Earlier this week, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers had a players-only meeting, and that it took a negative turn in criticizing starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
The meeting reportedly got heated when tight end Vernon Davis called out Kaepernick, and offensive tackle Joe Staley stuck up for the team's quarterback, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. The altercation reportedly might have gotten physical between Davis and Staley, according to Maiocco. Kaepernick and Davis have been at the center of 49ers news this season, as the two are clearly struggling and Davis is reportedly on the trading block.
"We're still together," said 49ers receiver Torrey Smith, via CSN Bay Area. "It's tough. It's frustrating but it's not dividing the team at all. It's not separating Kap. Kap isn't on a damn island. We're here together. We're trying to win together."
Head coach Jim Tomsula tried to down play the argument with his players.
"The biggest thing I said to them was, 'Guys it's like an Italian dining room table,'" said Tomsula, via Pro Football Talk. "Everybody's sitting around the table and sometimes it gets heated, dished get broken, people leave. [But] everybody's got to come back to the table to eat. And when it's all said and done, we're hugging and kissing and we're eating good food again."
The 49ers are 2-5 this season, and don't look to be improving after last week's 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco is in last place in the NFC West, and have another tough game this Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. Kaepernick is clearly struggling this season, with six touchdowns to five interceptions, and has only had three games over 200 yards passing. The 49ers will likely need to make some adjustments if they want to compete this season, but they may be already looking ahead to next season.
