Report: John Harbaugh, Ozzie Newsome to Interview in Kaepernick Collusion Case

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome will reportedly be interviewed Thursday as part of the grievance filed against the NFL by Colin Kaepernick.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Harbaugh and Newsome are scheduled for an interview at the Ravens' practice facility, and Kaepernick has the option of attending. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was present for Houston Texans owner Bob McNair's deposition.

The Ravens considered signing Kaepernick last offseason and were perhaps the closest team to giving him a chance. They wound up signing Thad Lewis instead, who was later cut when Joe Flacco returned from injury. Ryan Mallett served as the Ravens' backup quarterback in 2017.

Former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said on Showtime's Inside the NFL a tweet by Kaepernick's girlfriend, radio personality Nessa, altered the team's plans.

"We were going to close the deal to sign him," Lewis said (h/t ESPN.com). "Steve Bisciotti said, 'I want to hear Colin Kaepernick speak to let me know that he wants to play football.'

John Harbaugh had a previous relationship with Kaepernick through his brother, Jim, who coached Kaepernick in San Francisco.

"I've known Colin through my brother for many years," Harbaugh told reporters last year. "And we talked and then got to know him very well when he scrimmaged here. He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times. We had some great conversations on the phone and it's really been a pleasure to talk to him and get to know him."

Kaepernick is currently suing the NFL for collusion, claiming the league's ownership kept him out of the league last season because of his protests during the national anthem.