Kaepernick Gets Contract Extension

[Guiness]

The first report by PFT did frame that de-escaator condition as Guiness has it.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/05/the-full-kaepernick-contract-details/

But the next article makes it an OR condition:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/05/so-how-does-kaepernicks-deal-help-the-team-sign-other-guys/

The second story is newer, and both written by Florio. Someone should email him. If its the AND condition, that is simply nuts.

La Canfora from sportsline put together a sentence that is pretty confusing as well

If Kaepernick fails to be named to the Associated Press All-Pro first or second team this season or fails to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl while playing in 80 percent of the snaps in the regular season and 80 percent of the snaps in the playoffs, then his 2015 salary de-escalates by $2 million.

Near impossible to read and make sense of that run on sentence. He added the caveat that Kaepernick has to play 80% of snaps in playoffs as well, and makes it sound like he has to both be all-pro and lead his team to the SB. Pretty sure he's talking out of his ass.



Also, what Florio wrote in the second article,

That’s a cap number of $18.35 million, which will drop to $16.35 million if he doesn’t take at least 80 percent of the snaps or if he fails to lead the team to the Super Bowl or to be named first-team or second-team AP All-Pro in 2014 and 2015.

is hard to interpret. Three ors, you could read it to say that if he fails to meet any of the conditions the money is gone!


edit: mailed Florio! We'll see.

[Guiness]

Well, I didn't get an answer directly from Florio (not that I expected one) but he did publish another article which purportedly clarified it. La Confora was correct in that post-season snaps figure into it, which Florio did not initially mention. However, the clarification does nothing to help me. Here is the text, can someone tell me wtf it is saying? I'm not thick, but it's still not clear to me.

Is now seems like being named first or second team all-pro is enough by itself. The second way to avoid the de-escalators is to meet the criteria laid out in (1), (2) and (3).

Based on the official NFLPA breakdown of the Kaepernick deal, here’s precisely what he must do to get the full $12 million, at $2 million per year. In 2014, he must be named an Associated Press first-team or second-team All-Pro, or he must: (1) win the NFC title game, (2) have 80-percent playing time in the regular season, and (3) have cumulative 80-percent playing time in all postseason games, not including the Super Bowl.

Pretty onerous. He also points out that this was a sneaky way of doing things, because as I suspected this counts as part of base salaries, not an incentive/bonus that is earned when the conditions are met. Meaning if he met the conditions, then is cut (say after year 2) he doesn't get the money from years 3 and later. This comes up because if he only has to meet the conditions once, to make the de-escalators go away for the rest of the contract.

I bet we'll see more of this, after what NE learned by guaranteeing money down the road to Hernandez. He (well, his lawyers, eventually) are going to get that 3.5M that was payable as part of the signing bonus.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/06/making-sense-of-the-kaepernick-de-escalators/

[pbmax]

I agree. Its either the All-Pro route or all three of the remaining conditions. While it doesn't apply for cap purposes, its essentially a Not Likely To Be Earned Bonus.

[Guiness]

I agree. Its either the All-Pro route or all three of the remaining conditions. While it doesn't apply for cap purposes, its essentially a Not Likely To Be Earned Bonus.

Ouch. This is a ridiculous clause for him to accept.

re: cap
on paper, it's part of the base, so I'd guess it will initially count vs the cap, but they'll get a refund at the end of the year if(when) they don't pay it out.

[pbmax]

Ouch. This is a ridiculous clause for him to accept.

re: cap
on paper, it's part of the base, so I'd guess it will initially count vs the cap, but they'll get a refund at the end of the year if(when) they don't pay it out.

It applies to the next season, so they will get credit and not have to pay it out in the same year.

[Guiness]

It applies to the next season, so they will get credit and not have to pay it out in the same year.

Ah, right. There is no de-escalator for 2014, his base stayed at 645K (!). If he doesn't meet the criteria in 2014, he doesn't get the money in 2015. They have to know before the season, because it affects his game-day cheques.

[vince]

He's a hell of a player, so it's about time he costs them full value. Decent arm but his ability to run when flushed helps his pocket presence. I wouldn't wish injury to anyone but like RGIII, he's not the same guy with a bum knee so it's a double-edged sword he wields. Keep him in the pocket consistently and he's not elite.

[Guiness]

He's a hell of a player, so it's about time he costs them full value. Decent arm but his ability to run when flushed helps his pocket presence. I wouldn't wish injury to anyone but like RGIII, he's not the same guy with a bum knee so it's a double-edged sword he wields. Keep him in the pocket consistently and he's not elite.

Don't know how much I agree with that last bit. To effectively keep him in the pocket, I think you have to dedicate a spy - we've seen it over the years with Vick, or even going back, Cunningham in his Eagle days. That spy leaves the rest of your defense shorthanded, makes his job throwing a lot easier, and make him look better.

[vince]

Don't know how much I agree with that last bit. To effectively keep him in the pocket, I think you have to dedicate a spy - we've seen it over the years with Vick, or even going back, Cunningham in his Eagle days. That spy leaves the rest of your defense shorthanded, makes his job throwing a lot easier, and make him look better.

In theory that should make him more productive.

91.6 QB rating ranked him 12th in the league
21 TD throws was 17th
58.4 completion % was 36th in the league
8 int's was 9th best among QBs with over 100 completions
199.8 yds./game 27th best

Sure the 9ers style has some to do with all that but that throwing production isn't the mark of an elite passer in my book. If you bump his numbers based on some factor which takes into account a strong defense and running attack, maybe that gets him up to an above average thrower.

I do think he's very good because he's a really strong dual threat, but if a defense can take away that running threat (easier said than done) or if injury slows him, I think he's pretty average as a passer.

Good arm, less than average release, slightly below average accuracy, maybe will develop into a good decision-maker pre- and post-snap but I'm not sure about that either. He's smart but I don't know about his work ethic.

Not a fan of the bicep kissing and post-game self-aggrandizing smack talk either but that doesn't necessarily impact his performance on the field until he starts believing he's as good as he likes to show himself off to be which won't help his film study and preparation.

He'll be a force as long as he can use his legs to support his arm. JMO

[Guiness]

He'll be a force as long as he can use his legs to support his arm. JMO

Yup, this is the clincher here. Some dual threat guys can progress on from it as they lose the speed, i.e. Cunningham. Others, like Vick, live and die with it. Early signs are that RG3 is pretty much doomed without his wheels. Kaep showed signs, especially against the Packers week 1 last year, that he can get it done without taking off.

[Brandon494]

Good arm, less than average release, slightly below average accuracy, maybe will develop into a good decision-maker pre- and post-snap but I'm not sure about that either. He's smart but I don't know about his work ethic.

Kaepernick has one of the strongest arms in the league. Remember he was drafted in the MLB draft a few years back and was clocked 95 mph throwing the baseball. I also think he has a good release of the football but he does need to improve his accuracy. Hes never had a problem turning over the ball so I think his decision making is fine, he just needs to go through his progressions more finding his 3rd and 4th options. Obviously his legs are a threat but as he showed week 1 against us he can beat you with his arm as well, IMO hes best times are ahead of him.

[vince]

Kaepernick has one of the strongest arms in the league. Remember he was drafted in the MLB draft a few years back and was clocked 95 mph throwing the baseball. I also think he has a good release of the football but he does need to improve his accuracy. Hes never had a problem turning over the ball so I think his decision making is fine, he just needs to go through his progressions more finding his 3rd and 4th options. Obviously his legs are a threat but as he showed week 1 against us he can beat you with his arm as well, IMO hes best times are ahead of him.

We all remember game 1 last year but if you look at every other game in his career before and since, he's never once even came within the same universe from a passing perspective.

I'd say his delivery is slow and elongated - somewhat reminiscent of a baseball pitcher's - if he's getting much zip on the ball.

I went looking for some highlights of him and I was surprised at how few passes he's made that are even highlight worthy. They're mostly runs - and unfortunately for us, mostly against the Packers. When you dig down, if not for that one anomaly passing the ball Week 1 last season, his throwing performance and production looks downright pathetic as a body of work.

Good game manager who doesn't turn it over (underrated qualities, particularly on a team with a good D but hardly elite) with a good arm and really good legs for a QB. Hopefully for him and the 9ers, the tendons on those chicken legs don't snap.

[Brandon494]

We all remember game 1 last year but if you look at every other game in his career before and since, he's never once even came within the same universe from a passing perspective.

I'd say his delivery is slow and elongated - somewhat reminiscent of a baseball pitcher's - if he's getting much zip on the ball.

I went looking for some highlights of him and I was surprised at how few passes he's made that are even highlight worthy. They're mostly runs - and unfortunately for us, mostly against the Packers. When you dig down, if not for that one anomaly passing the ball Week 1 last season, his throwing performance and production looks downright pathetic as a body of work.

Good game manager who doesn't turn it over (underrated qualities, particularly on a team with a good D but hardly elite) with a good arm and really good legs for a QB. Hopefully for him and the 9ers, the tendons on those chicken legs don't snap.

I agree he'll never be considered one of the best passers in the game but I think you are selling him short as a thrower. Hes for sure has one of the top 5 arms in the game (Cutler, Big Ben, Stafford, Kaepernick, Flacco). Also found it interesting his numbers are fairly similar to Flaccos who also received a big deal last season.

Here is a pretty interesting video on Kapernick's throwing motion.

[smuggler]

Big Ben does not have a top-5 arm. I'd put Rodgers over him, at least.

[Brandon494]

Big Ben does not have a top-5 arm. I'd put Rodgers over him, at least.

A argument can be made that Rodgers should be in the top 5 but Big Ben has a top-5 arm no doubt.

Here is a list from 2012 furthest down field throws. Never mind the Foles highlight, I got this list from an eagles site.