Colin Kaepernick last month was the subject of a rumor seemingly out of the blue that he wanted to play for the New York Jets. It seemed to be a desperate attempt by the quarterback to get out of San Francisco.
But who's desperate now?
49ers Eyeing Colin Kaepernick Clone In NFL Draft
Jets starter Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to become a free agent after he and New York couldn't close the gap on the terms of a new deal, according to NFL.com.
"It's a surprising wrinkle after Jets brass spoke about Fitzpatrick as a lock to return," NFL.com reported. "General manager Mike Maccagnan is on record saying the franchise prioritized re-signing the veteran passer who played inspired football under play-caller Chan Gailey."
49ers Never Actually Committed To Retaining Colin Kaepernick At His $11.9 Million Salary For 2016
Per NFL.com: " 'Everybody in the organization feels very strongly about this,' Maccagnan said in January, after coach Todd Bowles confirmed: 'We want him back.'"
"It's possible Sam Bradford's two-year, $36 million contract with the Eagles swung the Fitzpatrick talks in a negative direction."
That may have raised Fitzpatrick's expectations of getting a contract offer worth between $16 million and $18 million, the New York Post reported.
"Bradford is coming off a season when he threw 19 touchdowns," the Post reported. "Fitzpatrick threw a franchise-record 31 touchdowns.
"The estimate from league people is the Jets would like to pay him in the $8 million-$10 million per year range. The Jets were thrilled with Fitzpatrick's play and leadership in their 10-6 season last year, but they can argue it was a one-year blip for Fitzpatrick, a 33-year-old journeyman."
Enter the possibility of Kaepernick. He is not a journeyman, but he has his own tag to shed: has-been.
He's had back-to-back subpar seasons that have stripped him of his former tag: can't-miss superstar.
Kaepernick led San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII where they lost a heartbreaker to the Baltimore Ravens.
It could be argued that Kaepernick's skills deteriorated as the talent around him disappeared in San Francisco. It has been suggested that Kaepernick's relationship with the 49ers management is broken because of the circumstances surrounding his benching last season.
That led to the New York Daily News' story about Kaepernick's interest in the Jets.
The Jets' Brandon Marshall said thanks but no thanks. That was before the Jets' negotiations with Fitzpatrick fell apart.
The Jets have a potent wide receiver tandem in Marshall and Eric Decker that could help Kaepernick revitalize his career.
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