I don't think he will end up with anywhere near that 100+ million from the contract, not because of this, but because he signed a potentially lucrative but ultimately team-biased contract, as most NFL contracts are. Anything not absolutely guaranteed is usually based on the team's desire to keep you around and allow you try and earn the money. NBA contracts are much better for actually getting paid.
I disagree with the ideas that celebrities/athletes shouldn't be compelled to share their thoughts on politics/religion/sex. Our media culture seems to demand a bunch of other information about them, such as what kind of house do they have, what do they look like without makeup as they go into a doctor's appointment, and/or whether or not they're currently fu@king a Kardashian sister. Since they constantly get outed on things they'd rather not share, I think its only fair that they mention things of more gravity that they'd like to share.
While I dislike getting caught in traffic as much as the next person when a protest causes a street to be shut down, I also realize that a protest isn't much of a protest if you're so discreet that nobody notices. Whatever his skills on the field, I think Kaepernick realized this particular action would be an efficient way (sit down, incite media storm) to get noticed so that his opinion would be heard and discussions would be started. I think the action is a little clumsy and may start too many negative discussions that have to do with superficial patriotism vs. making our republic a better place, but its his personal capital he's spending and that's his deal. Sure he's rich, but every day the news and blogsphere attempts to deliver an opinion on his personal worth and whether or not he's a failure at one of his main life ambitions, or really some kind of huge fraud. Few of us have that kind of scrutiny in our lives. As a biracial man, he probably feels a vulnerability that I don't-a thought that if he's in the wrong place at the wrong time, and comes up against someone who doesn't realize he's a rich and famous/infamous NFL QB, that he could be as vulnerable as those he's trying to bring attention to with this action.
I simply view this as a personal issue between this man and his country. Kind of like couples therapy: I'm sure he wants to make it work but can't sleep in the same bedroom right now. I just came from church, and one thing I like best about our church is that you can come to church and be supported in that community even if your faith is weak or almost nonexistent that day, or you're struggling. If an institution is truly strong, it isn't threatened by a bit of doubt or discussion. I do agree that there is responsibility to take part in traditions that are part of your job, but perhaps these need to be spelled out in the contract so the athlete can decide how much of themselves they're trading for those contract dollars.
JMO, Cheers
