49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick restructured his contract back in October, a restructure that allows him to opt out of the deal at the end of this season and bars San Francisco from using the franchise tag on him in 2017. At the time of the restructure, we heard that Kaepernick fully planned to exercise his opt-out clause, and as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes, those plans have not changed.
Per Rapoport, Kaepernick will void his contract before the start of the 2017 league year in March and become a free agent. And it makes sense. Although the 49ers have not won a game since Week 1, Kaepernick has played well since reprising his role as the club’s starting quarterback, and he appears to be regaining his old form. Over the last four games, he has completed 86 of 145 passes for 1,110 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 223 yards over that span. It makes sense, then, that he would want to test the free agent waters, as next year’s crop of available quarterback is topped by the likes of Geno Smith, EJ Manuel, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Mike Glennon (assuming, of course, that the Redskins don’t let Kirk Cousins get away). Even if veteran QBs like Tony Romo and Jay Cutler become available, Kaepernick would still stand to make a great deal of money on the open market.
But Rapoport indicates that Kaepernick could return to the 49ers, a scenario that seemed entirely implausible not too long ago. After all, his talents have played well in head coach Chip Kelly‘s system, and Rapoport writes that the once-strained relationship between the franchise and the quarterback is in a very good place. Kaepernick apparently appreciates the fact that the team supported him as he took a controversial social stance, and Rapoport suggests that the issues that precipitated his near trade to Denver this offseason have all but gone away. Plus, San Francisco will have plenty of money to spend.
Other scribes, however, are more skeptical of the possibility that Kaepernick returns to the Bay Area. Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, for instance, says that he cannot envision Kaepernick playing for the 49ers next season under the current front office regime (Twitter link). If Kaepernick does decide to move on, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report lays out a few potential destinations, which include the Bears, Broncos, Cardinals, Jets, and Browns.
Hope you enjoyed your time in the NFL bro. No one will touch you with a 10 foot pole after you’re repeated stupidity leaks.
*your
Amen
No respect. I understand the country has an issue but he decided to access it at the worst stage. This is America, be proud to be an American. Stand.
Perhaps you could let us all know the proper way/venue to protest the sort of police violence and misconduct detailed in numerous DOJ investigations. My guess is there is no acceptable “patriotic” way/venue once it is actually used by black people. Complaining about a kneel protest of the anthem is like complaining that we have a Bill of Rights.
There is a way to protest it. Not using your business as a platform is one. Would your school or hospital approve of you bringing unwanted attention to them. As well as is it a silent protest to label a entire group as bad as he has. His socks labeling cops ass pigs. Colin never cared and does not care about social injustices. The reason he’s on his recent protest is what has been documented by news as well as by his own family. His GF is the one using his platform to have him do what she wants done. If he wanted to protest don’t use your business as your platform. Set up rallies set up other venues to speak about the injustices. As well do not be a pawn to be used by another to get that persons agenda heard. Be your own man and stand up for what’s right and wrong. Not what your told is right or wrong.
I’m sorry, but the NFL is nothing if it isn’t a gratuitous “platform” for mindless patriotism and militarism. That a few players in the league have used one of these moments to bring attention to a profoundly important problem should be celebrated as a sign that thoughtful citizenship is not dead. More generally, the notion that anthem kneels violate a norm of business separation from politics is wildly contradicted by a number of facts, the most obvious relative to this discussion being that business constantly and enthusiastically exploits the above mentioned mindless patriotism. Just watch the commercials during the game today and then tell me these players are the ones who should put a lid on it.
The game is a sport. Who is saying anything about it being patriotism. I don’t agree that he uses the NFL to promote the ideas of his gf. Once again if it was something that he believed his entire life I don’t disagree with it. Nor do I disagree with him bringing attention to the cause. But he was brainwashed by another. And now uses the NFL to promote. If you believe that the NFL is meant to be patriotic and militaristic I don’t know what to say. But to me the NFL and the players are nothing more than entertainment. The only players I would find patriotic are the ones that left the NFL to fight for the rights of this country. Giving up money and fame for a higher cause. I really don’t understand or see how the NFL patriotic or militaristic. I guess I’m watching something else. But I don’t see that. I see people throwing a ball around and others catching it. If you believe it’s more than that then I think you are looking for more than what it is. A game.
He is being American. We have these things called rights.
Your right. And I get to use the same rights he is exercising to speak my mind about his actions. I use the same rights to say he is wrong in wearing socks depicting cops as pigs. One bad apple does not make all apples bad. It makes that one bad apple bad. So I’m glad he is using his rights, because I will continue to use my rights to speak on his.
It wasn’t his stand at all, he’s a fraud that was sitting and pouting about losing his job and on the verge of being cut. People taking a stance are vocal about their cause. He just used it as a cover once people realized he wasn’t standing. This asshat is somehow an expert on politics and rights yet sports a shirt with Fidel Castro on it?
Colin has been a solid performer lately, but he is foolish if he thinks teams will just immediately hand him another huge contract. This is including the protests. Unless he completely takes his game to another level over the last games of the season, teams aren’t going to forget the year and a half prior to his hot stretch. Not very long ago, his contract was seen as one of the worst in NFL history. He will get paid, but not how he is being paid now. I’m just wondering if this is something he’s doing in order to play for a lot less money to make a statement or something.
Signing Kaepernick by the Browns so they can start him backed up by RG3 means they wont have a need to draft a Q.B. this year and could really throw them into the playoffs next season.
With the A.F.C. North weak now and in year 2 of the rebuild the Browns may leap frog from worst to first.
“Year 2 of the rebuild”. I thought the browns were in the league longer than 2 years.
William…you been drinking that Lake Erie water again?
Colin K and RGIII leading you to the playoffs? Lol.
Id like to see him opt out of the country. As far as im concerned , he is no longer an American.
If he goes to Canada, I hope he’ll take a knee during their national anthem since it is sexist to women: true patriot love in all thy SONS command.
I can’t wait. It has nothing to do with his political beliefs but because he’s awful. The team I awful and need an entire makeover starting with that rat.
Wish him nothing but the worst!
Question: would Belechick allow this on the Patriots?
Bill would never allow a ridiculous distraction like the one this dweeb has created. He would’ve been traded (assuming another team was dumb enough to take him for a low draft pick) or cut.
He sure played great today
Christmas came early this year.
Please opt out and go to whoever will take your ungrateful untalented spoiled brat. I hope the Browns or the Jets grab you.
I hope the more he takes a knee, the less the offer will be. A lot of of good men & women died protecting his rights under that flag. See if Jerry Jones would hire you. You’re a disgrace to the NFL. Just my opinion.