San Francisco 49ers GM Trent Baalke issued a strong denial Sunday night in response to a report that they have put quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the trade block.
“Colin is our quarterback and we are excited to have him,” Baalke said in a statement via CSN Bay Area. “He is not going anywhere. The media reports suggesting otherwise are without merit and, quite frankly, ridiculous.”
The rumors began on Sunday night after KBME Sports Talk 790 in Houston radio host Jayson Braddock said on Twitter that the Niners had put Kaepernick on the block.
BREAKING NEWS: 49ers have put Colin Kaepernick on the trading block. Taking offers.
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 9, 2015
Braddock also said the Eagles and Bears inquired about Kaepernick.
Braddock has some credibility too; earlier in the day he was first to report that Byron Maxwell was signing with the Eagles.
Predictably, the report led to denial city:
Forty-Niners brass tells me there is "ZERO" truth to report that Kaepernick is being shopped.
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) March 9, 2015
Additionally there were other reporters who indicated the report was inaccurate.
Reached out to several QB-needy teams. Have yet to hear from one who has had talks with 49ers about Kaepernick for those asking
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 9, 2015
Not shopping him. Can't say for sure if teams called them. RT @Robert915SCS: can you help out on this dumb rumor going around about kap
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 9, 2015
Indeed, there is a huge difference between shopping a player and responding to trade inquiries. That is the difference between proactively trying to get rid of a guy and reacting to someone’s offer.
Braddock’s report really is not all that surprising. Kaepernick completely regressed last season and just did not look like a star-in-the-making the way he did in 2012 and 2013. We know Jim Harbaugh liked him, so with the coach gone, the team could feel comfortable trying to move on.
There is not a chance that Baalke would admit the team was shopping Kaepernick if they really were. Remember how strongly they denied the Harbaugh to the Browns talks, which turned out to be true? Baalke needs to cover his backside in case they do not make a deal and need to bring Kap back next season.
