Things got a little tense during Sunday Night Football last week.
The San Francisco 49ers were hosting the Chicago Bears in a game they would all but give away. Up 17-0 just before halftime, the Niners wound up losing 28-20.
In the fourth quarter, after tempers had started to flare somewhat, Kaepernick threw an interception. While jogging back to the bench, he passed Bears defender Lamarr Houston, who told Kaepernick “Nice pass.”
And that’s when, according to the referee, Kaepernick chose to respond with some rather ugly language.
“He knows what he said,” is what the ref in question said originally when asked about Kaepernick’s words of choice. Now, it’s come out that Kaepernick allegedly referred to Houston with use of the N-word.
Kaepernick denies using any such language, and points out that Houston also said the exchange was nothing inappropriate:
The player that I supposedly said something to has been quoted saying that I didn’t say anything, and I don’t know him, so it’s not like he would have a reason to just randomly stick up for me.
It may or may not be worth pointing out that Houston’s exact response, when asked by reporters, was that he didn’t hear anything.
In addition to drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the game, Kaepernick was fined $11,025 by the NFL. He plans to appeal the fine.
Here’s the slowed-down video of Kaepernick’s retort, provided by Instagram user 49erscam. Can you read lips? What does it look like he said?
