Colin Kaepernick will get free Red Robin for life if he wins Super Bowl

Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

Playing for NFL glory and a Super Bowl ring is fine, I guess, but now there are some real stakes on the line for Colin Kaepernick in Sunday's Super Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback was profiled in The New York Daily News last week and gained some attention for a small section about one of his favorite restaurants.

He lives walking distance from work, and keeps an eye on all aspects of his newfound wealth. When a financial adviser flew in from New York and asked him where he would like to go out to dinner, Kaepnerick chose Red Robin, a favorite haunt of his.

"Frugal might be a generous word for Colin," [his college head coach Chris] Ault says.

An enterprising soul at the Red Robin corporate offices heard about this and soon a brilliant marketing gimmick was born. The company offered Kaepernick free food for life if he wins on Sunday.

The offer was written in an open letter that appeared in the A-section of Thursday's San Francisco Chronicle.

CEO Steve Carley wrote that the company is "ecstatic" that Kapernick is a fan and says "there's been an abundance of bicep kissing and screams of "touchdown!" among our Red Robin Team Members lately." He then offered the free food, plus a two-for-one burger offer for all customers at San Francisco-area locations if the 49ers win.

The letter concluded:

"No matter the outcome of Sunday's game, you'll always occupy the position at Red Robin as one of our most valued patrons. We wish you and your team all the luck in the world, and as one of YOUR biggest fans, we hope you'll consider our offer."

1. Love that the Daily News referred to Red Robin as a "haunt," as if Kaepernick stops by after work, pulls up a stool next to Norm and Cliff and talks away his troubles over a Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich and Monster Milkshake.

2. Why is the Kaepernick offer only contingent on a victory? If the QB was really one of the restaurant's most valued patrons, wouldn't he be celebrated win or lose? I'd be a little resentful if I were Kaepernick, not that it would stop me from eating those delicious french fries by the free fistful.

3. Kaepernick "only" made $607,900 this season. It's good money, of course, but it's not like he can be eating at The Palm every night. ("Or Cheesecake Factory," Vince Young wistfully adds.) More power to him for liking a place that's not going to break the bank. At least someone was watching Broke.