Attention, everyone: Niners coach Mike Singletary has an announcement to make in the starting quarterback case of
Alex Smith vs. Troy Smith.
“As of right now, Smith will be the starter.”
Mike Singletary, ladies and gentlemen – he’ll be here all week. So will the Smith named Troy, who Singletary named his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against
Tampa Bay at Candlestick Park.
Alex Smith was medically cleared Monday after missing two games with a separated left shoulder. He didn’t get his starting job for at least this week because Troy Smith went 2-0 as his replacement.
“We’re going week to week,” Singletary said in his return to seriousness. “I just feel our team understands that I’m going to go with the guy that is winning right now. I’m going to go with the guy that has the hot hand … that has made the difference in the past two weeks.”
Singletary announced the decision after discussing the move with his staff and meeting with both Smiths in the morning.
All offseason, Singletary stood up for Alex Smith as his uncontested and unchallengeable starting quarterback. Singletary named the former No. 1 overall draft pick a team captain and stuck with him during an 0-5 start.
Troy Smith, who signed with the
49ers after training camp, was never considered an option until Alex Smith busted his shoulder Week 7 at Carolina and backup David Carr struggled off the bench.
Singletary started Troy Smith on Oct. 31 against Denver in London, and he rallied the 49ers to a 24-16 victory. His follow-up Sunday was all the more impressive: 356 passing yards, 20.1 yards per completion, and no turnovers for the second straight game.
Singletary had no real choice Monday. Troy Smith made the decision for him against the Rams, and even Alex Smith knew it.
“Yeah, seeing what he did, I was ready for whatever was going to happen today,” said Alex Smith, who stood up before reporters to discuss his benching. “He’s played well the past two weeks and we’ve won, so I was ready for anything.”
“Feels pretty good, but I’m going to attack it the same way we always do,” Troy Smith said. “That has no bearing in the way we’re going to prepare.”
If anyone in the locker room favored one Smith over the other, they must have been told to keep it to themselves.
“Whatever Coach says,” wide receiver Michael Crabtree said.
“Whatever he wants to do, I’m all for it, 100 percent,” tight end Vernon Davis said.
“Coach Singletary says that’s what we got to go with, then that’s what we’re going to roll with,” running back Frank Gore said. “I think Troy’s doing a great job. He won two games.
“The way it happened, he got injured, Alex is a good guy and I love him. He just didn’t get a break. I know whenever he steps on the field, he’ll be hungry, he’ll be ready to play.”
If Troy Smith keeps this up, Alex Smith might not play another game for the 49ers. The sixth-year player is in the final year of his contract. The longer Troy Smith keeps the 49ers in the NFC West race, the less chance Alex Smith has of getting off the bench.
“I certainly felt I played well all season,” Alex Smith said. “Obviously,
wholesale NFL Jerseys the turnovers were in my mind as the thing that really hurt me and the team. Really felt in the last few weeks I was moving in the right direction. Doesn’t really matter at this point.
“Moving forward, you can’t really dwell on that stuff.”
