Tomsula disputes Kaepernick ‘on island,' confirms heated meeting

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Coach Jim Tomsula on Tuesday morning disputed a report quarterback Colin Kaepernick is “on an island” in the 49ers’ locker room. But, during an appearance on the 49ers' flagship radio station, he confirmed a team meeting held a month ago became heated.

“First of all, with ‘Kaepernick on an island,’ I don’t know where that’s coming from,” Tomsula said on KNBR 680-AM. “That’s definitely not reality.”

On Sunday, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports stated Kaepernick is alone in the 49ers' locker room and gets little support from his teammates. Tomsula said he witnessed Kaepernick and other players on Monday working out together as the team began preparations to face the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

"There were a couple of O-lineman with him there,” Tomsula said, “and they're all out running around and lifting and sprinting and racing each other -- very good to see."

[MAIOCCO: Kaepernick's week-to-week ride with 49ers continues]

On Monday, CSNBayArea.com reported that one player called out Kaepernick in a players-only meeting approximately a month ago. Another player defended Kaepernick, and the exchange became heated.

Tomsula said he called the meeting in the week before the 49ers' game at the New York Giants and had some choice words for his team before leaving the room to allow the players to address each other.

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“The other one, with a ‘players only meeting,’ they must be referring to the meeting I had after the Packers game. I had a very pointed meeting,” Tomsula said. “I’m obviously not going to use the language I used in the meeting. And I’m obviously not going to get into the particulars of the meeting.

“I did have a heated meeting. That does happen in this business. When you become 2-5, that starts to become headlines. But it was a very productive meeting. It was a meeting where it was truthful, and dealt with facts and reality.

“As I finished what I had to say and the conversations we were having, I walked out and said, ‘Now you guys, get talking.’ I think that was a heck of a meeting.”

As reported on Monday, Tomsula said the individuals who were at odds with each other during the meeting cleared up their differences in the days that followed.

"The biggest thing I said to them was, 'Guys, it's like an Italian dining room table,'" Tomsula said. "'Everybody's sitting around the table and sometimes it gets heated, dishes 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. OK? I mean that with all due respect. I’m saying that complimentary.”

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