Kaepernick says he’s had talks about reworking his contract but feels no pressure to do so.

SANTA CLARA

Colin Kaepernick spoke in the 49ers’ locker room Tuesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript.

Q: Can you talk about the interaction you had with Coach Chip Kelly, and what your reaction was when he told you you’d be starting?

KAEPERNICK: Had a brief conversation before we got going for practice. He told me I was up this week. Excited about it. Ready to go. Hoping I can bring more to this team and try to get us a win this Sunday.

Q: How do you feel physically?

KAEPERNICK: Good. I’m ready to go. We had a few days off, so back at it. Getting ready.

Q: You spoke in June about changing your physique and not being as bulky as you had been. Is that still the plan? Are you going to be the same physically now as you were last year at this time?

KAEPERNICK: My biggest thing is trying to focus on strength and make sure I’m physically ready to play. Whether that means my weight is higher or lower, I don’t think that’s a huge deal. More so where my strength is at, and I feel very comfortable with that.

Q: Are you 100 percent?

KAEPERNICK: Yes. 100-percent ready to go.

Q: You were wearing a tinted visor today during practice. Is that something that has been approved by the NFL yet, and why were you wearing that in practice if it hasn’t been approved?

KAEPERNICK: I’ve been wearing it in practice since the spring, so I’ve been wearing it a long time. Hasn’t been officially approved, so still working on that.

Q: How was practice today?

KAEPERNICK: It was great to be back out there, start to get that timing down, get ready for this Sunday’s game. Hopefully we can make some things happen.

Q: There was a report that you and the team were trying to rework your contract to get you back on the field. Has something like that happened?

KAEPERNICK: We have had conversations. Really don’t want to get into details about that, but those conversations have gone on.

Q: Do you feel there was a business element as to why you weren’t playing?

KAEPERNICK: Uh, I really don’t know. You would have to ask the people upstairs about that. My biggest thing is focusing on football and trying to do what I can to help this team win.

Q: Has the contract stuff been resolved?

KAEPERNICK: We’re still in discussions.

Q: When you look at the offense during this four-game losing streak, what do you think the offense was missing?

KAEPERNICK: I think there’s just small things here and there that we need to clean up, need to correct as a whole. Hopefully those are things that we progress on this week, and it shows Sunday and helps us get a win.

Q: Do you feel you’re a more confident quarterback now?

KAEPERNICK: I think I’ve always been confident. It’s something that I’m ready to step on that field, I’m ready to play. It’s been about a year since live-game action, so I’m itching to get out there.

Q: Torrey Smith said you’re happier this year. Why do you think you’re happy?

KAEPERNICK: I think I’ve always been happy, but more than anything I’m comfortable and at peace with myself and my relationships, and with everything that’s going on in my life. I think that reflects, and I think that’s what he’s referring too.

Q: Do you think the rest of the season is a good chance for you to relaunch your career?

KAEPERNICK: It’s a great opportunity to go out and win some games. That’s ultimately what the goal is. We’re going to focus on the Buffalo Bills this week.

Q: Regarding the restructuring of your contract, is the ball in your court as far as if you want to sign that?

KAEPERNICK: Once again, not going to get into details on that. We have had discussions.

Q: Do you feel like you’ve grown as a leader now that you’ve become this national spokesperson? Do you think you’re a better football leader?

KAEPERNICK: That’s a better question for my teammates. For me, I try to carry myself confidently and appropriately whatever environment I’m in. Hopefully that reflects and my teammates feel that way and I can lead this team to victory.

Q: Are you still getting an avalanche of mail, and what do the letters say?

KAEPERNICK: A lot of mail has come in. I really don’t spend too much time going through it. I still have a job to do. Still have to focus on football and spend most of my time doing that. That’s where my focus is.

Q: A lot of people have said you’re a good fit for Chip Kelly’s offense. Now that you’ve been in it for a little while, are there things that you see that make you a good fit that make you excited to play in it?

KAEPERNICK: Yeah, I think there are a lot of great things this offense does and allows the quarterback to do. Like I said in the past, it’s similar to things I’ve done in college. That makes me feel very comfortable.

Q: Where do you see yourself a year from now?

KAEPERNICK: I have no idea. My focus right now is the Buffalo Bills. I’m not thinking a year out right now.

Q: Do you feel any sort of pressure to have a reworked contract before you start a game?

KAEPERNICK: No, I feel no pressure.

This article has 43 Comments

  1. I’m most concerned about ball security. Kap is coming off thumb surgery and he doesn’t always tuck the ball away on runs.

      1. Storm is brewing, watch out world, you’ll be taken! Look one way and throw the other, attack the edges, pump fake for Chryst sake!

        1. Cassie, since you so kindly mentioned my ideas, I will post all of them because of your ardent admiration of them.

          10 things Kaep should do on Sunday. By Nynah sfgate 1-17-14.

          1. Run the no huddle with quick snaps to negate the crowd noise.

          2. Always put a man in motion, and read the defense’s reaction.

          3. Fake a handoff or pitch, and roll out the other way to befuddle the defense.

          4. Invite the blitz and roll away from the blitz of complete a quick slant. (Also, target the area the blitzer left, or counter with a screen).

          5. Take advantage of D speed by doing counters, misdirections and reverses. (Become more unpredictable).

          6. Look off the safeties by facing one way while looking in another direction. ( Become more deceptive. Work on pump fakes)

          7. Consider Time Outs to be precious and saved for (legitimate challenges) and the last 2 minutes (of each half).

          1. 8. Shake hands, win or lose. Read IF, by Rudyard Kipling.

            9. After the game, go to the Niner fans in the stands and give autographed Hats.

            10.Get the ball in Frank Gore’s (Playmakers) hands as much as possible.

            1. Seb,

              No one will ever see any of your suggestions coming. Your ideas are revolutaionary, no, more than that, visionary.

              You should make an expanded treatment of your ideas available to all via a SEB Talk.

              Oh, wait…

              1. Yes, I sure wish Kaep had taken my advice, because days after I wrote number 6, if he had done so, he would have seen 3 wide open players, and they would have returned to the SB.

                Visionary? Maybe, but I just consider them common sense.

    1. I hope you’re right Razor. Kap will surely leave after the season. If we can get a 5th or 6th round pick I will be happy. They have to get the new contract before any team would start talking about a trade.

    2. I don’t think that is the case at all. Kelly has to win games. It’s been rumored for 2 years that he has been enamored with Kaep. This is simply seeing if he can revive his career. If it doesn’t work out know big deal. If Kaep plays well under Kelly you could see a smaller extension in the Off season.

      1. Yikes! Giving Kap an extension would set the team back for the rest of the decade. That is a nightmare scenario for me.

        1. If he plays well he gets a short term extension and allows the Niners to address best available in the first. Then a QB in the 2nd. Just a thought:

          1. What does Kap have to do to get an extension? He has to play every game. He has to be able to run Chips’ offense. He has to have a completion % of 60 or higher. He needs to be as good or better than Gabbert in the red zone. He has to be a leader, not a loner. He has to be a dual threat QB. And above all else, he needs to protect the ball and not throw picks.

  2. Anybody else think the visor issue could be a problem? If he’s been practicing for months using a tinted visor and then waits until game day to switch to an untinted visor, might there not be some issues. Especially since there was supposedly an issue last year?

    1. Cubus ..

      thought I read.. somewhere.. that
      the tinted visor was approved .. but
      on a limited basis …

      no ?

  3. This organization is factionalized. At the top it is Jed and Paarage. Chip and Gamble are together. And Trent is on Baalke island.

    This is a power play by Kelly and Gamble. Really Trent, How could you not see this coming?

      1. Whine Country

        OF COURSE he’s right..!

        He’s tossed out every ‘revelation-a-day’ scenario possible so as not to be held to one opinion. Like Seb and TumD, and several others on here, he changes with the wind just for the sake of proclaiming “SEE…I WAS RIGHT..!” or “I TOLD YOU SO…!”

        1. Ore,

          What have I changed on? I never liked Chip and Blaine but I gave them a shot because I am a fan. I was pro Kap until I saw him play again. I’ve always been anti Jed, Trent, and Paraage.

          As far as saying “SEE I WAS RIGHT!” I said “I knew it” when A Davis retired again, that was something I predicted and never changed my mind on.

          Please give some examples to support your claim about me. I really don’t care if i’m right or wrong. When I have been wrong, I call myself out and say things like “Bad call #80.

          1. #80

            I do apologize for grouping you with what I consider ‘bad company’…I was probably a bit miffed at the ‘Chip’ references, and upon reading back, you’re right…you never did have much love for ‘Chip’…just honest questions of me. Sincere mea culpa…I’ll keep my eyes a bit sharper….

  4. Kudos are due to Lowell Cohn, who predicted on CSN before the season that Gabbert would be named QB but that by week four, they would be so dissatisfied with his play that they would give the job to Kaepernick. I don’t recall if he said Kaepernick would start week 4 or week 5. It was one of them, though. I listened to this broadcast myself and at the time thought his prediction was a stretch. Pretty shrewd on Lowell’s part.

    1. Grant also said that Gabbert would start, Kaep would take over the middle of the season, and Ponder would finish out the season.

  5. kelly made his play, now hes got the QB hes wanted the whole time.it was a cat and mouse game,play gabbert untill the wheels fall off.nothing to special for the game plans keep it simple.watch gabbert fail and ballke crumble,now hes got to dial up the good game plans and let kap loose, hope he plays well and make ballke look even stupider.its a win win really

    1. Instead of watching the players all stare at the side lines, I hope Chip has them prepared enough so they can just line up and execute the play. Chip should take a page out of the Bill Walsh playbook and scrip the first 15 plays. That way, the QB wont be handing off to an empty backfield.

      Chip should play to their strengths. Maybe he should allow Kaep to be the field general and let him run the offense, with subtle input from the side lines.

  6. Still no new contract . What is the holdup? Is it the injury clause? Is it the amount of money he could get through incentives. Or does he like making Baalke sweat?

    1. If I was his agent, I would tell him, we’re going to agree to sign this on one condition. Baalke must be sacked….

  7. 80,my guess is making ballke sweat.theres already bad blood there if he plays well it makes baalke look even dumber.what incentive does he have to sign said deal?to look better for another team?truthfully i hope he plays well so baalke looks like the idiot he truely is so he gets fired.o nce again win win

    1. … and ….

      with the severance package Baalke
      will get from the Jedster …
      he’ll be able to buy a little place
      on a lake … somewhere …and .. finally
      … open his bait shop … so-o-o ..
      all will be well

  8. How can Chip utilize Kaep to his fullest potential? Use him properly.

    I am reminded of the movie- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
    In that movie, the mine foreman asks the Sundance Kid to draw his weapon, level his pistol, and shoot at a rock. He misses, and the mine foreman spits out his quid and turns away in disgust. Then the Kid asks if he can move. When he gets the OK, he moves like lightning and blasts the rock to bits. They are hired on the spot.

    Kaep is the same way. Force him to stand still and deliver from the pocket does not play to his strengths. Kaep should be allowed to roll out and throw on the run. He is a hundred times more dangerous, because DBs freak out when they see him in open space, and forget all about covering their receiver because they are afraid Kaep will embarrass them by running past them for a TD.

    By allowing Kaep to use his legs, he will discombobulate the defense, and his receivers will be wide open. He also will be able to use his legs to score. There was a reason why Kaep threw for 10,00 yards but also ran for 4000 yards. He is a true dual threat QB.

    I want Kaep to be the Sundance Kaep.

  9. im with ya seb but kap is going to have to make the easy throws,make good decisions in the pocket.i just hope hes grown up some realized he made some mistakes early on with teammates, in the film room,whatever,just hope he can put it together. im not expecting much but it wasnt that long ago i was 26-27 with a lot going on trying to figure out who i was, what i was doing with my life so its not unheard of to have a realization about life at that age and i can only imagine what its like to go threw that and be making millions at the same time…….hoping for the best…..niners for life

  10. Grant

    Even though ‘Chip’ has relented to say that Kaep can now play, what is the situation if in practice, Kaep continues to stink it up…behind Gabbert and Ponder….Is coach obligated to still start Kaepernick ahead of the others ? Or does he continue to start the QB that, in his judgement gives the team the best chance to win ?

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