Kaepernick's star-making performance

<p>SANTA CLARA — It was a glorious weekend of NFL football, with a rare double-overtime game, a bewildering late interception by Peyton Manning that helped sink the favored Broncos and a last-minute Atlanta field goal that overturned a 20-point comeback by the Seahawks.</p><p>But when Jim Rome, the host of a popular CBS Sports Radio show, opened his program Monday morning, it was young Colin Kaepernick who got top billing. </p><p>“The single freakiest thing I saw all weekend was that blur that I saw Saturday night, running right through the Green Bay Packers,” Rome said. “Colin Kaepernick won the weekend. The Packers looked like they had never seen this guy on tape, ever. I mean, I understand defending that read-option can be tricky, but Kaepernick made the Packers look like they were playing with eight guys.” </p><p>Kaepernick had already become an obsession of 49ers fans after going 5-2 as Alex Smith's replacement at quarterback. But the 6-foot-4 uber-athlete expanded his base after a jaw-dropping, four-touchdown spree in a 45-31 victory over the Packers on Saturday, a performance that included an NFL-quarterback-record 181 rushing yards.</p><p>Kaepernick is national news now as he prepares to play the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship game.</p><p>Everyone was onto him Monday, including the New York Times, ESPN, USA Today and Forbes. The latter reached Kaepernick's marketing agent, X-A-M Sports' Shawn Smith, who discussed their efforts to trademark the terms “Colin Kaepernick,” “Kap,” “Kap7” and, of course, “Kaepernicking,” which means mimicking the quarterback by leaning in to kiss, or stare impassively at, your right biceps.</p><p>“If I am counting memorabilia offers, appearances and product endorsement opportunities, I have received close to 20 offers since the Green Bay game,” Smith told Forbes. “None have been accepted at this point.”</p><p>That story was posted early Monday. Who knows how many offers Kaepernick has gotten by now?</p><p>Football people are equally starry-eyed, beginning with one of Kaepernick's most recent victims. “That was unbelievable,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson told Yahoo! Sports after the NFC divisional playoff game. “He did everything. I mean, I had read the press clippings and seen some of the highlights. But to watch what he did ... oh my, that was special.”</p><p>Of the four quarterbacks left standing in the playoffs, New England's Tom Brady has 23 postseason starts, Baltimore's Joe Flacco has 11 and Atlanta's Matt Ryan has four. Kaepernick has just one, but it was a whopper.</p><p>In a season dominated by young quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Indianapolis, Robert Griffin III of Washington and Russell Wilson of Seattle, Kaepernick is suddenly, unexpectedly making a case for being the most talented young QB in the game. His open-field speed is deadly, his poise is precocious, and his throws come with such zip that teammates have struggled to adjust to the velocity.</p><p>“I know I do in the pregame,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Got to wear gloves. I still drop a few. The ball gets on you real fast.”</p><p>Harbaugh, who for the most part has been conservative in his praise of Kaepernick, joined the chorus of admirers at his Monday press conference. He noted that the Turlock native is much more than a fast runner or a guy with a powerful arm.</p><p>“Colin has the ability to put touch on the ball as well — like that ball he threw to Frank Gore (Saturday) while running to his left, out of the pocket,” Harbaugh said. “He's a threat to run and also throw. He kept his eyes up the field and laid a feathered ball in there to Frank, and that created a big play in the game. ... There were piercing throws in this game, where he powered the ball through the defense. I'm thinking of throws to Randy (Moss) in the middle of the field, to Vernon Davis for 45 or 50 yards, the ball is in the air and on a line, to a spot.”</p><p>And no, Harbaugh wasn't Kaepernicking when he described his soaring young quarterback. It just sounded that way.</p><h3>THE PARENTS ARE ALL RIGHT</h3> <p>For the second straight year, both NFL Harbaughs are coaching in conference championship games, with older brother John's Ravens playing at New England. It's an exciting time for parents Jack and Jackie Harbaugh — perhaps too exciting.</p><p>“Had one of those days where Indiana beat Minnesota in a big basketball game. Then they watched John's game — exciting, thrilling, winning game for the Ravens. And then our game,” Jim Harbaugh said. “My parents are in their 70s. That's a lot of excitement, that's a lot of action. That's like going back-to-back-to-back, like three “24” episodes in a row.”</p><p>The Indiana men's basketball team is coached by Tom Crean, who is married to Jim Harbaugh's sister Joani.</p><h3>EXTRA POINTS</h3> <p>Harbaugh said DL Justin Smith, wearing a brace to protect his torn triceps, “came out of the game as clean as possible.” Smith played 53 of the 49ers' 58 defensive snaps against Green Bay.</p><p>The coach had no updated information on LT Joe Staley's arm injury.</p><p>Also from Harbaugh: Billy Cundiff will be on the roster this week, but David Akers remains the 49ers' kicker.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.</p>