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The news on QB Colin Kaepernick has been pretty stagnant over the past few days, to the point where we are pretty much treading over the same news over and over. On Monday, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweeted some information that isn't necessarily new, but helps reinforce the belief that a deal for the quarterback is not imminent.
Total standoff in Kaepernick situation. If CLE, DEN are waiting for Niners to cut him, it'll be a long wait. Trade only way out right now.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2016
Broncos way off on comp (see @MikeSilver timeline), Browns never made a formal trade offer and contract an issue. No one in any rush.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2016
Garafolo adds that when Kaepernick's salary becomes guaranteed on April 1, they are prepared to carry him on the roster if the right trade does not come along. We've heard a few reports indicate that the Browns and 49ers have agreed on the general compensation needed to acquire Kaepernick.
Just because the Browns "never made a formal offer" does not mean they are not in-the-running. My impression is that the Browns and 49ers discussed a third-round pick, and that the Browns didn't outright shoot the idea down, but rather took a, "well, before we get any further in the specifics of a trade, let's see if we can agree on a contract restructure with Kaepernick." That is where we are at a total standoff.
There is no real incentive for Kaepernick to take such a big pay cut, given his current contract with the 49ers. And, there's also no sense for the Browns to overpay Kaepernick when they've already chosen not to re-sign some good assets this offseason, and hold premiere draft picks to obtain a younger quarterback at the end of April.