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Jim Harbaugh has a very interesting take on Colin Kaepernick's protest

The Colin Kaepernick controversy has stirred up quite the discussion. Even two brothers, one of whom coached Kaepernick, took slightly different tacks on the matter.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked about Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem on Friday and his intention to continue doing so. Harbaugh then went all Age of Enlightenment on us, via ESPN.com.

Jim Harbaugh, left, and Colin Kaepernick chat when they were together with the San Francisco 49ers (Getty Images).
Jim Harbaugh, left, and Colin Kaepernick chat when they were together with the San Francisco 49ers (Getty Images).

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“Voltaire so eloquently stated, ‘I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend it until death your right to say it,'” Harbaugh said. “That’s a principle that our country is founded on. I don’t think you cannot deny someone the right to speak out or mock or make fun or belittle anybody else’s opinion.”

As others (including PFT) have pointed out, the quote is actually attributed to Evelyn Beatrice Hall — who, interestingly, wrote under a pseudonym, S. G. Tallentyre, to hide her identity — in 1906 but falls in line with Voltaire’s teachings on freedom of expression.

That’s an opinion shared by many during this post-Kaepernick blaze, even if this clearly is a divisive issue. And John’s brother, Jim, appeared to be in line with the first part of what his brother said (even though he had the more boring quote for once). At least that’s how we read this from the Michigan football coach and Kaepernick’s former coach with the San Francisco 49ers for three years:

So they agree on the idea of Kaepernick being able to voice his displeasure. But Jim went where John did not: by saying he did not agree with it. The most confusing part is the word “motivation,” which could be construed as part of the right to protest anything. That’s why Harbaugh later explained himself more thoroughly on Twitter.

But this is still interesting because we now wonder how he might have handled things had he still been coaching Kaepernick with the 49ers. Remember, he entrusted the keys to the franchise in the quarterback’s hands and came within five yards of winning a Super Bowl. They were very much tied at the hip at one point.

[ STACK: That time Peyton Manning refused to take his shirt off for a team photo ]

Harbaugh left for Michigan right during the start of Kaepernick’s decline as a player, although it’s clear that he left for other, bigger reasons amid an uncomfortable relationship with upper management and ownership.

But now Kaepernick himself might have a taste of what Harbaugh went through, as his days in San Francisco might be numbered. So they can relate to each others’ plights professionally there — even if Harbaugh doesn’t agree with Kaepernick’s stance on the anthem.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!