Backup quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers has gotten a lot of attention lately.  With Landry Jones set to become a free agent, the team may be in the market for a new back up to Ben Roethlisberger.  That is provided they don’t just stick with Zach Mettenberger as the backup, and take a quarterback in this years draft.  On the surface, that seems to have been the Steelers original plan all along.  If they do decide to deviate from that plan, there are some intriguing players out there.  Names like Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, and Brian Hoyer have all been mentioned to the Steelers, but the most interesting of them all has to be Colin Kaepernick.

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way right here.  The kneeling during the national anthem rubs most people the wrong way, me included.  It’s been reported that he will start standing for the anthem again this coming season.  Whether you agree with it or not, it is a distraction to the team and the Steelers don’t need anymore distractions.  So if he indeed intends to stand, then we can get past this and evaluate him as a football player.  So much of displeasure for Kaepernick’s actions on the sidelines have clouded the fact that he’s not a bad player on the field.  It’s too easily forgotten that he lead a team to a Super Bowl not all that long ago.

Nobody is ever going to say Colin Kaepernick  is an elite quarterback in the NFL.  He can however, be an effective one in the right system.  He is an athletic player with a very strong arm among other traits you want in a quarterback.  In fact, his skills translate into a perfect back up at that position.  It’s the kind of skill set can steal you a few wins with athleticism alone, never mind the  experience in big games.  And let’s be honest, San Francisco never had the offensive weapons the Steelers bring to the table.  It’s an offense that is well suited to Kaepernick’s strengths.  Pittsburgh has the deep threats  to take advantage of his strong arm, and the offensive line and running game to keep the pressure off.  It’s an ideal landing spot for the embattled quarterback.  This of course  is all under the assumption that he would sign a deal with a team with no chance to at least compete for a starter.  If Kaeprenick is willing to sign with a team like Pittsburgh and be a backup for one or two seasons, it could do wonders to rebuild his value.  The Steelers have gone this route before when they signed Mike Vick.  Unfortunately Vick was finished long before Pittsburgh signed him.  At only 29, Colin Kaepernick has a lot of football left in him.  Unlike Vick, the timing could be perfect to sign an athletic quarterback to play behind Big Ben.