On Bad San Francisco 49ers Team, Colin Kaepernick Exposed as a Bad Quarterback

BUFFALO — At his press conference, Colin Kaepernick spoke in a Muhammad Ali t-shirt. He wants to be remembered through the same lens as Ali, as an athlete who fought for social justice and succeeded. 

“I can’t let him die in vain,” the 49ers quarterback said Sunday.  

Maybe Kaepernick will be remembered this way. His kneeling during the national anthem continued at New Era Field, and players around the NFL continue to follow his lead by raising a fist or taking a knee themselves. But Sunday was a cringe-worthy reminder of what Kaepernick will not be remembered for: being a quality NFL quarterback. In a 45-16 shellacking by Buffalo, Kaepernick was abysmal. 

His return to the field was more belly flop than kiss of a bicep. 

When asked how poorly Kaepernick played, one anonymous Bills player didn’t hold back. 

“Done.” 

“Terrible.” 

“More a distraction than a contributing member of the team.” 

#49ers Colin Kaepernick’s post-game transcript, on latest loss, social reform, Muhammad Ali, and more https://t.co/OR3k82lzUH pic.twitter.com/TU6qcJh0eE

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 16, 2016

Indeed, Colin Kaepernick was every bit as broken as he was the last time we saw him play. In the blowout loss, he had more incompletions (16) than completions (13), his 53-yard touchdown was the result of a busted coverage, he missed on big plays and could’ve easily thrown three to five interceptions. Clearly, the 49ers have issues everywhere. But clearly, Kaepernick is a part of the problem, too. 

The magic of 2012 and 2013 has all but worn off. 

He’s athletic. He’ll dazzle with his legs occasionally. But once an indomitable force seemingly redefining the quarterback position, Kaepernick resembles a player who was benched for Blaine Gabbert. The Bills were painfully blunt afterward: They forced Kaepernick to be a quarterback and Kaepernick failed. 

“We wanted to do everything we could to make him throw the ball,” cornerback Stephon Gilmore said. “I mean, he’s an athlete. You can’t take that from him. But when it comes to passing the ball, he can’t really throw. …We took advantage of that. 

“We wanted to make him beat us with his arm, and he couldn’t do that.” 

Praise him. Rip him. There was plenty of both emotions on Sunday from the slew of red No. 7 jerseys cheering in the crowd to the booming boos when he took the field. Afterward, Kaepernick vowed “to fight that same fight” Ali once did. But beyond the kneeling, nobody should expect much out of him as a player. Every time he needed to throw …

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