Is It a Risk for the 49ers to Start Colin Kaepernick? Not for Them.

Colin Kaepernick should not be anywhere near the field. I'm surprised he even has a job. If you take knee for the pledge, then you are disrespecting our country. If you want to protest, don't do it on the football field. None of this situation would of happened if Colin just took his opinion somewhere else. Many people protest black rights just like him. The only difference is he does it where he shouldn't. People come to watch football not see you petty protest.

So, after reading this tale of woe, I'm supposed to feel sorry for Colin Kaepernick because he's reduced to playing for "only" 14 million this season, or about a million a game? (And about a hundred grand for every pass he completed in today's 45-16 loss to the Bills?) Sorry, ain't buyin' it.

What else can the 49ers do with a 1-4 record? Their first string quarterback disintegrated so there is little choice. Might as well get some work out of him for the money he gets sitting on the bench. While he's kneeling during the anthem, he might give Donald Trump some "hair tips".

Am I missing something here? You choose to earn a living in a violent sport that undoubtedly has injured you already in high school and college. You are good enough to turn Pro and make a decent first year salary.... if you're really, really good, you get a signing bonus and millions of dollars over x number of years. You play a year, or two, or maybe three and then perhaps suffer a career ending injury. You have already made more money in that 1-3 period than most people will see in 30 years of work, and you can go and work at something else 'cause you're still young. Yes, the NFL owners suck because they won't pay a disability premium, but what company would offer you a policy? Your profession is all about disability. Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for these "poor" players...

A perfect example of the 1% AND a member of the something-for-nothing gang.

No doubt fans of Donald Trump look at a guy like Kaepernick and see an "uppity", spoiled, ungrateful, un-American who needs to be taught his proper place and to show greater respect to his country, its flag, and its national anthem. But I, an elderly white man, see a much different human being in Colin Kaepernick. I see an understandably proud black man whose conscience compels him to quietly protest against excessive and unnecessary police violence against black Americans. Because the whole point of protesting any issue is to draw public attention to a perceived injustice or other wrong, he chose the least disruptive but also most effective means of expressing what are clearly his legitimate concerns over unwanted blue on black violence and racist cops. As a diehard 49er fan, my hope is that he will consistently throw passes, hopefully more longer ones, as perfectly as his chosen means of protest, which I also hope he will continue.

Of course I also see in Kaepernick what must be a burning desire to prove he is the top NFL quarterback that his performance in earlier years gave every indication he would become. Why else would he risk losing millions of dollars renegotiating his contract with the 49ers? Some may say he's a fool to take that risk, but fierce competitors have no choice. His similarly fierce conscience and courage off the field may also cost him dearly, since the white team owners aren't likely to cotton to his acts of conscience (or to his massive 'fro!).

Colin: I plan to wear your jersey with pride and in support of your noble efforts. You will always be a winner in my book.

The NFL - subsidies for the ultra-rich paid by the poor. The Oakland Raiders are currently in the process of trying to squeeze a billion dollars out of either Oakland or Las Vegas. It is simply repulsive.

I hope Kap makes it. He needs to get away from the 49ers. York and Baalke are just poison.

Let's face it, Kap's original deal was way too generous for someone who is at best a second tier QB. He can run and has a strong arm, but very poor vision of the field and poor ability to see plays developing. I think this new deal is best for everyone.

Unfair to Kap? Get serious. He'll make 14 million dollars this year, and this far, far his actual worth. He should feel dang lucky he even got this deal. His market value is 1/8 of this. He's damaged goods.

People live in a fantasy world in sports. I mean is his original contract says that he gets full if he get seriously injured. I wish I could have contract like that. Imagine breaking my leg, staying at home for the whole year, and get my full salary. Kap. now won't be getting that. That is so sad ;)

Sounds like a "pay to play" deal ... with Kap buying his own freedom at season's end by giving up the injury protection clause and the Niners freeing up "cap" to go after their quarterback of the future next year.

Gabbert has flopped, although he hardly bears 100% of that responsibility given the offense surrounding him (something that will likely be even more clearly evident once Kap starts). But, at least Kap gets a chance to show his stuff to potential future employers -- although it's not clear who would want to hire a QB from a team that could well finish 1 - 15.

Great analysis...thank you!

There are many examples of employers taking out life and/or disability insurance policies on key employees (e.g. C-level executives) on which the company is the beneficiary, but in every case I know of, the employer has paid the premiums. Unless I’m mistaken, this article states that the employee must pay the premium for such a policy as a condition of his employment. Are there employers other than the NFL doing this? If not, I think we all - regardless of our job, salary or posture during the national anthem - should worry about the precedent being set here.

I watched Colin play in College with the Wolfpack at Reno/Nevada, and he is a great talent. If the 49 ers hadn't lost track of the fact " Big men win the game, along the line of scrimmage", then the 49 ers might still be relevant. They haven't drafted a top tier O lineman in years, now they wonder why they aren't winning. They need pro bowl caliber O lineman, without them I don't care who is under center, they will be running for their lives. I wish Kap all the luck, but without the Horses up front, he'll be running for his life. Too bad!

Coupled with its years-long efforts to deny the proven effects of football on the human brain, the NFL's countenancing this injury exclusion further demonstrates either (1) moral and ethical blindness, (2) kowtowing to a greedy owner, (3) a purposeful strategy to diminish the image and standing of the league or (4) all of the above.

Kap's uncertain financial future makes his $1 million contribution to charity this summer, in support of the cause he kneels for, that much more admirable. I will be cheering for Kap even more passionately.

Yikes! At least Kaepernick gets a "decent" salary. Are these same constructed contracts used for the less well-paid linesmen?

I think I will boycott the NFL. Their system sounds like a form of slavery despite the potential for big money.

I am a long time Niner fan. I have seen the team go from having the best front office management in the NFL back in the 1980s to now when it may be the worst management in the league. The team is talent poor and has a huge amount of salary cap space. They have not drafted well. So, to get talent, they are going to have to turn to signing free agents in the next off season. So, do they imagine that players they are trying to sign will not take into consideration they way they have tried to squeeze players in contract negotiations? By reducing their financial exposure with Kaep, they are short sightedly cutting their throats when it comes improving the team. Stupid.

It's a risk only if they care about winning?

" Of that, however, only $3.8 million was guaranteed, including a $2.2 million signing bonus"

Poor baby, only being guaranteed $3,800,000. I wonder how many of his fans make that in their lifetime.

As a 49ers season ticket holder and longtime 49ers fan, let me say that you have only scratched the surface of how greedy the 49ers owners are these days. The 49ers are no longer really considered to be a "San Francisco" team having moved 40 miles south to Silicon Valley where they were eager to milk hi tech millionaires for the big bucks. What about the quality of the team and the welfare of its players? Mere afterthoughts. Owner Jed York hasn't shown his face in public for more than a year and for good reason - he's ruined one of the greatest sports franchises in sports history. In his eyes, Kaepernick is nothing more than an "uppity" player who he'll get rid of very soon.

A little tangential, but I find it interesting that Kaepernick wants to play badly enough that he will restructure to a less favorable set of terms and conditions. Perhaps the guy still has the drive and ambition to return to elite status under the right coach and with the right team. I was astounded by his arm strength when they went to the SB. Would be fun to see him back in the mix of top tier QBs.

So why did he agree to such a company favoring contract? Other than the fact that the NFL supports the monopoly-like behavior of its corporate socialist owners?

After hearing of the servitude that the diva-like Kaepernick labors under for his paltry tens of millions of dollars to sit on the bench - I have decided to take a knee in my living room this Sunday during the anthem.

I am with you Colin... metaphorically anyway - I hate getting hit by 300 lb dudes.