While most NFL fans will be making their superbowl predictions this week, San Francisco 49ers know that their team has a long way to go before they can be included in such talks. As is with any NFL team, it all starts at quarterback. It has been painfully obvious for the 49ers and their fan base that they need to head into a new direction. So far, it’s unclear which direction that is.
Currently, the 49ers only have one quarterback on the roster, which is former No. 1 overall selection, David Carr. He began the season as Alex Smith’s backup but played so poorly that he was benched in favor of Troy Smith.
Speaking of the Smiths – both Alex and Troy – they are free agents and it’s unlikely that either returns. Both have had plenty of opportunities and while both have shined at times, those highlights have been drowned out by plenty of offensive struggles.That left Nate Davis as an option and although he’s looked good at times in preseason action, he was never more than a practice squad player and he was snapped up by the Seattle Seahawks.
So what does this all add up to? The 49ers don’t even have a quarterback that they would consider a starter, never mind a franchise player. There are options out there, such as veterans like Matt Hasselbeck or Marc Bulger, both of whom are free agents. The Washington Redskins are expected to cut ties with Donovan McNabb and the Tennessee Titans are expecting to part ways with Vince Young, so those two players could also be candidates. The bigger problem might be the fact that until there is a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place between the players and the owners, the 49ers can’t make any moves.
The 49ers have options but one thing is clear: their man of the future is not on the roster right now.
