Tampa Bay Signs Ryan Fitzpatrick & Get Dragged For Not Picking Colin Kaepernick

Ryan Fitzpatrick & Colin Kaepernick
Rex/Shutterstock
San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. The same guys who banished Kaepernick from the league for kneeling during the anthem to raise awareness about those very same issues have ruthlessly commandeered his cause Paul Newberry The Kaepernick Effect, Seattle, USA - 25 Sep 2016
Eli Harold, Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid. San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold, left, quarterback Colin Kaepernick, center, and safety Eric Reid kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif., . From gambling suspensions of Paul Hornung and Alex Karras in the 1960s to Colin Kaepernick and other players kneeling during the national anthem, the NFL always seems to overcome controversies NFL at 100 Scandals Football, Santa Clara, USA - 02 Oct 2016
Former NFL football quarterback Colin Kaepernick is seated on stage during W.E.B. Du Bois Medal ceremonies, at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. Kaepernick is among eight recipients of Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Medals in 2018. Harvard has awarded the medal since 2000 to people whose work has contributed to African and African-American cultureHarvard Medalists, Cambridge, USA - 11 Oct 2018
This Dec. 24, 2016 photo shows San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick talking during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL on alleging that he remains unsigned as a result of collusion by owners following his protests during the national anthemKaepernick-Grievance Football, Los Angeles, USA - 25 Dec 2016 View Gallery View Gallery 7 Photos.
Music & Sports Editor

Ryan Fitzpatrick is headed to Florida! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed the New York Jets quarterback on May 19, picking him to be Jameis Winston’s backup. Some NFL fans were absolutely livid by the Bucs’ decision, tearing into the team for choosing Ryan over Colin Kaepernick!

With each passing day, the chances of Colin Kaepernick, 29, finding a new job in the NFL continue to dwindle down to nothing. Another door closed on May 19, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ryan Fitzpatrick, 34, agreed to a deal that will see the New York Jets QB serve as a backup for the Bucs starter, Jameis Winston, 23. Fans were not pleased with the decision, as Ryan is coming off a disappointing 2016 season with Gang Green. Ryan threw 17 interceptions, only 12 touchdowns and complied a 69.6 passer rating, the lowest in the league, according to ESPN. So, to see him get picked over Colin left some fans seeing red.

One furious Twitter user pointed out that Ryan rushed for 33 times, racked up 130 yards and zero touchdowns, whereas Colin rushed for 468 yards for 2 touchdowns over 69 carries. “Don’t tell me it’s about talent,” the fans said, mocking anyone who claimed the Bucs picked the “better” quarterback. Others pointed out that while Ryan threw 6 interceptions in a single game (Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs) Colin threw for only 4 interceptions all season. Another user pointed out that Mark Sanchez, 30, Matt Barkley, 26, Josh McCown, 37, Nick Foles, 28, and Case Keenun, 29 all have found jobs in the NFL, while Colin hasn’t. “Damn shame.”

Fans are furious as what they perceive to be the NFL’s attempt to blackball Colin for his decision to protest during the national anthem in the 2016-17 season. Colin’s decision gained a lot of criticism – even President Donald Trump, 70, took a shot at him during a March 2017 rally – but his non-violent protest brought a lot of attention to a cause he believed in. Even though he said he wouldn’t continue the protest in 2017, teams haven’t rushed to sign him after he left the San Francisco 49ers. The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly interested in signing him as a backup, per ESPN, but that hasn’t happened yet.


https://twitter.com/NoChiIlSports/status/865576774419324928

Though, Ryan’s not guaranteed to ever see action with the Bucs. He’ll have to compete for the second QB position, going up against Sean Renfree, 27, and Ryan Griffin, 27, for the spot, according to Fox Sports. At 34 years old, he’s nearly 10-years older than his competition, and has a long career in the NFL. If he does play for the Bucs during the 2017 season, he’ll have thrown for seven different teams: the Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans. Still, at least he has a job — unlike Colin.

Are you mad that the Bucs signed Ryan Fitzpatrick instead of Colin, HollywoodLifers?