Colin Kaepernick trade held up

The San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos are still working on that big trade for QB Colin Kaepernick. And according to ESPN, “the parameters of an agreement in principle” are in place. All that stands in the way of the big trade now is a little less than $5 million for Kaepernick’s salary.

The trade compensation end of the deal, a mid-round draft pick believed to be going back to San Francisco, isn’t the problem. The two teams have to agree on who will pay the $11.9 million in 2016 salary that became guaranteed on Friday. The Broncos are willing to pay $7 million of it, leaving the remainder to the 49ers.

But as of now, the 49ers are not willing to do so and Kaepernick is not willing to take a paycut to close the gap. Kaepernick has been to Broncos GM John Elway’s house as he asked Kaepernick to the $7 million mark. That’s on par with what other backup/starter hybrids like Chase Daniel and Robert Griffin III are making per year.

And at the same time, the Broncos could add incentives to the contracts to make the money back. Right now, the Broncos have a Super Bowl-caliber team coming back minus the QB position while Kaepernick has been to a Conference Championship Game. The 49ers are rebuilding, in need draft picks and no other team has been willing to give up the pick the Broncos are.

It’s also not a good idea to have a quarterback on your team that doesn’t want to play for you.

Who’s going to break?