Fans, Bettors Eye Colin Kaepernick’s Las Vegas Raiders Tryout
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With the Las Vegas Raiders giving 34-year-old quarterback Colin Kaepernick a tryout, fans are bettors are monitoring how this might improve the team’s chances heading into the next season.
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Raiders at +4000 to win the Super Bowl. That put the Raiders in the middle of the league between the Buffalo Bills (+600) at the top and Houston Texans (+25000) at the bottom.
Other national online bookmakers, including FanDuel, Caesars and BetMGM, have the Raiders in about the same position.
Owner Would Welcome QB
Kaepernick last played in the NFL in 2016 for the San Francisco 49ers.
The veteran quarterback tried out with the Raiders on Wednesday, and by Thursday there were indications “that the workout went well and Kaepernick impressed,” according to nfl.com.
Kaepernick has been unsigned after the 2016 season, “during which he peacefully protested social injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem prior to games,” nfl.com notes.
Raiders owner Mark Davis has said Kaepernick “deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League.”
If the team’s coaches and general manager want to sign the quarterback, Davis said he would welcome him “with open arms,” according to nfl.com.
Carr Listed As Starter
The Raiders’ current starting quarterback is Derek Carr, a 31-year-old former Pro Bowler, who led the team to a 10-7 record last season. In the AFC wild card playoff game, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Raiders, 26-19.
Before moving to Las Vegas, the Raiders played in Oakland and Los Angeles (and then back in Oakland), building a reputation in the early years for hard-nosed football characterized by then-owner Al Davis’ motto, “Just win, baby!”
Fans React To Kaepernick
Carr is penciled in as the projected starter this season. The Raiders open the NFL preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 4 in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
Kaepernick would be competing for a backup role with quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham, Nick Mullens and Chase Garbers.
On social media sites, fans have offered different opinions about Kaepernick possibly signing with the Raiders.
Some contend he is not the elite NFL quarterback the team needs. Others believe he is highly talented and competitive and would give the team a spark. The flag-kneeling movement continues to generate discussion.
On the Las Vegas Review-Journal Facebook page, a social media user identified as Eric Golub indicated he is opposed to Kaepernick being a Raider.
“Here’s hoping that the silver and black do not even think of tarnishing the brand I have loved since I was 5 years old,” Golub wrote. “No Kap now, no Kap ever.”
In response, a Facebook user identified as Jeff Higgins wrote, “Tarnishing the brand? You must not be too familiar with Raiders history. The franchise’s greatest moments have been built by rogues, castoffs & misfits who had nowhere else to go. Bringing in Kap would be totally consistent with that.”
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