Colin Kaepernick Now Among Madden 21 Players, EA Comments on His Return
In a major move, EA Sports had added former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick back to their popular Madden title. As of Tuesday, Kaepernick is amongst Madden 21 players, marking his return to the game despite him not being signed to any team. However, it’s a historic move as EA has revealed why they’ve added him back into Madden 21.
EA releases statement about adding Colin Kaepernick to game
On Tuesday, EA Sports put out a statement, explaining their decision to bring Colin Kaepernick back into the football game. His inclusion amongst Madden 21 players makes it the first time he’s been part of the title since 2016.
Per EA Sports’ statement:
“Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback. The team at EA SPORTS, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to see him back in our game. …
“Knowing that our EA SPORTS experiences are platforms for players to create, we want to make Madden NFL a place that reflects Colin’s position and talent, rates him as a starting QB, and empowers our fans to express their hopes for the future of football. We’ve worked with Colin to make this possible, and we’re excited to bring it to all of you today.”
Kaepernick played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 through 2016, leading them to the Super Bowl in 2013. He and the 49ers ultimately fell by a field goal to the Baltimore Ravens, but Kaepernick’s legend and connection to the game was just getting started.
In 2016, he was the first player to start kneeling on the field before games during the playing of the National Anthem. This was to protest racial inequality and police brutality in the United States.
It’s believed that his controversial pre-game statement and activism is what eventually cost him his job as a starting quarterback in the NFL. In 2017, he became a free agent but no teams would sign him. He’s been out of the league ever since. There have been rumors of a return but nothing has materialized.
Kaepernick amongst Madden 21 free agents
In order to find Colin Kaepernick amongst Madden 21 players, gamers will need to make sure they’ve updated the game. If it’s updated to the latest version, Kaepernick is part of the “Free Agents.”
To find him, go to the Settings gear on the main menu, and choose Roster, then Sign Free Agents. Gamers can add him to any team roster through this method.
Kaepernick is rated an 80 overall and also brings a hefty salary. His overall rating doesn’t rival the OVRs of top-quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, or cover star Lamar Jackson. There’s probably a bit of a rust factor involved with Kap having been watching from the sidelines for four or five years.
However, the 32-year-old QB looks like he could help any struggling team in the video game right now. He’s the top-rated free agent available in the game.
Amongst his attributes are 84 Speed, 87 Acceleration, 89 Throw Under Pressure, 85 Short Pass Accuracy, 79 Mid Accuracy, and 81 Deep. Not bad at all for a player who’s been out of the game for about five years now!
There are no recent reports of any NFL teams looking to sign Kaepernick, but for now, gamers can bring Kap to the team of their choice and showcase his skills virtually.
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