Ray Lewis says 'racist' tweet from Colin Kaepernick's girlfriend kept the Ravens from signing the quarterback
(Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab at the Time 100 gala in April 2017.Charles Sykes/AP)
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said during Showtime's "Inside the NFL" on Tuesday that a tweet from Colin Kaepernick's girlfriend prevented the Ravens from signing quarterback.
On August 5, radio host and Kaepernick's girlfriend Nessa Diab published a tweet comparing Lewis and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti to Samuel L. Jackson's character in "Django Unchained." In the film, Jackson plays a loyal house slave to Leonardo DiCaprio's slave master character.
Lewis said the Ravens were "close" to signing Kaepernick, but the "racist gesture" by Diab prevented the signing.
"We were close to signing him," Lewis said, adding, "And it never happens because that picture comes up the next day."
Lewis continued: "[Kaepernick's girlfriend] goes out and put out this racist gesture and doesn't know we are in the back office about to try to get this guy signed. Steve Bisciotti has said it himself: 'How can you crucify Ray Lewis when Ray Lewis is the one calling for Colin Kaepernick?'"
Lewis said Kaepernick would have been in Baltimore discussing a possible signing if not for the tweet.
🎯 @raylewis pic.twitter.com/N9k7nDgmDh
— NESSA (@nessnitty) August 3, 2017
Kaepernick was considered a possible fill-in for Joe Flacco in Baltimore when Flacco hurt his back in training camp. ESPN's Diana Russini reported that the Ravens coaching staff was willing to sign Kaepernick, but Bisciotti was hesistant due to Kaepernick's national anthem protest.
Kaepernick is still unsigned with the NFL regular season kicking off on Thursday.
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