During the height of his anti-American protests last year, Colin Kaepernick’s merchandise sales ranked 13th, on the list of top selling NFL gear. Today, Kaepernick’s merchandise sales have slipped to 39th. However, that’s still pretty impressive considering he’s in the top 50 despite not being on an NFL roster.
Kaepernick’s jersey sales were stronger in 2014 when he hit number three on the NFLPA’s official merchandise top 50 list. In 2016, after he began his protest campaign, his standing sunk to a still respectable 13th on that same list, according to Peter Schrager.
The news of Kaepernick’s gear sales comes on the heels of talk that the Baltimore Ravens may be considering giving the controversial player a workout. The Ravens have concern that starter Joe Flacco might have recurring back issues. Which would leave the team in need of a backup quarterback with starting experience.
While Kaepernick has always had strong merchandise sales, clearly those the contributions of those who support his political stances can’t be discounted.
News of Kaepernick’s slipping, yet still strong merchandising numbers, sent another liberal sports writer to his keyboard to attack the league and the fans for Kaepernick’s current state of unemployment.
TheBig Lead’s Stephen Douglas posted an August 1 piece in which he praises Kaepernick’s sales numbers. “Seems weird that a man so unpopular would sell so much stuff,” he wrote.
Douglas was also a bit miffed that the NFL is still banking off Kaepernick’s name.
“Still, isn’t it weird that the NFL continues to profit off Kaepernick? Not just in merch sales, but in attention,” he wrote. “Shouldn’t they ship this useless gear to a third-world country and be done with it?”
It is hard to say if the sales figures will factor in as Ravens owner Steve Biscotti polls fans and players about whether or not the team should offer Kaepernick a shot at coming to Baltimore.
Last week the Ravens owner admitted that he was considering the damage bringing in Kaepernick might do to the team’s brand. However, he also said that considering Kaepernick’s abilities on the field were just as important to the decision.
In fact, Biscotti asked fans to “pray” for the team as they ponder their decision.
Still, as Ravens coaches and front office personnel mull it all over, some Ravens players have already spoken up to lend Kaepernick some support.
Ravens players, Lardarius Webb, Terrell Suggs, and Ben Watson, for instance, have all said publicly that Kaepernick would be welcome in the Ravens’ locker room if he is brought on.
Though, Ravens officials should think carefully before bringing Kaepernick to Baltimore. Not only have some Ravens fans already voiced their feelings against Kaepernick. A recent survey of fans who say they have stopped watching sports cited Kaepernick’s anthem protests as the top reason why they turned the channel.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.
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