Retired NFL running back Richard Sherman isn’t buying the notion that Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned because he is no longer a good quarterback.

The former San Francisco 49ers star spent last season protesting against the US national anthem to raise awareness of racial injustices in the country.

Sherman, who is being linked with a return to the Oakland Raiders, knows the real reason Kaepernick cannot find a team and it has nothing to do with his on the field talent.

“I’m sure he is [being blacklisted],” Sherman said. “It’s difficult to see because he’s played at such a high level, and you see guys, quarterbacks, who have never played at a high level being signed by teams so it’s difficult to understand.

“Obviously he’s going to be in a backup role at this point. But you see quarterbacks, there was a year Matt Schaub had a pretty rough year and got signed the next year, so it has nothing to do with football. You can see that. They signed guys who have had off years before.”

While Sherman initially said Kaepernick would have to settle for a backup role, he later changed his mind when considering some of the other quarterbacks who have gotten starting jobs or are being considered for ones heading into next season.

“You don’t have 32 startinglevel quarterbacks in this league,” Sherman said. “You have about eight elites, and then you have the rest of the league.

“You have about eight, nine elite quarterbacks. You have two or three who have the potential to be elite. And then you have the rest of the teams.

“So he could play and start on a ton of teams in this league. He would be a starter on probably 20 of the teams in this league.

“But you’re telling me that you’re going to let other guys, you’re going to pick up some of these other guys and tell me that they’re starters?”