SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Colin Kaepernick is standing behind his decision not to vote in the presidential election or even register to take part in the democratic process, saying he can effect change in other ways besides through a ballot.The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has knelt through the national anthem all season to protest police brutality and the treatment of minorities, drawing criticism and acclaim alike. He took more heat for not voting last week.I thought a lot of different things about the process and what I could and couldnt do, he said Tuesday. Once again, the system of oppression is what I have an issue with. ... I dont agree with the system of oppression and thats something that I will continue to not agree with.For those wondering why he chose not to vote even on local issues that could influence what happens at home in the Bay Area, Kaepernick said, Theres more than one way to create change.Im comfortable with everything that Im saying, what I represent and who I am, he said of his growth into an outspoken activist, given how much he once disliked speaking publicly. At that point in time, there was a situation where I didnt feel comfortable talking because I didnt want my words used against me and now I know if I represent my words properly, what my stance is, who I am properly, that those words cant be used against me.Kaepernick has perhaps bigger issues at work: His Niners (1-8) have lost eight straight games and have a daunting challenge ahead with Tom Brady and the AFC East-leading New England Patriots (7-2) coming to Levis Stadium on Sunday.The 29-year-old Kaepernick regained his starting job from Blaine Gabbert last month. He has thrown five touchdown passes in four games with two interceptions and has been sacked 11 times -- though he considers the offense to be making progress. And Kaepernick is back around his 2015 playing weight and feels healthy again following surgeries to his right thumb, left knee and non-throwing left shoulder, where he had a torn labrum repaired.I feel like Im starting to get some of my wiggle back, some of the movement, starting to feel very comfortable with where my health is, how my bodys moving, those things, he said.Last Wednesday, following Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton, Kaepernick was asked his reaction to the election results.I really didnt pay too close of attention because I have been very disconnected from the systematic oppression as a whole, so for me its another face thats going to be the face of that system of oppression, he said. To me it really didnt matter who went in there, the systems still intact that oppresses people of color.After Sundays loss at Arizona, Kaepernick noted: I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote. I said from the beginning I was against oppression, I was against the system of oppression. Im not going to show support for that system.The Sacramento Bee first reported that Kaepernick has never registered to vote.Game notes LB Aaron Lynch returned to practice after missing the past two games with a high ankle sprain. ... WR Torrey Smith and DL Quinton Dial didnt practice. ... The Niners signed OL Colin Kelly to the practice squad and placed OL Fahn Cooper on the practice squad injured list.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Discount NFL Jerseys .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. http://www.cheapnfljerseysreddit.com/ . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Supply NFL Jerseys . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Clearance NFL Jerseys . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw.ARDMORE, Pa. -- The most popular equipment Merion was not a golf club but a squeegee. More heavy rain at the U.S. Open flooded a bunker by the 11th green and filled fairways with large puddles and tiny stream. The course was closed for four hours during the first full day of practice, and then shut down for good later in the afternoon. Brandt Jobe played three holes when he heard a horn to stop play. Jim Herman managed to play one hole. Practice rounds are important because only a dozen or so players have ever seen this 100-year-old course, which has not hosted a U.S. Open in 32 years. Workers were busy running squeegees across the greens and fairways during the afternoon before another downpour arrived. "After the rain this morning, its going to be very sloppy now," Ernie Els said. "Youre not going to see a firm U.S. Open this year, Im sorry. I dont care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways, its not going to dry up. Were going to have a soft golf course this week -- all week." The forecast was for mostly dry conditions Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a 40 per cent chance of rain on Thursday for the opening round. Merion received more than 3 inches of rain on Friday, and Mondays downpours -- three of them -- didnt help. The low point on the East course is the 11th hole, and a bunker was filled with water from an overflowing stream. Course superintendent Matt Shaffer said the base sand was left alone. Workers removed the silt and put about three tons of new sand in the bunker, tamped it down and "we were ready to go." For now, officials were hopeful. Shaffer said Merion has had two big rains, and both times 11th green has stayed above water. And while there were tiny streams running through fairways and large pools of water on sections of the greens, the water appeared to drain quickly. "This golf course is not built on sand, so its got the heavier soils," USGA executive director Mike Davis said.dddddddddddd "But it is maybe the best draining golf course I have ever seen. If you walk this course, you know theres hardly any flat lies at Merion." Merion is 6,996 yards on the scorecard, the shortest U.S. Open course since Shinnecock Hills in 2004. The rough is thicker than usual compared with most recent U.S. Opens, though soft greens are a recipe for low scoring no matter the golf course. Congressional was softened significantly by rain, and Rory McIlroy shattered the scoring record at 16-under 268 for an eight-shot win. As for the week, it rained so much at Bethpage Black in 2002 that the tournament barely finished 72 holes on Monday, with Lucas Glover winning. Els mentioned the firm fairways because thats what can make Merion tricky. Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy were among those who came to Merion early, and they all spoke about the experience necessary to find the right angle off the tee to keep the ball in the fairway. Geoff Ogilvy played Sunday for the first time and mentioned the best driver would fare well -- but not necessarily the straightest driver. With soft fairways, it becomes more of a target. "Obviously with it being a little soft, it becomes a little more simple than what it was," Scott said. "The ball is just going to stop where it lands." Davis said the USGA would try to move the hole locations to some of the higher spots on the greens to avoid standing water if it rains on Thursday. As for the fairways, even with standing water, the U.S. Open could be played as long as players could move the ball to a dry spot that didnt add significant distance to their shots. The next two days could be crucial. "We just need a little bit of sunshine," Shaffer said. ' ' '