Con: The “Tim Tebow effect”
Before we get into this, let me just start off by saying I think Kaepernick was a better NFL quarterback than Tim Tebow, so the “Tim Tebow effect” is not a comparison of talent by any stretch.
The “Tim Tebow effect” was something we saw during the former Heisman Trophy winner’s time in the NFL, and particularly when he was with the New York Jets.
By the time Tebow had joined New York, he was quite the controversial figure for many reasons, and he garnered massive attention from the media. He also had a huge following of die-hard fans who loved him no matter what, and there were plenty of detractors who absolutely detested him because they didn’t think he was any good.
When the Jets traded for him back in 2012, the question the entire season whenever quarterback Mark Sanchez messed up was always, “when is Tebow going to get his chance to start?”
It got to a point where the backup quarterback became bigger than the starter, and really, the entire team. It created overwhelming and unwanted attention on one player, and it was a situation that could easily divide any locker room.
The attention on Colin Kaepernick might be even greater than that of Tebow. The free agent quarterback has become a lightning rod for controversy and national debate. Love him or hate him, Kaepernick’s mere presence is enough to grab attention away from anything else going on.
The Titans, or any team for that matter, don’t want that kind of attention unless the player can yield truly special results, and I’m not sure that Kaepernick is that level of player.
Even if he was brought in as a backup, a debate would constantly rage about when Kaepernick would get his shot and the slightest slip-up by the starter would create a frenzy to get him in, no matter how irrational it might be.
In my humble opinion, the “Tim Tebow effect” is the biggest thing keeping Kaepernick out of the league, and it’s why he may never get another job in the NFL.