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How Colin Kaepernick Could Help the LA Chargers

 
The Los Angeles Chargers brought in free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III for a workout Tuesday. The oft-injured former Heisman trophy winner and Offensive Rookie of the Year has had a hard time finding suitors after being released by the Cleveland Browns. New Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, a former NFL fullback, had success with a run-heavy offense in Buffalo with Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy. With Philip Rivers' career winding down, Lynn may look to replicate the formula with third-year back Melvin Gordon, who is coming off a nice sophomore campaign. While Griffin certainly has the tools to run Lynn's offense, he's coming off a year in which he played just 5 games, after suffering yet another injury during Week 1. If Lynn is looking for a mobile quarterback, former San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick should be another option worth exploring.

It seems like ages ago that Griffin and Kaepernick were supposed to revolutionize the quarterback position, and yet here they sit atop the NFL scrap heap, deemed damaged goods for one reason or another. For Griffin, his body betrayed him before he could really take off. After his dazzling rookie season ended with an ankle injury in the Redskins' Wild Card loss, he was never able to regain his form. For Kaepernick, his activism has become the elephant in the room that NFL executives insist has no effect on his current unemployment. After a pair of subpar seasons which included inaccuracy, losing his job to Jags bust Blaine Gabbert, and a series of injuries, Colin Kaepernick had a pretty decent bounce back season on a putrid Niners squad last year.

Believing he had done enough to warrant interest on the open market, and in need of a fresh start, Kaepernick opted out of his deal with the Niners and became a free agent. Aside from a visit with the Seattle Seahawks last month, his phone has been silent. Kaepernick would not only be an upgrade over incumbent backup Kellen Clemens, but he would bring a little buzz to a franchise in desperate need after relocating to Los Angeles.

Unlike the crosstown Rams, the Chargers have little history in the city of angels. After playing their inaugural 1960 season in the AFL in LA, they headed south to San Diego, where they remained through the end of last season. Although chairman Dean Spanos is saying they have a large contingent of season ticket holders from Orange County, many think the franchise may struggle to pack the 30,000 seat StubHub Center in Carson.

While some owners are uncomfortable about having Kaepernick represent their franchise due to his political activism, the Chargers could benefit greatly by having Kaepernick in the LA community representing them. Kaepernick has shown that he was doing more than just speaking out by actually being active in the community and making a difference. After once having a whole room of his house dedicated to his shoe collection, Kaepernick donated the majority of it to homeless people in the Bay Area. He later bought tailored suits for parolees in New York, so that they would be able to look sharp for job interviews. He followed through on a pledge to donate $1 million to charity. Kaepernick is setting the example for what owners should want from the faces of their franchise.

Rivers turns 36 this year, so Lynn could very well be looking towards the future. A healthy, motivated Kaepernick could be just what the franchise needs. If anything, he would be a low-cost, low-risk backup option.

You can follow Dino Marcelino on Twitter @DiNDiN4THEWiN

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