The NFL has some major issues to sort out, and the mess just keeps getting wider, deeper, and murkier.

Last week, spineless Commissioner Roger Goodell tried to fix things with a memo, informing the players that the rules state the players must be standing. Of course, there was no mention of actual enforcement. It was just more of a “hey guys, these are the rules, could you remember that, kthxbai” kind of memo.

So the New Orleans Saints kneeled before the anthem, which contained a moment of silence. A New Orleans police officer was murdered last Friday, and the moment of silence was intended for him.

Officer Marcus McNeil, New Orleans Police Department was ambushed & murdered while on patrol #OfficerMcNeil #stopshootingmypoliceofficers pic.twitter.com/CAaKRiI0Ws

— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) October 13, 2017

Officer Marcus McNeil was murdered after trying to subdue a suspect with a stun gun. By all accounts, McNeil, a married father of two, was a excellent officer and the pride of his family.

So what gives? There is a real debate raging whether this was respectful or not.

Some Saints players kneeled during moment of silence for fallen NOPD officer Marcus McNeil. The pre-anthem kneeling was met with loud boos.

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) October 15, 2017

The American flag wasn't even out yet during the kneeling and moment of silence.

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) October 15, 2017

@Saints You should be ashamed of yourselves! How dare your players kneel during a tribute to a MURDERED officer! Black lives only matter when it suits you, human garbage, trash bags! https://t.co/v1Rfddwg5i

— Deplorablefor#45 (@vilevillainess) October 15, 2017

POS on a Murdered Officer's Moment of silence. Saints kneel, WTH, #Disgusting #NOLA embarrassing!

— Anthony Buddy Micheu (@budluv26) October 15, 2017

The POSs are all the people that loudly booed during the moment of silence.

— LeMike James (@_EmJayOh) October 16, 2017

The problem is, even if the Saints players intended the kneeling as a sign of respect, given the current atmosphere that the NFL has allowed to fester, any good intent is automatically overshadowed by what the #TakeAKnee movement is theoretically about. Officer McNeil’s service and sacrifice deserved better.

Which leads us to Mr. #TakeAKnee himself, Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick has hired the celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos and decided to file an official grievance against the NFL owners, accusing them of “collusion.”

Colin Kaepernick files a grievance against the NFL, alleging collusion by owners has kept him unsigned https://t.co/qPKQvbGMCf pic.twitter.com/ISPCDqiiGH

— AP NFL (@AP_NFL) October 16, 2017

There are two gigantic problems with Kaepernick’s theory of collusion.
1) Kaepernick had a contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He opted out of that contract in order to become a free agent. If he had not opted out, he would still have a roster spot, if not a starting quarterback job.

2) There were multiple reports, including one directly from former NFL player Ray Lewis, that the Baltimore Ravens had seriously considered talking with Kaepernick thanks to his encouragement. And then Kaep’s girlfriend decided to put her two cents’ worth in.

The tweet posted on Aug. 2 by Nessa Diab shows Lewis embracing Biscotti, similar to movie the “Django Unchained,” where a character played by Samuel L. Jackson hugs slave-owner Leonardo DiCaprio’s character.

“We were going to close the deal to sign him,” Lewis said on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” on Tuesday night. “Steve Bisciotti said, ‘I want to hear Colin Kaepernick speak to let me know that he wants to play football.'”

“His girl goes out and put out this racist gesture and doesn’t know we are in the back office about to try to get this guy signed,” Lewis said. “Steve Bisciotti has said it himself: ‘How can you crucify Ray Lewis when Ray Lewis is the one calling for Colin Kaepernick?'”

I've been fighting for him behind the table like nobody has. I’ve never been against Colin. But I'm against the way he’s done it. –@raylewis pic.twitter.com/dWDBtWkIcQ

— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) September 6, 2017

"Then Kaepernick's girl put out a racist gesture & doesn’t know we are in the back office about to try to get this guy signed."- @raylewis pic.twitter.com/GjBfdjqA40

— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) September 6, 2017

Between those two facts, how on earth is Kaepernick thinking that he can actually prove collusion?

To win, need a smoking gun indicating concerted action. Teams will all say "We liked the guys we had." https://t.co/soaq8P5AmR

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) October 15, 2017

And the news out of Green Bay that Aaron Rodgers has a broken collarbone sent Twitter into a flutter.

Young Green Bay Packers fans. More specifically, a young Colin Kaepernick on the right. pic.twitter.com/gaIdhE5zqQ

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 15, 2017

Kaepernick: "I'm filing a grievance against NFL owners for collu–"

*Finds out Aaron Rodgers may be out for season*

Kaepernick: pic.twitter.com/eXhelfAvzn

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) October 15, 2017

Life comes at you fast, Kaep. With the grievance filed, obligating the NFL Players Union to work with him and his celebrity hired help, I think it’s pretty much a guarantee that Colin Kaepernick will never play professional football again. It’s not collusion. You can’t take legal action against those you want to employ you, and still hope that you can get a job. I hope the girlfriend is good with dating an ex-NFL player.