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Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti continues to be torn whether to sign controversial free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick because of the possible backlash from fans. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome support the signing of Kaepernick but have met resistance from Bisciotti, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.
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Newsome responded to Wednesday's report from ESPN regarding Kaepernick.
"We are going through a process, and we have not made a decision," Newsome said in a statement. "Steve Bisciotti has not told us we cannot sign Colin Kaepernick, nor has he blocked the move. Whoever is making those claims is wrong."
This is not the first time an NFL team has wanted to add Kaepernick to its roster but the move was blocked by the team's owner, according to ESPN.
Bisciotti said Sunday the Ravens were still weighing whether to sign Kaepernick, who became a flashpoint for debate last season when he kneeled during the national anthem to bring attention to civil rights issues.
"I hope we do what is best for the team and balance that with what is best for our fans," Bisciotti said at a fan forum with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at M&T Bank Stadium. "Your opinions matter to us. ... We're very sensitive to it, and we're monitoring it, and we're trying to figure out what's the right tact. So pray for us."
Team president Dick Cass confirmed the franchise is reaching out to former players, anchor sponsors and advertisers and others to gauge the potential for a negative reaction to signing Kaepernick.
Kaepernick's name surfaced last week after Harbaugh said starting quarterback Joe Flacco would miss a week of training camp with a back injury.
The Ravens signed journeyman quarterback Josh Woodrum on Monday and waived David Olson, the arena league quarterback who was signed three days earlier.
Woodrum is serving as the No. 3 quarterback behind Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan until Flacco returns. Mallett struggled filling in with the first-team offense during one practice, throwing at least five interceptions.
Harbaugh was asked for an update Wednesday on the quarterback situation, telling reporters: "I do not have an update on Colin Kaepernick. I'll frame that this way: there are other positions that we're looking at too and I don't have any updates on those either. I think they're all in the same category."
Kaepernick, who opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 3, passed for 2,241 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while fumbling a career-worst seven times last season. He also ran for 468 yards and two touchdowns.
In six NFL seasons, Kaepernick has passed for 12,271 yards with 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, adding another 2,300 yards and 13 TDs on the ground.
Just 1-10 as a starter last season with the 49ers, Kaepernick has a 32-32 career record and led San Francisco to a Super Bowl -- a loss to the Ravens in New Orleans -- but lost his grip on the starting job due to injury.
