Per Seifert...

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4478...coach-says

Kaepernick still training for his big chance....

Colin Kaepernick still training in hopes of NFL return, girlfriend says

His girlfriend, Nessa Diab, told TMZ Sports that Kaepernick, 37, is training “all day, every day” in hopes of prompting a team to sign the former quarterback, who has long maintained the stance that he was blackballed by teams after kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

“Nothing has changed,” Diab told the outlet of Kaepernick’s training, who later added that “it’s all up to the teams if they’ll let him” play.

It echoed a sentiment similar to what Kaepernick has maintained in interviews the last two years, including one with Sports Illustrated in 2023 where he said that people “may have forgotten what I was capable of doing on the field” — and that he looked forward to an opportunity where he had an opportunity to make a roster based on talent and “not the political bias that you have.”

His last NFL workout came with the Raiders in May 2022, according to The Athletic, but after Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending Achilles injury early in the 2023 season, Kaepernick wrote a letter to former Jets general manager Joe Douglas and presented himself as a “risk-free contingency plan” on the practice squad.

“Worst case scenario, you see what I have to offer and you’re not that impressed,” Kaepernick wrote at the time. “Best case scenario, you realize you have a real weapon at your disposal in the event you ever need to use it. In either of these scenarios, I would be committed to getting your defense ready week in and week out, all season long, and I would wear that responsibility like a badge of honor.”

His letter never led to a workout.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who coached him in San Francisco, told reporters ahead of the 2024 season that he spoke with Kaepernick about the possibility of a role on the coaching staff, but it never materialized — and Kaepernick, during an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” pushed back and said that conversation never happened.

“I found out the same way everyone else did — on social media,” Kaepernick said, while adding that he has no interest in coaching. “I was like, ‘Oh, I got a coaching offer.’ No, no coaching offer.”

So his NFL ledger has remained the same since his most recent game on Jan. 1, 2017, when Kaepernick completed 17 of 22 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks.

The former second-round pick helped the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl in 2014 before falling to the Ravens, and he collected a 69-58 record during the regular-season — throwing for 12,271 yards, 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions during those games — across his six campaigns in San Francisco.

Source:  https://sports.yahoo.com/article/colin-k...37808.html

Draft Jeanty at 6 please - keep him out of the North

https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1914397474258551295

Former state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleads not guilty to federal solicitation of minor charge

Former state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded not guilty Monday to his federal charge of attempted enticement of a minor following his arrest in an underage prostitution sting set up by Bloomington police last month.

“Not guilty, your honor,” Eichorn told U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins during an arraignment hearing that lasted less than five minutes.

Eichorn, from Grand Rapids, Minn., made the plea in person, traveling from a halfway house in Duluth where he’s staying as he awaits trial. His next court appearance has not been scheduled, as Eichorn’s lawyer, Charles Hawkins, asked the court for more time to sort through evidence.

If convicted on the federal count, Eichorn faces a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. He was the first arrestee swept up in the undercover operation to be brought to federal court immediately following the sting. Last week, federal prosecutors announced charges against a second man, 31-year-old Marwan Taweeleh, who also arrested in the case.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of sexual predators — particularly the prosecution of repeat sex offenders like Taweeleh,” acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said in a statement at the time.

The operation that led to the arrests of both men was part of a sting by a human trafficking task force, whose officers placed ads on websites frequented for sex trafficking and worked as “chatters” to communicate with people who responded to the advertisements.

Eichorn is alleged to have first made contact with an undercover officer posing as an 18-year-old girl and asked, “What’s a guy gotta do to get with the hottest girl online tonight?” The next day, Eichorn followed up and asked to meet for “Qv or hhr,” meaning a quick visit or a half-hour of sex.  The undercover officer replied with rates between $80 and $120.

When the undercover officer told Eichorn “im 17 sry don’t want u 2 b mad,” prosecutors said Eichorn replied that he believed the age of consent in Minnesota was 16 so he wasn’t worried.

Startribune

Wish my twins could do this. I could sell tickets. 

Seems hard to believe Cousins would allow a trade to a team where he isn't in line to be the starter, but ya never know I guess.


From ESPN...

Publicly, the Falcons have said they're not interested in trading quarterback Kirk Cousins but that they'd entertain offers if the right deal was on the table. Privately, they have had discussions with teams -- and have asked for a lot in return, per sources.

Atlanta has asked for any acquiring team to pay $20 million of the $45 million worth of guarantees left on Cousins ' contract. To date, no has been willing to do that, and no team is expected to be willing to. But what happens this weekend -- and which franchises come out of the draft with or without rookie quarterbacks -- could influence how much guaranteed money a team might be willing to absorb on Cousins' contract.

There is a feeling around the league that a team, whether it is the Vikings or Steelers, might be willing to pay down roughly $10 million. How much any team would be willing to pay also would influence the compensation it gives up. The higher the payment, the lower the draft compensation; the lower the payment, the higher the draft compensation. The Falcons and Cousins, who has a no-trade clause, recognize their future is not together, and how it will play out could very well be influenced by this draft.

I suppose one reason is they'll never land a SB 

U ready for all the Packer slobbering this week?

Dayam

We’re finally seeing some factual information on COVID from the government.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true...-covid-19/