DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum ... Colin Kaepernick. But is he a quarterback that the rest of the AFC North will fear?

The Cleveland Browns are still traversing their decades-long journey to find the team’s franchise quarterback.

While the Browns hold the No. 2 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft and are widely expected to draft a quarterback, the team has turned its attention in recent days to San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The Browns and 49ers have reportedly agreed on a the details of a proposed trade, with Cleveland sending its third-round pick, No. 65 overall, to San Francisco in exchange for Kaepernick. The deal has cooled, however, due to Kaepernick not being as willing to restructure his contract as much as the Browns would like. Kaepernick’s current deal includes a guaranteed salary of $11.9 million in 2016, then non-guaranteed figures of $14.5 million, $15 million, $16.8 million and $19 million through 2020, so it’s fair to wonder just how much of a cut Kaepernick is willing to take as the Browns are reportedly looking at $7 million to $8 million a year.

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That hang up may actually save the Browns from making a mistake in thinking that Kaepernick can solve the team’s quarterback problems.

Kaepernick’s supporters point out that he was the quarterback when San Francisco went to the Super Bowl and that his struggles are due to not being surrounded by talent and having to put up with a dysfunctional situation.

Of course, that overlooks:

Rex Grossman and Jake Delhomme also took their teams to the Super Bowl once upon a time, and we never had any desire to see them quarterback the Browns. (Sadly, the Browns did not agree on Delhomme.)
If Kaepernick really did fall apart because of a lack of support and a dysfunctional franchise, how exactly is the situation going to be better in Cleveland? (Seriously, we love the Browns but they are not the model of stability, nor are they loaded with offensive talent.)
The fact is, that Super Bowl appearance was four years ago and Kaepernick’s numbers have gone down every year for the past four years.

Kaepernick YPA last 4 years: 8.3, 7.7, 7.0, 6.6

Kap Passer Rating last 4 years: 98.3, 91.6, 86.4, 78.5

He's "GOING THE WRONG WAY"

That got us to thinking that maybe we are too close to the situation. After all, Kaepernick is a “Super Bowl” quarterback and who doesn’t want to see the Browns return to the playoffs?

Playoff dreams are hard to achieve when the Browns consistently go 1-5 or 2-4 in the AFC North Division, and the postseason will remain a myth until the Browns can start consistently beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

In search of some clarity, we reached out to the other FanSided sites in the division to find out if the thought of facing Kaepernick twice a year in Cleveland is something that will keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night. Starting in reverse order of the divisional standings, here is what they have to say.

First up, Chris Schisler, editor at Ebony Bird. Kaepernick was 16-of-27 for 340 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 25-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens last season.

The Baltimore Ravens beat Colin Kaepernick in a Super Bowl, but he gave them fits. Kaepernick is a quarterback who can be very dangerous. I don’t think the Ravens would be thrilled if the Browns traded for Kaepernick.
For a while the Browns have felt like a team that was a quarterback away from being good. Kaepernick would be an upgrade at the paramount position. That being said, I don’t think the AFC North would freak out if he came to Cleveland.
Jim Harbaugh made him his secret weapon. The world is still waiting for Kaepernick to experience success without the coach who crafted an offense for him. Kaepernick is wildly inconsistent. We’ve seen great peaks. We’ve also seen pretty low moments of production.
This would be a big deal. This would be an upgrade for the Browns, but that is not saying much. There is no guarantee that Kaepernick is your solution. The fact that the Browns would still take a quarterback in the draft after the Kaepernick trade speaks volumes.
Kaepernick to the Browns would be interesting, but it would provide Cleveland with familiar questions under center.
Next, we hear from Kim Myers, editor at Still Curtain. Kaepernick was 33-of-46 for 335 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 43-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.

If the Browns were successful in trading for Colin Kaepernick I think the first reaction from the AFC North and the rest of the NFL would be shock that they were able to actually pull it off. Many thought that the new Browns regime might make some legitimate attempts to improve the football team but the only move that has been made so far by them to improve their team was to finally release Johnny Manziel instead of holding onto him for some silly idea that he’d be worth something in a trade.
Kaepernick is certainly the type of quarterback that the Steelers have had trouble with in the past in terms of his mobility. However, judging from last season’s 43-18 win over Kaepernick’s 49ers where Kaepernick threw for over 300 yards and ran for over 50 yards but was completely dominated by the Steelers the entire game, Kaepernick doesn’t necessarily inspire the type of fear that would keep defensive coordinators up all night.
As far as putting the Browns in a better place for the long run, it would make more sense for them to acquire a quarterback like Kaepernick where they could build the team around his strengths aside from trying and failing with yet another first round draft pick quarterback. Kaepernick, with the right weapons and coaching, could eventually improve the Browns’ offense as he gives the experience of having played in a Super Bowl.
Finally, we check in with Dylan Testin, co-editor at Stripe Hype. Kaepernick did not face the Cincinnati Bengals last season as he had been benched by the time the two teams met:

Colin Kaepernick still has the ability to keep up defensive coordinators up at night, but not like other quarterbacks do. He is the biggest ground threat at the quarterback position, even over guys like Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.
Kaepernick still has the capability to be a good passer, he just has to play with confidence, which is something we haven’t seen him do since his team lost in the Super Bowl.
Being a fan of the game, I have watched Kaepernick play probably a dozen times, and he has the talent, he just has to tighten up his mechanics. I think the biggest hit to his game was when his former head coach, Jim Harbaugh, left for Michigan.
Thanks to Chris, Kim and Dylan for their interesting perspectives. Now it’s your turn, Browns fans. What are your realistic expectations if the Browns do swing a deal for Kaepernick?

http://dawgpounddaily.com/2016/03/15/does-the-afc-north-fear-colin-kaepernick-on-the-browns/

thought this was an interesting read...just throwing it out there...hope we do not get this guy...but that is just my opinion

Wait a minute. Who the hell wrote that?

It's worse than most of the posters on this board.

follow the link and find out

No, the rest of the AFC North will not fear him, nor would anyone else in the NFL. He is nothing to fear, nothing special. Once he was figured out by defenses, he was ineffective.

The only ones in the AFCN who fear him is Browns fans, afraid that this ridiculous trade will happen, and we throw away another 3rd round pick.

It seems that more often than not, when I read something about the Browns I hope it's a mistake or a typo.

mac: If the figure of 7-8 million is accurate, that is well below what would be expected for a competent starting QB. Now it can possibly be debated whether CK is competent...

Yeah, I read that and was pretty speechless. Surely it's a typo.

http://dawgpounddaily.com/2016/03/15/dwayne-bowe-earned-a-performance-bonus-for-2015/

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe somehow managed to earn a performance bonus from the NFL for his production in 2015.

The NFL established a system in 2002 to reward players who out-perform their contracts in a given year.

The performance based pay program primarily serves to supplement players who are earning at or near the league minimum but who contributed to their teams in a way that is positively disproportionate to their salaries. For the 2015 season, the league’s 32 teams divided up a pool of $3.802 million to the players.

Denver Broncos’ center Matt Paradis was the big winner this year after helping the Broncos win a Super Bowl title, as the second-year player earned a bonus of $391,647.56, a nice addition to his $435,000 salary.

Then there is Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

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Bowe was inexplicably handed a two-year contract worth $12.5 million – including $9 million in guaranteed money – by former general manager Ray Farmer after leaving the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent. (Just one of many of Farmer’s moves that explain why he is now the former general manager.)

Bowe responded by giving the Browns five receptions for 53 yards while only appearing in seven games.

And for that, Bowe earned a performance-based bonus of $2,846.14 from the league.

To quote Clark Griswold, ” If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am now.”

Wide receiver Rannell Hall, who Browns fans will remember from his one offensive snap in the season-finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, also received a bonus, but his was only $363.49 as he apparently did not contribute as much to the Browns as Bowe did in 2015.

Bowe carries an $8 million salary-cap hit for 2016, and would cost $4.6 million if the Browns release him, so he may have a chance this fall to earn another performance bonus.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_...s-less-than-500

What did you get for your holiday bonus last year? It just might have been more than some NFL quarterbacks.

Ten players, including four QBs, received less than $500 in performance-based pay for the 2015 season.

The money comes from a fund that supplements salaries of players whose playing time is disproportionate to their salary, and each team divvies up $3.802 million among their players.

(Here's a list of the players who earned the biggest performance bonuses.)

Here are the 10 players who got the smallest bonuses:

1. Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Cassel: $58.73

Cassell played just one snap for the Bills before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 22. But don't worry; he played 417 snaps with Tony Romo injured and earned a bonus of $28,241.22 for his time in Dallas. Now he's a member of the Tennessee Titans.

2. Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Randall Evans: $302.67

A sixth-round pick out of Kansas State in 2015, Evans played just a single special-teams snap for Philadelphia. It came during the Eagles' win over the New York Giants in the regular-season finale. Here's hoping Evans can get on the field on defense in 2016.

3. Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian: $328.13

Like Cassel, Siemian played just one snap, and it was glorious. With Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler gone to the Houston Texans, Siemian and recently acquired Mark Sanchez are the only two signal-callers on Denver's roster -- for now.

4. Kansas City Chiefs center Daniel Munyer: $355.09

Munyer also got in on only one special-teams play after spending most of the season on the practice squad. You can buy the jersey of the undrafted rookie out of Colorado here.

5. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rannell Hall: $363.49

Hall played one play, on offense, for the Browns in the regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shockingly, Hall played only 80 fewer snaps -- and with zero catches had five fewer receptions -- than Dwayne Bowe, who got $9 million guaranteed before the 2015 season. Bowe, by the way, earned a $2,846.14 performance-based bonus.

6. Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore: $370.51

Moore got seven snaps, and he was a perfect 1-of-1 passing. Now a free agent, Moore recently visited the Cowboys.

7. Chicago Bears defensive end Lavar Edwards: $398.36

Edwards played two defensive snaps for the Bears in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals in September, but he didn't last long in Chicago. Now a member of the Bills, Edwards could get a look as a replacement for Mario Williams.

8. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel: $418.34

Daniel, who just signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, played only 13 snaps behind Alex Smith. Daniel has started two games in his seven-year career.

9. San Diego Chargers safety Brandian Ross: $475.12

Ross played two special-teams snaps in the Chargers' regular-season finale against the Broncos after being signed a few days before the game. The defensive back who has spent time in Oakland and Miami is a free agent.

10. Washington Redskins kicker Kai Forbath: $487.83

After missing a 46-yard field goal and playing six snaps in the first game of the season, the Redskins cut Forbath. But the story has a happy ending: Forbath was picked up by the Saints in October, and he went 9-of-13 on field goals with New Orleans. He also earned a $17,498.79 performance-based bonus for his time with the Saints.

Yeah, I don't get it either. $2,846.14 paid by the league.

Astounding.

Reading that, Bowe certainly qualified.

Roger Goodell is channeling Bernie Sanders?

I just don't have the words to say about that... at this time.

I agreement totally. He couldn't operate with San Frans horrid line, shouldn't be much hope he'll do better with our soon to be line of patches and bandaides.

I wish someone besides us would just make the trade so the speculation and nightmares of him coming here can stop.

There is absolutely no way Kaepernick comes to Cleveland with that contract. The entire system that has been put in place in the front office is vehemently opposed to that contract. I do not see Kaepernick reducing his contract to come to Cleveland to begin with. Why should he? Sitting in San Francisco awaiting more calls is better than taking less money and having the Browns draft your replacement in the draft. If he cannot beat out Gabbert, he is not worth more than a backup's money. The Broncos are more desperate for a QB than the Browns. The Browns hold the #2 pick in the draft. There is a QB available to them at #2 that the Browns can take. The Broncos have the #31 pick and Mark "Butt fumble" Sanchez as their QB options. They are expected to win. The Browns are expected to lose. Why throw good money into Kaepernick when other teams can throw it at him? Just Say NO to Kaepernick.

I believe all the Browns are in the Kaepernick talks are to hype up the value of Kaepernick. His value even to the Broncos is not even close to the contract he is currently under with San Francisco. Denver has proven they are unwilling to pay that high of a contract. They showed that with letting Osweiler go. If they were willing to pay a steep contract, they could have kept their own QB who already knows the system and has shown he can win. No team in the AFC North would fear the Browns any more with Kaepernick under center than say McCown or a rookie. Save your money Sasha. Keep Kaepernick in the NFC West.

Voleur

http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/source-49ers-will-not-seek-release-kaepernick/

Is Josh McCown not our starting quarterback? He probably played the best of any QB we've had averaging out each on of their starts in their stay here. Look who he had to throw to.

Obviously, he's not the long-term answer, but this statement furrowed my brow:

That seems to get repeated in this forum a lot as well. I don't think that McCown could have done any better than what he did last year. I was expecting much much worse.

I think they just mean we don't have a long term starter.

I also wouldn't be shocked if McCown is cut in the next week or two.

Even if CK's destination is not here?

I don't think we are getting Kaepernick and I think Hue Jackson will want a guy he picked in the QB room with his rookie. On top of that, McCown is old and we would gain cap savings.

While the cap savings would not be valuable this year, it would valuable for future years because we can roll our cap space forward.

If I were in Vegas I would bet Kap is not coming here. and McCown stays for the up coming season.

If Kaepernick comes here, I'll know that these guys are clueless.

You don't trash your roster, signalling a complete rebuild in the process, only to then trade valuable draft picks for a guy that won't be any better than the guy you have now - whose only value is that he's a few years younger, but will be several times more expensive.

Re: Kaepernick

Mike Garafolo Verified account
@MikeGarafolo
Broncos way off on comp (see @MikeSilver timeline), Browns never made a formal trade offer and contract an issue. No one in any rush.

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Just say no. The target seems to interest me much less than originally. I will take chance with Wentz or a draftee and hope it is good enough. Just hoping to see some light at the middle of the tunnel. Nothing has gotten me hopeful yet from what I have seen. How others see us, even if they live in fear, doesn't win us games. Sounds like high maintenance will be ongoing if he comes to the Browns.

Also, doesn't seem like other teams are interested in indulging CK either. Spend cap and/or picks in other areas of need we have created.

The 49ers are rivaling the Browns for worst franchise in the NFL. They have been talking about keeping Kap if they don't get the compensation they want and/or how they would want Kap on the roster and competing for a starting job.

Who the hell are they kidding? Maybe some dumb fans [just like the Browns "new" operation,] but surely not anyone who has any sort of intelligence or experience.

They don't want Kap there. Kap doesn't want to be there. They are posturing to get a better draft pick, but I seriously doubt any team is that freaking ignorant to buy into their con game.

SF handling of Kaepernick reminds me of Denver and Josh McDaniel's handling of the Jay Cutler situation.

Without a top oline to protect McCown he will no doubt be in concussion protocol or hurt early. We better have 3 NFL capable QB's ready to go, because we'll be on QB #3 before you can say Boo.

I don't know if the new, shiny bobble will be Kap or not, but you can rest assured they'll do something to make fans go oooh and awe to offset the crap storm so far. I mean it is about marketing. It's a marketing world we live in. At least that's what Haslam told us in his opening presser when he came to Cleveland. And he's lived up to that so far.

Pretty sure this crap storm started in 1999.

Yes, and they've trotted out new coaches, (sometimes as quickly as one year), new FO's and even a JFF to try to ooh and awe the fan base after such emotional and irrational decisions.

Of course when you consistently lose and the value of your franchise goes from one billion to one and a half billion anyway, what difference does it make how often you fool your fan base?

I said in an earlier post that it will be a felony assault on the QB...which is why I am against drafting a QB in the early rounds...maybe Jones in the later rounds. My biggest fear is watching our QB do his best impression of Jeff Garcia...hike the ball then run for your life.

And the sad truth is that Jeff Garcia was the best QB we've had since the return.

I'll say it again....We had our chance last year to draft oline knowing full well that Mack and Schwartz where gone to FA after the season. But Noooo the FO and Pettine decided to make the defense the focus and to create their elite defense.

if we really, really want Mack and Schwartz we would put pen to paper in 2014. And yes I was a big fan of Jeff coming here...then we got him killed all year