Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick's 100-pound pet tortoise is in the news. So is the tattoo ink covering his back and arms. His birth mother wants to meet him for the first time.
But all the San Francisco 49ers quarterback wants to do is keep his starting job.
"I'm here to play football," says the 25-year-old, bothered by his newfound celebrity. "I don't pay attention to what the media's writing or what peopleare saying. I'm here to play and go out and perform."
POSTSEASON: Kaepernick sets playoff record
SPORTS ON EARTH: The Tattoo Taboo
Last week was a rough one for Kaepernick: Acolumnist ranted about his tattoos and compared him to an inmate, igniting a social media firestorm. His insulted parents defended him in USA TODAY Sports, sparking more passionate reaction. The guy Kaepernick replaced asSan Francisco's No. 1 signal caller, veteran Alex Smith, complained about losing his job because of a concussion and stirred up coast-to-coast sympathy.
And then came Sunday: Kaepernick committed crucial gaffes in a 16-13 in overtime loss to the St. Louis Rams, sparking calls for Smith's return to the starting lineup.
ROUGH START
The first time Kaepernick put on a 49ers uniform was a disaster.Chosen 36th in the 2011 draft, he was the sixth QB off the board. Despite being the only Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for more than 4,000 in a career, a steep learning curve awaited. The 2011 lockout cut short the offseason activities crucial to rookie development.
So Kaepernick took the Superdome floor vs. the New Orleans Saints with 14minutes left in the second quarter of the 49ers 2011 preseason opener. During his first drive, he was sacked on three consecutive plays. More than a year later on Nov. 25, Kaepernick returned to the Superdome, this time as a starter after a scintillating performance on Monday Night Football in a 32-7 blowout of the Chicago Bears.
He rushed for a score and passed for one in a 31-21 win vs. the Saints.Afterward, he gave short and courteous answers to the news media.
But those who know Kaepernick best, who called him "Bo" when he was a three-sport high school athlete in Northern California, knew he was pleased with his performance.
"There was a part of him that went into the Saints game thinking, 'My first ever action ever was against you guys in that preseason game, with no (organized teamactivities), and you blitzed the hell out of me,'" says his older brother, Kyle Kaepernick, "'and I'm going to freaking pay you back, right now.'"
Kyle, 10 years Colin's senior, works along with their father at Hilmar Cheese Company, the dairy plant based a few minutes from where Colin grew up in Turlock, Calif., a two-hour drive east of San Francisco.
Kyle can remember when Colin struggled to findhis place on the football field. He remembers when Colin wasn't so cool.

Tattoos on the arms of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick have caused quite the stir.(Photo: Seth Perlman, AP)
"His high school team didn't lose much, but when they lost , I'd barely see him the whole weekend," Kyle says. "It was straight home, up in the room, door closed. I don't want to say it was pouting, but it waspouting. He's always taken losses really hard."

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick shows off his many tattoos at the team's practice facility in San Carlos, Calif.  Michael Short/Special to the SF Chronicle
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THE PERFECT CHILD
Teresa and Rick Kaepernick had been sweethearts since they were 14-year-olds growing up in New London, Wis. They had Kyle in 1977, then hissister, Devon, four years later. The couple always imagined having three or four children, so they tried again, but tragedy struck.
A son, Lance, died of congenital heart failure 23 days after Teresa gave birth. Multiple surgeries couldn't save his life. Devastated, but resilient, they tried again. Another son, Kent, lived four days before dying of the same affliction.
Rick and Teresa had genetic...