NFL Roster Update: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers To End Ties After Current Season?
The San Francisco 49ers and Colin Kaepernick will likely part ways after the 2015 NFL season after the star quarterback was benched during their game against the Atlanta Falcons.
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the recent benching is clear proof that Kaepernick's relationship with their top officials is on a downward spiral.
Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl three seasons ago, but the report added that management's trust has "eroded" and is on a point that it will be hard for them to settle their differences. It means that Kaepernick is unlikely to return to San Francisco next season. And even if he does, he will have to settle for a backup role.
Kaepernick, who has completed 59.0 percent of his passes for 1,615 yards this season with five interceptions against just six touchdowns, is in contract until the 2020 season after inking a lucrative six-year contract worth $114 million last year with the 49ers.
The report added that the benching "polarized" the 49ers' locker room. While Kaepernick has not publicly demanded for a trade, his teammates are reportedly convinced that the 28-year-old will likely ask for a change of scenery instead of settling for a backup role in San Francisco next season.
The 49ers did not shop Kaepernick before the trade deadline, but sources added that they were open to dealing any player on their roster, including their star quarterback. Several teams were reportedly interested in acquiring the former Nevada standout but decided not to pursue a deal because of the intricacies of Kaepernick's contract.
Kaepernick has a cap hit of $20 million this season, which made it difficult for teams to make plans to acquire the quarterback. His $16.77 million salary next season will be fully guaranteed if he is still on the roster on April 1, which is creating speculation that the 49ers and Kaepernick and the 49ers will part ways in February or March.
Kaepernick is not expected to regain his starting spot unless Blaine Gabbert suffers a major injury. The team confirmed that Gabbert will start for the 49ers again against the Seattle Seahawks next week after 49ers coach Jim Tomsula liked what he saw from the 26-year-old on Sunday.
"Blaine did a nice job, did some really good things with his feet and his arm and his brain," Tomsula said via ESPN. "Really did a nice job, so congratulations to him. But I thought across the board, offensively, everybody stepped it up, and we did a better job, and I was happy to see that."
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of latinpost.com