Adam Schefter, citing a league source, reports that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will be among several owners and executives to be deposed and asked to turn over all cell phone records and emails in relation to the Colin Kaepernick collusion case against the NFL.
As of now, the list of owners who will also be deposed include:
- Jerry Jones (Cowboys)
- Robert Kraft (Patriots)
- Bob McNair (Texans)
- Paul Allen (Seahawks)
- Jed York (49ers)
According to Schefter, these owners were selected for depositions based on their public statements about Kaepernick or player protests during the national anthem.
As for the league executives who will be deposed, Schefter lists executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent and senior VP of player engagement Arthur McAfee.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported a few days ago that Kaepernick’s legal team has expanded the scope of search terms that will be used when gathering evidence from text messages, emails, and other digital evidence.
Kaepernick’s legal team will be looking for potential smoking guns in order to prove collusion from the NFL.
According to Florio, the search terms will include obvious words like “Kaepernick” and “Trump” exchanged between people on the same team and people who represent different teams that may have any relation, direct or indirect, to the search for quarterbacks and the decision not to sign that specific quarterback.
Florio adds that Colts owner Jim Irsay could end up being questioned under oath regarding his team’s failure to pursue Kaepernick this year.
Charles Robinson added that communications records between Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have been requested along with record requests from the 49ers, Seahawks, Ravens, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Titans. Beyond that, Robinson says talks between Jerry Jones and Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter could become a part of the grievance discovery.
Kaepernick and his attorney, Mark Geragos, officially filed a grievance under the CBA for collusion against NFL owners last month.
Geragos later mentioned on the “Reasonable Doubt” podcast that there’s “reason to believe” a “smoking gun” exists in regards to the NFL colluding against his client.
“What you need is the email from . . . Goodell to the owners, you need that smoking gun of the ‘don’t hire this guy,” co-host Adam Carolla said, via Pro Football Talk.
“We have very good reason to believe that that exists,” Geragos replied.
“The interesting thing will be when the discovery comes, and I expect the discovery to be very quickly,” Geragos said. “You know, you can’t erase stuff anymore like you used to be able to; texts, emails, things of that nature.”
A source with knowledge of the situation told Florio that the straw for Kaepernick came after the Titans snubbed him and instead worked out Brandon Weeden, Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin, and T.J. Yates following the injury to Marcus Mariota.
Kaepernick, 29, is a former second-round pick of the 49ers back in 2010. He was in the third year of his seven-year, $126.97 million contract that included $61 million guaranteed when reached an agreement with the 49ers on a restructured deal.
Kaepernick visited with the Seahawks a few months ago but left Seattle without an agreement.
In 2016, Kaepernick has completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,241 yards and 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 468 yards rushing. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 27 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 50 Available Free Agents list.
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