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Joe Theismann slams 49ers for giving Colin Kaepernick award: ‘What did he inspire?’

Joe Theismann, right, criticized the 49ers for giving Colin Kaepernick the team's most prestigious award.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press; Fox News)
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Colin Kaepernick received an award from the San Francisco 49ers last week, and former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann isn’t happy about it.

Appearing on Fox News’ “Outnumbered” on Tuesday, Theismann questioned the 49ers players’ decision to choose Kaepernick as the recipient of the organization’s Len Eshmont Award for inspirational and courageous play. It’s considered the team’s most prestigious honor.

“This award doesn’t mean anything to me,” said Theismann, who led the Washington Redskins to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one, in the 1980s. “Inspired and courageous? You’re 2-14. What did he inspire? You’re [1-10] as a quarterback [this season]. What [did] you possibly inspire?”

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The award may have been for something other than Kaepernick’s play on the field. He garnered a lot of attention for his decision not to stand during the pregame national anthem as a means of protesting social injustice.

Kaepernick’s protest started during the preseason and continued throughout the year, and numerous athletes at all levels have taken similar actions.

Theismann objected to that aspect of Kaepernick’s season as well. “I don’t agree with what he’s done,” the former player said.

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“Everybody has the right to express their opinion, but not in the workplace,” Theismann added.

charles.schilken@latimes.com

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Twitter: @chewkiii

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