So this guy’s not even trying to win allies, huh? When he first sat for the national anthem, you might have chalked it up to an error in judgment: He’s trying to make a point about racism and police brutality, he chose a stupid way to do it by targeting a symbol of America writ large, but he’ll smarten up once he takes some heat and switches to a less alienating way of expressing himself.

Maybe alienating people is what he’s after, though. Not only is this a conspicuously douchey way to criticize the police, it’s awfully glib for someone who’s begging to be taken seriously. Is Kaepernick really trying to earn converts or is he just a radical-chic provocateur? If you’ve seen this other recent photo, you already know the answer.

Colin Kaepernick is now wearing socks depicting the police as pigs. pic.twitter.com/C1D809YSR2

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 1, 2016

Those photos were taken August 10th but only got the media’s attention today. Kaepernick posted a statement on his Instagram account this afternoon detailing his reasoning in choosing those socks: Something something standing up for good cops.

He’s in San Diego tonight for the 49ers’ final preseason game against the Chargers — which will open with a “Salute to the Military,” as it turns out, with a serviceman singing the national anthem. I wonder if I can get odds in Vegas over the next hour that he walks out after the game wearing a Che shirt. He’d better take advantage of the opportunity, as this might be the last NFL game he ever plays:

“I don’t want him anywhere near my team,” one front office executive said. “He’s a traitor.”…

He wasn’t alone in the anger directed toward Kaepernick. In interviews with seven team executives, each said he didn’t want Kaepernick on his team. This is far from scientific, but I believe this is likely the feeling among many front office executives. Not all. But many.

All seven estimated 90 to 95 percent of NFL front offices felt the same way they did. One executive said he hasn’t seen this much collective dislike among front office members regarding a player since Rae Carruth. Remember Rae Carruth? He’s still in prison for the plot to murder his pregnant girlfriend…

“He has no respect for our country,” one team executive said. “F–k that guy.”

The 2013 version of Kaepernick played at a high enough level that he wouldn’t have had to worry about being cut over an anthem protest. (As many an NFL fan has noticed, Kaepernick’s social-justice consciousness didn’t begin to rise until his quality of play had fallen.) The 2016 version of Kaepernick is a different story. This may be it. Kickoff is at 10 p.m. ET.

In lieu of an exit question, your thought for the day:

https://twitter.com/OneNorthAvenue/status/771431238888554496