"The Steelers should consider Colin Kaepernick": Really, Joe Starkey?

... Mike Tomlin has enough problems without Colin

Colin Kaepernick is radioactive.

Quite simply, that is why most NFL teams will avoid him like the plague now that he is on the open market.

And despite his vow to stand for the national anthem in the future.

Now, before I disagree with Post-Gazette columnist Joe Starkey's opinion about the Steelers signing Colin Kaepernick, I should point out how I agree with him on some of his points.

First, I agree with Starkey that Landry Jones is not an adequate backup to Ben Roethlisberger. He says, "The Steelers’ mission is to win football games, and Colin Kaepernick would give them a better chance than Landry Jones."

That is true -- on a physical level.

The other part of this that I agree with is that Kaepernick has been a winner, has taken a team to the Super Bowl. He is a much better athlete than Jones is. "There is really no comparison between Jones, also a free agent, and Kaepernick. The latter has taken a team to the Super Bowl (the 49ers five years ago) and is coming off a season in which he had 16 touchdown passes, only four interceptions and a 90.7 passer rating despite a less-than-stellar cast in San Francisco. He also had 468 yards rushing and a 6.8-yard average."

Now, about those disagreements

I will not discuss whether what Kaepernick did with the national anthem last year was right or wrong. That is not my concern.

Most important, his action last year was ego-centric. But, in addition, what he did was a distraction to his team and its chances of winning. The 49ers may have won a few more games last year without it, and Chip Kelly may still have his job.

So, today, Kaepernick is a distraction, just as Michael Vick was -- except probably more so. There are more flag-wavers among Steeler fans than PETA supporters, which is way there was not really a huge movement against Vick.

Nevertheless, both were/are distractions that a team does not need to have. Tomlin made a bad move with Vick, primarily because he was washed up -- but also because of his distraction potential versus his value. It just did not make sense.

America not in forgiving mood

Kaepernick is an intelligent guy, a talented guy, but he will never be forgiven for doing something that is considered to be opposing his country. Again, I am not making a judgment about whether it is right or wrong. It is just that most Americans believe that the national anthem is a tremendous symbol of our country, and they believe that the quarterback's action -- taken by others in the league, too -- was wrong.

That can be argued, but the distraction part cannot.

Other options

The Steelers have another QB in Zack Mettenberger who does have some starting QB experience in the NFL. They really do not need a QB like Landry Jones who has proven that he is not that valuable.

Another backup may be available in the NFL draft. Jones was taken in the third round, but remember, Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick. Unusual, yes, but finding a backup that way may not be.

So, Mr. Starkey, while I agree with some of your analysis, I disagree with your basic premise.

Stay away from Colin.