PHL Anon
If San Francisco 49ers didn’t shake up the franchise enough today when they traded two-time Pro Bowl tight end, Vernon Davis, they aren’t stopping there as they seek a turnaround after a 2-6 start. The shakeup will include benching Colin Kaepernick for Jacksonville castoff Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert will take over beginning this weekend when the Niners play at home against the Atlanta Falcons before heading into their bye week.
Jim Tomsula, earlier Monday, said the team was “evaluating everything,” including benching Kaepernick. This was before earlier in the day they traded TE Davis and a 2016 seventh-round pick to the Denver Broncos in return for sixth-round picks in 2016 and 2017.
Last week, Kap had been described in a FOX Sports report as being “on an island” in the locker room. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter the usually solitary Kaepernick had stopped wearing his ever-present headphones in the lunchroom and had started engaging with teammates.
Tomsula disputed the characterization, as did a few teammates, but that was before their latest loss, Sunday at St. Louis. Kaepernick went without an interception in the loss. However, he also didn’t throw a touchdown for a second consecutive game. He went 20-for-41 passing for 162 yards and added 28 rushing yards.
Gabbert was taken in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Jaguars. In June 2014, the 49ers signed Kap to a six-year contract extension reportedly worth more than $110 million, including a record $61 million guaranteed. The deal tied Kaepernick to the 49ers through the 2020 season and put him among the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
This all becomes quite an interesting situation seeing as though Kaepernick had led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 18 years during the 2012/13 season and then to the NFC title game during the 2013/14 season. So how do the 49ers now deal with the once “rising star” quarterback? Do they try and trade him in the offseason? Just cut him loose completely? Look to rehab his confidence and game?
It will be an interesting end of the season, and offseason to say the least. What will come next? Let’s all sit back and see. Do you have your popcorn ready?