Ray Lewis claims Ravens didn’t sign Kaepernick due to girlfriend’s ‘racist’ tweet

During an episode of “Inside the NFL” on Showtime, NFL legend and former linebacker for the Ravens Ray Lewis chimed in on why he believes Colin Kaepernick has not been signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

The problem, he claims, was not that Kaepernick knelt for the national anthem but that his girlfriend had recently posted on Twitter comparing the NFL to slavery.

“I’m startled that he has not been signed. I’ve been told ever since I’ve started covering the NFL that talent wins out. We’ve seen teams take chances on a lot of unsavory characters. The fact that this is what has tipped over and they can’t come to grips with signing a guy who has kneeled for the national anthem but you’ve signed guys that have enormous legal issues — and they’ve been embraced by teams and they’ve been embraced by fans — I find that curious,” said Judy Battista during the show.

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“When me and Steve Bisciotti were talking, this is what we were talking about, Judy. We were talking about giving this kid an opportunity to get back in the National Football League. Look, this is what I wanted to share with people. I have been fighting for this kid behind the table like nobody has … I’ve never been against Colin Kaepernick. But I am against the way he’s done it,” Lewis replied.

He then added, “Then, his girl [Colin Kaepernick’s girlfriend] goes out and put out this racist gesture and doesn’t know we are in the back office about to try to get this guy signed. Steve Bisciotti has said it himself, ‘How can you crucify Ray Lewis when Ray Lewis is the one calling for Colin Kaepernick?'”

He continued, “When they (Ravens) called me, it was to say, ‘Yes or no?’ … We were going to close the deal to sign him … Steve Bisciotti said, ‘I want to hear Colin Kaeperkick speak to let me know that he wants to play football.’ … And it never happens because that picture comes up the next day.”

When Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was reported to have an injury that caused him to miss his entire preseason, Kaepernick, who is a free agent, came up as a possible replacement. However, there were reports that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was opposed to that move, though those reports were denied.