The Dallas Cowboys need Colin Kaepernick.
America's Team needs a hero. A leader. A Captain America, if you will. They need someone to save their season. With quarterback Dak Prescott gone for the season after a gruesome, season-ending injury, the 'Boys have struggled mightily. They've started Andy Dalton, Garrett Gilbert and rookie Ben DiNucci and are 3-8. By the way, who is Ben DiNucci?
Even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated that sentiment in a radio interview on Tuesday. He likened the Cowboys chances of winning with DiNucci to the Denver Broncos game against the New Orleans Saints, in which they started a practice squad receiver under center.
The Cowboys, a franchise who's boasted the likes of Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith on offense throughout history, has settled for a seventh-round NFL Draft pick out of James Madison Univeristy this season. Are Cowboys fans really OK with that?
So, Jerry Jones, it's time to swallow your pride and sign Colin Kaepernick.
Why The Cowboys Need Kaepernick
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Let's talk about Dallas' disastrous season.
The Cowboys are 3-8. They are somehow still in contention in the ugly NFC East led by the New York Giants (4-7), Washington Football Team (4-7) and Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1).
The Cowboys have scored less than 15 points per game since Prescott's injury. That would be the second-worst mark in the NFL behind the New York Jets if it were their full season total.
Andy Dalton, of course, is one of the most experienced back-ups in the league. But as we've seen when he was sidelined due to a concussion, the Cowboys are screwed without him. Sometimes it doesn't even matter if he's playing.
Ben DiNucci mustered just 180 yards and fumbled twice against the Eagles. He relieved Dalton in an embarrassing Thanksgiving Day loss to Washington, in which the two passers combined for 114 yards and zero touchdowns.
This isn't the Dallas Cowboys we should expect. It's not what Jerry Jones expects. So it's time to do something about it.
Kaepernick Is Ready
1,363 days of being denied employment.
Still putting in work with @E_Reid35
Still going hard 5 days a week. #StillReady#StopRunning pic.twitter.com/iMeJ03IRuB— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 23, 2020
RELATED: Kaepernick Sat Exactly 4 Years Ago, And His Message is Louder Than Ever
Kaepernick would undoubtedly be an upgrade over most of the NFL's backup quarterbacks. The Cowboys might be an exception, but they could sure as heck use another talented arm behind (or possibly in front of) Andy Dalton.
It's not as if Mr. Kaepernick is full of rust and sitting on his couch at home right now. Throughout the past couple years, he's conducted workouts for NFL teams. As recently as November 2020, he posted a video of him throwing to Eric Reid.
"1,363 days of being denied employment. Still putting in work with @E_Reid35. Still going hard 5 days a week. #StillReady #StopRunning," he wrote on Twitter.
Kaepernick is barely 33. He still has a cannon for an arm. He can still move out of the pocket. Let's not forget that he still owns a 88.9 career passer rating, which is better than guys like Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Dan Marino and... Andy Dalton.
We all know why Kaepernick hasn't been employed by an NFL team since 2016. The National Anthem protests. Taking a knee. Black Lives Matter.
Jerry Jones, of course, once said that any player who "disrespects the flag" won't be allowed to play for him. Years later, he backtracked a bit and trotted out a Black quarterback who was vocally against police brutality and racial injustice and pledged $1 million to reform after George Floyd's death. That man is Dak Prescott.
What, then, is so difficult about signing Colin Kaepernick? Even if Jerry Jones or head coach Mike McCarthy or anyone else disagrees with his opinions, shouldn't they be trying to win as many games as possible and make the playoffs? If Jones doesn't want to sign Kaepernick because he doesn't want to upset the fan base, why he is OK with losing games while fans file into AT&T Stadium every Sunday?
A huge thank you to all the people that made this happen in ATL. From our receivers @brice_butler, @BruceElling10, @TheJordanVeasy, @ariwerts - my trainer Josh Hidalgo, the educators at Charles Drew HS & so many more. Can't thank everyone enough. We stay ready.?: @RAVisionMedia pic.twitter.com/2bwDjtlstN
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 25, 2019
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this year apologized to Kaepernick for misunderstanding his motives. Now, he should encourage Jerry Jones and other owners to sign the quarterback in a season where players are dropping like flies amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
If an NFL team wishes to sign a new player or free agent like Kaepernick, there are protocols this year. They must enter a quarantine process and pass tests before becoming eligible for team activities, per USA Today.
The Cowboys should jump now before another team signs Colin Kaepernick. They need him.
