Is Colin Kaepernick’s Off-Court Views Hounding His NFL Value

Two weeks after free agency begun, the quarterback (QB) who helped steer the San Francisco 49ers into the 2013 Super Bowl continues to be a free agent. In a rather thin market for signal callers, having Colin Kaepernick unsigned is more like a puzzle than a setback.

The truth is the former San Francisco quarterback will have none of the current problem hounding him had he opted to take the $16.9 million the 49ers offered him for 2017. It seems that the gamble of Colin Kaepernick to seek greener pastures may have backfired.

For a lot of observers including famed director Spike Lee, Kaepernick's predicament is closely associated with what he did during last season's pre-game ceremonies. His gesture to kneel down instead of standing up when the American anthem chimes in may have deeper implications than his football prowess. Although a decline is seen in his performance over the last two seasons as manifested by his 3-16 stats, such glaring hole can also be attributed to San Francisco's on-field slide.

Last year, the San Francisco 49ers has been down to a couple of Pro Bowlers. That is a significant drop from their Super Bowl appearance in 2013 where the team had six. Changes in coaching may have also affected the organization as Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly alternated in just two seasons. Although the football club's degeneration may have a considerable impact on Colin Kaepernick's unsigned status, his performance since 2013 indicates otherwise.

2012 is probably the peak year for the former Niner. Kaepernick has led the NFL at that time with 8.6 yards per pass attempt. His 98.3 passer rating is within range of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger's numbers. With 3,200 yards and 21 touchdowns to his name, he has remained on the list of top-10 passers.

However, a jarring reality can be seen on the score cards. Colin Kaepernick's completion rate has dropped off. Although he bounced back with a 7.2 line last year, his numbers have tailed off from 8.6 to 7.8 in 2013. Over the next two seasons, the figures have continued to dip at 6.9 to 6.2. Still

Although the imminent backlash that teams will receive for signing Kaepernick is the prime concern, there may be a need to look closer at the QB's age. At 29, the likelihood of a decline is fast creeping up.