Colin Kaepernick Appeal for Headphones Fine Set for Oct. 14

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick‘s appeal for the $10,000 fine he incurred for wearning non-NFL-sponsored headphones is set to be heard on Tuesday, Oct. 14. 

Gallery

10 images

The San Jose Mercury News‘ Cam Inman and Steve Corkran reported on the development on Saturday:

“Colin Kaepernick’s appeal hearing Tuesday is for the fine he drew last week for wearing headphones that were not the NFL-sponsored brand, according to two sources familiar with the case. 

“That contradicts a ProFootbalTalk.com report Saturday starting the hearing was for the alleged ‘inappropriate language’ he used used Sept. 14 against the Chicago Bears. That hearing took place two weeks ago, according to the source. The result of that hearing has not been made public.

“Kaepernick and the 49ers traveled to St. Louis on Saturday. He could not be reached for comment.

“Appeals are heard by an arbitrator jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association, and information on appeals is not distributed through the league office. 

“Kaepernicks’ latest fine, of $10,000, stemmed from him wearing Beats by Dre headphones Sunday — and not the NFL-sponsored Bose brand — at his news conference following the 49ers’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The pink headphones were in support of breast-cancer awareness month; Kaepernick’s grandmother is a breast cancer survivor.

“Regarding his inappropriate language fine of $11,025, Kaepernick has maintained he said nothing inappropriate, and he disputed a FOX Sports report claiming he used a racial slur toward the Bears’ Lamarr Houston. When pressed on the issue Sept. 21 after being told TV footage showed Kaepernick saying something, Kaepernick said, ‘I talk on the football field, yes, I do.’

“But, Kaepernick added that he didn’t say anything ‘racially derogatory’ toward Houston, who initially said he didn’t hear Kaepernick say anything. On Sept. 21, he accused Kaepernick of using a racial slur.

“Coach Jim Harbaugh said Sept. 24 that, ‘I’ve never head Colin use that word and I’ve never heard him lie…I’m very attuned to hearing that word and I’ve never heard him use it.'”  

Colin @Kaepernick7 Fined By @NFL For Wearing #BeatsByDrDre Headphones (STORY) http://t.co/EF39emGIHw pic.twitter.com/wEh0HiGXIk

— PopWrapped (@PopWrapped) October 12, 2014

According to ESPN Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell, the NFL has not banned the use of non-Bose headphones. However, players must cover the logos of these headphones “under certain guidelines”:

“The NFL has not banned the use of non-Bose headphones, but players will continue to be subject to fines if they do not cover up competitors’ logos under certain guidelines.

“San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was fined $10,000 by the league on Thursday for wearing unauthorized equipment ‘during a postgame press conference.’ 

“Kaepernick has been wearing headphones at his postgame press conferences since he arrived in the league, but he has been covering up the lowercase ‘b’ logo for Beats by Dre since he was warned last year. This past week, Kaepernick, who is a paid endorser of the brand, did not do so.

“Although players cannot wear unapproved logos up until 90 minutes after the game, the NFL’s attention on headphones became heightened after it signed Bose to a coaches headset deal earlier this year.

“Motorola, which had the deal to outfit the coach headsets through 2012, did not make headphones for the mass market so there wasn’t an issue.

“Sources say the league will allow any player to wear headphones during media interviews if the logo of that brand is covered up. The league also will allow players to wear headphones with competing logos off the bus, into the stadium and on the field for warmups before they get into uniform.

“Since most of the shots of players in their headphones come way before the game, that allows companies like Beats and Monster, which sponsors Marshawn Lynch, to still get some value.

“While some have speculated that Apple, which bought Beats by Dre for $3 billion in August, would simply pay fines incurred by players, the reality is that fines can escalate per violation and players could even be suspended.

“Kaepernick would not disclose Thursday if Apple would pay the fine, but a source close to Kaepernick said the company did not. 

“Sponsorship evaluation firm Front Row Analytics said that media coverage of Kaepernick’s postgame was worth more than $350,000 in equivalent advertising for Beats.”

Kaepernick has thrown for 6,159 yards, 38 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 37 career regular-season games through Oct. 13, per ESPN stats. 

For more of the hottest sports news, log on to Sport Balla today.