Despite last hitting the gridiron in 2017, Colin Kaepernick is still sweating it out daily, hoping that an NFL team will emerge from the shadows to recognize his talent—politics be damned!

As Kaepernick continues to train relentlessly—endorsing both physical fitness and a political science degree on the side—he insists he’s ready for a comeback, expressing that his past protests shouldn’t overshadow the 17-touchdown afternoons he once delivered. With no NFL team offering him a sniff since his last pass in 2017, he even reached out to the New York Jets after Aaron Rodgers’ injury, but alas, they opted for a third-string quarterback instead of a Super Bowl contender. It’s a real 'next man up' situation, only they keep forgetting to call Kaepernick's number.

Kaepernick's final game saw him deftly complete 17 of 22 passes for 215 yards, a tad more effective than my attempts at parallel parking. Yet the bold quarterback has not tasted the sweet nectar of NFL playing time since that fateful day. Instead, his days are filled with workouts, shadowy drills, and an unwavering hope that one of the 32 franchises will remember he’s out there prepping like a Sunday morning pancake chef waiting for the perfect sizzle.

In a recent statement, his girlfriend Nessa Diab noted, 'It's up to the teams,' which could be just a polite way of saying it’s like waiting for your favorite restaurant to bring back a dish that was taken off the menu, despite you pushing the issue at every visit. This leaves Kaepernick, a master of the dual life, caught between the weight of his political activism and the weightlifting regimen that could put Olympians to shame.

He firmly believes that he has been blackballed due to his national anthem protests—an assertion that has captured attention and sparked debates in living rooms and bars alike. On the flip side, Kaepernick emphasizes the vital need to evaluate him based purely on his skills, not the circus of politics that swirls around him. It's a noble sentiment, but given his current predicament, it's almost like asking a cat to concentrate on a laser pointer while surrounded by catnip.

Despite the challenges, Kaepernick's commitment to staying in shape is commendable. He has reportedly become a bit of a gym rat—a lumberjack in a world of gym selfies. While he acknowledges the emotional toll of being away from the field, he remains as resilient as that stubborn piece of popcorn that refuses to leave your teeth after movie night. 'I miss football,' he has said, but keeps pushing forward, training with the fervor of a contestant on a reality show trying to win the last rose.

Adding fuel to the speculative fire, Kaepernick’s dreams of leading a team to a Super Bowl are grandiose yet arguably realistic, assuming some team rekindles that old flame for a fresh start. Yet with every passing season, the Super Bowl appears like a distant star in the galaxy, especially since most NFL franchises have been less interested in his talent and more inclined towards the next day’s equivalent of newspaper gossip.

In a broader context, Kaepernick has transitioned into a considerable figure in social activism, launching initiatives like Know Your Rights Camp and Kaepernick Publishing. This has undoubtedly kept him busy amid the radio silence from NFL teams, showcasing a penchant for making bold moves off the field that are probably less likely to fly under the radar than his potential return on the field.

As the weeks roll into months, Kaepernick continues to keep his helmet polished and workout gear fresh, ever-ready for a potential call. Whether or not he gets a workout with an NFL team remains to be seen, but you can bet he’ll be dressed to impress when that moment finally arrives—or when someone inevitably asks him to be part of the next celebrity edition of a game show.

So here we sit, watching the saga of Colin Kaepernick's elusive return to the NFL unfold, somewhere between hope, nostalgia, and perhaps a mild case of existential dread. Each training session acts as both a reminder of his prowess and a testament to his steadfast spirit. At the end of the day, he just wants a shot. Who knows, by the time an NFL team finally finds room for him, he might just end up making a significant impact on the game.