Hear me out...Take a knee, but not here or there or anywhere

My god has Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the anthem carried on for much longer than I thought. The story has some legs and I don't see it tiring anytime soon, well maybe for a stretch in November.

Kaepernick's protest has everyone exercising their God-given right to express their opinions. While everyone has the liberty to express their thoughts it doesn't mean everything said is brilliant. With that being said it's time to pay tribute the dumbest comments made in response to Kaepernick's protest.

Trent Dilfer – ESPN analyst

"Football is the ultimate team game and ... you want to be a championship teammate, you want to fully be bought into having your team have the best chance at success, then you put your team above yourself. And no matter how passionate you are, no matter how much of a burden you have for a social issue, you don't let it get in the way of the team. And the big thing that hit me through all this was: This is a backup quarterback, whose job is to be quiet and sit in the shadows and get the starter ready to play Week 1, yet he chose a time where all of a sudden he became the center of attention."

It is hilarious and mind-blowing that Dilfer, a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, believes the San Francisco 49ers are a championship team. He does know Chip Kelly and Blaine Gabbert are there right?

After I was done laughing about the 49ers as contenders the rest of Dilfer's comments are honestly sad. Dilfer would rather sit by and do nothing, when he sees something wrong going on in our nation or his community? I understand the anger toward Dilfer but for me it's disheartening he would rather stick his head in the sand for a game? Football, basketball or any sport for that matter shouldn't force real issues to the backburner. Sports is not all of life has to offer.

Dabo Swinney – Football head coach for the Clemson Tigers

"I think there's a better way. How about call a press conference? Express your feelings. Everybody will show up, talk about it. Go and be a part of things, and protest them. That's great. I think everybody has that right. I certainly respect that. But I just think that this just creates more division. That's what I hate to see."

Here's my thing with Swinney, had someone told him there's a time and a place for praising God, how open would he be to that? I'm positive we'd see him walk these comments back at a Fred Flintstone like pace.

Swinney also referenced Martin Luther King Jr. but those comments were far too long. Paraphrasing, he mentioned MLK Jr. inspired change in the correct way, it was the typical romanticism associated with MLK. Just like Dilfer, Swinney believes there's a time and a place and if you're going to inspire true change here's a form to fill out of when, where and how and don't forget to initial on the blue tabs and sign on the green tabs. Words like this from Swinney and Dilfer always remind me of an excerpt from MLK Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail.

First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.

Tony La Russa - MLB HoF manger

"I know that there's a constitutional right to express yourself, but I think you have a right as an organization to have a certain philosophy about respecting, whether it's our Constitution, whether it's our country, whether it's our soldiers ... our flag. I would not, to the best of my ability, I would not sanction somebody taking a knee ... I think that's disrespectful, and I really question the sincerity of somebody like Kaepernick. I remember when he was on top. I never heard him talk about anything but himself. Now all of a sudden he's struggling for attention and he makes this big pitch. I don't buy it. And even if he was sincere, there are other ways to show your concern. Disrespecting our flag is not the way to do it."

I still like Dilfer and Swinney, while I disagree with them I believe at heart they're still good people. With La Russa though I'm having a hard time believing he's a decent human being. I'm kidding, he's a terrible person. Google Tony La Russa terrible person and it's a treasure trove of how horrible this guy is. His comments scream 'I'm in power, you do as I see fit, I don't care about your civil liberties. I am Tony La Russa and I'm going to show you how American I am by taking away your rights as an American.' Or something along those lines.

When questioning Kapernick's sincerity you really need to break it down. Kaepernick has nothing to gain and everything to lose. He's a backup quarterback on a terrible team in a league that cuts players for the smallest of infractions. How has Kaepernick benefited from any of this? He doesn't have endorsement deals flooding his agent's office. Sure, he was narcissistic when he rose to fame but it doesn't mean he has to act like that for the remainder of his life. People have the ability to change and it often happens after you hit rock bottom.

One more thought and I will dismount from my soap box.

Protest is meant to stir the pot, determining the "appropriate time" diminishes the protest. A good society needs protest, it is how we improve and move forward. One thing is for certain, it's a good thing men like Dilfer, Swinney and La Russa were not founding fathers. Otherwise we'd still be looking for the appropriate time to dump that tea in the harbor.