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San Francisco 49ers GM denies Colin Kaepernick trade rumors

By Cory Buck

Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) rushes for a gain during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi
Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) rushes for a gain during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi /
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San Francisco 49ers GM Trent Baalke denied rumors that the team is quietly shopping quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Less than a day after rumors hit that the San Francisco 49ers had placed starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the trade block, Niners GM Trent Baalke took to the media to flatly deny as much.

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“Colin is our quarterback and we are excited to have him,” Baalke said in a statement, per CSN Bay Area. “He is not going anywhere. The media reports suggesting otherwise are without merit and, quite frankly, ridiculous.”

This probably makes more sense than the idea that the 49ers would trade their only viable quarterback (Blaine Gabbert most certainly does not count) in a league with a dire lack of quality starting options. Kaepernick struggled mightily in the team’s disappointing 2014 campaign, but trading him this offseason would almost certainly invoke a white flag waving from management as far as 2015 is concerned.

The team signed Kaepernick to a large deal last summer and while that didn’t seem to work out so well this past season, it’s still a very team-friendly deal given what we’ve seen from Kaepernick in his short career. He’ll be owed $12.8 million this season between salary and bonus money, which is pennies for a starting QB who’s taken his team to three straight NFC Championship Games prior to this past season.

CEO Jed York gave glowing praise to Kaepernick, citing his ability to run as one of his major strengths. “How many quarterbacks in this league can run 90 yards for a touchdown? I can’t think of many.” Well sure, but running isn’t what quarterbacks are mainly supposed to…oh, whatever.

Kaepernick completed 60.5% of his passes for 3,369 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with 641 rushing yards. The passing yards were a career high, but his passer rating (86.4) was good for just 20th in the NFL in 2014.

Last year may have been a down year for Kaepernick, but it was also a down year for the entire 49ers organization. The team pushed their coach out the door after a season marred by injuries, suspensions and inconsistency while watching their quarterback struggle.

That’s all in the past now though and if this team wants to get back to the playoffs in 2015, the last thing they should be considering is moving their starting quarterback unless they see another one come back in return.

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