SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Colin Kaepernicks football spoke for him this time, not his national anthem protest, and it was a long time coming.A year after being benched for his poor play and three starts into what he hopes is a triumphant return for the 49ers, Kaepernick hung right with Drew Brees and even threw for more yards than his strong-armed Saints counterpart in San Franciscos 41-23 loss to New Orleans on Sunday.Confident and precise in spite of one interception and a lost fumble, Kaepernick resembled the old dual-threat playmaker he once was in leading this team to a runner-up Super Bowl finish following the 2012 season.I think today was a step in the right direction, Kaepernick said. We had a lot of opportunity where if a few plays had gone another way this game could have turned out differently.Kaepernick became the 15th player in franchise history to rush for 2,000 yards and went 24 of 39 for 398 yards passing -- second most yards of his career on the way to a 102.3 QB rating. He hit DuJuan Harris for a 47-yard touchdown then Vance McDonald on a pretty 65-yard TD pass .Kaepernick, who worked back from surgeries on his left shoulder, left knee and right thumb, had completed fewer than half his passes in his first two starts since being promoted over Blaine Gabbert.It was an up-and-down day, coach Chip Kelly said. There were a few throws in the pocket there that if he could have completed them we would have stayed on the field and kept some drives alive. But he also did some really good things fitting some balls in there and making plays.Determined to improve his consistency this week, Kaepernick had another impressive performance against the Saints, something he wont try to explain. Before this season even began with him as the backup, he sparked a debate with his decision to sit and later kneel for the anthem in support of minorities who are oppressed.He seemed to play really well today, Brees said. They moved the ball at times really well today and he ended up with a ton of passing yards. We figured coming off the bye week theyd be rested and re-energized and ready to roll, which they were.Still, San Francisco (1-7) lost its seventh straight game since shutting out the Rams to start the year and falling to New Orleans for the eighth time in the last 10 regular-season meetings.Nobody was satisfied, even with some clear progress made.We definitely got in more of a rhythm today, Kaepernick said. But we still left a lot out there, particularly in the red zone. We were down there three times and got no points.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLAsics Schoenen Heren . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. Asics Schoenen Dames . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. http://www.asicsoutletnederland.com/ . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Asics Nederland . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Asics Schoenen Dames Sale . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.BAIONA, Spain -- Belgiums Gianni Meersman beat a pack of sprinters to claim the Spanish Vueltas second stage on Sunday for his first win at a grand tour.The 30-year-old Meersman was launched by his Etixx-Quick Step team in the final meters and stayed in front of a huge group to win the relatively flat 160.8-kilometer (99.9-mile) ride from Ourense to Baiona in 4 hours, 16 minutes, 39 seconds.Polands Michal Kwiatkowski took the leaders red jersey from Sky teammate Peter Kennaugh for Mondays mountain stage.Chris Froome, also of Sky, and Movistar rivals Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde remained on the same time with Kwiatkowski.Three-time Vuelta winner Alberto Contador stayed 52 seconds back after his Tinkoff team struggled through the opening stages time trial, which was won bby Sky.ddddddddddddeersman said that he told his wife and family to be sure to watch Sundays stage on television because his team had selected it for him to go for the win.She was crying and they were yelling at the TV, Meersman said after talking to his wife by telephone. Today was the big goal for me. I was planning for this stage, I had it in my mind. I was so many times second and third, but my team really trusted me.On Monday, riders face a 170-kilometer (105.6-mile) route along the Atlantic coast starting in Marin. A flat first half is followed by three climbs finishing at the Mirador de Ezaro summit.The 21-stage race ends in Madrid on Sept. 11. ' ' '