San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick received a new six-year contract extension Wednesday that keeps him with the franchise through the 2020 season. ADVERTISING San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick received a new six-year contract extension Wednesday that keeps him
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick received a new six-year contract extension Wednesday that keeps him with the franchise through the 2020 season.
The sides had made it a top priority to get a deal done before the start of training camp next month for one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. ESPN reported the deal is worth more than $110 million.
Kaepernick, whose quick ascent to the ranks of the NFL’s elite playcallers has earned him rock star status, had been due to make less than $1 million this season.
Now, he instantly becomes one of the league’s richest stars.
“I’m always striving to be in that elite group in the NFL, not in pay but as a player,” Kaepernick said. “I’m very grateful for it. … I don’t think my motivation is money-driven.”
Since taking over the starting job from Alex Smith midway two years ago, Kaepernick led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 18 years after the 2012 season — losing by three points to Baltimore — and then to the NFC championship game last season, a three-point defeat to the rival and eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Kaepernick’s next mission?
“Trying to win as many Super Bowls as I can,” he said. “I think that’s your goal as a player to try to win a Super Bowl every year that you’re playing.”
A second-round draft pick out of Nevada in 2011, Kaepernick has thrived under former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh — and the coach has said how much he wants the mobile, strong-armed QB around for the long haul. Accomplishing an extension before the season is a big deal as the team begins its first year in $1.2 billion Levi’s Stadium at team headquarters.
“I really expect a real breakout year for Colin. Athletically, he looks bionic,” Harbaugh said during the organized team activity last week. “If you all remember the Six Million Dollar Man, that’s what it looks like to me. He’s very gifted and he always has been. He has the look and feel of a guy who’s really going to break out, even more so than he already has. I’m really excited about everything about his game right now.”
In a sensational playoff debut in January 2013 against Green Bay, he used his speedy legs to run for a quarterback playoff-record 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Then, in a season-opening win against the Packers last September, the strong-armed San Francisco QB threw for a career-best 412 yards and three scores.
“Colin’s hard work and dedication have played an integral role in the recent success of the 49ers organization,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “His work ethic, leadership and on-field production have positively influenced our team, and we look forward to his continued growth in all areas. Our organization always looks to reward our players for their contributions and commitment to the team.”
Harbaugh remained optimistic of getting a new deal done, while Kaepernick said his only focus was on football and he was leaving it to his agents to do the rest. The quarterback had said he sought a “fair” deal.
He is regularly the first to arrive at work each morning and the last one off the field.
Kaepernick has completed 382 of 639 passes for 5,046 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also has started all six postseason games in which he has appeared, earning four wins and passing for 1,374 yards and seven touchdowns.
Kaepernick said last week he hopes a Miami investigation from April that names him will soon be over. He said that matter didn’t affect his thoughts about whether it would affect the extension.
“That wasn’t something I was worried about,” Kaepernick said. “I let my agents handle all the talking.”
Last month, Miami Police released two calls to a 911 dispatcher saying a woman identifying herself as Jesus was lying naked in a bed and refusing to leave. The callers said the woman wanted to spend time with a third man who wasn’t there.
Police say the players also involved in the case are 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton and Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette. None of them has been charged with any wrongdoing.
It’s ‘Super Bowl 50’
NEW YORK — The Super Bowl will scrap the Roman numerals for a year.
The 50th edition of the game will be played in February 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The NFL said Wednesday it will be called “Super Bowl 50” instead of “Super Bowl L.”
In 2017, the league will revert to Roman numerals, referring to the 51st edition as “Super Bowl LI.”
The NFL first started using Roman numerals for the fifth Super Bowl in 1971.
Second wave of ex-players join suit
Former Pro Bowl defender Marcellus Wiley is among a second wave of players joining a lawsuit accusing NFL teams of illegally dispensing painkillers and other drugs to keep players on the field without regard for their long-term health.
The lawsuit was filed May 20 and amended Wednesday to add 250 more former players, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 750. Wiley, who played for four teams between 1997 and 2006 and currently works as an ESPN analyst, was the only player named in the new group. He becomes the ninth former player in the lawsuit identified by name, joining Chicago Bears stars Jim McMahon and Richard Dent.
“The first thing people ask is, knowing what happened, would you do it again?” Wiley said. “No. No, I wouldn’t.”
By wire sources
