According to multiple reports, Denver Broncos GM John Elway hosted Colin Kaepernick in his home on Thursday. What does this mean?
Perhaps the biggest development yet in the Colin Kaepernick saga with the Denver Broncos was revealed on Saturday…
Source: Colin Kaepernick, John Elway met Thursday. https://t.co/TsR9PDXu43 #49ers #Broncos
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) April 2, 2016
What in the world does this mean?
Kaepernick and John Elway can’t just be having casual talks about football. The report indicates, and is confirmed by Mike Klis and Troy Renck, that Kaepernick met Elway in Denver at Elway’s home.
This is serious. Here’s what I think about it.
A. Why would Kaepernick agree to even meet with Elway if he wasn’t open to a pay cut?
The 49ers QB was just guaranteed $11.9 million of his salary this past week. The Broncos obviously can’t absorb his roughly $15 million cap number this season, not even less than $12 million. The solution is turning his guaranteed money into some sort of bonuses to lower the cap hit.
What in the world would Kaepernick be doing at John Elway’s house if he wasn’t at least open to the idea? Would his agent let him go there?
Kaepernick desperately wants out of San Francisco. Despite what’s been reported recently about how well he would fit in with Chip Kelly, who are they kidding? Chip has a guy or two in the draft that he will hand pick, and they can roll with Blaine Gabbert if need be.
Kaepernick is on the trade block because he wants to be, so he would have to be willing to facilitate a pay cut to play for the World Champs. He wouldn’t be at Elway’s home if he didn’t know that.
B. Why is this timing significant?
Well, the 49ers begin offseason workouts on Monday, where if Kaepernick shows up, he’s going to earn more money in the form of a workout bonus.
Perhaps the two sides could be motivated to get a deal done to prevent even more money becoming part of the picture?
C. What’s Elway selling?
When Brock Osweiler left for the Houston Texans, John Elway said he wanted players who want to be Denver Broncos. Kaepernick, who was granted permission to seek a trade, has apparently narrowed in his choice. He clearly would like to be a Bronco, it’s just a matter of his contract, the Broncos clearing the cap space, and then the draft pick compensation it would take to get a deal done.
Elway is selling the opportunity to be the guy who helps defend a Super Bowl championship. How many players in this league get this opportunity? Brock Osweiler foolishly passed it up. Mark Sanchez leaped for joy when he got the call that he was heading to Denver.
Smart people understand this situation and how good it really is. You have the most aggressive GM in the league, the best defense in the league, and weapons all over the place offensively.
Oh yeah, and another 10 draft picks to work with.
Clearing the cap space wouldn’t be a problem for the Broncos. They have nearly $10 million to be freed up by a trade of Ryan Clady and even more from guys like Britton Colquitt or others they could work around.
Elway’s selling the opportunity to start for the Super Bowl champs.
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D. Kaepernick has been Elway’s guy from the start
After the Broncos shockingly lost out on Brock Osweiler (it’s sad there was ever a ‘sweepstakes’ for him…), Kaepernick has been the top choice. They got Mark Sanchez as a security blanket so they could be patient, and virtually paid nothing for him.
Now, they have the opportunity to get a guy who could be great in Gary Kubiak’s offense.
Why is Kaepernick a better option than a rookie? Because Kaepernick has started in a Super Bowl. Kaepernick has spent five years in the NFL. Kaepernick has proven he can be great with the right coaches and support behind him.
Nobody’s going to make excuses for his poor play over the last couple of seasons, but it makes sense when you consider the distractions and unrest of the front office and coaching staff in San Francisco, the retirement of some of their best players, and the joke that was the weapons around him.
Elway has a guy he wants, and he’s now making his move.
I love this time of year.