The 49ers and Kaepernick attempted to complete a deal, but talks fell apart and the quarterback remains in San Francisco.
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Kaepernick was asked if he is confident his best chance for success is now with the 49ers.
“I really don’t want to get into the specifics of what happened, why things happened”, Kaepernick said.
When his media session ended at Levi’s Stadium, it was the longest one in memory at more than 18 minutes. Chip Kelly said he would not be participating in 7-on-7 work today, but the training staff apparently decided he was good to go with that work. I think it’s very similar to what I’ve done in college – more detailed and more complex. The full squad reports back to Santa Clara on Saturday, July 30, for the opening of training camp.
Kaepernick, 28, said he returned to the 49ers as a different person after a tumultuous offseason in which he met with Denver Broncos general manager John Elway but was unable to work out a contract agreement that would have facilitated a trade to the reigning Super Bowl champions.
“That was an organization that, at the end of the season, goes through and evaluates personnel and opportunities. That’s how we handled the business”, Kaepernick continued.
He told reporters per ESPN, “We were looking at different opportunities”. That was something, I sat down with my team and did the same thing. At this point everything is football and I’m a 49er.
Colin Kaepernick said he can’t wait to work with Chip Kelly and learn to play in the coach’s “explosive” offense. “I’m excited to get back on the field, get healthy and be ready for this training camp”. I’m excited to play football. He threw 82 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in his four seasons, while rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons.
Kaepernick acknowledged his tumultuous year prompted him to change his ways.
To further prepare himself, Kaepernick said he must add “pretty substantial weight” after losing an unspecified amount while he rehabilitated earlier this year in the isolation of Vail, Colorado, which is where he had surgeries on his left shoulder, left knee and right thumb. Gabbert built up a lot of equity within the locker room while going 3-5 as Kaepernick’s replacement, as well as through this offseason in which he’s taken all first-team snaps.
“Everything’s coming along, progressing as planned”, Kaepernick said.
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“(I’m) ready to compete, ready to give this team everything I have”, he said. “I have to be able to continue with that and be able to do those things and do what this offense requires of me”. More detailed and more complex, but I think it’s something that I’ll be able to thrive in and I’m excited to be a part of and really get on the field and get those reps and see what we can do in games.
