GARAPPOLO GETS HIS TURN
At 1-10, the 49ers need to see how to handle QB in offseason
The much-heralded former backup quarterback to Tom Brady in New England takes over the reins of the 1-10 San Francisco 49ers today in Chicago.
The Jimmy Garoppolo era begins today in Chicago for the San Francisco 49ers.
It is an era that presumably will last longer than the five games that are left in this season. So, in truth, what happens during the remainder of the season actually means very little.
The 49ers are 1-10 and headed nowhere but home at season’s end. After trading a second-round draft choice to the New England Patriots in October for the highly regarded backup to greatest-ever quarterback Tom Brady, it stands to reason that the 49ers will use their franchise-player tag to retain Garoppolo in the offseason if they cannot re-sign him to a long-term contract to keep him off the unrestricted free agent market.
That remains likely whether Garoppolo thrives or fails in the coming weeks. But even if these games and Garoppolo’s performance are relatively inconsequential in the bigger picture of the 49ers’ rebuilding project under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, all of it still will be mighty interesting to watch unfold.
“I could tell you at the end of the year what it changed and what it helped or didn’t help,” Shanahan said at a midweek news conference. “But I think it’s nice to have him here, because you get to know the person. You get to see him on the practice field every day. You get to introduce your offense to him, which he’s picking up week in and week out that he’s been here. Him getting out there and doing it allows him to get a better feel for it . . . . I hope that leads to him being better next year and understanding going into the offseason a little bit of what it felt like.”
Garoppolo takes over this week for injured rookie C.J. Beathard. He has been taking a crash course on Shanahan’s offense since the trade.
“It’s a process,” Garoppolo said this week.
Said Shanahan: “He won’t fully be there, I believe, until next year.”
Around the League
GOODELL’S EXTENSION: The owners’ compensation committee met this week in New York without officially completing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s pending five-year contract extension. But it is a foregone conclusion that the committee will finish the deal, and there is little drama left in the ratification process now that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has rescinded his threat to file a lawsuit.
A-ROD RETURNS: Aaron Rodgers celebrated his 34th birthday by returning to Green Bay Packers practice.
The two-time NFL MVP is on injured reserve and was designated to return by the Packers on Saturday. Rodgers wouldn’t be eligible to play at the earliest until Dec. 17 at Carolina.
Extra Points
The Cowboys’ triumph Thursday night at home over the Washington Redskins kept the Philadelphia Eagles from clinching the NFC East. The Eagles still can clinch the division with a victory tonight in Seattle. No other team can clinch a playoff spot this weekend.
How the mighty have fallen: The NFL this week actually flexed the CowboysGiants game on Dec. 10 to an earlier time slot, from 2:25 p.m. MST to 11 a.m.
Games to Watch
VIKINGS at FALCONS: Minnesota currently has the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC but this is a difficult game, with the Falcons back to playing well.
PATRIOTS at BILLS: The division race basically is over, but the Bills have a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since the 1999 season.
PANTHERS at SAINTS: First place in the NFC South is on the line.
EAGLES at SEAHAWKS: Will the Eagles finally have to play a close game?
LIONS at RAVENS: Baltimore’s passing offense is unsightly. Yet, the Ravens have a very good chance to reach the AFC playoffs.
GIANTS at RAIDERS: The Geno Smith era begins.
Games to Miss
BUCCANEERS at PACKERS: Jameis Winston returns. But with the way the Buccaneers were playing before he exited the lineup, it remains to be seen if that is good news for them.
BRONCOS at DOLPHINS: Perhaps John Elway should activate himself. He might still be the best quarterback in the Broncos organization.
CHIEFS at JETS: The Chiefs have been playing as if they decided when they were 5-0 to tank the season, stealing what was supposed to be the Jets’ season-long approach.