Aaron Rodgers believes Colin Kaepernick’s protests are the reason he’s unsigned

Aaron Rodgers doesn’t share his opinions often, but recently opened up in an interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes. He was still tight-lipped about his relationship with his family and wasn’t very revealing about his break up with Olivia Munn, but Rodgers shared his thoughts on other subjects, including the unemployment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

According to Rodgers, it’s Kaepernick’s protests during the national anthem in 2016 that have kept him off a roster, not his quality of play.

The Packers haven’t had any players kneel during the anthem, but the team’s new tight end, Martellus Bennett, has been a vocal supporter of those who have, including his brother Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers said he has discussed the issues with Martellus, but doesn’t plan on joining the protest himself.

“I’m gonna stand because that’s the way I feel about the flag -- but I’m also 100 percent supportive of my teammates or any fellow players who are choosing not to,” Rodgers said. “They have a battle for racial equality. That’s what they’re trying to get a conversation started around.”

A year ago, Rodgers expressed a similar thought when he told Alex Marvez of Sporting News that he wouldn’t join the protests, but supported the freedom of expression used by Kaepernick and other players.

“I think the best way I can say this is: I don’t understand what it’s like to be in that situation,” Rodgers told ESPN. “What it is to be pulled over, or profiled, or any number of issues that have happened, that Colin was referencing -- or any of my teammates have talked to me about.”

Rodgers values his privacy and personal space, but has had brief moments when he chooses to share something more than just his thoughts on football. In 2015, he took a moment during a postgame press conference to denounce a fan for yelling a prejudicial comment about Muslims during the game.

The quarterback told ESPN that he’s sometimes envious of NBA players who are more free to speak about social issues due to structural differences like guaranteed contracts. Rodgers said that “fear of job security” is part of the reason gay players in the NFL may fear coming out.

One of those players was Ryan O’Callaghan — a former Patriots and Chiefs offensive lineman who played with Rodgers in college at Cal. O’Callaghan came out in an interview with OutSports.com in June and said he had long contemplated suicide.

“I’m incredibly proud of him,” Rodgers said of O’Callaghan. “I know he had a lot of fear about it, and how he would be accepted, and how people would change around him. I think society is finally moving in the right direction, as far as treating all people with respect and love and acceptance and appreciation. And the locker room, I think the sport is getting closer.”

When the season begins in September, Rodgers will likely return to his “all business” persona again. But the ESPN profile offers a glimpse at a deep-thinking person who contemplates much more than football.