“Absolutely,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kaepernick was benched midway through the season after throwing just six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight starts. He was later placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. MORE: Top 25 NFL free agents | Each team’s worst contract | Best, worst salary caps The 49ers will owe Kaepernick his full base salary of $11....

The 49ers backup quarterback again took a knee Monday prior to his team’s opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Teammate Eric Reid knelt alongside Kaepernick, and players from both teams raised their fists to protest injustice against minority groups. MORE: Patriotism, politics and sports ESPN did not shy away from showing the protests. It zoomed in on Kaepernick and Reid, who knelt behind an American flag that covered the entire field at Levi’s Stadium....

The quarterback jumped on Instagram — because that’s where the real politics happens — to share his thoughts on Donald Trump. Doesn’t Kaepernick know Facebook is the acceptable platform for voicing all political opinions? MORE: Will Kaepernick return to the 49ers? | Infamous fights between teammates Anyway, after Trump’s stupid comments about banning Muslims from immigrating to America, Kaepernick posted a couple of photos to refute this idea. And here comes the dagger....

Often, collarbone popping is a sign of a problem with the bones or joints that make up your shoulder. It may or may not be painful. This article looks at causes of collarbone popping, when to see a healthcare provider, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and how you can cope with it. Causes Knowing some basic shoulder anatomy can help you understand why your collarbone pops. What’s called the “shoulder complex” is made up of three bones and several joints....

“The fact that this top prospect in the 2020 NBA draft decided to say ‘actually I want to have private workouts, I want to be by myself’ I think is a huge red flag and it’s a major concern for people who have concerns about the NCAA losing its relevancy in today’s basketball culture,” Williams said. Wiseman, who was previously suspended for 12 games by the NCAA, made his decision to end his season and prepare for the NBA draft via an Instagram post....

More college hoops: Today’s lines from Vegas | Odds to win NCAA Tournament No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Duke Line: Kentucky -2.5, Total: 156.5 Line movement: Kentucky opened -1.5 at multiple Las Vegas sports books, with early action pushing the line point spread north. Kentucky is available at -2 for those looking to lay the points tonight. Game outlook: Losing three to the NBA Draft, including No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor, Duke is reloaded with 5-star freshmen, including small forward Brandon Ingram, who is averaging 18 points per contest through the first two games....

However, they have also dropped to fourth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, after sliding down the rankings for the last three consecutive weeks. While the gap between the No.1 and No. 4 in the latest Top 25 poll is the smallest it has been all season—just 78 points—Clemson is the first preseason No. 1 to fall so far without losing since Oklahoma fell from top spot to No....

Following conference championship weekend, the only thing that remains to be parsed out through the remainder of the 2021 season is what teams go bowling, and where. That includes, of course, the New Year’s Day 6 bowls, College Football Playoff semifinals and the CFP national championship game. MORE: Watch bowl season live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) This year there are a record-42 bowl games (not including the national championship) which stands to create several highly intriguing matchups....

In fact, a third SEC team – Georgia – is also listed at shorter odds than the still-undefeated and No. 2-ranked Seminoles. The Bulldogs have one blemish on their record, but they have an easier route through the SEC East than the gauntlet in the West. Alabama made a loud statement this weekend with their 59-0 dismantling of then-No. 21 Texas A&M. Ole Miss, which was off this past weekend, joins the Tide atop the SuperBook’s odds board with a 5-to-1 number....

There is a difference between facing pressure, which comes with the expectations of winning at the big-time programs, and the hot seat — which means you might be looking for a new job if you don’t win now. MORE: Ranking college football coaches 1-130 for 2020 Sporting News separates the two heading into 2020. Here are five coaches on the hot seat and five more facing mounting pressure to win this season....

The annual rite of summer — the one that gets us one step closer to the 2016 college football season — will hit us in July. First up, the SEC Football Media Days from July 11-14. MORE: SN Top 25 | 12 questions for 2016 Here’s a closer look at when all 10 FBS conferences will hold their media days. ACC When: July 21-22 Place: Westin Hotel (Charlotte, N.C.)...

There is a fun slate to work with to start the season. No. 19 Penn State travels to No. 12 Wisconsin at 12 p.m. ET; which precedes another ranked Big Ten matchup between No. 17 Indiana and No. 18 Iowa at 3:30 p.m. No. 1 Alabama also will be in the afternoon window with another neutral-site opener against No. 14 Miami in Atlanta. The Crimson Tide are heavy favorites once again....

No. 20 Florida travels to No. 10 Tennessee in a classic SEC East rivalry. The Gators have dominated the series, but the Volunteers are heavy favorites this time. It’s also a prime quarterback matchup between Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker. No. 10 Arkansas and No. 23 Texas A&M renew their SEC West rivalry at AT&T Stadium. The pressure is on the Aggies to avoid a second loss, and they are favored against the Razorbacks....

“We’ve got a lot on our plate next year, but it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to do a hearing or two,” Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said Friday about what Washington can do to better determine the national champion. MORE: Hayes: No need to change CFP selection | NFL players who ran for political office | Athletes who became politicians And, in true modern D.C. fashion, Barton advocates expanding the field....

“We tried to do something special with New Year’s Eve, even when it fell on a weekday. But after studying this to see if it worked, we think we can do better," Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff said in a statement. “These adjustments will allow more people to experience the games they enjoy so much. For these four years, our previous call is reversed.” MORE: Ranking college football’s coaches, 1-128 | SN Preseason All-Americans...

At last, the College Football Playoff will make its pick. The selection show at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday will reveal the final picks after conference championship weekend, and those teams will face off in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. The College Football Playoff championship game is Jan. 8 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. What is there left to debate after the conference championship? MORE: Watch college football live and on-demand with fuboTV...

The biggest mover in the ranking was Oklahoma State, which vaulted eight spots into the No. 15 position. The Cowboys are on pace to meet Iowa State for the Big 12 championship and an outside chance to make the football playoff. Washington (3-0) entered the rankings this week at No. 22. Then there are the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (8-1), who defeated Iowa State in the opening week and were ranked in the AP Top 25 this season....

Oklahoma is the No. 4 team after winning the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, and the Sooners got some help with losses by Georgia, Utah and Wisconsin. The pairings for the 2019 playoffs are: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Saturday, Dec. 28, Time TBD No. 1 LSU (13-0) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Saturday, Dec. 28, Time TBD No. 2 Ohio State (13-0) vs. No. 3 Clemson (13-0)...

The order now sees LSU in the top spot after the Tigers beat Alabama 46-41 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday (the Crimson Tide fell to No. 5). Penn State also fell out of the top four, to No. 9, after losing 31-26 at Minnesota (now ranked No. 8). Perhaps the biggest surprise of the rankings is Baylor’s ranking: The Bears come in at No. 13, despite their 9-0 record....

Three teams in the top 10 fell on Saturday: No. 6 Michigan against No. 8 Michigan State, No. 9 Iowa against unranked Wisconsin and No. 10 Ole Miss vs. No. 18 Auburn. The Wolverines’ loss to the Spartans wasn’t wholly unexpected, considering their proximity in last week’s rankings and the fact the game was played in East Lansing. That said, an epic meltdown, a few key mistakes and controversial calls by officials will be huge storylines from that game....