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What’s behind the decision to shut down Colin Kaepernick

Kindness was not on the lips of many 49ers fans after quarterback Colin Kaepernick went on injured reserve.

Kaepernick, by choosing season-ending surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, looks like he’s abandoning the team.

However, Kaepernick would likely argue that the 49ers abandoned him after he signed his contract extension. Kaepernick accepted $13 million up front on a six-year deal that was loaded with incentives based on play time and performance.

The deal was also constructed basically as a series of one-year deals, that were only guaranteed after April 1. Kaepernick agreed to those team-friendly terms with the understanding that the 49ers would have money to sign other players like guard Mike Iupati, running back Frank Gore, wide receiver Michael Crabtree and cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver.