Things really fell apart for the 49ers in just one year. Last season they were viewed as a Super Bowl contender but this season they are struggling to keep their heads above water. The head coach and several key players left the team for various reasons during the off-season and after losing quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a shoulder injury, the season seemed to be a loss hope. Hall of Famer and 49er great Joe Montana sees the like at the end of the tunnel, he likes what he has seen from backup Blaine Gabbert and he wants the 49ers to hold on to him.
“I think he’s done a great job going in under the circumstances, where the team is and how many people they’ve lost to injuries. Some people would say it’s easier because you’re losing and there’s only upside, but there’s still a lot of pressure to perform when you go in. When you make a change like that, you expect the backup to play well.”
“He’s definitely some you need to keep around. He’s proved he can not only play at the level to win games, but also in that offense. That’s key in proving his worth to the team. I don’t know what will happen with Colin or what their plans are with him, but at this point at time, I don’t think you let Blaine get away.”
Gabbert hasn’t played bad but he’s hasn’t done anything that makes me say he deserves to be around. The team is 2-2 in games that he has started, which is an acceptable record for a backup quarterback but what’s more important is what will the team do with Kaepernick. Kaepernick is set to make $11.9 million next year in comparison to Gabbert’s $1.75 million. If they plan to move on from Kaep then sure, keep Gabbert around for another year or two while you groom your future start. If Kaep is the guy going forward, Gabbert is just another backup who we will only talk about when Kaep doesn’t play well.
HT: BleacherReport