Originally posted by Pillbusta:
Originally posted by dj43:
I'm not about ready to put Kaepernick in the same bag as those guys. However, I believe Harbaugh, or someone, needs to sit Kaepernick down and talk to him about the image he is portraying to the public and the rest of the team. If you are going to be a team leader, especially the QB, you need to be football first and foremost, well ahead of your endorsements and wardrobe.
Don't let Kap's attire fool you. All we've heard about Kap is how hard he works and how much time he has spent in the facility. He has no family no wife no kid nothing to distract him from football so I think we are overstating things based on the way Kap looks. It is the same crap David Whitley got castrated for or whoever that jerk was that wrote that heinous column on Kap. We need to be careful because I don't see where Kap has been acting like Johnny Manziel away from the game. All I hear from Kap is 1st one in 1st one out and if you know Kappa Alpha Psi then you know nupes dress to impress regularly. Just like Penny Hardaway. It is just one of their things along with being lady killers but this has nothing to do with his focus on the game. There is no way Kap supplants Alex as starter in his second year pro if Kap wasn't doing his due diligence in the playbook and on the sidelines in the background. There is no way because Alex was playing too well. I think some of you don't realize how hard it is to be a starting NFL QB and have the success Kap has. It takes a great deal of hard work. The type of work folk here don't want to give Kap the credit for putting in
The discussion now turns to remind me of a statement Bill Walsh made during his run as HC. He advised that both coaches and players must always treat the media with courtesy and respect. The media is an extension of the fans. They have a job to do and that job is to inform the fans about their favorite team. When the team is going well, the media will always be on your side and thus you can get away with what would otherwise be shoddy behavior. The key point is, you must treat media well when you are going well because if you don't, when things go bad the media will cut you no slack. In turn, the fans are being cheated because they are not getting the information they want about their team. (that is as close as I recall Walsh's statement) IMO, Walsh always did that. He gave thoughtful answers even in the face of some crushing defeats.
That is a lesson that Harbaugh has not learned, or even come close, and it appears that Kaepernick has mirrored his boss. Neither of them give media much at all to work with in post game interviews, or even non-game stuff.
Yesterday I was listening to a Bay Area radio station and one of the local writers was relating standing beside Joe Staley's locker as Kaepernick was doing his post game interview all dressed in shades and BEATS, looking cool but giving nothing that media could really use. According to this writer, as the two of them stood watching the interview, Staley turned to the writer and said, "If I didn't know Colin as well as I do, I would think he is a real A--hole."
The point being, Harbaugh sets the tone for everything that happens around the team and when he acts like the media is just an ugly stepchild, it is no surprise when Kaepernick, his prize protege, acts the same way. And that is sad.
I live very near where Kaepernick grew up. I know and have met quite a few people who knew Colin growing up. They all speak highly of him, not just as an athlete but as a person as well. They say he was courteous and engaging. Always friendly. Consequently, they are surprised and disappointed with the public face he puts on now much of the time with the 49ers.
I know this is "Pick on Harbaugh Week" or has been for a couple of weeks now so I will just add this bit to keep the pot well stirred.
Good one.