San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick met with the media following practice today and was asked if had decided to out of the remainder of his contract following the season. "No, I haven't made any decisions on that," said Kaepernick. "Those decisions will come after the season."
On Sunday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Kaepernick would void the remainder of his contract following the season and test free agency. His San Jose home is for sale and, this summer, he purchased a condominium in New York City. On behalf of Kaepernick, a team spokesman clarified that the sale of Kaepernick's home is "an investment decision."
"There's no conversations with other teams, anything like that," Kaepernick said today. "Right now, I'm part of the 49ers. My focus is helping my teammates get a win this week."
Kaepernick was asked if there had been any discussions this past offseason with the New York Jets. It was rumored that his girlfriend, radio and television personality Nessa Diab, who lives in New York City, wanted him to play for the Jets. "This past offseason we had talks with different people," Kaepernick said. "But once again, that's in the past. We're focused on this week."
On Sunday, Kaepernick was benched at the beginning of the fourth quarter in favor of Blaine Gabbert after completing just one of his five passes for four yards. Prior to Sunday's loss in Chicago, Kaepernick had thrown for 1,110 yards with eight touchdowns and only two interceptions in his previous four games.
Today, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins announced that Kaepernick would start against the Jets on Sunday. "They told me this morning that I would be starting," Kaepernick told reporters. "After the game, it was something that, I don't know if anybody really knew (who would be starting). So, for me, I wanted to make sure regardless I'm coming in and preparing to make sure I'm ready to go."
"Kap's going to be the starter and we'll go from there," Modkins told the media earlier today. "We just decided during the game to try to see if Blaine could give us a spark and Kap's back to being a starter. It's nothing other than that."
Kaepernick has not verbally committed to the 49ers beyond this season and has had a rocky relationship with the team in recent years – particularly with general manager Trent Baalke. If Baalke were no longer with the team following this season, many within the media believe that it may open a window for Kaepernick to return in 2017 if he wishes to do so. If he were to do so, he is scheduled to make $14.5 million with the 49ers next season.
