Free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick didn't appreciate the advice given by former NFL QB Michael Vick regarding his image during an appearance on FS1's "Speak For Yourself" on Monday.
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Vick suggested Kaepernick cut his hair and go for more of a "clean-cut" look to display a more "presentable" image.
From that video:
"First thing we've got to get Colin to do is cut his hair," Vick said. "Listen, I'm not up here to try to be politically correct. Even if he puts cornrows in there, I don't think he should represent himself in that way in terms of just the hairstyle. Just go clean-cut. You know, why not? You're already dealing with a lot of controversy surrounding this issue. The most important thing that he needs to do is just try to be presentable."
Kaepernick responded on Tuesday with the following tweet suggesting that Vick was suffering from "Stockholm Syndrome":
Kaepernick, 29, remains a free agent after spending his first six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. The former starter gained national attention last season for his decision to kneel during the national anthem as a form of protesting social injustice.
The 37-year old Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, although his career was interrupted by a 21-month federal prison sentence after he was convicted of running a dogfighting ring.
Vick revealed he had also received advice to change his image during his playing career but "didn't listen until the end, until I was going through the turmoil and the hardships."
"I just think perception and image is everything. This is not the Colin Kaepernick that we've known since he entered the National Football League. I'm just going off my personal experiences. Listen, I love the guy to death. But I want him to also succeed on and off the field. This has to be a start for him," he said.
The major difference between Vick and Kaepernick though is that the latter has never been in prison for endangering the lives of animals and is a big time humanitarian off the field as well. Their situations aren't quite similar, but Kaepernick could probably learn or thing or two from Vick's off-the-field plight.
