Colin Kaepernick Is Trying to Trademark ‘Kaepernicking’

A kiss is clearly not just a kiss

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Tony Avelar / AP

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) smiles on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.

Another week, another weird story about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the second-year signal caller who’s helped lead his team to the Super Bowl. Last week brought us the tale of the tattoo artist whose business is booming thanks to Kaepernick’s newfound fame. Now, according to CBS San Francisco, the QB himself is hoping to cash in by trademarking his signature touchdown celebration, “Kaepernicking.”

(MORE: Early Winner of Super Bowl XLVII? Colin Kaepernick’s Tattoo Artist)

Both CBS Sports and the Bleacher Report report that the 25-year-old filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 14, with the intent — media reports presume — to use the phrase on T-shirts and other merchandise.

Before we get too carried away here, keep in mind that “Kaepernicking” is basically kissing one’s own bicep — and Colin isn’t the first to do that.

(MORE: Tebowing – TIME’s Top 10 Everything of 2011)

It’s also worth remembering that trademarked touchdown celebrations aren’t always a guarantee of, well, touchdowns. Consider the case of quarterback Tim Tebow, who trademarked his down-on-one-knee prayer pose as “Tebowing.” (It was also a meme. You may have missed it.) After leading the Denver Broncos to a series of miraculous comeback victories last year, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets — where he rode the pine for much of the team’s dismal 6-10 season.

On the other hand, there’s always the discount doublecheck.

MORE: Examining the 49ers Quarterback Controversy