Comments on: Stop the presses: Harbaugh picks Kaepernick

By: BringBackTheFlex

BringBackTheFlex — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:34:37 +0000

Stand by for new league rules that state a starter cannot lose his position due to injury if he returns from that injury in a “reasonable amount of time”. This will be the worst rule change in a while, but the league will need to do this if they are giving any merit to the severity of concussions.

By: 16x8equal49ers

16x8equal49ers — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:32:44 +0000

History repeats itself. Montana/Young, need I say more. Hopefully that means history repeats itself championship wise.

By: dallascowboysdishingthereal

dallascowboysdishingthereal — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:06:01 +0000

It’s Kaepernick’s to lose at this point. He represents the future QB for the team.

By: jm8ch10

jm8ch10 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:37:30 +0000

It’s apparent that a lot of you morons think money is a reason to not feel sorry for or at least feel a player had been treated unfairly. He deserves to play and if he then starts playing poorly, bench him for Kaepernick. That’s the way this should’ve been handled.

By: mrcogburn

mrcogburn — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:15:28 +0000

I’ll admit, I for one hope this blows up in Harbaugh’s face. Little is more entertaining than watching these hyper-sensitive Harbaughs emote!

By: redandgoldhitman52

redandgoldhitman52 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 04:59:57 +0000

funny how people are saying alex has a 104 rating. lol its from checking down 80% of the time. alex the bust cant throw deep or intermediate.
funny how people are saying alex is 6-2-1. lol the defense and the run game get the credit not alex the game manager.
funny how people say alex smith got the 49ers to the nfc title game.
no. the defense and the run game gots us to the nfc title game.
alex smith shouldve been cut when we fired mike nolan.
i’ll be glad when smith is gone. i’ve seen toooooo many 3 and outs from alex. every year hes top 3 in 3 and outs. every year top 3 in worst red zone offense.
ck7 time.

By: jdillydawg

jdillydawg — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 04:44:36 +0000

This is a good move on Harbaugh’s part. I was getting a little tired of following the Sanchez/Tebow story on the east coast and am now glad I have a qb controversy to follow on the west coast!

By: 7ftgriff

7ftgriff — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:56:13 +0000

While it is true that Alex Smith did nothing to lose his job, Kaepernick displayed a skillset that is better for this team to win The Super Bowl.

I feel a little bad for Alex, but also think he’ll land on his feet. Greg Roman is going to get an NFL head coaching job at the end of the year, look for Smith to go with him.

As for my Niners, Bring on the world, this team will win the Super Bowl this year.

By: rainponcho87

rainponcho87 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:22:10 +0000

Most of the pro-Alex comments here seem to be from people who don’t watch 49er games. The team has been doing great the past 2 seasons based mainly on defense and a great run game. Alex’s best game was against the Saints in the playoffs, and he was helped mightily by turnovers. The next game he did ok but hardly complete a pass to a wide receiver. This year they got him more help at receiver and the offense has still stagnated against better opponents. He takes a lot sacks and cannot or will not push the ball downfield. His stats are helped by completing short passes and not throwing the ball away when he should to avoid a sack. His passer rating is good, but his sacks and total passing yards per game were not. The coaches think Kaepernick is an upgrade. He has been for 2.5 games, but it remains to be seen how he continues to perform. The 49ers think they have a shot at the superbowl, but if they can’t get past the Giants, that will not happen. Alex lost to the Giants the past 2 times and this year’s game wasn’t close. The safe choice is to stick with Smith, but against better teams, they probably would not have an offense to get them over the top. You don’t have forever to win a Superbowl. You have got to take some chances to make it happen now.

By: SOBEIT

SOBEIT — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 01:38:43 +0000

@jluns275 – Cutler and Campbell don’t play defense. All season we were hearing about the BearsD…that’s who Kaep beat.

By: SOBEIT

SOBEIT — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 01:35:32 +0000

I feel bad for Smith because of everything he has gone through and all he did for us last year.

But going by last years performance, I say stay with Kaep. Smith hit the ceiling and he does not have Akers making a unbelievable amount of FGs, the defense is not scoring like last year (though still great), and our running game just took a hit and we cannot put more on Gore’s shoulders if we want him strong at the end of the year.

Kaep opens of the offense and gives the team more options. And I am so tired of not being able to utilize our WRs and TEs to their fullest potential. Like Vernon said, it’s like the handcuffs have been removed.

I just hope Kaep slides after running, and not crumbling and turning his back on a defender as he is about to lay you out. Smith basically took himself out by not sliding…what did he think he was doing anyway?

By: jluns275

jluns275 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 01:05:10 +0000

ripster65 says:
Nov 28, 2012 7:20 PM
grantgoodman93 says:Nov 28, 2012 3:34 PM

Not saying this is the wrong choice, but, he ripped the New Orleans D. Thats like praising Cam Newton for 4 TD’s against the Eagles D. We’ll see what happens if they play Seattle or someone with a good D.
———–

It hasn’t even been 2 weeks. Have you forgotten that he smashed the Bears in his first start? I’ve heard they have a pretty decent defense.

__________________________________

He smashed the Jason Campbell-led Bears, NOT the Jay Cutler-led Bears. Look at that game, plus the 2nd half of last year to see the huge difference between the Bears with & without Jay Cutler. NOT the same thing at all.

By: delusionalcardsfan

delusionalcardsfan — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 01:04:11 +0000

The Man Francisco 69 er’s shall be one and done yet again in the playoffs. Regardless of who the QB is. the Cards will get smoked in week 17. Go Cards :/

By: JaminJake

JaminJake — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:40:35 +0000

newtons2ndlaw says:
Nov 28, 2012 4:03 PM
Smith has attempted just 17 throws that travel 21-plus yards in 2012. That’s 31st in the NFL among qualifying starters. Even Blaine Gabbert was driving the ball down the field more often before he went on injured reserve. And even intermediate throws are lacking. Smith has thrown just 37 passes this season that travel 10 to 20 yards, also 31st in the NFL. Yes, he doesn’t have a lot of attempts, but even on a rate basis, he’s not throwing down the field.

Bottom Line: Harbaugh knows you need a QB that doesn’t go 1/13 on 3rd downs in the NFC championship game, to win a Superbowl ring.
____________________________

Not sure if you remember, but Smith wasn’t the reason they lost that game and WAS the reason they made it there. Remember what he did to NO? I am sure NO does.

By: decon49

decon49 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:31:35 +0000

fortune favors the bold

By: ripster65

ripster65 — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:20:54 +0000

grantgoodman93 says:Nov 28, 2012 3:34 PM

It hasn’t even been 2 weeks. Have you forgotten that he smashed the Bears in his first start? I’ve heard they have a pretty decent defense.

By: 1phd

1phd — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:07:47 +0000

Let the CK7 era begin!!

By: southpaw79

southpaw79 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:39:06 +0000

I remember the same thing happening with Troy Smith a few years ago. I really hope the Niners do not get the same results. That being said, there is absolutely nothing in Harbaugh’s past that should make us doubt his decision relating to the QB position. Most everything he has touched has turned to gold.

By: pongonfl

pongonfl — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:28:40 +0000

The 49s had the offensive talent to not have to rely on their defensive talent to win.
Smith was not losing games for the 49s, but if you have a guy that can win games for you, the team would be foolish not to use him having drafted him.

Smith was holding that team back since he beat the Saints.

By: kingcrusher

kingcrusher — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:24:53 +0000

This has left me quite angry at this coach. I’m afraid that the dice have been rolled in favor of logic.
I wish Kap the best and hope he reaps the rewards of Smith’s hard work. But I really feel that Kap is in a bad place. If he doesn’t put up all-star numbers and lead the team to all wins, then we’ll see the fickle nature of the 9er fans rear their ugly heads.
Smith has put up with the fair-weathered 9er fans for years now, and I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s strong and obviously has some serious character and determination to put up with what he’s put up with. And then, just when he thought he finally got a great coach and staff, the bench him for… succeeding!? Bah.
These people who say “He can’t take us all the way…” Umm, where were you guys last year? Was it Smith who fumbled twice and gave the game away that was pretty much already in the bag? Hmmm… How soon we forget.
Bottom line here is that the coach is wrong in how he went about this. You let Smith finish what he started and then you cut him loose after the season. All this does is create a cloud of doubt in the back of every 9er player’s mind that asks a simple question, “Am I gonna get benched for doing great?”. And despite what you guys want to say, records don’t lie, and Smith has been a very important piece of the machine that has become the 9′ers.
In short, I’m pretty disgusted with the way my team’s management has handled this. Very poor coaching decision here.

By: gogoniners

gogoniners — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:01:40 +0000

Smith signed a contract this summer that included a roster bonus of over 90% of his next year’s salary, non-guaranteed. No agent in the world is dumb enough not to inform him that meant the Niners weren’t prepared to stick with him long-term yet.

Then Kap comes in and opens up more of a vertical offense in 2 games than Smith has in the 25 since last season’s beginning.

No one is saying is saying Smith has played poorly to deserve this; people are saying Kap has played better. Which he damn well has.

By: peoplesrepublic0fdabayarea

peoplesrepublic0fdabayarea — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:59:58 +0000

I felt bad for Smith..... ....then i remembered the $70M he's collected from the 49ers over 8 seasons before finally paying off the investment to the team. Barry Zito: *high 5!*

By: sactown9er916

sactown9er916 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:57:49 +0000

Smith=training wheel offense

By: itscompton

itscompton — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:44:17 +0000

I like Alex Smith and I feel sympathy for him having to learn so many different offensive systems in his first few years. But between last year and the first few games this year he’s had a chance to show what he can be a solid, and occasionally if not regularly spectacular, QB so he’ll likely get the chance to be a starter somewhere next year and will get the same amount or even more than he would have made with the 49ers if he stayed. So bottom line is it’s hard to feel too bad for a guy that has already earned enough so that his great-great-grankids will never have to worry about income and will most likely continue to pad his bank account somewhere else next year.

By: detroitsports1234

detroitsports1234 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:28:55 +0000

Bad decision, 49er were fine. dont fix something that works fine

By: donchacho

donchacho — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:21:12 +0000

I just wonder if Kaep starts to falter and they lose a game or two, does he go back to Alex? Because if he does theres a chance Alex’s confidence is shot by then and then theyre stuck with a qb the league has figured out and the old alex smith. Either way theyd be lame ducks heading into the playoffs.

By: devildog911

devildog911 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:20:25 +0000

I bet there’s a team out there eyeing Smith already.

By: pftusedtobemorefun

pftusedtobemorefun — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:19:56 +0000

Did he have a team meeting like John did first to air the grievances?

By: mazblast

mazblast — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:14:29 +0000

Actually, I think the 49ers are in a good situation. They have two QBs (albeit with vastly different styles) who have proven they can move the team and win.

Results will prove whether this is a good move or not. If Kaepernick takes them to the Super Bowl and they win, I doubt that Smith will be too upset as he puts on his SB ring, or vice versa.

By: Nevis

Nevis — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:08:46 +0000

grantgoodman93 says:
Nov 28, 2012 3:34 PM
Not saying this is the wrong choice, but, he ripped the New Orleans D. Thats like praising Cam Newton for 4 TD’s against the Eagles D. We’ll see what happens if they play Seattle or someone with a good D.

——————————-

You mean a good defense like the Bears? Uh, yeah, I guess we’ll have to wait until that happens….

Oh wait.