Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Colin Kaepernick should show up on Monday, but not for Mike Florio’s reasons
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To say that Mike Florio's agenda and thought process is rather tiresome would be an understatement.
His latest article for
Pro Football Talk states that San Francisco 49ers
QB Colin Kaepernick, who is currently involved a poker match with the Niners and Denver Broncos, should report to the team's offseason program on Monday. I can completely agree with that, but not for the reasons or under the childish scenario that Florio lays out.
Here is what he had to say in his Sunday article.
"The 49ers, by giving Kaepernick permission to seek a trade, presumably don't truly want him. Which means that they'll eventually cut him. Which means that the 49ers will pay the difference between whatever he gets elsewhere for 2016 and his fully-guaranteed $11.9 million salary."
He continued with the following.
"So Kaepernick should show up, with proverbial bells (and maybe a Dolphins . . . or an Eagles . . . or a Michigan hat) on. And he should do the bare minimum, sending the message he doesn't want to be there while technically there. At some point (for example, before he pops an Achilles tendon like receiver Michael Crabtree did in 2013), the 49ers will dump him."
First off, Kaepernick should report to the 49ers because he is a professional. The physical aspect of the first two weeks of the offseason program only include strength and conditioning as well as rehabilitation. Kaepernick would be limited in the first aspect because he is still rehabbing from an injury. If the 49ers feel that he would be better served rehabbing elsewhere, like the Steadman Clinic in Colorado where he has been for much of the offseason, then that is between San Francisco and their contractually obligated employee.
Florio assumes that, during this whole fiasco, the 49ers don't really want Kaepernick anyway. That's a big assumption that would very much go against past behavior. If you are valuable to general manager Trent Baalke, then he wants you around. Kaepernick does have value to them. New head coach Chip Kelly has even stated that he is eager to work with him and is likely chomping at the bit to talk some football with him. However, that doesn't mean that Baalke is not willing to listen to or even pull the trigger on offers if a strong one comes across his desk.
The 49ers can certainly afford to eat Kaepernick's salary. That's something that the Broncos can't do with their very limited cap space. The 49ers have the stronger hand here as far as getting a trade deal done, not the Broncos.
Neither Denver nor Kaepernick are in a position to demand that the 49ers pay part of the quarterback's salary as part of a trade deal. The 49ers, whether it be the truth or not, have repeatedly said that they want Kaepernick and have no intention of releasing him. Kaepernick has lost trust in the organization and wants out. Denver needs a starting quarterback unless they plan to enter the season with Mark Sanchez or a rookie under center, which may be what happens if the Broncos wait for San Francisco to flinch. They want Kaepernick, who met with Denver general manager John Elway on Thursday at his home in the Denver area. Who exactly has the upper hand here? It's San Francisco, not Denver.
Why would the 49ers be interested in paying a player to play for another team when they say they want him on their roster? If general manager Trent Baalke took that deal, he has no business returning in 2017.
Add to that the risk of Kaepernick reporting to the 49ers and finally being able to talk football with his coaching staff and warming up to the idea that he may be ok giving it a go and being paid very well to do so. It's the Broncos that are playing a dangerous game here. From an organization standpoint, the 49ers would be very comfortable moving forward with Kaepernick on their roster and only giving up on – potentially – a low third-round Broncos draft pick, which we are not even sure is the offering.
Sure reporting on Monday may create an awkward situation for Kaepernick, given that his teammates have obviously heard a lot about what is going on. However, the 49ers themselves have reportedly told Kaepernick that the two parties understand there is a business side to the NFL, but that they want him there regardless. Following Florio's advice of doing the bare minimum would just make the already awkward situation worse.
Florio even went as far as
attempting to discredit a report yesterday by Adam Schefter,
a report that the ESPN insider quickly defended. Whatever Florio's agenda is, it is obvious that he would love to see San Francisco embarrassingly mugged by Denver of Kaepernick. Whether he reports to the 49ers or not, it should be for professional reasons worked out with his current employer and not the infantile scenario that Florio lays out.
Of course, this is all assuming that Kaepernick is not traded before the team reports on Monday.
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.
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Mark
WHY is everyone so dead set on getting rid of Kap? The guy took us to a superbowl. Last season was an absolute cluster-f@#$. The o-line was terrible, Hyde was out, and the receivers went into witness protection. and please spare me on Gabbert. Kap is physical, fast, and has strong arm. If we chase some college rookie we are gunna take 10 more steps back. Wentz and Goff are not QB saviors......
Apr 15, 2016 at 8:21 AM
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Lucky Phil
Screw the trade to DEN. Lets trade Kap, Ian Williams and Eric Reid for a Jets 3rd rd Wilkerson. Then trade down if Goff is unavailable and get me Dodd and Cravens. Add K. Correa with our 2nd if a OT is unavailable and K. Russell at CB in the 3rd. Don't %$@# this up Baalke.
Apr 13, 2016 at 2:23 PM
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Lucky Phil
Derbush, We did not receive two 6th rd picks from Den. We exchanged a 7th rd pick this yr. for DEN 6th rd. pick (a wash). We also received a 6th rd from Den. in 2017 = (in value) Den comp pick for not signing Davis. Do the math we received no value for Davis. As far as the rumors surrounding Kap, I have heard a lot stuff. One of the stories I heard was Den wants SF. to cover 4.9 mil of Kaps contract. If Elway squeezes money out of Jed I will really be impressed how Baalke f#$@ed up this trade.
Apr 4, 2016 at 5:48 PM
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Derbucher
Lucky Phil what in the world are you talking about? First Vernon Davis was traded for two 6 round pick, which isn't to bad for a person who was not producing for the 49ers or ended up not doing anything with the Broncos. Second where did you read that the 49ers are going to trade and pay for half of his salary. Third if anything Baalke is saving York money hence the huge salary cap.
Apr 4, 2016 at 3:36 PM
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49erLance
Isn't NBC Sports sick of Florio making there company look bad , apparently not
Apr 4, 2016 at 3:57 AM
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Lucky Phil
Is Trent working for the Niners or the Broncos? First we trade V. Davis for nothing and now we are trading Kap to Denver and paying half his contract!!!? Hey Jed, If you haven't figured it already you need a new GM, this incompetent bastard is costing you millions.
Apr 3, 2016 at 10:10 PM
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Lucky Phil
By the time Trader Trent is done, Kap will be wearing tight orange pants and Baalke will be washing Elway's balls with his tonsils.
Apr 3, 2016 at 10:00 PM
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Grant Rodgers
Florio is a Niner hater and has many contradictory "insider" info. And if you call him out on it, he'll conveniently remove your comment. You should take everything he says with a grain of salt.
Apr 3, 2016 at 7:32 PM
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vermonator
Florio has know idea what's really going on. His insiders know insiders who know insiders. He's been out of the loop for a while.
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:39 PM
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Brandon
Great write-up David. I experienced the same eye-rolling reading Florio's piece as well. He's not getting released. They detested Jim Harbaugh and still kept him around for an entire year after potential trade talks. Whether he starts or sits, the team can (and should) easily roster him in 2016.
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:27 PM
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Niner4Life
Niners have the upper hand. Always have. Kap ain't taking a pay cut. Baalke ain't paying you squat. Unless........you sweet'n that deal. Otherwise we'll just keep him. Plain and simple
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:01 PM
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Pillbusta
This article is on point. Kap should be a pro and do his job. SF has the upper hand and is not the party looking to get a deal done. Kap and DEN want one another so they should make the accommodations and not SF
Apr 3, 2016 at 5:57 PM
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RC
Cannot understands the logic of paying Denver to take Colin. If they gave us their second round pick I might think otherwise, but if Denver and Colin like each other, let them solve their money problems, and soon.
Apr 3, 2016 at 5:37 PM
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WildBill
It behoves the media and some fans that the niners don't operate under the norm. That they don't do what THEY think is right. Never has it crossed their minds that the niners can. Because to them it doesn't make sense. The media, not just in sports think they are the be all and end all. The niners have the cap space. This is a new coaching staff. So they can do what they want. Most assume that why keep someone who doesn't want to be here...because they can. If the niners were dealing with cap space, then it might be more pressing for them. People think it is all about money, when it is really about power and control. To say the niners have to do this or that when the evidence says otherwise pisses the media off, because they want to show the tail can wag the
Apr 3, 2016 at 5:35 PM
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Frank M
David, exactly right. I don't trust Florio...he's got a hugely over-inflated ego. If I hear a report from Schefter or Ian Rappoport, I'll believe it...they're very seldom wrong. As for Kap reporting, it's what he's supposed to do since he's under contract with the Niners. Florio doesn't seem to get it's Denver who's pushing for this trade, not the Niners. Elway's making a foolish attempt to get Baalke to pay almost $5M of Kap's contract. I thought those two were friends...that's not how you treat a friend, especially in business.
Apr 3, 2016 at 5:33 PM
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don
Hard to believe $4.9 million is stopping this deal from getting done..
Apr 3, 2016 at 5:28 PM
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