Oh, Kap

Does anyone remember how Kaepernick stepped in to replace Alex Smith for the 49ers? 

I'm glad that Alex Smith has gone on to have such a bright career with the Chiefs. 

Although trading Smith seemed like a sound business decision at the time and there was no way to see the future, right about now the 49ers are wishing they hadn't traded him. 

Oh, Colin Kaepernick.

A 49ers fan recently remarked to me that even though he doesn't like the Seahawks, he still respects them. He especially respects Russell Wilson. Further, he thought that the media's constant, artificial comparison of Kaepernick to Wilson didn't do Kap any psychological favors. 49ers Fan said there was no comparison, not even two or three years ago when it first started, and he thought smart fans should have known that.

It was sad because left to their own devices, Kap and Russ didn't think about each other all that much. They certainly didn't dislike one another.

Kap was a competent quarterback. He showed promise. But thanks to the artificial buildup plus Wilson blowing the doors off the NFL, Kap got it into his head that he was already a great quarterback. 

Late in 2015, right before Kap's haitus, the Packers' Clay Matthews taunted him by saying "You ain't Russell Wilson, bro." That's the thing, though. No one should have expected Kaepernick to be Russell Wilson or anyone else for that matter. When, for many different reasons, Kap could not deliver what the hype had promised, it affected him badly. His own city turning against him has not helped either.

This is why I think Colin Kaepernick got short-changed before he ever came up short.

See, it's one thing for a player to be dismissed as bratty and semi-talented and then mature into great talent, the way Cam Newton recently did.  

It's another to prove yourself great by winning a Superbowl and then have people doubt if you can measure up to your own greatness again... and then prove it by winning another Superbowl... and now have people doubt if you can measure up to your own greatness again, like Eli Manning. There will always be Eli Doubters.

It's yet another thing to be great and have it constantly questioned or belittled, like Russell Wilson. Wilson knows who and what he is. He isn't trying to define himself based on anyone else's hype. Neither Wilson nor Manning typically listen to the "noise."

The "noise" is irritating to true fans who know how talented these people are.  We love it when our favorites prove the haters wrong.  

However, Kap wasn't fighting to prove anyone wrong. He was told constantly that he was better-than. Those around him built up an unrealistic image, which got into his head. Then people were angry and derisive with him for failing to measure up to that image.

That's sad. I don't know how much potential Kaepernick would have had without all the hype, but it certainly didn't do him any good.