SF Examiner: Singletary’s choice of Hill far from shocking
By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner
SAN FRANCISCO — Shaun Hill gets what every quarterback wants, the starting position. Alex Smith gets platitudes, words. Kind ones, but nevertheless words. He’s with the 49ers, but he’s not of them.
Football coaches know what to say. They make a smack in the face seem like a pat on the back.
Mike Singletary is going with Hill, hardly a surprise, since Singletary tossed him in last season when the coach no longer could tolerate J.T. O’Sullivan and the Mike Martz chaos, and since Smith is coming off a year without football.
It’s Singletary’s team, and he can do what he chooses.
Other than deny Smith is a backup.
“I don’t see backups,” Singletary insisted. “One of the things I don’t want on this team are backups. I want starters, and I want No. 2s. They’re only No. 2 because they’re not as good as the starter.”
Which, semantics to the contrary, makes them a backup.
Poor Alex. Rich Alex. He got that $40 million contract, which has since been restructured. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, going to restore the Niners to greatness, going to follow in the golden footprints of John Brodie, Joe Montana and Steve Young.
Except he came from Utah’s spread offense, and as we’ve learned from the failings of David Klinger and Andre Ware, that college system proves a restriction in the NFL.
Then Smith not only was injured but was berated for not playing hurt by his coach at the time, Mike Nolan, the man who took Smith No. 1.
Singletary gave Smith accolades “I’m very proud of what he’s had to overcome,” said the coach.
But Singletary still gave Hill the role Smith wants so desperately.
“It’s nothing you want to hear,” Smith said of being told Hill would be starting. “Nothing you get used to hearing.”
Shaun Hill, a one-time free agent who conceded he didn’t take a snap his first six years in the NFL, is becoming the man in charge. Alex Smith, who was supposed to take the Niners to the playoffs, is becoming, OK, not the backup, the bench-warmer.
Singletary spoke of Hill’s presence, about intangibles. What he didn’t say was he believes Hill is better for the Chicago Bears-style offense the Niners will be utilizing, which will feature Frank Gore pounding out yardage and then Hill throwing a timely completion.
The coach wants a quarterback who doesn’t lose games even more than a quarterback who tries to win them.
The gap between Hill and Smith, Singletary explained, wasn’t large. The coach, however, likes Hill’s consistency, his leadership, his experience.
Smith hasn’t played a league game in two years. He had more to prove and still has more to prove.
“He has confidence,” Singletary reminded about Hill, “and probably was feeling in his mind he was the guy all along.”
They say the best job in sports is, sorry Mr. Singletary, backup quarterback. You’re never booed, never injured. Unless you’re elevated to No. 1.
“How many quarterbacks play all year?” Smith asked rhetorically. “I wish the best for Shaun, but my job is to be ready to go. I have to have perspective.”
Sounds good, even if it’s not as good as Shaun Hill’s job as starter.
Art Spander has been covering Bay Area sports since 1965 and also writes on www.artspander.com and www.realclearsports.com. E-mail him at typoes@aol.com.
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http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/Spander-Singletarys-choice-of-Hill-far-from-shocking-54901302.html
Copyright 2009 SF Newspaper Company
Special to The Examiner
SAN FRANCISCO — Shaun Hill gets what every quarterback wants, the starting position. Alex Smith gets platitudes, words. Kind ones, but nevertheless words. He’s with the 49ers, but he’s not of them.
Football coaches know what to say. They make a smack in the face seem like a pat on the back.
Mike Singletary is going with Hill, hardly a surprise, since Singletary tossed him in last season when the coach no longer could tolerate J.T. O’Sullivan and the Mike Martz chaos, and since Smith is coming off a year without football.
It’s Singletary’s team, and he can do what he chooses.
Other than deny Smith is a backup.
“I don’t see backups,” Singletary insisted. “One of the things I don’t want on this team are backups. I want starters, and I want No. 2s. They’re only No. 2 because they’re not as good as the starter.”
Which, semantics to the contrary, makes them a backup.
Poor Alex. Rich Alex. He got that $40 million contract, which has since been restructured. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, going to restore the Niners to greatness, going to follow in the golden footprints of John Brodie, Joe Montana and Steve Young.
Except he came from Utah’s spread offense, and as we’ve learned from the failings of David Klinger and Andre Ware, that college system proves a restriction in the NFL.
Then Smith not only was injured but was berated for not playing hurt by his coach at the time, Mike Nolan, the man who took Smith No. 1.
Singletary gave Smith accolades “I’m very proud of what he’s had to overcome,” said the coach.
But Singletary still gave Hill the role Smith wants so desperately.
“It’s nothing you want to hear,” Smith said of being told Hill would be starting. “Nothing you get used to hearing.”
Shaun Hill, a one-time free agent who conceded he didn’t take a snap his first six years in the NFL, is becoming the man in charge. Alex Smith, who was supposed to take the Niners to the playoffs, is becoming, OK, not the backup, the bench-warmer.
Singletary spoke of Hill’s presence, about intangibles. What he didn’t say was he believes Hill is better for the Chicago Bears-style offense the Niners will be utilizing, which will feature Frank Gore pounding out yardage and then Hill throwing a timely completion.
The coach wants a quarterback who doesn’t lose games even more than a quarterback who tries to win them.
The gap between Hill and Smith, Singletary explained, wasn’t large. The coach, however, likes Hill’s consistency, his leadership, his experience.
Smith hasn’t played a league game in two years. He had more to prove and still has more to prove.
“He has confidence,” Singletary reminded about Hill, “and probably was feeling in his mind he was the guy all along.”
They say the best job in sports is, sorry Mr. Singletary, backup quarterback. You’re never booed, never injured. Unless you’re elevated to No. 1.
“How many quarterbacks play all year?” Smith asked rhetorically. “I wish the best for Shaun, but my job is to be ready to go. I have to have perspective.”
Sounds good, even if it’s not as good as Shaun Hill’s job as starter.
Art Spander has been covering Bay Area sports since 1965 and also writes on www.artspander.com and www.realclearsports.com. E-mail him at typoes@aol.com.
- - - - - -
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/Spander-Singletarys-choice-of-Hill-far-from-shocking-54901302.html
Copyright 2009 SF Newspaper Company