Jim Harbaugh backs Kaepernick
On Friday, coach Jim Harbaugh defended QB Colin Kaepernick for the way that the player spoke to the media on Wednesday during his required session with them. Pay per head services could see that he was not exactly accommodating, and were wondering about his attitude towards reporters.
“It’s sad, really, because you don’t know him,” said Harbaugh. “And he’s a determined person, he’s a spiritual person, he’s a very hard worker and he wants to do well and works extremely hard at it. And you get the honest person when you deal with him. If he’s not chatty, he’s not going to be chatty. He’s single-minded when he’s playing the game of football and preparing for the game.
“I appreciate that. I appreciate that he is who he is. I’m around him every day. He’s his own person, too.”
The coach was asked about what message the QB was looking to send out in a news conference that was not as much of a confrontation as it was funny.
“He’s very professional,” said Harbaugh. “He always stands up. He never dodges or deflects criticism. He takes accountability and he’s honest. He tells the truth.
“He’s not going to be at somebody’s beck and call or bidding. He’s going to act the way he acts. He’s his own person and I appreciate the honesty. His jaw is set and he is a team player all the way … it’s all a person can do; they do their best. If that’s not appreciated, then, you do your best anyway. That’s who he is, that’s what he does.”
But a lot of national and local observers – to not mention fans – questioned whether Kaepernick should be more cooperative, especially since he’s one of the team’s most important and popular players.
“A ‘face-of-the-franchise’ quarterback should be a great leader, by example, the way he works, a team player, all the way,” said Harbaugh. “What’s in his heart is about the team. He’s not about himself. You get the raw honesty.
“If you want somebody to be wordy and that’s not who they are, that would be phony to be that. It would be passive-aggressive. That would be being somebody that he’s not. His jaw is set; he wants to win this football game.
“He’s doing everything that I expect, and I appreciate it.”
The coach, the fans, and pay per head services are obviously backing the player, but believe that it’s a good idea if the QB gets along with the media.
