Sometimes, it's not what was said that makes a comment relevant, but rather what was not said. Such is the case of Colin Kaepernick before the NFL's regular-season finale.
ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com's Mike Florio wrote that he believes the San Francisco 49ers could have to deal with a disgruntled Kaepernick now that coach Jim Harbaugh is gone and coaching in Michigan.
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Florio recounted a report from FOX's Laura Okmin during a production meeting before the 49ers' regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals in which and "emotion" Kaepernick sounded off about the impending departure of Harbaugh.
"When I was falsely accused of sexual assault, he was the only one to publicly stand up for me," Kaepernick told FOX.
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In response to Kaepernick's quote, Florio wrote, "That's a powerful observation by and comment from Kaepernick. Now that Harbaugh's gone, Kaepernick will be left to work with and for the various members of the front office who didn't 'publicly stand up' for a player who had been falsely accused of sexual assault."
The 49ers, however, have the upper hand in the relationship with the quarterback who had his worst season during his three years as the team's starting quarterback.
Kaepernick threw for a career-best 3,369 yards. He had 19 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, which was the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio he's had in the past three seasons. He also had a career-best 639 rushing yards but produced just one rushing touchdown on a 90-yard run against the San Diego Chargers after the Niners had been eliminated from playoff contention.
It was also a game that the 49ers lost 38-35 in overtime after leading 28-7 at the half.
His quarterback rating of 86.4 was the worst of his career and the 49ers missed the playoffs for the first time in his three years as starter.
Under the terms of the seven-year, $126 million deal Kaepernick signed last summer, his $12.4 million salary for 2015 already has been reduced by $2 million because he failed to earn All-Pro status. The 49ers also can cut him before April 1 and not be on the hook to pay him any more money.
So unless Kaepernick wants out of San Francisco - because of the lack of support from the organization or otherwise - the 49ers are the ones holding all the cards.
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