Ravens Coach John Harbaugh 'Wouldn't Rule Out' Signing Kaepernick
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said during a press conference Thursday that he wouldn't rule out signing former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Ravens training camp began Thursday without longtime quarterback Joe Flacco, who's out with a sore back.
When asked about Kaepernick, Harbaugh said, "No, I wouldn't rule it out at all. I mean, he's a really good football player. I believe he's a really good person."
Several media outlets have reported that, following Kaepernick's controversial decision to kneel during the national anthem throughout the 2016 season, he is being shunned by the NFL. Kaepernick has been a free agent since opting out of his contract with the 49ers in March.
"I've known Colin really through my brother for many years, and we've talked," Harbaugh said Thursday.
The Ravens coach's younger brother, Jim Harbaugh, is currently the head football coach at the University of Michigan, but served as the head coach for the 49ers from 2011 to 2014. He led the team to the Super Bowl in 2013, where they lost to the Ravens.
"...I've gotten to know [Colin] really well when they scrimmaged here," the elder Harbaugh continued Thursday. "He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times. We've had some great conversations on the phone. It's really been a pleasure to talk to him and get to know him. I like history and politics and stuff too, and we've had some debates and it's been fun. He's a great guy, and he's a guy right now that's being talked about and we'll just see what happens with that. It'll all be speculation right now, but I think he's a really good football player and as I said and I do believe he'll be playing in the National Football Player this year."
Harbaugh also added, "It all depends on a lot of things. It depends on Colin, first of all. What he wants to do. What's his passion? What's his priority? What's he want to do? What kind of shape is he in? And, if he's ready to go. And then our needs. So we'll just kinda see where it goes, but I don't think that's different for us than any other team. We're definitely going to get another arm in here, but he's not an arm, obviously. He's an accomplished football player, and we always like having good football players."
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