Chip Kelly was on the Murph and Mac show on
KNBR on Monday morning and talked about Colin Kaepernick, who has been involved in a controversy involving his refusal to stand for the National Anthem.
"We deal with Colin when he's here in the building in what he does, and he's been all football since he's been here," said Kelly. "We don't have discussions about what's going on politically or in the world. When we're meeting and we're here, we're working and we're all about football."
Kaepernick made headlines all weekend because of his protest of the National Anthem, which he has been doing during the entire preseason. Kaepernick remains seated while his teammates stand and honor the pre-game tradition.
Is it a distraction for the team? "No, I don't think our players were not talking about football, they were answering the questions that were asked of them," said Kelly. "That's not what their focus is. If you ask them football questions, they would have talked about football. I don't say this is harmful to our goal. I think players understand why they are here and what their job is. We're here to win football games for the San Francisco 49ers. I think our players are focused on that. That's kind of where it is. If no one came here and asked them any questions about it, they wouldn't talk about it."
On Saturday, Kelly was asked if Kaepernick's stance impacts the football side of things with the team. "No," answered Kelly. "No, it does not."
Kelly went on to confirm a statement that was made following Friday's preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers – that there has been no discussions of cutting the quarterback.
"It's not my right to tell him not to do something," stated Kelly. "That's his right as a citizen."
"I'll continue to sit," said Kaepernick on Sunday as he addressed the media. "I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change. When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand."
RELATED Transcript: Colin Kaepernick addresses the media for the first time following National Anthem protest
How does Kaepernick feel about the issue blowing up within the media and among fans as it has? "It wasn't something that I really planned as far as it blowing up," he continued. "It was something that I personally decided – I just can't stand what this represents right now. It's not right. And the fact that it has blow up like this, I think it's a good thing. It brings awareness. Everybody knows what's going on and this sheds more light on it. Now, I think people are really talking about it. Having conversations about how to make change. What's really going on this country. And we can move forward."
The issue could be viewed as a distraction for the team, which has a new coaching staff and is coming off of a 5-win season. "I don't see it being a distraction," said Kaepernick. "It's something that can unify this team. It's something that can unify this country. If we have these real conversations that are uncomfortable for a lot of people. If we have these conversations, there's a better understanding of where both sides are coming from. And if we reach common ground, and can understand what everybody's going through, we can really affect change. And make sure that everyone is trated equally and has the same freedom."
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
