It’s almost Week 7 in the NFL and a few big-name starting quarterbacks have been benched due to poor play (Tom Savage, Brian Hoyer, Mike Glennon) or have gone down due to long-term injury (Ryan Tannehill, Aaron Rodgers). But no NFL team has signed free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, so now he’s taking action.
If NFL teams are leery about reaching out to Kaepernick, it isn’t due to his playing abilities. A recent Washington Post article found that when comes to a major predictor of success under center, Kaepernick would rank somewhere near 25th among the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks. That qualifies him to possibly start on a team with a lesser quarterback and makes him a top-tier backup or an overqualified third-stringer.
It’s widely speculated that Kaepernick hasn’t been picked up because of the national anthem kneeling protests he began last year to call attention to racial inequality. His protests have since been adopted by hundreds of NFL players and athletes across the country. A large percentage of Americans have chosen to be offended by the protests, saying they’re offensive to the military, although protestors have been adamant they are not.
President Donald Trump called for athletes who take a knee during the national anthem to be fired. He went so far as to ask a crowd in Alabama if they’d love “to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, he’s fired.’”
Kaepernick has now taken legal action against the NFL by filing a grievance alleging that owners have colluded to keep him off the field. It’s believed the breaking point came after Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans suffered a hamstring injury and the team signed Brandon Weeden over Kaepernick.
Colin Kaepernick filed grievance against NFL owners for collusion under the latest collective bargaining agreement
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) October 15, 2017
Eagles named in suit pic.twitter.com/8EXUTk43io
Kaepernick’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, released a statement on Sunday. “If the NFL ... is to remain a meritocracy, then principled and peaceful protest — which the owners themselves made great theater imitating weeks ago — should not be punished and athletes should not be denied employment based on partisan political provocation by the Executive Branch of our government,” Geragos said.
Although it’s pretty clear that Kaepernick’s political activities have made many owners leery of signing him, it may be difficult for his lawyers to prove that collusion took place. According to Sports Illustrated, Kaepernick’s lawyers must prove that “that two or more teams, or the league office and at least one team, conspired in some way to deny him an opportunity to play in the NFL.”
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We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.