As expected, the amount of the settlement remains undisclosed and the terms are subject to a confidentiality agreement, but according to the Associated Press, "the settlement could have climbed into the tens of millions."
Not playing in the NFL did nothing to stop Kaepernick's activism, momentum with community outreach, or popularity amongst his fans. After being blackballed by the NFL, Kaepernick was named GQ's Citizen of the Year and became the face of Nike's 2018 "Just Do It" campaign. And in the case of cosmic justice, the Colorado Spring's Prime Time Sports store that boycotted Kaepernick and removed all its Nike items in protest is now closing. The owner Stephen Martin believes his protest of Nike played a major factor in the store's closing.
While I am happy that both players received their due pay, there's a part of me that wishes that they wouldn't have taken the deal. Although reaching a settlement certainly points to guilt on the part of the NFL I believe it would have been more satisfying for the NFL to have to reveal all of their dirt and dirty tactics to keep the players out of the league. This confidentiality agreement limits both men from ever being able to speak any truths about the situation, which of course is part of the NFL's motive. Reports have begun to surface that Kaepernick is interested in returning to the field with the Carolina Panthers the top name being considered at the time. Whatever he does decide to do going forward Conscious America will surely continue to stand with him.
