Report: 49ers going after Balmer's bonus money

The San Francisco 49ers are ready to take off the gloves with Kentwan Balmer.

The team is preparing to go after a portion of the bonus money the first-round draft pick received in 2008 as he remains absent from training camp without permission from the organization.

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports that the 49ers will attempt to retrieve as much as $960,000, and the team said it is following “standard NFL procedures” for when a player goes batty and doesn’t show.

Balmer was granted a two-day leave by coach Mike Singletary and he’s extended it since without permission from the club. He told a reporter he plans to return, but he didn’t say when and it appears the 49ers have either run out of patience with him or the team is ready to move on. The team has already placed Balmer on the exempt/left squad list.

Whether or not the team will be able to recoup all $960,000 it desires remains to be seen. Language in the CBA has been favorable for players in that regard. Balmer received a $1.6 million signing bonus on his five-year contract when he signed. He’s yet to start a game. Maiocco speculates the team sent him a “five-day letter” which basically states you have five days to show up, or else. Balmer is clearly in violation of his contract, and it’s fair to speculate the 49ers are simply putting the ball in motion to getting rid of him. They’ll try to dip into his wallet some along the way. Stay tuned.

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