Kaepernick: “If I threw the ball a foot farther, we’re playing this week.”

Colin Kaepernick gave the best interview of his pro career Wednesday morning on KNBR. Here is a transcript.

Q: You look relaxed.

KAEPERNICK: Once the season ends I can relax a little bit, talk a little bit more to the media.

Q: Why are you shorter during the season and looser during the offseason?

KAEPERNICK: To me, during the season the media is trying to find things to pick about, whether it’s your team or you or they’re looking for things that they can put out there that might be game-plan-specific or things you’re looking at by the defense. To me, the shorter I can, the less information I give out, the more advantageous it is to our team.

Q: Is that something Jim Harbaugh has talked to you about and maybe coached you up on?

KAEPERNICK: It’s something we talk about as a team, as far as not giving information out and not trying to give any details of what we’re doing. I think it’s something that ultimately is going to help our team.

Q: When you see guys like Russell Wilson filling up notebooks, do you want to learn the art of talking for a long time while saying nothing?

KAEPERNICK: I have that art too, but I figure if I can say the same thing in seven words as opposed to 47, I’m going to do it. I’m trying to save their time and mine.

Q: What do you think about when you think about the NFC Championship game?

KAEPERNICK: Missed opportunities, especially reflecting back to the last game. For me, if I threw that ball a foot farther, we’re playing this week. That’s something that’s going to be with me this offseason.

Q: Why was the pass shorter than you wanted it?

KAEPERNICK: I thought I put enough on it where it would drop over (Sherman’s) head and give Crabtree a chance. It’s always easy to look back and say I should have put a little bit more on it, but at that point in time I thought I had thrown a good ball.

Q: Is there anything you would do different during that last sequence of plays?

KAEPERNICK: No, I think I would do it the same way again. We had moved down the field. We got a one-on-one matchup backside on the last play. I’m going to take Crabtree every chance I get on a one-on-one matchup.

Q: Even against Richard Sherman? Is that something you second guess?

KAEPERNICK: No, I wouldn’t second guess that at all. I don’t play this game to play with fear of a player or another team or anyone. I saw the matchup. I liked it. I’m going to take my chance.

Q: Why do you seem to run less in the regular season than you do in the playoffs?

KAEPERNICK: Some of it is game-plan specific. You have 16 weeks during the regular season and you may not want to take all of those hits. There are a lot of opportunities for injuries, a lot of chance that you could lose your starting quarterback. It’s something that our offensive coordinator talked to me about, a lot of our coaches have talked about – make sure you protect yourself. When we give you those opportunities to run, make sure you get out of bounds or get down. You get to the postseason, it’s one-and-done, so we’re going to do everything we can to try to win those games.

Q: Richard Sherman insulted Michael Crabtree. What do you think of that?

KAEPERNICK: I think it was a ridiculous statement. I think everyone who saw it knows it was a ridiculous statement. Crabtree is one of the best receivers in the league in my opinion. He’s done a lot for this team and a lot for this organization. To have someone try to call him out that way is absurd.

Q: Did you want to fire back?

KAEPERNICK: I don’t need to fire back. I’m going to let my play on the field do the talking.

Q: Are you eager to negotiate a new deal before the 2014 season starts.

KAEPERNICK: I’m not worried about that. I’m going to let my agent worry about it. I’m trying to focus on what I need to do to get ready for next season and improve myself and help improve this offense and ultimately help win a Super Bowl.

Q: Would you be willing to take less money to have a more complete roster?

KAEPERNICK: I think it’s a balance. You want to be paid fairly for what you feel like what you’re doing in comparison to your peers. But at the same time, if we want to get Anquan Boldin back or Donte Whitner back, we’re going to have to make moves to get them back and there has to be room for everyone. That’s something I’m going to let my agent and the organization try to figure out. Hopefully it’s a position that we can assemble the best team that we need.

Q: Joe Montana told USA Today you need to become a better pocket passer. Is pocket passing your No.1 priority this offseason?

KAEPERNICK: I think pocket passing is something that is overlooked as far as what I do. I think people see me run around, see me throw on the run, see me run downfield and say, “That’s just what he does.” But, when you step up in the pocket and make a normal throw, it gets overlooked because you’re not running around. Yes, you want to get better at it. I want to get better at throwing on the run. I want to get better at going through progressions quicker. You want to get better at everything, but I don’t think that’s something that specifically is being addressed.

Q: What is it like playing for Jim Harbaugh, and what is your relationship like with him.

KAEPERNICK: I think I have a great relationship with Coach Harbaugh. He is a maniac. He has some unorthodox ways, but ultimately he’s going to do everything he can to put this team and this organization in a position to win. Not on just a week-to-week basis, but to win championships. I think that’s why we’ve been so successful the past three years. He’s going to go through every detail and find an edge on the opponent.

Q: Where are you training this offseason?

KAEPERNICK: Heading down to Miami, going to a place that Frank Gore and Anquan Boldin recommended to me.

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