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The Kaepernick Settlement: Why Measuring Victory Has Nothing to Do With a Dollar Amount

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  • Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid were heavy underdogs in their quest to prove collusion by the NFL—they got a confidential settlement of an unknown amount. But more important than any dollar figure is what the league’s willingness to settle suggests, as well as the inextinguishable nature of the message the two players set out to deliver.

The NFL is as image-conscious as any sports league in the world. It cares about image down to fining players for wearing the wrong socks.