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Former A's catcher Bruce Maxwell ‘still smiling' after controversial season

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Former A's catcher Bruce Maxwell will always be a part of Major League Baseball history.

And yet, he remains unsigned. 

The 28-year-old became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality.

Just a few short weeks after he knelt in a game against the Rangers, Maxwell made headlines once again -- this time, following an arrest at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct after he allegedly pointed a gun at a food delivery worker. He plead guilty.

In a feature from Bleacher Report's Scott Miller on Monday, it was revealed that Maxwell has received support from former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who still reaches out to Maxwell to see how he's doing. And while Maxwell is aware his situation is different from Kap, there is a possibility that he too, is being "blackballed" by the league.

Former A's pitching legend Dave Stewart -- who also represents Maxwell at his agency, Sports Management Partners -- spoke highly of Maxwell. 

"Quite frankly, I like having him around," Stewart told Miller. "He's been delightful."

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"What's clearly understood, and Bruce and I have talked about it, is he's willing to take a step backwards right now to go forward. He'll do whatever it takes to get an opportunity to play. That in itself is admirable to me.

"When we took him on as a client, I told him it wouldn't be easy getting him a job but that we would get him a job playing with an affiliated team," Stewart said. "So I'm kind of surprised now that [we've reached] spring training and we don't have a job for him."

It appears Maxwell is not the only free agent still looking for work, as plenty of other free agents aren't signed either.

"What I can tell you is this: In talking to teams about Bruce, the knee is not an issue. [Clubs] question more about the weapon than they did the knee."

Maxwell was very open with Miller about what had happened during the incident -- he had no problem going into detail with how he was scared to answer the door following taking a knee after forgetting he had ordered food from Postmates. 

"I was struggling," he said. 

"Me being on the edge; me having all those things going through my mind—my family getting threatened—I answered my door with my weapon in my hand," Maxwell said. "Once I saw who it was, I was startled. Obviously, I startled the young lady."

It's something he won't soon forget.

"I feel that, with everything that comes along with me, it plays a small part in how people view me, or how people might view my career," he said. "At the same time, all I can focus on is my work and preparation."

Since being designated for assignment by the A's in September of 2018, Maxwell has been using the time to focus on himself.

Across three big-league seasons with the A's, Maxwell boasted a .240/.314/.347 line with five home runs and 42 RBI in 127 games.

He's reportedly slimmed down since admittedly showing up to camp last season overweight. So he wants to improve himself in order to make these hopes of returning to baseball a reality.

[RELATED: Store closes after Nike boycott, Kaepernick still gains support]

While Maxwell is hoping for a second chance, it doesn't appear likely that he'll be back in Oakland. The A's are comfortable platooning Josh Phegley and Chris Hermann, and also brought in Nick Hundley for a veteran presence. Although Stewart and Maxwell both believe he should get another opportunity soon, it's still unclear where or when that might happen.

It appears Maxwell has nothing to hide. He's aware of his past, he's aware of what people have said about him, to him -- but the good news is, he's smiling -- which is far from that place of darkness. 

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