In the aftermath of last Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Robert Griffin III both said part of the reason Griffin wasn’t pulled despite being at less than 100 percent was because the team felt he was still their best option at quarterback.
We don’t know what 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would do with Griffin, but he said Tuesday that defensive lineman Justin Smith won’t be extended the same courtesy in this weekend’s game agains the Packers. Fangio said that he would rather have another player at 100 percent than stick with Smith if he is limited by his partially torn left triceps.
“If, from point of view, he’s not playing up to his standard or close to it, we’ll put the next guy in,” Fangio said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “It’s been my experience that someone at 80 percent is not as good as the next guy at 100 percent.”
Ricky Jean Francois started in place of Smith in the final two weeks of the regular season and would presumably be the next guy if Fangio decides that Smith’s play isn’t up to par.