Harbaugh: 'Lazy' to think teams are blackballing Kaepernick

John Harbaugh doesn't buy the idea that teams are staying away from Colin Kaepernick for non-football reasons.

The Baltimore Ravens head coach criticized that line of thinking Tuesday when asked about Kaepernick remaining unsigned almost three weeks into free agency.

"Stupid," Harbaugh said, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "Intellectually lazy. It's more nuanced."

Harbaugh added that he believes Kaepernick will eventually end up on a roster and start for a team in 2017.

"I absolutely think he's going to get signed," he said. "I agree with Jim (Harbaugh). He can win games for people."

Related: Harbaugh believes 'outstanding' Kaepernick will win championships

Interest in Kaepernick has been minimal, if not nonexistent, on the heels of a season in which he threw 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 12 games as part of an otherwise disastrous San Francisco 49ers offense.

Many have wondered whether franchises are shying away due to his protests of the pregame national anthem, and that is reportedly the motivation of some teams within the league.

One AFC general manager recently gave Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman a list of reasons why Kaepernick is unsigned despite a belief that he can still be effective.

Among those reasons was a fear of public backlash, including possible tweets from president Donald Trump, as well as personal disagreement with the player's actions.

Kaepernick is reportedly seeking the opportunity to compete for a starting job, as well as a salary in line with the league's highest-paid backup quarterbacks.

New 49ers general manager John Lynch said earlier in March that Kaepernick had recently been close to signing elsewhere and the team isn't closing the door on a potential return.