NFC Notes: Kaepernick, Saints, Eagles

Colin Kaepernick‘s days in a 49ers uniform could soon be coming to an end. The struggling quarterback’s contract gives the 49ers a chance to jettison him by April 1 before his salaries from 2016-18 become guaranteed, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Kaepernick is scheduled to make $11.9MM next year, $14.5MM in 2017 and $4.5MM in 2018. The only way that money would be guaranteed to Kaepernick before April 1 is if he suffers a career-ending injury this season. Given that, Florio believes the 49ers could bench the 27-year-old to preserve his health and prevent themselves from owing him big money going forward.

With the way his contract is structured, if the 49ers ride out this year with Kaepernick and his horrific play continues (6.27 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, five interceptions, 67.7 passer rating), the chances they’ll move on from him during the offseason appear good.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Despite the Saints’ ugly showing in a 39-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday, quarterback Drew Brees is optimistic the team will get on the right track. “We feel like we have the right pieces in place,” Brees said, according to Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com. “It hasn’t come together yet, but it will.” Time is running out for things to “come together” for the Saints, whose latest defeat dropped them to 1-4. Their next opponent is the NFC South rival Falcons, who are 5-0 and have left the Saints in the dust as far as the division race is concerned.
  • Speaking of the Saints, their days of having a high-flying offensive attack are over, writes Larry Holder of NOLA.com. Holder believes that the Saints lack weapons both through the air on the ground.
  • By knocking off New Orleans on Sunday, the Eagles at least temporarily saved their season, opines Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly moved to 2-3 and next faces the Giants, who currently sit atop the eminently winnable NFC East at 2-2. Everyone else in the division is 2-3.
View Comments (5)