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49ers Coach Says Kaepernick Has Chance To Start

CARSON CITY (CBS/AP) -- San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick will have a legitimate chance to start this season.

The Nevada Appeal of Carson City reports Harbaugh and the second-round pick out of Nevada spoke to reporters before the coach addressed the annual Governor's Dinner in Carson City on Friday night.

Harbaugh says Kaepernick has the talent to be a starter in the NFL, and will compete with Alex Smith and other quarterbacks for the starting job.

He says there "won't be any games" or "politics," and the "best guy" will start.

Kaepernick says he expects to compete with Smith once the NFL lockout ends.

He says the decision will be made by Harbaugh and his staff, but he will do all he can to land the starting job.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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