It is Week 6 and we are still talking about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but not for the reason you might think. Kaepernick continues to silently protest during the playing of our National Anthem, but this week when the ”Star-Spangled Banner” comes to an end, he’ll be trotting onto the field as the starting quarterback.


I sense that there has been tension between Kap and the Niners’ front office that predates Kaepernick taking a stand (or really, taking a knee) during the Anthem. There seems to be equal distaste between the two parties, but that has temporarily halted because, simply put, they both need each other.


Kaepernick also agreed to an adjusted (and team-friendly) deal that would allow him to make his likely departure from San Francisco as early as the end of this season. The 49ers take on the Buffalo Bills this Sunday in Western New York in a game that could be make or break for the 49ers and Kaepernick’s relationship.


In other NFL news, Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr. continue to be labeled as the “D word” – distraction. Theirs and other players’ antics on and off the field have led coaches and media alike to question whether their behavior is interfering with the game. The fact is, as long as a player is at the top of his game, front offices will continue to let him throw tantrums without cutting him loose.


This tolerance, however, does have a limit. We saw it last year when the Panthers let Josh Norman walk away without getting so much as a draft pick in return and even more recently when Greg Hardy announced that he was heading for the UFC after failing to secure an NFL contract. The talent/tolerance equation is certainly a complicated one. For my personal experience working with an NFL head case and more on Kaepernick and distractions, check out this week’s post for The MMQB. And if you still haven’t had your Kaepernick fill, head over to Ross Tucker’s weekly podcast, where I joined the NFL analyst to dive even further into the drama between Kap and the 49ers.