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No matter how much Chip Kelly talks up Blaine Gabbert, his San Francisco 49ers might have no option other than keeping Colin Kaepernick for the foreseeable future.
Colin Kaepernick's contract becomes fully guaranteed on April 1, handing him $11.9 million in salary to potentially ride the bench in San Francisco. The 49ers have reportedly explored trading him, and since that hasn't work, the decision on whether or not to cut him remains. The only issue sits with his recovery from shoulder surgery that ended his season.
According to Pro Football Talk, because of that, the Niners could have trouble getting out from under Kaepernick's salary.
"In other words, if a player is injured at the time a payment becomes due or an existing obligation becomes fully guaranteed, he can't be cut. If he is, he gets whatever money he would have earned if he hadn't been cut."
If Kaepernick is on the roster past April 1, San Francisco would have to pay Kaepernick even if he's released. Judging by Kelly's comments on Gabbert, via CSNBayarea.com, it doesn't appear there's much of a conversation to be had on who the head coach wants.
"(I'm) impressed with Blaine. You watch him the last couple of games he started. He's another guy, you look at his skill set. He took off against the Bears and went (44) yards for a touchdown. He ran 4.61 in the combine when he was coming out."
San Francisco's decision just got even more complicated.
