Will answer on Colin Kaepernick land Packers' coach Mike McCarthy on witness stand?

Having an NFL coach for a publicly owned team on a witness stand is not something the league wants, even if the Packers coach is saying, "I'm not concerned about it."

November 9, 2017 at 6:37PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

After Aaron Rodgers was injured against the Vikings a few weeks back, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was asked if the team would consider bringing in free agent Colin Kaepernick as a potential replacement.

McCarthy was a little agitated with the idea, saying: "Did you just listen to the question I just answered? Okay, I got three years invested in Brett Hundley, two years invested in Joe Callahan, the quarterback room is exactly where it needs to be."

The Packers were 4-1 going into the Vikings game, and Rodgers was injured early enough that the outcome was very much in doubt. Hundley played poorly in relief and has looked shaky in two subsequent starts. The Packers have lost all three games, dropping to 4-4 for the season.

Lest you think Green Bay has gone all-in on its QB stubbornness, though, the Packers reportedly did try to sign a veteran who used to play for the 49ers recently — but it wasn't Kaepernick. Rather, it was Brian Hoyer, who was cut by San Francisco and signed with New England after the Patriots traded Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers.

That juxtaposition will apparently be of interest to Kaepernick's legal team. Per a report from attorney Amy Dash — who does legal analyst work for CBS — McCarthy's response to the question about Kaepernick a few weeks back could land him on the witness stand if Kaepernick's grievance against the NFL continues.

Kaepernick's grievance alleges that NFL owners have colluded to keep him from landing another job.

I'm not sure McCarthy's answer puts him in any real danger, but as noted here having an NFL coach for a publicly owned team on a witness stand is not something the league wants.

McCarthy was asked about the whole thing on Thursday and said, "I haven't heard anything, and I'm not concerned about it."

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He also reportedly denied being part of any discussion to add Hoyer and said in regards to his comments a few weeks back: "I wanted to make it loud and clear to everybody, especially our football team, that Brett Hundley is the direction that we're going. That was the message and those are the facts."

about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Minnesota Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

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