Colin Kaepernick refuses “to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people”...

Colin Kaepernick visits Rikers Island, sparks new feud with correction officers union

Colin Kaepernick walked off the sidelines Tuesday — and onto Rikers Island — for a surprise visit with jail inmates that’s sparked a new battle in the NFL protest movement.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was at the city jail to speak to detainees inside the George Motchan Detention Center, according to jail insiders.

Kaepernick’s 2016 decision to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality quickly became a lightning rod this fall, drawing praise from supporters — many of whom took a knee in solidarity — and vocal criticism from others, including President Trump.

His presence Tuesday at Rikers drew an immediate rebuke from the union representing city correction officers, which promptly yanked its sponsorship of a Christmas tree lighting celebration.

"This will only encourage inmates to continue to attack Correction Officers at a time when we need more protection," said Elias Husamudeen, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association.

Furious union leaders noted socks Kaepernick wore in September 2016 depicting cops as little cartoon pigs in explaining their opposition.

"Once again, correction officers find themselves caught in Mayor de Blasio's political con-game,” Husamudeen said. “This is yet another brazen display of the hypocrisy of this mayor who pretends to support us in public, yet does everything possible to jeopardize our security in private."

Kaepernick, however, has been hailed by inmate advocates who cite his outspoken calls for criminal justice reforms.

"Colin Kaepernick visited Rikers today to share a message of hope and inspiration," said Correction Department spokesman Peter Thorne, who noted the visit was not unusual and didn't cost anything.

It was unclear if the mayor approved the sidelined QB’s visit, but all group jail visits must be cleared by top department brass.

Despite solid play on the field last year, Kaepernick, a free agent, was not signed by any of the National Football League's 32 teams this year. In October, he filed a grievance against the league, arguing team owners upset over his sideline protest colluded to keep him out. That case is pending.

Glenn Martin, founder of JustLeadershipUSA, a group advocating for the closure of Rikers, defended Kaepernick's visit.

"The world should see the hell that is Rikers Island," he said. "Colin's profile has helped shed light where it is needed. The fact that correction officers are more focused on his socks while people are getting their brains bashed in is despicable."

He added, "Colin understands that the systemic racism he's fighting nationally is epitomized on Rikers."

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Papa John's founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, about two months after he publicly criticized NFL leadership over national anthem protests by football players -- comments for which the company later apologized.

Schnatter will be replaced as chief executive by Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie on Jan. 1, the company announced Thursday. Schnatter, who appears in the chain's commercials and on its pizza boxes, and is the company's biggest shareholder, remains chairman of the board.

Earlier this year, Schnatter blamed slowing sales growth at Papa John's -- an NFL sponsor and advertiser -- on the outcry surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had kneeled during the national anthem to protest what he said was police mistreatment of black men, and other players started kneeling as well.

"The controversy is polarizing the customer, polarizing the country," Schnatter said during a conference call about the company's earnings on Nov. 1.

Papa John's apologized two weeks later, after white supremacists praised Schnatter's comments. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company distanced itself from the group, saying that it did not want them to buy their pizza.

Ritchie declined to say Thursday if the NFL comments played a role in Schnatter stepping down, only saying that it's "the right time to make this change."

Shares of Papa John's are down about 13 percent since the day before the NFL comments were made, reducing the value of Schnatter's stake in the company by nearly $84 million. Schnatter owns nearly 9.5 million shares of Papa John's International Inc., and his total stake was valued at more than $560 million on Thursday, according to FactSet. The company's stock is down 30 percent since the beginning of the year.

Schnatter, 56, founded Papa John's more than three decades ago, when he turned a broom closet at his father's bar into a pizza spot. And it has since grown to more than 5,000 locations. Schnatter has also become the face of the company, showing up in TV ads with former football player Peyton Manning.

The company hasn't decided if Schnatter will still be its spokesman, Ritchie said, adding that a decision will be made early next year.

Ravens admit protest has led to fan no-shows

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens sent out a letter this week to season-ticket holders, suite holders and sponsors about the number of no-shows at M&T Bank Stadium this season, touching upon the national anthem protest as one potential reason for it.

The letter, which was signed by team president ? Cass, mentions how there have been empty seats in the past when the Ravens have struggled on the field. But this year is different with Baltimore in the midst of a playoff race.

"The numbers [of no-shows] are higher, and it is noticeable," Cass wrote in the 656-word letter. "There are a number of reasons for the no-shows, but surely the one-time protest in London has been a factor."

The Ravens' first national anthem protest as a team occurred in London on Sept. 24, when more than a dozen players knelt before the first NFL game of the day. That began a day-long chain of protests that came in the wake of President Donald Trump's critical comments and tweets on protests during the anthem.

The following week in Baltimore, the Ravens knelt in prayer before standing for the anthem. Fans at M&T Bank Stadium booed the players when they took a knee.

There have since been no more protests by the team.

"We have responded to your concerns about the protest by re-doubling the efforts of both the organization and our players to make the Baltimore area a better community," Cass wrote.

According to Cass, the Ravens reached out to a number of fans who wrote to the team or called about the protest. Cass also personally made a number of phone calls and met with some fans, the letter stated.

"We want the Ravens to continue to be a strong, unifying force and source of pride in our community," Cass wrote. "When the Ravens win, we can bring families and the community together. We've done that before, and we can do it again.

"In light of recent events, we are also reminded that winning alone is not always enough to make the Ravens the unifying force we want to be. We don't take your support for granted, and we know that we must continue to earn your respect and investment in us."

In the letter, Cass underscores the history of success, including two Super Bowl championships, and the team's commitment to the community.

The letter was sent out before Baltimore finishes out the regular season with home games against the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals. If the Ravens win out, they will clinch their first playoff berth since 2014.

"I think they're starting to get excited about this football team," coach John Harbaugh said after last Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns, "so it should be fun in our stadium against the Colts next Saturday night."