The San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback who has carried the team to the Super Bowl and two NFC title games in his three seasons gets a paycheck of only $973,000. He wants more, a lot more … like $18 million per year.

That’s Jay Cutler, Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford kind of money.

Kaepernick believes he’s worth every dollar.

According to Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin, if the 49ers don’t come close to meeting the player’s demands, Kaepernick, instead of signing a “below-market deal,” would be willing to play 2014 at his current base salary and wait until next offseason to negotiate a new deal.

That would be a tremendous leap — from $1 million to $18 million. And if Kaepernick gets that kind of windfall, what would be coming Russell Wilson’s way now that he has won a Super Bowl?

The biggest question: Does he deserve it?

Kaepernick has one of the league’s best tight ends in Vernon Davis, a power back in Frank Gore, a strong offensive line and a receiver in Anquan Boldin who found his second gear after leaving Baltimore. He is surrounded by the kind of talent that would make anyone look impressive.

His running ability sets him apart from most at his position. Still, there’s the fact that Kaepernick completed only 54.6 percent of his passes when pressured. However, he threw only eight interceptions in the regular season — even if it was the one in the NFC title game that ended their Super Bowl hopes that will stick out most.

Kaepernick is asking for more per year than Tom Brady, at $14.1 million, gets right now.


MANNING PASSES PHYSICAL


All clear.

Peyton Manning underwent the annual examination of his surgically-repaired neck and has been cleared, the Denver Post reports. That also means there won’t be anymore talk about retirement for a while.

The physical is part of Manning’s contract with the Broncos. When he agreed to a five-year, $96 million contract in March 2012, after undergoing the fourth operation on his neck, the two parties agreed that the physical would be annual routine.

Now that he has been cleared, his $20 million salary for the 2014 season is fully guaranteed, the Post reports.

This past season, Manning set career and NFL records. But, even at age 38, he likely has a few more targets ahead of him, including Brett Favre’s career record of 508 touchdown passes. Manning needs only 17 to match it.


REDSKINS TAG ORAKPO


Washington took free-agent Brian Orakpo down to the wire, but it did commit to keeping the Pro Bowl linebacker around for at least one more year.

By announcing it was putting the franchise tag on Orakpo just hours before the NFL's deadline Monday, Washington sent a message that might sound contradictory, but really isn't. Even though the Redskins gave up the second-most points in the NFL last season with the then-fifth-year linebacker and finished 3-13, they couldn't afford to let him walk away.

New head coach Jay Gruden retained defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, and they already have re-signed lineman Chris Baker and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Orakpo is far more valuable than any of them.

Orakpo totaled 10 sacks last season, his first in double figures since his rookie year of 2009. Injuries wiped out most of 2012, so putting up those numbers came as a relief to the new regime.

At 27 years old, he would have been in high demand had he hit the free-agent market next week.

Still, Orakpo and the team are reportedly not close on negotiations for a long-term deal. There is still doubt as to whether he will become the dominant pass-rusher he seemed capable of after his 11-sack rookie year.


DOLPHINS, GRIMES AGREE TO BIG, NEW DEAL


The Miami Dolphins just got a great season from cornerback Brent Grimes. Now they have rewarded Grimes with a long-term deal.

The team announced Monday that it agreed to terms on a contract that keeps Grimes from becoming an unrestricted free agent next week. According to ESPN, the 30-year-old two-time Pro Bowler gets $32 million over four years, with half of that guaranteed.

It's a significant raise for Grimes, after the Dolphins signed him away from the Atlanta Falcons to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in 2013. Given his age, Grimes cashed in well, earning a contract that should allow him to finish his career in Miami if he chooses. That's not bad for a corner who came into the league in 2006 undrafted out of Shippensburg (Pa).

“I am thrilled that we have been able to reach an agreement with Brent to keep him as a member of the Miami Dolphins,” Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey said in a team-issued statement. “Brent has been a valuable piece to our organization as a player on the field, a leader in the locker room as well off the field in the South Florida community."

Grimes, despite his 5-10, 190-pround frame, has turned into an elite shutdown type cover man because of excellent technique, leaping ability and ball skills. Now the top 2014 free agent corner to be is off the market.


49ERS RE-SIGN BOLDIN


This offseason for Anquan Boldin is officially better than last year's. The veteran wide receiver announced on his Twitter account Monday afternoon that he has re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers .

A little less than a year ago, Boldin was coming off his first Super Bowl win, with the Baltimore Ravens, but became a salary-cap casualty when the Ravens traded him to the 49ers — the team they had just beaten in the Super Bowl — for a sixth-round draft pick. Boldin responded with 85 catches for 1,179 yards, his best in both categories since the 2009 season with Arizona.

The 49ers reached the NFC championship game before losing to Seattle. The Ravens finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. The 49ers made keeping Boldin a high priority and now are expected to look for a speed receiver to match with Boldin, Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis.

Contributors: Rana L. Cash, David Steele, Vinnie Iyer

MORE: SN's latest 2014 mock draft