Colin Kaepernick Career Stats, Contract & News: Inappropriate Language Penalty Uncalled For? 49ers QB 'Didn't Say Anything'
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he didn't deserve NFL's first "inappropriate language" penalty, Pro Football Talk reported.
Telling media he "didn't say anything," Kaepernick is questioning the basis for the infraction he got when the 49ers faced the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football at the Levi's Stadium, San Jose Mercury News said.
After rookie Kyle Fuller intercepted Kaepernick's pass, Lamarr Houston was seen patting the latter on the chest, CSN Bay Area said. Kaepernick shoved him away and side judge Laird Hayes stepped in. While moving away, Kaepernick appeared to say something to Houston before removing his mouthpiece, prompting Hayes and the referee to flag him.
Houston had earlier denied hearing offensive words.
Passing has been an issue for Kaepernick recently. The Washington Post said he had posted a 98.3 passer rating when there was no pressure and fell to 73.8. He had on Sunday his career's third lowest passer rating of 57.
The player's meltdown after the controversial call was to blame for the Bears' 28-20 win even as the 49ers went into the fourth quarter with the upper hand, 20-7, For The Win said, explaining that it was also Chicago's first win on the road against the 49ers in 29 years.
According to the report, Kaepernick was having a good night until he was singled out for his choice of words, even if profanity is regular on the football field.
Jay Cutler then found the end zone on twin possessions after Kaepernick's fourth quarter turnovers. Saying the flagged player lost his cool, ABC News said the call gave the Bears their first-and-goal on the 3, and Cutler the right atmosphere for a 3-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett to lead 21-20.
"We hurt ourselves," Kaepernick said in the report, denying that he said anything out of the ordinary to deserve what he got.
However, Hayes is holding his ground. He told CSN Bay Area on Moday: "He knows what he said. ... It was the right call." He declined to elabotate.
The report explained that "abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials or representatives of the League" get unsportsmanlike conduct, under Rule 12, Section 3 of the NFL rule book.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Mercury News added, head coach Jim Harbaugh wants the NFL to explain to him how referee Carl Cheffers decided to flag Kaepernick, adding that he "didn't overhear" the supposedly offensive words of his athlete.
According to The Big Lead, the player had agreed with the 49ers last June on a six-year contract extension worth $126 million, with $61 million in guaranteed money.