What does the NFL’s settlement with Colin Kaepernick mean?
Presumably, the NFL is giving him one final large sum of money to not play football. The NFL’s settlement with Kaepernick and former 49ers safety Eric Reid prevents the collusion grievances and the gathered evidence from ever being heard. How much was that worth to the NFL?
What happened to Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid's collusion cases?
Kaepernick and Reid withdrew their collusion cases against the league on Feb. 15. The resolution of the matter was subject to a confidentiality agreement, according to a joint statement from the NFL and Kaepernick's lawyers Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas.
Are Colin Kaepernick's settlements taxable?
Most legal settlements are fully taxable as ordinary income, and Kaepernick's settlement would be viewed as lost earnings. The same tax rules apply whether you are paid to settle, win a judgment, or if your dispute only reaches the letter-writing phase. However, plaintiffs almost always have more flexibility to reduce taxes if a case settles.
How much would Colin Kaepernick's contract have been worth in 2017?
Kaepernick would have had a base salary of $14.5 million and a cap number of over $19 million for the 2017 season under his last contract. NFL teams haven't shown much interest in Kaepernick's services since his last days with the 49ers.
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What would happen if Colin Kaepernick lost the case?
Even if Kaepernick had lost the case, the NFL would have been left with a significant mess. Some are already criticizing Kaepernick for settling, not realizing how rare it is to see the NFL backed into a corner, especially by a player. Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback ever, couldn’t beat the NFL in court.
Who rejected Kaepernick's case?
Last August, arbitrator Stephen Burbank rejected the NFL’s request to have the case dismissed. That meant he believed Kaepernick’s team had compiled enough receipts to present their case.
Why did Colin Kaepernick make the NFL eat crows?
That Kaepernick was the one to make the NFL eat crow is a special kind of karma. This is just punishment because the league incompetently handled the player protests, starting with Kaepernick’s, from the beginning. Had the league not been so heavy-handed in policing the protests, this issue likely would have abated sooner. Had the league ignored Trump instead of cowering to his bullying, appeasing Trump wouldn’t have become a priority. Had one league owner had the guts to sign Kaepernick, this collusion case would have been a nonstarter.
Did Colin Kaepernick withdraw from the collusion case?
It doesn’t matter how much he made from the settlement announced on Friday; he bested the league. About the author: Jemele Hill is a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Technically, Colin Kaepernick withdrew his collusion case.
Does it matter how much money Kaepernick gets?
But it doesn’t matter how much money Kaepernick ultimately receives from the NFL; what matters is that he bested a league that has a long history of pummeling its opposition in court, especially players. In a way, the NFL had no other choice.
Did the NFL give depositions in Kaepernick's case?
Owners and coaches had already given depositions in Kaepernick’s case, and the details that emerged from those proceedings did not look good for the NFL. For one, the depositions showed just how much league owners were petrified of President Donald Trump, who had loudly criticized the player protests.
Is Colin Kaepernick going away?
Though this legal battle with Kaepernick has been resolved, he isn’t going away either. The league will forever have to live with the fact that it was complicit in destroying someone’s career simply because he wished to bring attention to the injustices suffered by his people.
How much did Colin Kaepernick get paid for protests?
Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, the NFL stars who alleged the league’s teams colluded to keep them off the field after they led protests during the national anthem, will receive less than $10 million to settle grievances with the league, according to people briefed on the deal.
Why did Colin Kaepernick and Reid get blackballed?
Reid, a safety, alleged in their grievances that they were blackballed by the league after they catalyzed a movement of protests —typically kneeling or holding up a fist—during the national anthem to draw attention to social issues and racial inequality. Mr.
Who was the 49ers quarterback who kneeled during the national anthem?
San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid, left, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneel during the national anthem before a game in 2016. Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, the NFL stars who alleged the league’s teams colluded to keep them off the field after they led protests during the national anthem, will receive less than $10 million ...
Is Colin Kaepernick signed?
Mr. Reid followed suit last year, and was later signed by the Carolina Panthers midway through the 2018 season. An NFL spokesman declined to comment.
Was Kaepernick's settlement a victory?
The confidential agreement was widely celebrated as a victory for the players. But the settlement is far less than the tens of millions of dollars Mr. Kaepernick, especially, would have likely been owed if his grievance had prevailed. It couldn’t be determined how the payment is divided between the players and how much they will net after legal fees.
How much did Colin Kaepernick get paid?
The details are not public, but Mike Freeman of Bleacher/Report has said there is speculation that Kaepernick was paid something on the order of $60 to $80 million. There is no official figure, but if the rumored range is true, that's a nice payday. But how much the lawyers take, and how much taxes take, should be considered. After all, is the money taxable? Plainly yes, unlike the NFL's concussion settlement, where monies were to go to injured players. Most legal settlements are fully taxable as ordinary income, and Kaepernick's settlement would be viewed as lost earnings. The same tax rules apply whether you are paid to settle, win a judgment, or if your dispute only reaches the letter-writing phase.
Can you deduct Kaepernick's legal fees?
How about Kaepernick’s taxes? He will surely be able to deduct his legal fees and costs under one of several theories , and he probably has sophisticated tax advisers who can help him. But not every plaintiff is so lucky. One way of deducting legal fees can be a business expense if the plaintiff is in business, and the lawsuit relates to it. Some plaintiffs claim that a lawsuit itself is a business, but in the past, that tax argument usually failed. It can be tempting to just bring your dispute to an end and to let the tax chips fall where they may. But plaintiffs should consider the tax aspects before they settle. They almost always have to consider taxes at tax return time the following year. Considering taxes earlier can sometimes save money by planning ahead.
Why did Colin Kaepernick withdraw his case?
According to Yahoo Sports's Charles Robinson, the publication was told Kaepernick would only withdraw his case if "a lucrative settlement" was reached between him and the league. Kaepernick first filed a grievance against the NFL in October 2017, claiming the NFL tried to keep him from playing after he chose to kneel during the national anthem.
When did Colin Kaepernick and Reid withdraw their collusion cases?
Kaepernick and Reid withdrew their collusion cases against the league on Feb. 15. The resolution of the matter was subject to a confidentiality agreement, according to a joint statement from the NFL and Kaepernick's lawyers Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas.
Who won the Kaepernick case?
Reid, a former teammate of Kaepernick 's, was also a member of the grievance and signed a deal with the Panthers in free agency in 2018. Kaepernick won the summary judgement phase of his case in August 2018, and the final hearing was set to go before arbitrator Stephen Burbank in February.
How much did Colin Kaepernick get from Eric Reid?
Publish date: Mar 21, 2019. Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Panthers safety Eric Reid will receive less than $10 million in a financial settlement with the NFL, according to the Wall Street Journal. It is not known how the money will be split between Kaepernick and Reid or how much they will get after legal fees.
Why did Colin Kaepernick file a grievance against the NFL?
Kaepernick filed his grievance against the NFL in October 2017, accusing NFL owners of colluding to keep him out of the league because of his protests during the national anthem.
How much did Colin Kaepernick make in his career?
Kaepernick made over $43 million during his NFL career, which includes $14.3 million during his last season in 2016. The quarterback opted out of his contract with the 49ers in 2017 and has yet to sign with another team.
When did Colin Kaepernick last throw a pass?
Kaepernick last threw an NFL pass on New Year’s Day 2017. He has received minimal interest since then.
Who is the attorney for Kaepernick and Reid?
When the settlement was announced in mid-February, Mark Geragos, attorney for both Kaepernick and Reid, said the agreement was confidential, but the amount eventually leaked out.
Did Colin Kaepernick settle with Eric Reid?
Ever since Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid reached a settlement with the NFL over their collusion grievances, people have wondered how much money the players received in the deal.
Who made Kaepernick a target?
President Donald Trump made Kaepernick one of his stump speech targets in 2017, calling the silent protests "disgraceful."
When did Colin Kaepernick play against the Falcons?
Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 18, 2016. Scott Cunningham / Getty Images file.
Is Colin Kaepernick signed by any NFL team?
Colin Kaepernick agrees to settle collusion case against the NFL. Feb. 15, 201901:01. Kaepnernick has not been signed by any team since he left the 49ers after the 2016 season. Reid has continued to play, with the 49ers in 2017 and the Carolina Panthers in the most recent season.
Did Colin Kaepernick settle the collusion case?
Colin Kaepernick agrees to settle collusion case against the NFL. "The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment," both sides said in a joint statement.
Did Colin Kaepernick take knees?
By David K. Li. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has settled his collusion grievance against the NFL, lawyers for the athlete and the league said Friday. Kaepernick and former teammate Eric Reid, who both took knees during the national anthem before games in 2016 as a way to protest systematic racism, ...
Who is Colin Kaepernick's lawyer?
Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid 's collusion case against the NFL officially came to an end on Friday afternoon. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, and the NFL both put out a statement saying that the matter had officially been resolved.
How much did Colin Kaepernick make in 2017?
Kaepernick would have had a base salary of $14.5 million and a cap number of over $19 million for the 2017 season under his last contract. NFL teams haven't shown much interest in Kaepernick's services since his last days with the 49ers.
When did Colin Kaepernick leave the 49ers?
Kaepernick, 31, last played football in 2016. He opted out of his contract with the 49ers in March of 2017, a parting that was inevitable given the expectation the 49ers would have released him had he remained with the team. Kaepernick would have had a base salary of $14.5 million and a cap number of over $19 million for ...
