NFL Notes: Colin Kaepernick, Eagles, Vikings

Colin Kaepernick

49ers GM John Lynch said during an interview with KNBR that he’s sure free agent QB Colin Kaepernick is committed to being a quarterback in the NFL and he’s urged Kaepernick to give an interivew explaining how important football is to him.

“I think the way you could best help yourself is not to have someone talk for you, not have statements, but go sit down and give an interview and let people know where you stand because he makes a compelling case as to how bad he wants to be in the league when you talk to him,” Lynch said, via Pro Football Talk.

Lynch added that he believes there’s a perception around the NFL that football may not be at the top of Kaepernick’s list.

“I would tell you with my conversations with Colin, he is fully committed to wanting to be in this league,” Lynch said. “I gave that opinion to Colin myself: ‘I think you are having a little bit of an image crisis in terms of, not so much what you did last year, but people are wondering: Is this most important to you?’ At a position where the guys who succeed at the position are the guys who live it, breathe it, the CEOs at that position. And I think there is a perception that football is not at the top of the list.”

Eagles

• Darren Sproles tells Josina Anderson that LeGarrette Blount and Ryan Mathews are both more first- and second-round running backs for them while he’s fine working as the team’s third-down running back and punt returner.
• Sproles mentioned that rookie Donnel Pumphrey could be used in the slot with Wendell Smallwood being more of an all-purpose option for them.
• Although, Sproles added “he can do it all.” (Josina Anderson)

Vikings

Vikings CB Trae Waynes credited veteran CB Terence Newman for teaching him “everything” about the position and getting him prepared to take on a larger role in 2017.

“He’s been there every step of the way. I’ve got to give him a lot of credit to helping me get to where I am now,” said Waynes, via Vikings.com. “He’s been in this game for a long time so he knows it like the back of his hand. You’ve just got to try to learn from him as much as you can.”

Waynes has been working as the team’s starting left cornerback and plans to make the most of the opportunity this year.

“It’s great. I’ve just got to make the most of it,” Waynes said. “I’ve just got to make plays and give the coaches more reason to trust me.”