reporter Chris Simms for Bleacher Report, reported Kaepernick's feelings about the reason behind the criticism he receives.
"Stereotypes, prejudice," Kaepernick told Bleacher Report when asked about the criticism. "Whatever you want to call it. I think between the tattoos, the way I dress, the way I talk. People don't think it should go together with a franchise quarterback or someone that's leading the team or representing the organization. At the end of the day, you have to look at, 'Are they knowledgeable? Are they doing their job?' Not what their appearance is."
ESPN mixes head shots of Colin Kaepernick, using one with him in a backward cap and headshots
CBSSports.com also cited a Sporting News column in 2012 in which the writer was a bit clumsy in talking about the stigma about tattoos in past eras in contrast to today. Another writer criticized Kaepernick for wearing his hat backward in January of this year.
Then, there was the controversy in April when ESPN's "SportsCenter" kept interchanging head shots of Kaepernick - one of his in his uniform with one of him with his cap backwards and wearing head phones - in reporting an incident in which a woman who was partying with Kaepernick and two other NFL players and then woke up in a hospital.
Kaepernick, who took the 49ers to the Super Bowl two years ago - San Francisco lost to Baltimore - and then to the NFC Championship Game against eventual champion Seattle Seahawks last season, might need to lead the Niners all the way to stop the ridiculous criticism about his appearance affecting his play.
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