After Goodell's Latest Words, Will A Team Hire Kaepernick?

[VeritasSteel]

Here are SF's 2016 starters at WR & TE:
Jeremy Kerley, Quinton Patton, Torrey Smith, & Garrett Celek
his OL was 30th in pass protection

I think that made a little bit of a difference, even if we agree that CK is basically an above-average backup.

Coupled with the fact that the 49ers were on their third coach in three seasons- one being Chip "I don't know how pro offenses work or how to talk to pro athletes " Kelly. They had hit rock bottom from an organizational standpoint. Hardly CK's fault

[955876]

I’m simply going off the past where teams had interest and he didn’t.

I think Denver at one point was one of them.

Then there is that whole Saints publicity stunt. He didn’t come across as a guy seriously looking for a job.

Reality is, beyond him landing here, I couldn’t care less what Kaep does or if he plays or not.

I’d be ok with him as a back-up here as long as (1) his play warranted it and (2) he is seriously here to help the team and not just use the Steelers as his podium to further his own personal agenda.

He can do that on his own time. Which at present he seems quite content doing.

[955876]

Hardly CK's fault

But also hardly part of the solution.

When he faced adversity there he picked up his ball and went home.

[VeritasSteel]

Thanks for (accidentally?) proving my point.

1. As we all know, the most important "basic" stat when judging how good a QB is (i.e., the stat tha tmost predicts future wins) it is YPA. CK's YPA was...pretty god awful in 2016. So bad that it was only about 0.6 yards better than one of the worst QBing groups in the NFL last year.

2. But he had a lot of TDs! But TDs aren't perfect because they fluctuate a lot between different years and can be the result of garbage time. For example, look at CK's prior year. There he only threw...6 TDs. Albeit, less passes but pace was far off 16 TDs. In that year, CK had a YPA of 6.6. Once again, not good. Oh, for what it is worth he had five interceptions that year (i.e., more interceptions than in his "good" 2016).

3. Context of when these stats were put up is important. CK's record in 2016 was 1-10 (wasn't much better in 2015). His team was trailing a lot. It is easier to rack up some stats when behind compared to a competitive game (of course defense can just attack the passer as well -- really depends on score situation). We'd need more data but important to note that CK's stats were put up in a very bad season. It also fair to look at other QBs. Blaine Gabbert was worse so that is a + for CK.

4. Okay -- from that what can we tell? Well it seems that we likely could've expected CK of 2016 to be better than the Steelers' shitty QB play in 2019 but only marginally-so (i.e., CK of 2016 was likely a good back-up; nothing more). So, after three years of not playing competitive football, we expect CK to ... be just as "good" as he was in 2016 (i.e., a good back-up)? Seems much more likely that he isn't even third string quality at this point compared to him being a solid back-up.

You cherry-picked the stats like a motherfucker. You alluded to context but you failed to mentioned who he was throwing to and what was around him on offense- nothing. That crazy workout he had here in Atlanta was proof that he still has his arm and his wheels-even if most of the league didn't see it.

He's better than we have at the QB position behind Ben by a country mile. I would go as far as to say he is better than what the 49ers currently have at QB.

I will amend what I said before. If I was him I wouldn't come back if the only people who wanted me were teams with no weapons or protection. He did that in 2016.

[955876]

I would go as far as to say he is better than what the 49ers currently have at QB.

Dunno bout that one chief. Jimmy G can make some pretty accurate throws.

Something CK struggles with.

[bradshaw2ben]

@bradshaw2ben

I think we agree that CK was a good back-up. I am far from convinced that he is a good back-up today.

That's certainly far from a certainty, either way. But the bar is awfully low for the backup QB position in Pgh.

[955876]

Unfortunately the powers that be are “comfortable” with the current stable of backups.

Shitty as they may be

[zeke5123]

Thanks for (accidentally?) proving my point.

1. As we all know, the most important "basic" stat when judging how good a QB is (i.e., the stat tha tmost predicts future wins) it is YPA. CK's YPA was...pretty god awful in 2016. So bad that it was only about 0.6 yards better than one of the worst QBing groups in the NFL last year.

2. But he had a lot of TDs! But TDs aren't perfect because they fluctuate a lot between different years and can be the result of garbage time. For example, look at CK's prior year. There he only threw...6 TDs. Albeit, less passes but pace was far off 16 TDs. In that year, CK had a YPA of 6.6. Once again, not good. Oh, for what it is worth he had five interceptions that year (i.e., more interceptions than in his "good" 2016).

3. Context of when these stats were put up is important. CK's record in 2016 was 1-10 (wasn't much better in 2015). His team was trailing a lot. It is easier to rack up some stats when behind compared to a competitive game (of course defense can just attack the passer as well -- really depends on score situation). We'd need more data but important to note that CK's stats were put up in a very bad season. It also fair to look at other QBs. Blaine Gabbert was worse so that is a + for CK.

4. Okay -- from that what can we tell? Well it seems that we likely could've expected CK of 2016 to be better than the Steelers' shitty QB play in 2019 but only marginally-so (i.e., CK of 2016 was likely a good back-up; nothing more). So, after three years of not playing competitive football, we expect CK to ... be just as "good" as he was in 2016 (i.e., a good back-up)? Seems much more likely that he isn't even third string quality at this point compared to him being a solid back-up.

You cherry-picked the stats like a motherfucker. You alluded to context but you failed to mentioned who he was throwing to and what was around him on offense- nothing. That crazy workout he had here in Atlanta was proof that he still has his arm and his wheels-even if most of the league didn't see it.

He's better than we have at the QB position behind Ben by a country mile. I would go as far as to say he is better than what the 49ers currently have at QB.

I will amend what I said before. If I was him I wouldn't come back if the only people who wanted me were teams with no weapons or protection. He did that in 2016.

Please tell me how I cherry picked stats like a mother-fucker? I just went...by the most important stat. I even contextualized pointing out that Gabbert was worse (indicating that CK's numbers weren't necessarily as bad as they seem). But once again, please tell me where I am wrong.

Look at his Football Outsider stats for 2014, 2015, and 2016. They paint the picture of a guy who is a good back-up; not a starter. The YPA in context backs that up.

Now, for your crazy statement that workout in Atlanta provded anything? You mean the one cut for a commerical? Wouldn't you first need a control (i.e., put him next to an average QB in the NFL) so that you get a fair comp?


Also, about 75-85% of QBing relates to making pre and post snap reads, quickly getting through your progression, and then making an acurate pass. There is a reason Kyle Boller is not a HoF QB. That shit is hard, and even with CK was in peak condition he wasn't great at it.

You honestly believe that after 3+ years of not playing a down or being invovled in any orgnaized football activities, CK will be super sharp on it? So many QBs are striving to get to the top and spend every day working on these skills, and few really develop them and that is within the context of professional coaches helping them day-in and day-out.

Thinking CK could easily get up to (and surprass) where he was based on Atlanta work-outs is not making a smart bet. Is it possible he is better than Rudolph? Sure, Rudolph is shit. Is it likely? Not if you think with your head. You aren't thinking with your head.

[zeke5123]

@bradshaw2ben

I think we agree that CK was a good back-up. I am far from convinced that he is a good back-up today.

That's certainly far from a certainty, either way. But the bar is awfully low for the backup QB position in Pgh.

Of course it isn't a certainty. Fact of the matter is we don't know. But be honest -- if you took a random guy who was a good back-up three years ago, but hadn't played a down since or otherwise been involved in organized football, would you bet he would still be a good backup?

If it was anyone other than CK, you'd say hard pass for the reasons I am saying. Yeah, maybe he turns out okay. But you would know that is making an unlikely bet. Apply what you would behind a viel of ignorance to this situation.

[zeke5123]

Kaep would also miss open receivers with the ball landing OOB at times. Like WTF type throws.

Our guys stink.

Kaep was playing like shit when he was last on a pro field and that was years ago.

You are also discounting the fact he doesn’t want to be a back-up. That is somehow beneath him.

So to me, it is far from a given that a guy going on 4 years removed from the game with zero desire to be a back-up or even compete for a job could simply step in and perform.

That isn’t even getting into the fact our staff hasn’t shown any real ability to coach-up a QB.

They are quite fortunate for one BR...

His last season, Kaepernick threw 16 TD's and had 4 INT's. With zero weapons and a horrific o-line. I mean....WTF.

So..there's that. Oh and his agent has said the whole; "didn't want to be a back-up" thing wasn't true and especially now, being out of the league for years, do you REALLY think Kaepernick believes he would have to be a starter to sign with somebody? C'mon, dude. Get real.

Fucking Cam Newton won't be signing with ANYBODY as a starter and almost certainly wouldn't even have the opportunity to compete for a starting job. Kaepernick would 100% realize he wouldn't be signed to be a starter.

Here, B2B posted this above. The stats for Kaep's last season in the league vs. our QB's last season. Enjoy.

Kaep 2016:
16 TD, 4 INT, 6.8 YPA, 7.2 AY/A, 90.7 QB rat, 6.8 YPC, 2 TD

2019 Steelers QBs:
18 TD, 18 INT, 6.2 YPA , 5.3 AY/A 76.2 QB rat , 2.7 YPC, 0 TD

Cam will sign with someone after a team has a Big Ben situtation (i.e., team with playoff aspirations has their starter injured). I would prefer we keep our options up for Cam in the event Ben is injured.

[blu]

Kaep would also miss open receivers with the ball landing OOB at times. Like WTF type throws.

Our guys stink.

Kaep was playing like shit when he was last on a pro field and that was years ago.

You are also discounting the fact he doesn’t want to be a back-up. That is somehow beneath him.

So to me, it is far from a given that a guy going on 4 years removed from the game with zero desire to be a back-up or even compete for a job could simply step in and perform.

That isn’t even getting into the fact our staff hasn’t shown any real ability to coach-up a QB.

They are quite fortunate for one BR...

His last season, Kaepernick threw 16 TD's and had 4 INT's. With zero weapons and a horrific o-line. I mean....WTF.

So..there's that. Oh and his agent has said the whole; "didn't want to be a back-up" thing wasn't true and especially now, being out of the league for years, do you REALLY think Kaepernick believes he would have to be a starter to sign with somebody? C'mon, dude. Get real.

Fucking Cam Newton won't be signing with ANYBODY as a starter and almost certainly wouldn't even have the opportunity to compete for a starting job. Kaepernick would 100% realize he wouldn't be signed to be a starter.

Here, B2B posted this above. The stats for Kaep's last season in the league vs. our QB's last season. Enjoy.

Kaep 2016:
16 TD, 4 INT, 6.8 YPA, 7.2 AY/A, 90.7 QB rat, 6.8 YPC, 2 TD

2019 Steelers QBs:
18 TD, 18 INT, 6.2 YPA , 5.3 AY/A 76.2 QB rat , 2.7 YPC, 0 TD

I used to like KC's posts at Stillers because they were the most offensive. I like KC's posts at Steelerfury because they make the most sense.

[RemoAZ]

I think we all can agree the QBs behind Ben suck. That doesn't mean a guy that wasn't playing well then sat out a few seasons is the answer. The first step is the team has to WANT to improve the QB depth. They aren't even there yet.

[K_C_]

I think we all can agree the QBs behind Ben suck. That doesn't mean a guy that wasn't playing well then sat out a few seasons is the answer. The first step is the team has to WANT to improve the QB depth. They aren't even there yet.

Except Kaepernick was playing well.

[stinger8]

I think too much time has passed the league is probably even faster now and CK would struggle. The haters would love to exploit that development.

I think Eric Reid is a baller and would add significant value if brought in and I would love that signing.

Most importantly as a guy who supported the whole CK freedom of speech angle on this site a few years ago and was very much in the minority I am heartened to see some people who were violently opposed to his stance back then be willing to consider his addition today. I think this is progress and laud those posters for "evolving". Still a long way to go.

As an aside does Roger Goodell ever make a sagacious decision?

[Stosh-67]

I do not think his whole heart is into playing QB in the NFL.

That being said, he is no doubt better than MC and Duck.

I have said it in other CK threads before, his talent and numbers, duel threat, certainly place him as a top 64 QB, top 50?
Top 32? Can he actually start for some team? Maybe.
Should he be on an NFl roster?

32 NFL teams. 3 QB's per team = 96 rostered QB's.
Even if every team does not carry 3 QB's and there are 80 QB's on NFL roster.

I dare you to list the other 79 QB's better than CK.

A career 72-30 TD to INT rate does not lie.
Yes, his 28-30 career win loss record is not great, but put him on a team ready to compete for a SB and the 28-30 could be a 10-6 or 11-5 season.

The big problem is will he derail the team chemistry, will he create a circus in the locker room, will he have 2 dozen reporters at his locker stall after each game, each practice. The Steelers for one, have had our share of media distractions the last few years.

Hopefully, this is the season that all of the distractions are behind us and the P.S. become one team focused on playing football and bringing home a Lombardi.

That being said,
Ben goes down and we have to throw MBC and or Duck under center. Will the season be derailed again? Are MC and Duck better off with another camp and pre-season under their belts?

So say, we do give CK a shot. Get him to camp. He shakes off the few years of rust.
Shows, at 32, he still has some winning football in him.

In Camp, he out performs Duck, who in the first 2 weeks of camp, gives Edmunds countless opportunities to learn how to intercept an elongated inflated leather ball.
He shines in a pre-season game after Biberty flounders around for 2 quarters. Handing the clip board back to MC, a clipboard that has insurance claim forms below the play sheets.
We break camp with CK firmly entrenched as the #2 QB.

Season is going great. Ben rounds into form ( no pun intended ). Steelers start 3-1 are 6-2 at the halfway point.
Game #9 and Ben turns an ankle and the injury is worse than it looks. ( I hope I am not jinxing the season ).

CK trots on to the football field. Shows a little rust and tries to do more than he is ready for. Throws two picks and fumbles away the game.
Press and media goes viral. The Steelers locker room is now loaded with reporters. The media wants to pick at old scabs and make the situation worse. The media needs juice, blood, they want clicks, they want to sell papers.
Sitting at his stool in the locker room, CK says no comment and "Onto the Bengels".
They continue to press him for the answer they want to hear.
He says. "Onto the Bengels".
Hits the practice field. And gets ready for the next game.
Love that guy! Lets show them what we are made of this coming Sunday.
Go Steelers.

CK looks better the following week. Steelers win.
Steelers get back on roll and build momentum.
CK looks in total control of the offense. Not spectacular, but winning balanced football.
Steelers finish strong and make the playoffs.
Steelers beat Cleveland in Wild Card round. CK has a great game. MC and Myles Garrett hug in the middle of the field after the game. Make dinner plans and family vacation plans come the spring. They speak briefly about the benifits of bundling insurance.

Steelers ready, locked and loaded. Rolling and looking great, healthy other than Ben and Chickillo. They beat the hated Ravens in the next round. Game was not close and Duck actually comes in to hand off for the final series as Tomlin could not find MC, who was advising a sideline chord untangler about coastal flood insurance.

Steelers face off against the Pats, who cheated their way to the #1 seed with no one anybody ever heard of on offense. Steelers play whole game using sign language, which they learned during the week after being tipped off by Antonio Brown who was cut by the Pats the previous week after AB gave the Pats the Steelers play book. Steelers win a close one. AB does a FB live dance saying how he loves the Steelers and would like to play for them in the Super Bowl.

The Steelers defeated their three most heated rivals. Look great, even tho Bens stress fracture ( again, I am very sorry ) makes him doubtful for the Super Bowl. CK looks like he will do the unthinkable. Taking his team to the SB and looking for a Lombardi.

Steelers square off against Americas second Favorite Team, The Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl
A back and forth battle see a CK comback, as the Steelers offense steamrolls back from a 20 point third quarter deficit. The Dallas defense is gassed as the Steelers offense has controlled the clock most of the 4th quarter. They are old school pounding the run ( think Bam morris SB 30 ) with CK 3rd down scrambles and passes to keep drives rolling.

Last minute of play and the Steelers need a TD to win the game. Cowboys defenders hands on the knees, they used all of their time outs to give them a break. Steelers get down inside the 5 after a CK scramble extends a 4th down play.

Tomlin call his 4th time out of the quarter as a new rule penalizes them 5 yards. ( The Cweb rule ) back to the 9.
2nd down run gets them to the 5.
Steelers running to the line of scrimmage to get set. Cowboys standing and dragging around, and not getting set.
Third down run gets them to the 1.
Dallas is done.
4th and goal at the 1............. 20 seconds left. Lets go! Lets Go! ( think Bill cowher spit ) Pound that in. QB keeper, leap the line. lets do it. Go grab #7.

Here we go. 4th and goal at the 1! Down by 4, need a TD. All the marbles!
Hike!
CK takes the snap, takes three steps back.
Turns to the sideline, throws the ball into the stands. And walks off the field and thru the tunnel as Tomlin is calling his 5th time out.

Bet you didn not see than ending coming.
James Patterson has nothing on me.

[SteelBeach]

I can see both sides of the argument much more so than a few weeks ago, but it doesn't matter. We don't have the "Kaep" space anyway. Sorry... I am a dad with a lot of bad dad jokes.

[COR-TEN]

The last two posts, stosh (in particular) and beach, were stellar.

Thanks.

[Scunge]

Last year was a shitshow, it is dubious to me to think that Kap or any other backup QB could have come in and done significantly better than our young QBs.

Yes, yes, when Kap was last with the 49ers the talent wasn't that great. Was our talent that good last season early on? We had inexperienced players at every position, young guys, rookies and 2nd year players learning on the job. We had Conner and JuJu miss a combined 10 games, We had Foster and Pouncey miss a combined 5 games, we had Rosie Nix our FB miss 13 games. You had musical chairs at RB, who was going to carry the ball this week, Conner? Samuels? Snell? Trey Edmunds? Tony Brooks-James? Kerrith Whyte?

You had Foster miss a game and does BJ Finney start in his place? Hell no, they switch RT Matt Fieler to LG and insert 2nd year player Chuks Okorafora to replace him at RT.

Jesse James leaves via Free agency and the plan is for Xavier Grimble to be the #2, he gets hurt, goes on IR and they trade for Nick Vannett to be the #2. Mcdonald saw his snap counts go through the roof with the injuries at FB and TE and he struggled with injuries and overuse.

Antonio Brown is traded away in the offseason and they sign Donte Moncrief to be the #2 opposite of JuJu only for him to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the Ice Cream man got hurt and that was the death blow, I kid, I kid. There were two bright spots, Diontae Johnson and James Washington made positive steps, but again, that was a rookie and 2nd year player. Oh, and the guy that banged the table for both of them, their WR coach passed away before the season started.

Anyway, all of that transpired and the young QBs didn't have a real QB position coach. Like I said, it is very dubious to me that a more experienced backup QB, be it a Kap, or whoever could have done that much better.

It is all a moot point anyway, as others have stated, backup QBs are expensive, some can make $5-7 million per season. It isn't so much that we couldn't have that high priced backup behind Ben, other teams do it, but then other teams don't have the makings of a very expensive all star defense either. Dupree, Watt, Fitzpatrick, they are all going to cash in over the next few seasons, hard to justify that high priced backup QB when you have defensive studs that will get market setting contracts soon.

[K_C_]

Last year was a shitshow, it is dubious to me to think that Kap or any other backup QB could have come in and done significantly better than our young QBs.

Yes, yes, when Kap was last with the 49ers the talent wasn't that great. Was our talent that good last season early on? We had inexperienced players at every position, young guys, rookies and 2nd year players learning on the job. We had Conner and JuJu miss a combined 10 games, We had Foster and Pouncey miss a combined 5 games, we had Rosie Nix our FB miss 13 games. You had musical chairs at RB, who was going to carry the ball this week, Conner? Samuels? Snell? Trey Edmunds? Tony Brooks-James? Kerrith Whyte?

You had Foster miss a game and does BJ Finney start in his place? Hell no, they switch RT Matt Fieler to LG and insert 2nd year player Chuks Okorafora to replace him at RT.

Jesse James leaves via Free agency and the plan is for Xavier Grimble to be the #2, he gets hurt, goes on IR and they trade for Nick Vannett to be the #2. Mcdonald saw his snap counts go through the roof with the injuries at FB and TE and he struggled with injuries and overuse.

Antonio Brown is traded away in the offseason and they sign Donte Moncrief to be the #2 opposite of JuJu only for him to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the Ice Cream man got hurt and that was the death blow, I kid, I kid. There were two bright spots, Diontae Johnson and James Washington made positive steps, but again, that was a rookie and 2nd year player. Oh, and the guy that banged the table for both of them, their WR coach passed away before the season started.

Anyway, all of that transpired and the young QBs didn't have a real QB position coach. Like I said, it is very dubious to me that a more experienced backup QB, be it a Kap, or whoever could have done that much better.

It is all a moot point anyway, as others have stated, backup QBs are expensive, some can make $5-7 million per season. It isn't so much that we couldn't have that high priced backup behind Ben, other teams do it, but then other teams don't have the makings of a very expensive all star defense either. Dupree, Watt, Fitzpatrick, they are all going to cash in over the next few seasons, hard to justify that high priced backup QB when you have defensive studs that will get market setting contracts soon.

Kaepernick has two things Mason and Duck don't have....well, at least Duck doesn't have.
Kaepernick has a proven NFL arm and the ability to avoid the rush and use his legs.

He also has had success in the NFL. Big-time serious success. Kaep almost brought his team all the way back to win a Super Bowl.

While I haven't yet given up 100% on Mason, he should be QB3 this year. Duck should be working at Arby's.

We are at too important a time in Steelers history to trust the back up QB positions to Mason and Duck again. Back up QB's have helped teams win playoff games even win Super Bowls in the past. The last being Nick Foles just a few years ago. They're fucking important.

You and I both know we're FUUUUUUUCKED if Mason and Duck are our back up QB's again this season if Ben goes down. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Our talent on offense is DAMN good enough to go far with the right QB. Our offense was in trouble last season mainly due to injuries. Kaep's Niners didn't even have anybody good enough to give a shit about if they got injured. This is a very different situation.

Kaepernick probably isn't the answer, but we desperately need a veteran back up who has won before. Maybe it's Cam Newton, I don't know, but it SURE AS FUCK isn't Mason (at this point) or Duck (EVER).

[Stosh-67]

How bout another ex-49er,
Alex Smith anyone?

[zeke5123]

Last year was a shitshow, it is dubious to me to think that Kap or any other backup QB could have come in and done significantly better than our young QBs.

Yes, yes, when Kap was last with the 49ers the talent wasn't that great. Was our talent that good last season early on? We had inexperienced players at every position, young guys, rookies and 2nd year players learning on the job. We had Conner and JuJu miss a combined 10 games, We had Foster and Pouncey miss a combined 5 games, we had Rosie Nix our FB miss 13 games. You had musical chairs at RB, who was going to carry the ball this week, Conner? Samuels? Snell? Trey Edmunds? Tony Brooks-James? Kerrith Whyte?

You had Foster miss a game and does BJ Finney start in his place? Hell no, they switch RT Matt Fieler to LG and insert 2nd year player Chuks Okorafora to replace him at RT.

Jesse James leaves via Free agency and the plan is for Xavier Grimble to be the #2, he gets hurt, goes on IR and they trade for Nick Vannett to be the #2. Mcdonald saw his snap counts go through the roof with the injuries at FB and TE and he struggled with injuries and overuse.

Antonio Brown is traded away in the offseason and they sign Donte Moncrief to be the #2 opposite of JuJu only for him to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the Ice Cream man got hurt and that was the death blow, I kid, I kid. There were two bright spots, Diontae Johnson and James Washington made positive steps, but again, that was a rookie and 2nd year player. Oh, and the guy that banged the table for both of them, their WR coach passed away before the season started.

Anyway, all of that transpired and the young QBs didn't have a real QB position coach. Like I said, it is very dubious to me that a more experienced backup QB, be it a Kap, or whoever could have done that much better.

It is all a moot point anyway, as others have stated, backup QBs are expensive, some can make $5-7 million per season. It isn't so much that we couldn't have that high priced backup behind Ben, other teams do it, but then other teams don't have the makings of a very expensive all star defense either. Dupree, Watt, Fitzpatrick, they are all going to cash in over the next few seasons, hard to justify that high priced backup QB when you have defensive studs that will get market setting contracts soon.

Kaepernick has two things Mason and Duck don't have....well, at least Duck doesn't have.
Kaepernick has a proven NFL arm and the ability to avoid the rush and use his legs.

He also has had success in the NFL. Big-time serious success. Kaep almost brought his team all the way back to win a Super Bowl.

While I haven't yet given up 100% on Mason, he should be QB3 this year. Duck should be working at Arby's.

We are at too important a time in Steelers history to trust the back up QB positions to Mason and Duck again. Back up QB's have helped teams win playoff games even win Super Bowls in the past. The last being Nick Foles just a few years ago. They're fucking important.

You and I both know we're FUUUUUUUCKED if Mason and Duck are our back up QB's again this season if Ben goes down. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Our talent on offense is DAMN good enough to go far with the right QB. Our offense was in trouble last season mainly due to injuries. Kaep's Niners didn't even have anybody good enough to give a shit about if they got injured. This is a very different situation.

Kaepernick probably isn't the answer, but we desperately need a veteran back up who has won before. Maybe it's Cam Newton, I don't know, but it SURE AS FUCK isn't Mason (at this point) or Duck (EVER).

I mean, Flacco won a super bowl. Not really keen on bringing him in either.

[Donnie Brasco]

As has been said: dude doesn't want to be a backup

Even if the Steelers had interest (I doubt they do). Signing a contract is a 2 way street

All this discussion is moot

[Jobu]

How bout another ex-49er,
Alex Smith anyone?

Smith will likely never play again.

I don’t know if anyone will sign Kaepernick...I do know it won’t be the Steelers.

[COR-TEN]

Where did Kaep say he didn't want to be a backup? Recently. I found this :

According to Christian Datoc of the Daily Caller, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback doesn't want "backup money" and turned down at least one deal.

However, TMZ reported Tuesday that this was incorrect. "Colin never had any talks about any contract or any money," a source in his inner circle told TMZ.

Daily Caller? Yeah, right. Ok. Sounds a lot like a political smear. And it keeps being repeated, even if it's not true. But I did find this :

According to Smith, Kaepernick didn’t even want to be a starting quarterback. The sports commentator says he spoke with Kaepernick’s girlfriend, Nessa Diab, last week. According to Smith, Diab told him that Kaep would be open to a backup job.

Various articles I found said he's willing to be a backup. Yet the meme keeps getting repeated that he wants to start, and has commitment issues. All of which seem to be incorrect. This isn't about his football ability. People will look wherever they can to discredit him. Be it politically, motivational issues, statistics, or money. It's about his perspective on law enforcement and the made up narrative about disrespecting the military and the "flag."

I'll bet he'd play wherever, even as a camp arm battling for #2. On a shitty team.

[rooneytunes]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/06/08/colin-ka ... r-goodell/

Also regarding the "out of football thing" so he is no longer skilled enough.

Michael Vick was out of football for two years.

Que the "Three is greater than two" responses.

[COR-TEN]

Further, if the media is at his locker, then it's the media's fault. So all this complaining about the MSM is a double standard. It's ok to blame MSM when they inflate covid 19 numbers, but if it focuses on Kaep, they are OK and its a reason not to hire him. So which is it. MSM is bad when it contradicts your view, but good when it agrees with you - or you can use it to further you agenda? The circus surrounding Covid is the medias fault, but it's not the media's fault when it circles around a controversial issue like racism?

[K_C_]

Last year was a shitshow, it is dubious to me to think that Kap or any other backup QB could have come in and done significantly better than our young QBs.

Yes, yes, when Kap was last with the 49ers the talent wasn't that great. Was our talent that good last season early on? We had inexperienced players at every position, young guys, rookies and 2nd year players learning on the job. We had Conner and JuJu miss a combined 10 games, We had Foster and Pouncey miss a combined 5 games, we had Rosie Nix our FB miss 13 games. You had musical chairs at RB, who was going to carry the ball this week, Conner? Samuels? Snell? Trey Edmunds? Tony Brooks-James? Kerrith Whyte?

You had Foster miss a game and does BJ Finney start in his place? Hell no, they switch RT Matt Fieler to LG and insert 2nd year player Chuks Okorafora to replace him at RT.

Jesse James leaves via Free agency and the plan is for Xavier Grimble to be the #2, he gets hurt, goes on IR and they trade for Nick Vannett to be the #2. Mcdonald saw his snap counts go through the roof with the injuries at FB and TE and he struggled with injuries and overuse.

Antonio Brown is traded away in the offseason and they sign Donte Moncrief to be the #2 opposite of JuJu only for him to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the Ice Cream man got hurt and that was the death blow, I kid, I kid. There were two bright spots, Diontae Johnson and James Washington made positive steps, but again, that was a rookie and 2nd year player. Oh, and the guy that banged the table for both of them, their WR coach passed away before the season started.

Anyway, all of that transpired and the young QBs didn't have a real QB position coach. Like I said, it is very dubious to me that a more experienced backup QB, be it a Kap, or whoever could have done that much better.

It is all a moot point anyway, as others have stated, backup QBs are expensive, some can make $5-7 million per season. It isn't so much that we couldn't have that high priced backup behind Ben, other teams do it, but then other teams don't have the makings of a very expensive all star defense either. Dupree, Watt, Fitzpatrick, they are all going to cash in over the next few seasons, hard to justify that high priced backup QB when you have defensive studs that will get market setting contracts soon.

Kaepernick has two things Mason and Duck don't have....well, at least Duck doesn't have.
Kaepernick has a proven NFL arm and the ability to avoid the rush and use his legs.

He also has had success in the NFL. Big-time serious success. Kaep almost brought his team all the way back to win a Super Bowl.

While I haven't yet given up 100% on Mason, he should be QB3 this year. Duck should be working at Arby's.

We are at too important a time in Steelers history to trust the back up QB positions to Mason and Duck again. Back up QB's have helped teams win playoff games even win Super Bowls in the past. The last being Nick Foles just a few years ago. They're fucking important.

You and I both know we're FUUUUUUUCKED if Mason and Duck are our back up QB's again this season if Ben goes down. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

Our talent on offense is DAMN good enough to go far with the right QB. Our offense was in trouble last season mainly due to injuries. Kaep's Niners didn't even have anybody good enough to give a shit about if they got injured. This is a very different situation.

Kaepernick probably isn't the answer, but we desperately need a veteran back up who has won before. Maybe it's Cam Newton, I don't know, but it SURE AS FUCK isn't Mason (at this point) or Duck (EVER).

I mean, Flacco won a super bowl. Not really keen on bringing him in either.

Flacco is off the market, he's a Jet.

But....Flacco vs. Mason and Duck? Are you kidding?

Right now, I'd take Flacco over both of them combined. By a lot.

[K_C_]

How bout another ex-49er,
Alex Smith anyone?

Smith will likely never play again.

I don’t know if anyone will sign Kaepernick...I do know it won’t be the Steelers.

Smith is supposedly working hard to give it another shot.

Even if he lost that leg and had to hop on one leg like a fucking pogo stick, I'd take him over the Mason and Duck right now.

[StillerInCT]

The issue with Kaepernick is that he's now a polarizing figure. I think in some markets signing him would make sense while others could turn out to be a disaster. And I'm not talking about on field production, I'm talking about acceptance by the fan bases. I don't believe Pittsburgh to be a very accepting fan base. I've sat in the nose bleeds and some of the things I've heard appalled me. We have a very backwards thinking fan base in my opinion. It'd be another Kordell situation.

[El Kabong]

I do not think his whole heart is into playing QB in the NFL.

That being said, he is no doubt better than MC and Duck.

I have said it in other CK threads before, his talent and numbers, duel threat, certainly place him as a top 64 QB, top 50?
Top 32? Can he actually start for some team? Maybe.
Should he be on an NFl roster?

32 NFL teams. 3 QB's per team = 96 rostered QB's.
Even if every team does not carry 3 QB's and there are 80 QB's on NFL roster.

I dare you to list the other 79 QB's better than CK.

A career 72-30 TD to INT rate does not lie.
Yes, his 28-30 career win loss record is not great, but put him on a team ready to compete for a SB and the 28-30 could be a 10-6 or 11-5 season.

The big problem is will he derail the team chemistry, will he create a circus in the locker room, will he have 2 dozen reporters at his locker stall after each game, each practice. The Steelers for one, have had our share of media distractions the last few years.

Hopefully, this is the season that all of the distractions are behind us and the P.S. become one team focused on playing football and bringing home a Lombardi.

That being said,
Ben goes down and we have to throw MBC and or Duck under center. Will the season be derailed again? Are MC and Duck better off with another camp and pre-season under their belts?

So say, we do give CK a shot. Get him to camp. He shakes off the few years of rust.
Shows, at 32, he still has some winning football in him.

In Camp, he out performs Duck, who in the first 2 weeks of camp, gives Edmunds countless opportunities to learn how to intercept an elongated inflated leather ball.
He shines in a pre-season game after Biberty flounders around for 2 quarters. Handing the clip board back to MC, a clipboard that has insurance claim forms below the play sheets.
We break camp with CK firmly entrenched as the #2 QB.

Season is going great. Ben rounds into form ( no pun intended ). Steelers start 3-1 are 6-2 at the halfway point.
Game #9 and Ben turns an ankle and the injury is worse than it looks. ( I hope I am not jinxing the season ).

CK trots on to the football field. Shows a little rust and tries to do more than he is ready for. Throws two picks and fumbles away the game.
Press and media goes viral. The Steelers locker room is now loaded with reporters. The media wants to pick at old scabs and make the situation worse. The media needs juice, blood, they want clicks, they want to sell papers.
Sitting at his stool in the locker room, CK says no comment and "Onto the Bengels".
They continue to press him for the answer they want to hear.
He says. "Onto the Bengels".
Hits the practice field. And gets ready for the next game.
Love that guy! Lets show them what we are made of this coming Sunday.
Go Steelers.

CK looks better the following week. Steelers win.
Steelers get back on roll and build momentum.
CK looks in total control of the offense. Not spectacular, but winning balanced football.
Steelers finish strong and make the playoffs.
Steelers beat Cleveland in Wild Card round. CK has a great game. MC and Myles Garrett hug in the middle of the field after the game. Make dinner plans and family vacation plans come the spring. They speak briefly about the benifits of bundling insurance.

Steelers ready, locked and loaded. Rolling and looking great, healthy other than Ben and Chickillo. They beat the hated Ravens in the next round. Game was not close and Duck actually comes in to hand off for the final series as Tomlin could not find MC, who was advising a sideline chord untangler about coastal flood insurance.

Steelers face off against the Pats, who cheated their way to the #1 seed with no one anybody ever heard of on offense. Steelers play whole game using sign language, which they learned during the week after being tipped off by Antonio Brown who was cut by the Pats the previous week after AB gave the Pats the Steelers play book. Steelers win a close one. AB does a FB live dance saying how he loves the Steelers and would like to play for them in the Super Bowl.

The Steelers defeated their three most heated rivals. Look great, even tho Bens stress fracture ( again, I am very sorry ) makes him doubtful for the Super Bowl. CK looks like he will do the unthinkable. Taking his team to the SB and looking for a Lombardi.

Steelers square off against Americas second Favorite Team, The Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl
A back and forth battle see a CK comback, as the Steelers offense steamrolls back from a 20 point third quarter deficit. The Dallas defense is gassed as the Steelers offense has controlled the clock most of the 4th quarter. They are old school pounding the run ( think Bam morris SB 30 ) with CK 3rd down scrambles and passes to keep drives rolling.

Last minute of play and the Steelers need a TD to win the game. Cowboys defenders hands on the knees, they used all of their time outs to give them a break. Steelers get down inside the 5 after a CK scramble extends a 4th down play.

Tomlin call his 4th time out of the quarter as a new rule penalizes them 5 yards. ( The Cweb rule ) back to the 9.
2nd down run gets them to the 5.
Steelers running to the line of scrimmage to get set. Cowboys standing and dragging around, and not getting set.
Third down run gets them to the 1.
Dallas is done.
4th and goal at the 1............. 20 seconds left. Lets go! Lets Go! ( think Bill cowher spit ) Pound that in. QB keeper, leap the line. lets do it. Go grab #7.

Here we go. 4th and goal at the 1! Down by 4, need a TD. All the marbles!
Hike!
CK takes the snap, takes three steps back.
Turns to the sideline, throws the ball into the stands. And walks off the field and thru the tunnel as Tomlin is calling his 5th time out.

Bet you didn not see than ending coming.
James Patterson has nothing on me.

What a ridiculous fantasy. Cleveland in the playoffs??? At least try to be realistic, will you?