John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports


Kaepernick’s new contract enables him to flee following 2016 season

Oct 13, 2016 at 9:43 AM6


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
For the first time since November 1, 2015, Colin Kaepernick will be the starting quarterback in a game for the San Francisco 49ers. He will be the man behind center when the team travels to Orchard Park, New York to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. With the 49ers low on options, he may even start for the remainder of the season. However, don't expect to see much of him in red and gold beyond that.

On Wednesday, Kaepernick agreed to a restructured contract with the 49ers. The new deal, reportedly a two-year one, will essentially allow him to void everything after this season and become a free agent at the start of the new league year in March – and it's very likely he will do so. Kaepernick will be free to leave San Francisco to find a new home of his choosing and the 49ers will no longer be on the hook for $14.5 million of his salary should the quarterback suffer a serious injury this season.

At face value, the contract seems like a win-win for everyone involved. However, it's really a bigger win for Kaepernick, who has once again decided to bet on himself.

Kaepernick has already attempted to flee the Bay Area once. In February, he requested permission to seek a trade and had a fling with both the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns. Denver was the more serious contender to acquire Kaepernick, but the Broncos were unwilling to give up too much as far as draft picks go. Nor were they willing to pay Kaepernick's salary and even had the gall to tell the 49ers that they should cover half of it themselves – basically paying the quarterback to play elsewhere. In good salary cap shape and with no serious financial need to unload Kaepernick, the 49ers didn't budge and talks ceased.

Following this season, Kaepernick will once again have an opportunity to bolt the team he had grown to detest. His new contract gives him the power to do so. The 49ers will attempt to rebuild at the position and find a quarterback of the future. It is unlikely that anyone within the organization believes that Blaine Gabbert or Christian Ponder can be that person. Of course, it is not yet clear if they will set sail on a quarterback search with or without current general manager Trent Baalke. His tenure likely depends on the success of this season, which is already off to a disastrous start.

In August, Kaepernick was asked about his relationship with Baalke. "We have a business relationship," Kaepernick simply responded. "That's the point that we're at."

Following the events of past two seasons, Kaepernick's trust in the organization has deteriorated. The $114 million contract extension that he signed in June of 2014 was, at the time, seen as a team-friendly deal. It would allow the team to keep a number of their own free agents, bring in new talent, and keep the 49ers competitive. That did not happen. Instead, free agents fled, new talent scoffed at Baalke's laughable offers or requests for visits, and thanks to poor drafting, the 49ers' roster diminished. It was not what Kaepernick had signed up for.

Thanks to a depleted offensive line and a lack of playmakers around him, Kaepernick got battered for two straight seasons. While Jim Harbaugh became the scapegoat for the 2014 season, Kaepernick became the poster boy for everything that went wrong in 2015. He was unceremoniously benched in favor of Gabbert and then placed on season-ending injury reserve. It was more than enough to push Kaepernick to try and find an exit strategy.

Now, here we are in the current situation. Should the 49ers pull off a miracle and somehow run the table for the remainder of the season, it may be enough to save Baalke's job. Of course, if that scenario plays out, and having a less than ideal relationship with the general manager, Kaepernick will almost certainly still desire to leave.

If the 49ers continue to flounder even with Kaepernick at the helm, the quarterback may still see no reason to remain with a team that has deceived him in the past and has no chance to offer him future success. So it would seem that Kaepernick's days with the 49ers are numbered. His exit path has been mapped out and it would be a complete shock if he were with the team in 2017.

The new deal works out financially for Kaepernick. His $125,000 per game in roster bonuses, which are paid out should he be on the 46-man roster, are now completely guaranteed. That's $2 million that has been converted to guaranteed salary. The new deal also reportedly adds $1 million on top of that in play time incentives for the season.

Of course, there is the slight possibility that Kaepernick flourishes this season, loves playing in Chip Kelly's system, and then seeks a long-term deal with the 49ers regardless of whether or not Baalke remains. However, if you are a gambling man, that may be a bet to stay away from.

Poll

  • Will Kaepernick be with the 49ers next season?
  • No
    84%
  • Yes
    16%
  • 212 votes
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.


6 Comments

  • sf
    he should leave; bay area do not need & want him!!
    Oct 17, 2016 at 7:45 PM
    0
  • Lucky Phil
    Watching a Niner game is like watching your neighbor squat over your lawn and take a crap for three hours. And I know alot of you are saying "Lucky Phil you should Move!....Right Now, before he comes back next Sunday". And your right I have moved on, no more Niner games for me this year. Not for the next five years! That's how long the Niners are going to be $#SH^&$ all over themselves. In the words of Trump, "Believe me, I know more than Hall Famers", it's time to move on.
    Oct 17, 2016 at 1:06 PM
    1
  • Lucky Phil
    Kap, read the Steve Young article on ESPN. I have been saying for years this might help you a great deal. Best of luck this weekend, Go Niners!
    Oct 15, 2016 at 8:51 AM
    0
  • RishikeshA
    Thanks David, This is such a brutal game physically and mentally. If there is money on the table you don't take it off. Kap basically threw away a multi million dollar insurance policy in case he became injured. It's becoming clear that he will be the last person to realize he can't play the QB position in the Not For Long league.
    Oct 14, 2016 at 9:08 AM
    2
  • Nick
    I'm thinking this current 49er team is as bad as when Donohue was the GM and Erickson was the head coach. As a life long niner fan since 79 I find it hard to actually watch games anymore. I had tickets to see the niners and bills this weekend but gave them to someone else I refuse to support this team with my wallet anymore. I truly hope change will come sometime in the near future.
    Oct 14, 2016 at 8:06 AM
    0
  • Edd
    Yes, flee to Cleveland if they will even take him. There is a reason 49ers have no long term interest in Kaep, he's just not that good.
    Oct 13, 2016 at 10:03 AM
    1

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



Brandon Aiyuk reacts to 49ers GM John Lynch's latest contract negotiation comments

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk isn't afraid to express his thoughts on social media. General manager John Lynch addressed reporters today at the NFL owners meetings, emphasizing the team's active negotiations for a contract extension with Aiyuk, expressing hope for a mutual agreement. Lynch made two other points clear: The 49ers are not currently in trade discussions with other teams and are open to allowing Aiyuk to play on his fifth-year option. There were reports of the Jacksonville Jaguars' interest in Aiyuk and the Pittsburgh Steelers' willingness to pursue a trade. RELATED: 49ers actively negotiating with Brandon Aiyuk, not discussing



New Netflix show "Receiver" will feature 49ers' Deebo Samuel and George Kittle

By David Bonilla
Mar 19

After the success of "Quarterback," the NFL has announced a new series on Netflix called "Receiver." This series will follow a similar format but focus on those who haul in passes. San Francisco 49ers fans will be delighted to learn that two popular team players, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, will be among those featured in the upcoming show. The two 49ers stars are among the most charismatic individuals on the roster, so it's easy to see why they were chosen for the series. The other stars of the show will be Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit



Is new 49ers backup QB Josh Dobbs an upgrade over Sam Darnold?

By Marc Adams
Mar 24

In 2022, the San Francisco 49ers seemed to have an embarrassment of riches at the quarterback spot. They had second-year player, and first-year starter Trey Lance, who they had traded the world away to draft. They had Jimmy Garoppolo, the team's starting QB from late 2017-2021, as Lance's backup. And they had a seventh-round draft pick in Brock Purdy, though he would be unlikely to play. Or so we thought. After Lance and Garoppolo went down, Purdy surprised everyone by keeping the ship afloat and leading the 49ers back to the NFC Championship Game. But after an injury to the UCL in his throwing arm, Purdy's 2023 season was in jeopardy. Which quarterbacks the 49ers would take to training camp was now even more important. They still had Lance, but they added Brandon Allen and



49ers Notebook: Crucial offseason for Purdy; O-line confidence; Shanahan on new kickoff rule, Dobbs signing; Hufanga eyes training camp return

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't have to field as many quarterback questions as he did a year ago after Brock Purdy underwent surgery, the arrival of Sam Darnold, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of Trey Lance. The quarterback situation is clearer now than it has been in recent years. For Purdy, this offseason holds significant importance. It marks the first time he can focus on on-field improvement during minicamps, OTAs, and training camp. While he had this opportunity as a rookie in 2022, he was buried on the depth chart, limiting his practice reps. Last year, Purdy was still recovering from surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. He didn't get to throw to his teammates until training camp in


Latest

More by David Bonilla

More Articles

Share 49ersWebzone