Colin Kaepernick Fined $10K, Suspension Next? Apple Beats by Dre Endorser Ignores NFL Ban After Bose Deal [PHOTO]

Colin Kaepernick was fined $10,000 by the National Football League on Thursday for wearing a pair of Beats by Dre headphones during his post-game press conference following his San Francisco 49ers' 22-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Earlier in the week, the NFL had announced a brand new partnership deal with Bose and imposed a league-wide ban on all non-Bose headphones before and after games and on camera.

Kapernick, who is endorsed by the Apple-owned Beats by Dre headphone company, ignored the new ruling and rocked a pair of pink Beats - pink to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and was promptly fined by the NFL.

After the announcement of the fine on Thursday, Kaepernick appeared unfazed. He was asked by a reporter if Beats by Dre would be paying the fine on his behalf, and his non-answer left many believing that they will. "I'm going to let that be unanswered," he told ESPN. As ESPN and ABC Business Correspondent Darren Rovell was quick to point out, however, the fines are one thing. Beats by Dre can continue to pay them all they want. But if Kaepernick continues to bend the rules, he could end up suspsended.

Unfortunately for Bose, the NFL's headphone ban has thus far done nothing to thwart the media exposure of Beats by Dre. TheBigLead.com found a chart powered by Google Trends, which shows that "Bose + NFL" and "Beats by Dre + NFL" were searched for almost identical amounts over the last few days.