Apparently, there’s an award that Colin Kaepernick has not won yet. Moving quickly to correct the situation, the NFL Players Association has named Colin Kaepernick as a finalist for the Byron “Whizzer” White Community MVP award.
Other nominees for the award include, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.
Kaepernick, the NFL’s original anthem protester, just recently paid the final installment of a $1 million pledge to various social justice groups and charitable organizations.
According to The Hill, “The winner will choose a charity to receive a $100,000 donation. The Community MVP program has recognized a player each week throughout the season. Each week, the NFLPA has donated $10,000 to that player’s foundation or charity of choice.
“Kaepernick has received several awards recognizing him for his service. In November, he was named the recipient of Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his “steadfastness in the fight for social justice” and “his adherence to his beliefs no matter the cost.” He was also named GQ Magazine’s “Citizen of the Year” for 2017.”
The NFL’s anthem protest movement began in the preseason of 2016, when Kaepernick first sat, then knelt, in protest against police brutality. Kaepernick continued his protest throughout the 2016 season, but has not suited-up for another NFL team since walking away from his contract in San Francisco at the end of that year.
Despite Kaepernick’s absence in 2017, the protest movement he began continued without him. Increasing in intensity during Week 3 of the season, after President Trump blasted the protesting players at a political rally. During that weekend over 200 players, executives, and coaches, protested the anthem and President Trump.
However, after that weekend, the number of protesting players dwindled to the point where only 19 players protested in the final week of the season.
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