SANTA CLARA — Surrounded by reporters, both news and sports, Colin Kaepernick fielded questions for the first time this season as the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.
Kap was asked about the relaunch of his career and the Buffalo Bills; Donald Trump’s sexually suggestive video and the national anthem. He smiled. He looked relaxed.
As he embarks on what could be his final chapter in San Francisco, the interview session was a reminder that Kaepernick’s an entirely different person than he was a year ago. And this new behavior should give 49ers fans an ounce of hope to cling onto, that he’s also changed as a quarterback for the better.
Set aside his political activism for a minute and realize Kap indirectly brought the 49ers locker room closer just by taking a knee during the Star-Spangled Banner. The conversations had about race in a 45-minute players only meeting called by Kaepernick broke down walls in Santa Clara. Sitting at 1-4, the locker room finger-pointing would be in much worse shape had Kap stayed in his shell. Two years earlier, some journalists deemed No. 7 a team cancer. Things can change.
Now that he’s expressed himself to the world, teammates have noticed a different, more confident Kaepernick. A change in personality theoretically should have no correlation with how accurate a passer Kaepernick is. But not everyone is convinced that’s how it works.
“People tend to forget that’s a big part of it, just being happy, having fun and being loose,” Torrey Smith said. “I think he’s happier. I think he’s going to take an advantage of his opportunity.”
“More than anything, I’m comfortable,” Kaepernick said. “I’m at peace with myself, with my relationships and with everything that’s going on in my life.”
Here’s exactly where Kaepernick might have more success than Blaine Gabbert: He has absolutely nothing to lose. There will be no looking over his shoulder, no constant check-downs to receivers. This legitimately could be Kap’s last chance as an NFL starting quarterback, and he should urge Chip Kelly to call plays that way. Throw the football down the field to Smith early and often. Simplify the offense, letting Kaepernick improvise, where he’s at his best. Or if Kelly really sees it fit, give him an opportunity to make all the throws Gabbert missed.
“Kap can do what we’re doing.” Kelly said.
With not one dynamic playmaker by his side, the odds of Kaepernick thriving obviously seem minimal. He’s not some missing weapon to ignite an sputtering offense. Growing pains could be alarming on Sunday against the Bills, his first time on the field since last November. The 49ers aren’t just a bad offense; they’re a bad football team.
But mix in the fact that his career’s on the line with past success he’s had under a strong head coach (Jim Harbaugh), and there’s a tiny formula that could lead to something — anything on offense for Kelly. And like we wrote earlier, this move was more about painting Baalke in a bad light than a show of good faith in Kaepernick’s abilities.
“It’s really one of the only maneuvers we can make based on our depth,” Kelly said, “where we are and what we’re doing.”
The 49ers have team leaders scattered around the locker room. Smith is one, Eric Reid is another. Guess who both look at to follow? Kaepernick. He’s very much one of the leaders of this 49ers football team, a capacity he never really clung to in the past. The hope from Kelly is that when Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Kerley look into Kaepernick’s eyes in the huddle, the quarterback gives his teammates more confidence. A couple of big throws could snowball into an upset win on the road and some optimism.
Kaepernick isn’t playing to be the long term answer for the 49ers.
He’s playing for his pride and dignity. He’s playing to show the world he’s changed.