Colin Kaepernick cannot catch a break. As the quarterback continues to struggle on the season, rumors are swirling that he has lost the locker room's support and is likely getting released at some point. The San Francisco 49ers were hopeful that Kaepernick could have a big season and prove worthy of that high-priced contract extension he signed. However, the opposite has happen for the quarterback, but head coach Jim Tomsula stresses that everyone still supports Kaepernick.
FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported that Kaepernick is "on an island" in the locker room and that most of the team no longer supported him under center. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area followed that report by saying Kaepernick had gotten into a heated exchange with teammates during a players-only meeting. However, Tomsula is making it clear that all of those reports are false. He stressed that Kaepernick is still the quarterback of the 49ers and that he has everyone's full support heading into the next week of play.
"First of all, with 'Kaepernick on an island,' I don't know where that's coming from," Tomsula told KNBR-AM, via the San Jose Mercury News. "That's definitely not reality. The biggest thing I said to them was, 'Guys, it's like an Italian dining room table. Everyone is sitting around the table, and sometimes it gets heated, dishes get broken and people leave. But everybody's got to come back to the table to eat. When it's all said and done, there's hugging and kissing, and we're eating good food again."
Tomsula made it clear that Kaepernick is the quarterback and Blaine Gabbert would not be getting under center. While most of the trade talk has centered around Vernon Davis with the deadline approaching, there are people that believe San Francisco should start shopping the quarterback at the end of the season. Kaepernick has a manageable contract that would be easy for a team to take on. According to Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, the Philadelphia Eagles should trade for the quarterback and replace Sam Bradford next year. The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets could also take a look.
For now, Kaepernick must focus on improving and bouncing back from the Seahawks loss. Anquan Boldin is trying to lift his quarterback up after he was sacked six times in that game. All of the blame cannot be placed on Kaepernick and Boldin believes the losses are a team issue rather than the product of one person.
"I didn't want him to put pressure on himself," Boldin said, via CSNBayArea.com. "I told him just put it on us. Let us make plays for you. Just take the pressure off yourself. Go out and have fun and let it rip."
