You're mistaken with the intention of my post, it's not to question whether or not he is within his right to do so, but his sincerity. Watch the videos I linked, they make sense.
I stopped reading after this in the first article you linked " It’s with systemic racism that persists, 50-plus years after the civil rights movement. And it’s with people so fearful of what will follow that they refuse to consider someone else’s truth." Because, that's just pure bullshit.
From Kareem's article: "We should admire those who risk personal gain in the service of promoting the values of their country."
Well, except, there's little risk to Kaepernick now, he's going to be cut, and he's already rich. He said it himself, that "other might want to do what he did, but can't afford it" - paraphrasing, of course.
Oh, and quoting Jim Brown from your article:
He added, though, that he would not protest the same way.
"I don't know what the big issue is, because this young man in backing up his statement, becomes stronger in my mind," Brown said. "Now if you ask me 'Would I do that?' No I won't, because I see it a little differently.
"I'm an American citizen. I pay my taxes. I want my equal rights. But this is my country, and consequently I don't want to open up for ISIS or anybody that will take away what we've already gained."
Brown said he appeared on the panel not to focus on Kaepernick but "the things that it opens up."
"And the No. 1 issue in the country for me is black homicide, young black men killing young black men," Brown said.