SANTA CLARA – Colin Kaepernick spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said.
Q: Greg Roman said you’re approaching this as just another game. Are you?
KAEPERNICK: Is it just another game? Yeah.
Q: This is your playoff debut. What did the playoff atmosphere feel like to you when you were on the sideline last year?
KAEPERNICK: Just a lot more intense than a regular season game. There’s a lot more at stake.
Q: What do you remember most about the season opener in Green Bay?
KAEPERNICK: That was my first time really being on the field in a significant moment. That would be the biggest thing.
Q: Do you remember how old you were when you decided you wanted to be a professional football player?
KAEPERNICK: I don’t know, I started playing football when I was eight years old. Probably since then.
Q: Were you a Packers or a 49ers fan back then?
KAEPERNICK: I was a Packers fan.
Q: I know you were a Brett Favre fan. Do you admire Aaron Rodgers as well?
KAEPERNICK: Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback. You see what he does on the field. You see the performances he’s been having. You can’t say enough about the guy.
Q: Do your parents still have your old Packers stuff?
KAEPERNICK: I don’t think so.
Q: Threw them out?
KAEPERNICK: Yeah, probably.
Q: What kinds of problems will the Packers defense pose to you?
KAEPERNICK: They have a lot of different looks, a lot of different things they can do, a lot of playmakers on that side of the ball, so they’re going to try to cause turnovers. They’re going to try to disrupt our offense. We have to account for that.
Q: You’ve only started 7 games, but you seem mature. How is that?
KAEPERNICK: I don’t know. I think it’s because I’ve been playing football for so long. This is my 17th year of football. Football is football once you’re on the field.
Q: What would be the most fun thing about this week?
KAEPERNICK: If we win. That’s the most fun you can have.
Q: What about the process?
KAEPERNICK: The process is work. Come out every day and try to be focused and make sure you’re ready for the game.
Q: The starting quarterback is usually the leader of the team. You’re a relative newcomer who only has 7 career starts. Is it hard for you to get up here in front of the media and be very vocal and act in a vocal way?
KAEPERNICK: I don’t think you have to be vocal to be a leader. At the quarterback position, obviously you’re going to have to speak up at times, but I think you can lead more by your actions and by showing people you’re prepared and by the decisions you make on the field.
Q: Does this upcoming game feel different for you?
KAEPERNICK: It’s another game, there’s just more at stake.
Q: What do you remember about last year’s playoff games?
KAEPERNICK: You have to raise your level of play. You have to be more precise. You have to know everything that defense is going to do.
Q: Where did you watch the Packers game Saturday?
KAEPERNICK: At my house.
Q: How many times have you watched it since then?
KAEPERNICK: Quite a few.
Q: What really strikes you about their defense?
KAEPERNICK: They try to get turnovers. They want to get the ball back to their offense.
Q: Isn’t that what the Bears do, too? Are there similarities between those two?
KAEPERNICK: They are completely different defenses.
Q: I get the impression you don’t like to reveal a whole lot. You might have that in common with your head coach. Why is that?
KAEPERNICK: The more that you reveal, the less of an advantage you have.
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