Blaine Gabbert might have handled the news of his benching like a pro, according to coach Chip Kelly.
But the former 49ers starting quarterback was obviously not thrilled with the decision to replace him with Colin Kaepernick.
“It sucks,” Gabbert said, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “I don’t like it. I don’t like not playing. I’m very forward about that.
“But, at the same time, I’m going to work the same way I’ve always worked the three years I’ve been here. Put my best foot forward. Still continue to prepare. I’m not going to slack on the film work just because I’m not playing.”
Gabbert, the former Jaguars first-rounder, “won” the offseason competition with Kaepernick for the starting job easily, Mostly, that’s because Kaepernick wasn’t participating, after a number of offseason surgeries, and a two-week bout of arm fatigue.
But with that chance, he didn’t do all that much. He threw five touchdowns and six interceptions in five starts, with anemic 5.9 yards per pass attempt and 178.0 yards per game averages. They rank 31st in the league in total offense and passing offense and have lost four straight.
“I gave it my best shot,” Gabbert said. “It wasn’t good enough. We didn’t win enough football games. We didn’t score enough points on the offensive side of the ball. That’s the way it goes. It’s a tough situation and coach Kelly had to make a call.”
While it’s not entirely his fault he’s been on two bad teams, Gabbert’s career record as a starter is 9-31. It’s hard to say he didn’t have something to do with that.