A Dangerous Precedent: The Niners and Benching Alex Smith

49ers QB Alex Smith was carrying the 3rd best Quarterback Rating in the NFL going into their game with the St. Louis Rams on November 11.  In that game, he was concussed from a hit that resulted in Smith missing the remainder of the game and the following matchup with one of the league’s top defenses, the Chicago Bears, on Monday Night Football.

In his stead came Colin Kaepernick, the potential-laden 2nd year player from Nevada.  Blessed with a rocket for an arm and the ability to run anywhere on the field, many in San Francisco were excited to see him play.

After throwing for 117 yards passing and rushing for 66 with a touchdown, Kaepernick followed that up with a shockingly strong 243 yards and 2 TD performance vs. the Bears.  Following the game, it became obvious during coach Jim Harbaugh’s press conference that the “hot hand” was going to remain the starter.

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Week 7 Notes: A Newly Discovered Way The Jets Were Screwed Sunday [and more!]

[1] A few different issues with the game process have been called out since Sunday that could have affected the result of the Jets-Patriots game.  First there was the thought that Bill Belicheck had illegally thrown his challenge flag on the Aaron Hernandez goal line fumble.  That was determined to be false, despite cheers from the crowd indicating he had thrown it.

Second was the questionable actions of the New England timekeeper.  Barely any time was eclipsed from the start of Devin McCourty’s kick return to the moment he fumbled; the clock was conveniently stopped at 2:01, allowing the Patriots to have a mandatory timeout on their side.  Again, the NFL came to the Patriots’ defense and ruled that everything was kosher.

Now yesterday, Grantland’s Bill Barnwell brings up the fact that on the game’s concluding play, Pats’ lineman Jermaine Cunningham fell at the line of scrimmage, then crawled towards Mark Sanchez and was “diving at his ankles…knocking him down.”