TRUE DOLLAR JOURNAL

The ex-NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, the guy who started the #TakeAKnee racist pro-black protests during the playing of the national anthem before the start of NFL games, has sued the NFL. In his suit, Kaepernick claims that NFL owners colluded to keep him from playing in the NFL. Meanwhile, Kaepernick quit after the 2016 season.

Right now, there are 37 other free agent quarterbacks not hired by NFL teams this season. As well, there are 1,111 other free agent players not hired by NFL teams this season. Kaepernick's attorney will have a tough job proving that Kaepernick has been isolated by owners.

There is a false story being circulated by his supporters that Kaepernick is a great NFL quarterback and thus NFL owners must be conspiring to keep out Kaepernick from the NFL. Yet, what does his actual performance record say?

The 2011 season was his first. Kaepernick played in only three games, which he did not start. He attempted five passes and completed three for a scant 35 yards.

In the 2012 season, the 49ers went to the Super Bowl as a team and lost. The regular season record of the 49ers was 11-4-1.

Quarterback Alex Smith was the starter for the 49ers for the first nine games of the 2012 season. The team went an impressive 6-2-1 under Smith. Then Coach Harbaugh switched to Kaepernick because of locker room turmoil. Enough black players in the 49ers' locker room practically demanded that Kaepernick become the starter.

After anointing Kaepernick as the starter, the 49ers and thus Kaepernick went 5-2.

During that season, Smith had a higher winning percentage, .750 versus Kaepernick, .714. Without those 6 wins under Smith, it is all too likely the 49ers would not have sniffed the playoffs.

Alex Smith was the Better than Kaepernick in the 2012 Season

• Alex Smith had a 70.2% completion percentage while Colin Kaepernick had a 62.4% completion percentage.
• Alex Smith threw 13 TDs on 218 attempts while Colin Kaepernick threw 10 TDs on 218 attempts.
• Alex Smith had a 104.1 QB rating while Colin Kaepernick had a 98.3 QB rating.

NFL football is a team sport. In the 2012 season, the 49ers had a superior defense, which helped their offense in field position and possessions. The 49ers had productive receivers.

In the following season, the 2013 season, Alex Smith became the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs went 12-4 that season and made the playoffs as a wild card. The 49ers also went 12-4 that season and also made the playoffs as a wild card.

Alex Smith Has Played Better than Kaepernick Had Since the 2013 Season

After the 2013 season, the team lost Harbaugh as the head coach and key defense players quit the NFL. In the seasons after the 2013 season, Kaepernick  went 8-8-0, 2-6-0 and 1-10-0 as a starter.

Meanwhile, Alex Smith went to more successes. Smith managed to be a winning quarterback in each of the seasons a starter with the Chiefs between the 2012 through 2016: 11-4-0, 8-7-0, 11-5-0, 11-4-0. The Chiefs have been to the playoffs in three of four of those seasons with Smith as the starting QB.

Smith's record as a starter this season is 5-1-0. His Chiefs are atop the AFC West and will be going to the playoffs against this season in all likelihood.

From 2013 onward, Kaepernick revealed himself to be a pedestrian quarterback who had stepped into a winning season as a running back taking snaps. Kaepernick never could replicate the success he had with the 2012 49ers though he had a decent 2013 season along with the rest of the team.

Kaepernick played like a mediocre QB after the 2013 season precisely because he is. Kaepernick completed only 59.4% of his passes, which is not good enough for NFL starter play. As well, he threw for TDs 4.2% of the time. His average quarterback rating for his time after 2013 was 86.8.

Meanwhile, Alex Smith has been quite a success. Smith has complted 65.3% of his passes, throwing TDs 4.1% of the time. His average QB rating is 97.7.

Colin Kaepernick Versus His Contemporaries