Two years ago, Denver Broncos GM John Elway tried to acquire quarterback Colin Kaepernick from the 49ers.
The Broncos wanted Kaepernick to agree to a restructured contract. Kaepernick's deal with the 49ers was set to pay him $26.4 million in base salary in 2016 and 2017, but Denver wanted him to take a paycut that would have paid him $7 million each of those two seasons, costing him as much as $12.4 million. At the time, sources told NBC Sports Bay Area that Kaepernick was open to taking a pay cut, but just not the sizable one the Broncos wanted him to take.
No deal was ever completed and Kaepernick played out the 2016 season with San Francisco before being released.
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Two years later, the idea of signing Kaepernick to be a backup was brought up to Elway after Broncos practice.
"I said this a while ago but Colin had his chance to be here. We offered him a contract. He didn’t take it. As I said in my deposition, and I don't know if I'm legally able to say this, but he had his chance to be here. He passed it," Elway told reporters on Thursday.
Kaepernick has remained unsigned after completing the 2016 season. He drew widespread attention for bringing awareness to social injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem prior to games.