oronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers have signed linebacker Carl Bradford from t

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Colin Kaepernick survived San Franciscos roster cuts on Saturday when the 49ers determined that his ability as a quarterback more than offset any potential distraction over his refusal to stand during the national anthem.Coach Chip Kelly announced that Kaepernick will start the season as the backup to Blaine Gabbert with Christian Ponder as the third-stringer. Kelly had telegraphed that move to keep Kaepernick earlier in the week when he called him one of his teams two best quarterbacks.Kaepernicks status on the team was briefly in question after his anthem protest over racial oppression and police brutality in the United States became public last weekend. But the Niners determined his ability as a player outweighed any potential distraction.When hes here, hes all about football and all about work, Kelly said. Thats what Ive seen since weve been here. He continues to display that every day hes been in this building.In other moves, the Niners acquired receiver Rod Streater and an undisclosed draft pick from Kansas City for an undisclosed draft pick and traded safety L.J. McCray to Seattle for an undisclosed draft pick. Both deals are pending physicals.The Niners also waived receiver DeAndre Smelter with an injury, placed linebacker Aaron Lynch on the suspended list for four games for violating league rules on substance abuse and released 20 players.But the biggest focus was at quarterback, where San Francisco released Jeff Driskel but kept Kaepernick and Ponder.Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem on Aug. 26 against Green Bay and was outspoken in his reasoning, saying he would continue standing up for people who were oppressed until he saw significant change.Kaepernick once again protested the anthem on Thursday night in San Diego, but kneeled alongside teammate Eric Reid, instead of sitting, in a move meant to show more respect to veterans.Kaepernicks performance had plummeted in recent years after he led San Francisco to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and the NFC title game the following year.He eventually lost his starting job to Gabbert midway through last season and had done little to show he should win it back this year. He was slowed in the offseason after undergoing operations on his non-throwing shoulder, right thumb and left knee and did not get any practice time.He returned to the practice field at the start of training camp in late July but then missed about two weeks with a tired right shoulder but wasnt able to win the job back.He knows he still has work to do, Kelly said. Hes not up to his playing weight that he was when he was successful here and hell continue to work on that. He missed a couple of weeks there with the arm and that set him back a little bit in terms of his ability to compete for it.After struggling in his return against the Packers and causing a media maelstrom with his protest, some raised questions about whether he was worth keeping around.Adding to that was the fact that 49ers would be on the hook for his $14.5 million base salary in 2017 if Kaepernick gets hurt this season and is not fully recovered by April 1. Kaepernicks $11.9 million salary for this season became guaranteed when he was on the roster in April. The Niners had discussions with Denver about a possible trade in the offseason and Kaepernick even met with Broncos general manager John Elway. But hangups over Kaepernicks salary contributed to the deal falling apart.Kaepernicks teammates supported his protest and Reid even joined in. Kaepernick said after Thursday nights game that he loved America and wants to make the country a better place. He also said he intends to donate $1 million to different organizations to help these communities and help these people, declining to provide specifics.The other players cut by the Niners were receivers Dres Anderson, Devon Cajuste, Bryce Treggs, Ryan Whalen and DeAndrew White; offensive linemen Alex Balducci, Fahn Cooper, Colin Kelly and Norman Price; defensive linemen Demetrius Cherry, B.J. McBryde and Garrison Smith; linebackers Corey Lemonier, Marcus Rush and Shayne Skov; running backs DuJuan Harris and Kelvin Taylor; tight end JeRon Hamm; and cornerback Prince Charles Iworah.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Ryan Kesler Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Hampus Lindholm Jersey . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. https://www.cheapducks.com/417c-matt-beleskey-jersey-ducks.html . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Rickard Rakell Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Stu Grimson Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers have signed linebacker Carl Bradford from their practice squad and released tight end Justin Perillo, a move that signals the likely return of starting tight end Jared Cook.The 6-foot-4 Cook has been out since Week 3 with an ankle injury. He was listed as questionable for the game Sunday night at Washington after being a full participant in practice all week.Cook could give quarterback Aaron Rodgers a big target sorely needed over the middle help open up the field for receivers Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. Without Perillo, Richard Rodgers is the only other tight end on the Packers active roster.ddddddddddddThe addition of Bradford gives the Packers added insurance with starting inside linebacker Jake Ryan out with an ankle injury, and outside linebacker Clay Matthews questionable for the Redskins game with a hamstring injury.Bradford was a fourth-round draft choice of the Packers in the 2014 NFL draft. He has yet to play regular-season game for Green Bay.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '