At this point, the most vexing question about the 49ers isn’t which quarterback they’re playing this week, it’s who exactly do they think they’re kidding?
Even after incumbent starter Alex Smith was cleared after a concussion, the 49ers started Colin Kaepernick in yesterday’s win at New Orleans.
And it may well have been the right call.
The 49ers played it coy before and after the game, with coach Jim Harbaugh trying to again foil diabolical reporters with his cunning game of espionage.
“We’ll look at the game and make the best decision going forward,” Harbaugh said, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
Whatever you say, Jim.
This one seems fairly apparent, even if it’s not exactly fair.
As efficient as Smith has been at the helm of the 49ers the last season and a half (19-5-1 as the starter), Kaepernick has a wider array of skills, and can make some of the downfield throws that Smith simply cannot.
But they persist with the facade.
Kaepernick said he wasn’t told he’d start until a 10 p.m. meeting Saturday night.
Which is fine, except the reports that Kaepernick being told he’d start began Wednesday night with one from Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter, who has no interest in hiding the truth to create a competitive advantage for one team or another.
But Harbaugh said Sunday the only reason Smith didn’t start was because he didn’t want to rush Smith back into action after he was cleared late in the week.
“He eventually got cleared,” Harbaugh said. “The thought was to rotate him back into the action, but not all the way to the front line. Give him a chance to get cleared up.”
The 49ers’ intent to create mystery will be cleared up when one of them takes the field against the Rams next week. Until then, play along with Jim. Thinking he’s fooling anyone seems to make him happy.