Newly hired 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan held their introductory press conference on Thursday, and quickly dispelled the popular notion that it is a foregone conclusion that quarterback Colin Kaepernick will not be on the team during the 2017 season.
"Colin reached out and we plan on visiting, that's something Kyle and I committed to," Lynch revealed. "In order to find out what you need, you first have to really take inventory of what you have. We'll sit down with him and if we see fit that he's a part of it, we'll commit to that. If not, we'll figure things out."
"It starts with me with just studying people," Shanahan added, "I need to go watch it on tape and Colin, like any other player, is someone I'm going to be watching a lot of tape on the next few weeks." Kaepernick, for his part, has maintained that "all things being equal," he'd like to return to the 49ers. The fact that he took the initial step of reaching out to Lynch seems to confirm that.
An intriguing revelation by Lynch was his previous interaction with Kaepernick during his stint at FOX. Analysts routinely meet with coaches and key players prior to games and Lynch described positive encounters with Kaepernick when they met.
"I'm looking forward to sitting down with him. I really am. Colin and I, when I did some 49ers games, I'd say we hit it off. I'd say there was a trust there. I think that trust extends, and I was thrilled when he reached out. I'm looking forward to talking with him."
These developments fly in the face of reports from numerous outlets that Kaepernick had already decided to opt out of his contract, and if not, that the team would cut him. It appears that the new 49ers' brass are committed to a patient approach, and judging Kaepernick based on their own personal interaction with him, along with his on-field performance, rather than by the words of others who may take issue with him based on his stance on pertinent social issues.