Jim Harbaugh comes out strongly in defense of Colin Kaepernick

The San Francisco 49ers had their local Pro Day on Friday, and it provided an opportunity for 49ers brass to meet with the media. Trent Baalke spoke before the Pro Day, and you can read his extensive transcript at the San Jose Mercury News (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). Head coach Jim Harbaugh briefly spoke with the media after the Pro Day.

Both men were asked about Colin Kaepernick's situation in Miami. Baalke was pretty simple in his response. He said there is no lingering concern and it will have no effect on the contract negotiation. He said they have paid attention to it, but they're fine letting it play out and get cleared up.

Coach Harbaugh was a bit more specific in his response (auto-play video), which comes as little surprise. He was asked how concerned he was about the off-the-field stuff. Generally he talked about how players have to deal with consequences, but as to Kap's situation, he defended the quarterback:

"So in some instances, keep in mind this: There's sometimes two sides to stories. And I often see the one side reported in the media. And then it gains incredible speed and attention. The other side still remains to be told. Looking at Colin Kaepernick's situation, at some point there needs to be a resolution to some of jump-the-gun, witch-hunt kind of scenario that we're seeing ...

At some point there needs to be a resolution to this, this kind of scenario. I mean, the only victim in Colin's case is Colin's reputation."

Over the last couple weeks we've seen more and more emerge that seems to further clear Kap, and really the whole group to some extent. Ricardo Lockette's 9-1-1 calls have not been released, but the indication is that he told the police there was a woman in the apartment who would not leave. The police were supposedly going to speak with a lawyer who represented all three players, but we have not heard much beyond that. The players are back working out, so the cops are not pushing on them for more. We don't have all the facts at this point, but it sounds like Harbaugh has heard enough to figure out what he sees as having gone on.

Coach Harbaugh did go to the well again with his Winston Churchill quotation about how a lie travels half way around the world before truth has a chance to put on its pants. It was pointed out to me by socalisteph that Churchill was not the originator of this comment.

Mark Twain has gotten credit for this before Churchill, but it may have been Charles Haddon Spurgeon who first mentioned the phrase. In a sermon back in 1855 (when Mark Twain would have been 20), Spurgeon reportedly said, "It is well said in the old proverb, 'A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on.'" I'm not entirely sure where the "old proverb" came from, but there's a little something extra for you. Really this is just one more example of a famous Abraham Lincoln quotation: "The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot confirm their validity."