The news that Blaine Gabbert is now the 49ers’ starting quarterback served as a punch line for many NFL observers Tuesday morning.
With former Super Bowl quarterback Colin Kaepernick benched for this Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco has turned to Gabbert, the former first-round bust of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gabbert, the 10th overall choice of the 2011 draft, was just 5-22 as a starter in Jacksonville before landing in San Francisco last season as Kaepernick’s backup.
Now, with Kaepernick suffering through a horrendous season, the 49ers are crossing their fingers that Gabbert can somehow be something better than horrible.
Tweeted longtime sports writer and author Jeff Pearlman Tuesday: "3 ways to know NFL QB career is dead: A. Throwing arm torn off in shark attack; B. Eyes pecked out by vulture; C. Benched for Blaine Gabbert." Former Bay Area sports writer Mike Rosenberg Tweeted: "You don’t get benched for Blaine Gabbert and ever come back. Kaepernick’s future with the 49ers is over."
Added Mark Long, who covers the Jaguars for the Associated Press: "Two things I didn’t think I’d ever (have to) see again: Mike Mularkey as a head coach and Blaine Gabbert as a starting QB."
Mularkey, who failed as a head coach in Jacksonville, was named head coach of the Tennessee Titans Tuesday when Ken Whisenhunt was fired.
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Certainly, by going with Gabbert, the 49ers are simply hoping that better things happen with Gabbert starting, because there is no evidence he can regain whatever it was he lost in Jacksonville.
Gabbert, a standout at Missouri, seemed like a terrific NFL prospect. But, rushed into a starting role for a bad Jacksonville team, he had highs and lows before losing all confidence and effectiveness. His career slide was remarkable for its swiftness. He started 14 games as a rookie, 10 the next year, and three the next in 2013, his final season for the Jags. In his three starts in 2013 he threw seven interceptions with just one TD pass, completed just 48.8 percent of his throws and was sacked 12 times. His quarterback rating was 36.0. His career quarterback rating off 66.8 is the lowest among all NFL QBs since he came into the league.
The 49ers may be hoping that Gabbert will be better after sitting and watching for most of the past two years. Or, that Kaepernick can regroup with some time off. Or, they may just be making a move to make a move.
Few, however, believe Gabbert is the solution to the 49ers’ awful offense.
Tweeted Benjamin Allbright, a Denver radio host and NFL draft maven: "There is no universe in which Blaine Gabbert is the answer if the question is, ‘how do we win more football games?’"
