NFL snubs Colin Kaepernick, names Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck offensive players of the month

The NFL just named Andrew Luck and Aaron Rogers — not Colin Kaepernick — the offensive players of the month. When Jim Harbaugh was talking about Kaepernick’s greatness, I missed hearing about Kaepernick’s stats for the month of November. How do they stack up? November stats: Kaepernick: 87 completions/152 attempts (57.2 completion percentage); 1,017 passing yards; 6.69 yards per attempt; 4 TDs; 3 INTs; 78.2 passer rating. Luck: 88 completions/144…

December 4, 2014
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Ranking the top QBs in the NFL

Who are the best QBs in the NFL? I’m going rank them by tiers. You’re free to rank the QBs however you see fit. TIER ONE: GREAT QUARTERBACKS. QBs who can carry a team even if it lacks a good defense or key offensive personnel. 1. Peyton Manning 2. Aaron Rodgers 3. Tom Brady 4. Drew Brees TIER TWO: GOOD QUARTERBACKS. QBs who lack one or two qualities the great ones have. QBs…

March 3, 2014
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Johnny Manziel is not a franchise QB — he is the next Matt Leinart

This is my Monday column on Johnny Manziel. One week before the NFL Scouting Combine, Johnny Manziel – bless his heart – said he wanted to be the first rookie quarterback to win the Super Bowl. Don’t count on it. Manziel has a better chance to be the next Matt Leinart. Remember him? Won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2004. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him with the 10th pick…

February 24, 2014
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Choice between two richly talented quarterbacks more a matter of taste than stats

Here is my Tuesday column comparing and contrasting Colin Kaepernick and Andrew Luck. Who is a better quarterback right now, Colin Kaepernick or Andrew Luck? Simple question. I could give you a simple answer. I have a gut feeling it’s Luck and I could validate it but that is not the responsible answer. Reality is not simple. Let’s not deal in simplicity. Let’s deal in reality, which is complicated and…

October 22, 2013
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Harbaugh says Aldon Smith will play against Colts on Sunday

Jim Harbaugh spoke in the 49ers’ media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Can you fill us in on Aldon Smith’s status for Sunday? HARBAUGH: The task today was to go and have a great practice. The time spent Sunday will be for us to go get a win, beat the Colts. We’ll make those decisions. Q: Have you spoken to Aldon about the incident this morning? HARBAUGH: Yes….

September 20, 2013
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Colts have the horsepower to outrun 49ers on Sunday

Here is my Friday column previewing the 49ers-Colts game. Even if Indianapolis hadn’t traded for Trent Richardson on Wednesday, the 49ers still would have a tough time beating the Colts on Sunday. Look at the facts: The Colts ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards without Richardson. They average 5 yards per carry. To beat the 49ers, you have to run the ball well and that’s what the Colts…

September 20, 2013
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Did the 49ers consider drafting Fleener? “Yes, of course,” says Harbaugh.

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   You were with Colts QB Andrew Luck for three years, three seasons. What did you teach him that helped him become the football player he is now? “He came in with a lot of talent and a lot of things taught by his mother and father, and other God-given ability….

September 18, 2013
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Kaepernick on the loss to the Seahawks: “It’s not really something they did, it’s what we didn’t do.”

SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick spoke in the locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   Head coach Jim Harbaugh just retold the story about you coming back from the Manning Passing Academy having met Colts QB Andrew Luck and then telling him about it. What do you remember from that? “He’s a great quarterback, very intelligent, very intuitive. Knows what he’s doing on the field.”…

September 18, 2013
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Bowman on the Colts’ offense: “It’s really just No.12, man. He pretty much runs everything.”

SANTA CLARA – NaVorro Bowman spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: It’s the third straight week your defense faces one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Any thoughts on that? BOWMAN: Yeah, I’m excited to face a good quarterback, one of Coach Harbaugh’s protégés. Just excited to bounce back from this loss. If you face the best early in the season then it…

September 18, 2013
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Andrew Luck: “I want to earn it on the field before doing too much off the field.”

Andrew Luck spoke on a conference with Bay Area reporters call Wednesday morning. Here is a transcript. Q: What’s it like being in preparation mode knowing that the people on the other sideline know you very well? LUCK: I’ve given it a little bit of thought but I don’t think it changes anything from my end. I’m not going to change how I prepare or the process because it’s Coach…

September 18, 2013
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Harbaugh wants the 49ers “to make significant improvement this week.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference courtesy of the 49ers.   Anything going on with NT Ian Williams? What’s his prognosis? “It looks like he’s going to be out for the year. Disappointing, he’ll have surgery today.”   It was a broken ankle? “Yes.”   After watching the play, any thoughts on just the block? “No, an unfortunate play.”   How do you…

September 16, 2013
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Which NFL quarterbacks will have passer ratings better than 95 this season?

Last season, 10 quarterbacks finished the regular season with passer ratings better than 95.0. Those quarterbacks were: 1. Aaron Rodgers: 108.0 2. Peyton Manning: 105.8 3. Alex Smith: 104.1 4. Robert Griffin III: 102.4 5. Russell Wilson: 100.0 6. Matt Ryan: 99.1 7. Tom Brady: 98.7 8. Colin Kaepernick: 98.3 9. Ben Roethlisberger: 97.0 10. Drew Brees: 96.3 Which quarterbacks do you think will have passer ratings better than 95.0…

June 30, 2013
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Kaepernick vs. the QBs on the 49ers’ 2013 schedule

49ers fans and Bay Area residents are hyper-aware of Colin Kaepernick’s excellent 2012 season. He took Alex Smith’s starting job Week 10, started the final-seven games of the regular season and was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over that stretch. I thought it would be interesting to compare Kaepernick’s final-seven regular season games to the final-seven regular season games of each of the quarterbacks the 49ers will…

May 20, 2013
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Ranking young quarterbacks, part II: Grant’s ranking

Earlier today I asked you to rank Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick in order of which QB you would most want to build an NFL team around. Here’s my ranking. Colin Kaepernick – Of these four quarterbacks, Kaepernick has the strongest arm. He’s not quite as athletic as Griffin, but Kaepernick is more athletic than Luck and Newton. Kaepernick can throw from the pocket or…

December 1, 2012
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Ranking Kaepernick, Luck, Newton and RGIII

There are currently four young, athletic quarterbacks who have the potential to become elite – Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick. Which one would you most want to build an NFL franchise around? Which one do you think will become the best quarterback? I want you to rank these quarterback 1-4 and give a reason for each ranking. I will give my ranking at the end…

December 1, 2012
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Kaepernick cracks Berry’s top-10 fantasy QBs

ESPN’s fantasy football guru Matthew Berry just posted his top-10 fantasy quarterbacks for Week 12. They are: 1. Aaron Rodgers 2. Peyton Manning 3. Robert Griffin III 4. Matt Ryan 5. Tom Brady 6. Andrew Luck 7. Drew Brees 8. Colin Kaepernick 9. Cam Newton 10. Andy Dalton Who’s not on the list: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Matthew Stafford, Alex Smith.

November 21, 2012
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Andrew Luck vs. Alex Smith

The Indianapolis Colts, whose record last season was 2-14, beat the Jacksonville Jaguars last night to win their fourth-straight game and improve to 6-3. The Colts are in second place in the AFC South and they have the third best record in the entire AFC. So I’m asking some questions. At this stage of his career, Is Andrew Luck better than Alex Smith, the same as Alex Smith or worse…

November 9, 2012
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Roman philosophizes about the read option, and more

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. We had a really good training camp. Thought our guys were dialed in every day. I think we got accomplished what we wanted accomplished in camp and we’re able to turn the page here this week, get into the regular season. So, obviously we’re knee deep in Green Bay. Looking…

September 6, 2012
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Can Alex Smith duplicate Andrew Luck?

Our friendly poster Jack Hammer sent me a tweet this morning with an idea for a blog. He urged me to investigate the statistical similarities between Alex Smith and Andrew Luck in each quarterback’s first season playing under Jim Harbaugh. So, I did. Thanks for the idea, Jack. Before I get into it, let me just say I’m aware this is an imperfect comparison, primarily because Luck was competing against…

June 7, 2012
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In five years, who will be the best NFL QBs?

CSNBayArea.com just posted my latest article on the top-five young quarterbacks in football. For the purposes of this article I define ‘young’ as incoming rookies and soon-to-be second-year guys. Of those QBs, which ones will be the best five years from now? Here’s my list: 1. Cam Newton 2. Andrew Luck 3. Robert Griffin III 4. Jake Locker 5. Colin Kaepernick. To read the article, click here.

February 28, 2012
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