Sorry, Alex, Your Time Has Passed

Greg Cosell bears resemblance to Uncle Howard.

Football analyst and NFL Films producer Greg Cosell said on KNBR this morning that there is no question that the San Francisco 49ers think Colin Kaepernick today is a better quarterback than Alex Smith:

My guess is for people in the business this is not even a controversy. One guy is a significantly better passer than the other guy. To me there is not really an issue here. Kaepernick could obviously have a bad game anytime, because he's only played two games and he's inexperienced and there are things he hasn't seen.

Could he have a poor game? Sure. But you're talking about dimensions in a pass game. One guy has every dimension you want throwing the football, the other guy is limited. This is really not news.

Jim Harbaugh gets the job as the 49ers head coach. I guarantee that one of the first things he did in his preparation was he probably watched almost every throw Alex Smith has made in his career. That's what coaches do---they're nuts. This is the kind of stuff they do. So after doing that they draft Colin Kaepernick in the second round. That's step one.

Step two is they play a season. They play a season in which Alex Smith throws the fewest passes of any 16-game starter.

Step three: they try to get Peyton Manning in the off-season. Everything tells you that they believe Colin Kaepernick ultimately---and they didn't know if he could play until he played, but they know what his skill-set is, they know what his quarterback attributes are in relation to Alex Smith's quarterback attributes---Colin Kaepernick has the better quarterback attributes.

Nearly everyone feels bad for Alex Smith, who has finally become a good NFL quarterback who had a decent shot at winning the Super Bowl. Barring injury or a series of horrendous performances by Colin Kaepernick he won't get that chance with the 49ers.  © 2012 Stephen Yuen

Body language says it all: Alex and Colin (AP photo via SFGate)

Not Titletown (Yet)

The San Francisco professional sports picture is markedly brighter than it was six years ago, when each of its major sports franchises had a losing record. The Giants have won two World Series in the past three years, and the 49ers are considered one of the favorites for this year's Super Bowl.

While the 49ers' success and their burgeoning quarterback controversy are the local focus of attention, the Golden State Warriors are quietly moving toward respectability. 20-year-old Harrison Barnes signaled that the winter months need not represent the cruelest season when he performed an electrifying dunk over 6'11" Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic.



Harrison Barnes, Stephen Curry, and other young players will be in the prime of their careers when the Warriors move to San Francisco. By 2017 San Francisco could add Titletown to the many other names (most of them complimentary) by which it is known. © 2012 Stephen Yuen

Stars in Their Eyes

It's a staple of romantic tragedy. Boy and girl plan a life filled with happiness. Boy is entranced by a famous beauty. Boy leaves girl for a fantasy future and is (inevitably) rejected. Sadder and wiser, he returns to girl, but she is gone. He had a good life in his grasp, he reached for a more exciting one, and now he has neither.

A fumble away from last season's Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers upgraded their squad and were a serious championship contender. All they had to do was re-sign Alex Smith, a steady if unspectacular quarterback. After professing their undying love for Alex, they abandoned him to pursue Hall-of-Fame-quarterback-lock Peyton Manning, who apparently has now chosen to sign with Denver.

ESPN photoshop of Peyton Manning in a Bronco jersey.

Protecting his own interests, Alex Smith flew to Miami and is "discussing contract terms with the Miami Dolphins." After laying the groundwork for a championship run, the 49ers won't have a great quarterback and maybe not even a good one behind center on opening day. They may have as signal caller a second-year man who has played only a few minutes in his entire NFL career.

As you're walking around with stars in your eyes, just make sure you don't fall into a ditch.
© 2012 Stephen Yuen
[Update: Miami signed quarterback David Garrard tonight. Looks like San Francisco and Alex Smith have no choice but to spend next year together. They can take comfort in the knowledge that successful marriages don't need true love, just a strong common interest.]

Peyton Manning: Niners Should Pass

Now that Peyton Manning has been released by the Colts, there's rampant speculation about which team he'll end up with. There are teams which even a somewhat diminished Manning could improve greatly. Sports Illustrated's candidates, in order of likelihood, are Arizona, Miami, Houston, Seattle, Kansas City, New York (Jets), Washington, and San Francisco.

Everyone's entranced with Peyton Manning because of memories of what he was before four neck surgeries: one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. The Niners are tempted to make a run at him because they almost---in fact, should have---made it to the Super Bowl this year. The 49ers lost, not because of deficiencies at quarterback, but because of rookie mistakes and a wide receiver corps that didn't show up at the NFC Championship game.

If bringing in Peyton Manning means losing current quarterback Alex Smith to another team, then the cost is too high, especially since Peyton's durability is suspect.

The Niners are almost at the mountaintop. They performed well above expectations last year. The emotions and temptations of this moment will pass. Sticking to the plan, however unspectacular that may be, is the best course of action.

They Call Him Mr. Smith

Alex Smith has disappointed 49er fans since he was drafted in 2005. High expectations followed him, as they follow all number-one picks. However, the 49ers' won-loss record and Alex Smith's individual performance had never risen above the mediocre through 2010.



Alex Smith really never had a fair shake. He sat out the equivalent of two full seasons due to injury, and because the 49ers constantly turned over their coaching staff, he had to learn a new system every year. But even the most forgiving and optimistic fans---those who hoped that under new coach Jim Harbaugh Alex Smith might lead the Niners to a 9-7 record and first place in a weak division--did not realistically hope for the actual outcome:



I know I didn't. And I also doubt that anyone predicted that Alex Smith would out-duel the great Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the playoffs or that the Niners would be hosting the NFC championship game on January 22, 2012.

At this stage it is no longer sufficient that Mr. Smith not make mistakes. The 49ers will need an outstanding performance from him to extend their season.