seestyle: Colin Kaepernick is back in Madden with the rating of a star

Colin Kaepernick has not been in the NFL in real life or virtually since the 2016 season. His virtual hiatus, at least, ends with this year's "Madden" video game.EA Sports on Tuesday announced Kaepernick's return in "Madden NFL 21," which wasmade available last month. The gaming company released a strong statement explaining its adding Kaepernick back to the game.MORE: "Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback," the release read."The team at EA Sports, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to Don Mattingly Jersey see him back in our game. Weve had a long relationship with Colin through Madden NFL and worked through our past soundtrack mistakes. Don Larsen Jersey (Note: Those soundtrack mistakes were EA Sports editing Kaepernick's name out of songs on two occasions.)"Knowing that our EA Sports experiences are platforms for players to create, we want to make Madden NFL a place that reflects Colins position and talent, rates him as a starting QB, and empowers our fans to expre s their hopes for the future of football. Weve worked with Colin to make this po sible, and were excited to bring it to all of you today."Starting today in Madden NFL 21, fans can put Colin Kaepernick at the helm of any NFL team in Franchise mode, as well as play with him in Play Now. We look forward to seeing Colin on Madden NFL teams everywhere."Colin Kaepernick is in now and has a personalized intro when he enters the game. Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) EA Sports set Kaepernick's overall rating at 81, which makes him by far the best free-agent quarterback inthe game. It's also higher than the initial ratings of 17 starting quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill (80), Derek Carr ( Dellin Betances Jersey 79),Baker Mayfield (78), Cam Newton (78), Josh Allen (77), Kyler Murray (77), Jared Goff (76), Joe Burrow (76), J.A. Happ Jersey Teddy Bridgewater (75), Ryan Fitzpatrick (74), Sam Darnold (73), Daniel Jones (72), Mitchell Trubisky (72), Drew Lock (70), Dwayne Haskins (70), Gardner Minshew (70) andTyrod Taylor (69).Here is EA Sports' explanation of that rating:"Based on Kaepernicks prior on-the-field performance, combined with our data-driven EA Sportsratings simulations, Kaepernick is an 81 OVR, which takes into account that he has not taken the field since 2016."When Kaepernick was a healthy starting quarterback he was rated 89, 89, 81 overall and known for his strong touchdown-to-interception ratio, mobilityand playoff performances. And because this is yourfranchise, you also have the ability to adjust Kaepernicks ratings, giving you the flexibility to add him to the 99 Club."Another interesting line in EA Sports' release as it relates to Kaepernick's abilities in the game: "Make sure you choose the live roster file option when starting your franchise and sign Kaepernick before the start of Week 1 of the preseason because the CPU controlled- Adam Ottavino Jersey teams definitely wont mi s the chance to scoop him up and make him their starter."Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio noted Tuesday that EA Sports' adding Kaepernick back to the game "surely comes with the expre s permi sion of the NFL, given that the NFL exclusively licenses to Tyler Austin Jersey EA the ability to create a game using NFL names and logos."In real life, Kaepernick remains a free agent more than four years after he began protesting racial injustice and police brutality in the United Statesby sitting and then kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games.Florio reported Monday that"there expre sed as to Kaepernick in months."