NFL Notes: Colin Kaepernick, Lions, Saints

Colin Kaepernick

Shannon Sharpe of FOX1 spoke with free agent QB Colin Kaepernick following the recent comments made by Dr. Harry Edwards, who said three teams had contacted him about the quarterback.

Kaepernick refuted the idea that he’s asking for $9-$10 million and that teams have expressed interest in ihm up to this point during his conversation with Sharpe.

“[Kaepernick] says, ‘People keep putting out that I’m asking for nine, ten million dollars,” Sharpe said, via Pro Football Talk. “Shannon, they don’t know what I’m asking for. I have not talked to, my representative has not talked to [teams].

Sharpe mentions that the whole story doesn’t add up.

“What I find even stranger,” Sharpe added, “is why are teams reaching out to a sociology professor and not calling the player and his representative himself? Dr. Harry Edwards says he’s healthy enough to play, but he can’t answer the question [of] does he want to play? You would think, you’re that close to Kaep, you don’t know if he wants to play? This is not adding up.

“Here’s something else,” Sharpe said. “It seems to me that everything that’s starting to disseminate out is coming from one organization. That’s the former organization that Colin Kaepernick played for. Now [49ers G.M.] John Lynch said early on he knew for a fact that one team wanted to sign Colin Kaepernick. It’s hard for me to believe that he could know that when he didn’t know the Chicago Bears were gonna take Mitchell Trubisky. . . .

“And what I find that since so much information is coming out of San Francisco, guess who’s been a paid consultant to the San Francisco 49ers for over 20 years? The very advisor that these alleged three teams have called. . . . Why would you ask Harry Edwards, who’s a sociology professor, whether or not Colin Kaepernick wants to play and whether or not he still can play when you can pick up the phone and call Colin Kaepernick himself when you can call his representative yourself? . .

“Something doesn’t smell right to me,” Sharpe said. “Talking to Kaep last night, no team has called him.”

Lions

Lions HC Jim Caldwell said Friday that they expect first-round LB Jarrad Davis to be a factor for them right away.

“We expect him to be a factor for us,” Caldwell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “Smart guy. He’s got ability, can run, hit, etc. So I think he’ll help us quickly.”

Caldwell added that Davis will likely be the team’s starting middle linebacker, which confirms what GM Bob Quinn said previously.

“It’s like anything else,” Caldwell said. “You try to put them in the best spot possible that you think where they can fit. But nowadays, the way in which you have so much nickel in the ballgame, those guys are really flexible in terms of the position that they play.”

Saints

• Saints HC Sean Payton said first-round LT Ryan Ramcyzk is about 3-4 weeks out and is recovering from hip surgery faster than they expected. (Sean Fazende)
• On Friday, the Saints waived rookie OL Collin Buchanan with a “left squad” designation. (NFLTR)
• Payton explained that he spoke with Buchanan this week and he said he was ready to pursue things other than football. (Nick Underhill)