Every other single guy protested the anthem EXCEPT CK is still playing in the NFL. THAT ALONE proves that this is a business decision.
Btw - can I please refute one particular line of reasoning I'm getting sick of hearing? There's a cottage industry out there to defending CK that goes like this:
a) he's better than (names of lousy backups)
b) he threw 16 TDs and only 4 INT last year!!!
Let's deal with each of these.
First of all, it's hardly an endorsement of athletic ability to say you're better than the worst backup QB in the NFL. Thousands of others could make that same claim and yet nobody is arguing for them to be signed to NFL contracts.
Secondly - where in the hell did we EVER get the idea that SIXTEEN TDs in a 16-game NFL schedule is a GOOD STAT? Twenty-four other NFL quarterbacks threw for more touchdowns. Oh, but Colin only played 12 games, right? That still makes him 19th in average TDs per game.
Wanna hear some stats the CK tongue bathers don't ever quote?
1) His completion percentage of 59.2 is 26th in a 32-team league. Keep in mind this is inflated because he throws a lot of short outs, which anybody with one arm should be capable of doing.
2) He's 29th out of 32 in passing yards.
3) His QBR is 23rd; I'm actually amazed one of his dolts hasn't pointed out he's higher than Cam Newton in this stat.
4) He's 29 years old playing a position that has an average of ELEVEN NEW ONES drafted every single year and has an average age of about 28 that is inflated by five QBS 35 or older.
In other words, if he's actually an NFL caliber player, he should be hitting his peak right now.
And his peak isn't all that good.