Fansided

5 NFL teams that need to blow it up and rebuild

By Robert Judin

Oct 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) fumbles a snap against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) fumbles a snap against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) stands in the huddle during a break in the action against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at Levi
Oct 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) stands in the huddle during a break in the action against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at Levi /

1. San Francisco 49ers

Dear Colin Kaepernick, you really are not Russell Wilson, bro.

Sorry, Clay Matthews asked me to say that. Okay, maybe he didn’t, but he’s not wrong. Kaepernick is not Wilson, and the San Francisco 49ers are not the Seahawks.

In fact, they’re not even the Arizona Cardinals or the Rams. The 49ers are something much different: a mess.

Regardless of the rumors about Jim Harbaugh having lost the locker room last year, and regardless of Jim Tomsula’s ability to be a successful head coach in the NFL, the 49ers’ downfall has everything to do with Kaepernick.

He’s a freak athlete … really, he is. But that’s not enough anymore. The fact of the matter is Kaepernick’s touchdowns have gone down while he interceptions have gone up.

It doesn’t help that San Francisco watched Justin Smith, Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retire out of nowhere this past offseason. And it clearly doesn’t help that Aldon Smith was so immature that his off-the-field incidents eventually led to his release. But San Francisco is still talented enough offensively to make noise, and it hasn’t.

Kaepernick loses himself when he’s pressured. His training dissolves, and the 49ers’ offense stalls. When the offense stalls, the 49ers have to play from behind, and that handcuffs Carlos Hyde — almost tragically. Hyde had 168 rushing yards on 26 carries against the Vikings in week one. Since then, he has 114 yards on 36 carries (three games).

Kaepernick is owed a lot of money between now and when his contract ends after 2020. That’s the risk the team took when it gave him a six year deal worth $114 million — $61 million guaranteed.

San Francisco spent money on Torrey Smith this offseason, and he’s been M.I.A. Anquan Boldin has to be frustrated, and Vernon Davis can’t be far behind him.

The 49ers are in arguably the toughest division in the NFL, and they’re nowhere close to competing. The time has come, Niners. Throw in the towel and re-build. It’s pretty much the only choice.

Next: Biggest NFL Divas of All-Time

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