PatsFaninAZ

Stop me if you've heard the story before.

Passed over second string QB gets a chance because of injury to an accomplished, stable seasoned veteran. Second year coach stakes his job and reputation on leaving the second stringer in there when the starter recovers. Team goes on to win the Super Bowl, QB becomes the greatest of all time and, in some senses, redefines the position.

We've had a lot of suitors for the throne of the next great franchise QB. Maybe it will be Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. Maybe Cam Newton will come around. My money is on Kaepernick. Some of the stuff he did on Saturday in his first playoff game defies explanation. The game slows down for him. He sees the field in a way others don't.

I hope things don't come full circle. I don't want to believe in there being some sort of cosmic script or anything like that. But I think it would take a near perfect game plan for the Patriots to beat the 49ers on a neutral field without Gronk. And I just can't shake the feeling that this is all playing out to situation where Kaepernick is going to have the ball in his hands in the freaking Louisiana Super Dome in a tie game with a minute or so left. If that's the script, it would only make sense that the New England Patriots would be on the other side of the ball.

Can't happen that way, can it? ***** doesn't work like that in the NFL, does it? But, all I can say is, Go Falcons!

PatriotSeven

I don't know about that yet, too early to say. Losing Gronk hurts simply because in terms of physicality, athleticism, match up problems, he was our main weapon.

The one advantage we have is that we have played Colin K. We have now had some experience against spread option QB's and I trust BB's defensive genius to make it a bit harder for him the next time around.

PeerlessKid

Even if he wins this year, he will have to do it again.. and again.. so I know everyone would love to give Brady's throne away because they just can't wait (not directed at you, just in general) but this **** ain't easy.

Really exciting QB to watch but ain't done a thing yet.

Sivy

Running qbs dont last.

People always say Brady is not mobile like its a bad thing. Because he's not, he is and will be able to play at a high level well into his 40s.

__________________
"The people who are claiming that the Pats are dead are the same ones who would go up and check if Jason Voorhees is "really" dead by leaning over his body." -Someone at jetnation.

rabidfireweasel

You are reaching for parallels between Brady and Kap. Bledsoe had been signed to a long term contract. Smith has been seen as a stop gap for Kap until Kap was ready. Kap was the 4th pick in the second round, the 49ers liked him so much they traded up to get him and were already integrating him into the red zone offense early in the season.

He is dynamic and exciting, and I don't disagree he could be awesome, short term and long term. But he is not Brady II. He is his own guy,

Welkerstache

A quarterback who plays like a running back is going to get physically punished like an RB, and have a career as long as an RB.

PeerlessKid

Oh yeah and if there is a re-match I'd like to see Kap run into Mayo and Spikes behind the line. Our defence is a lot better that what Green Bay showed.

BSR

Anything can happen, but in my estimation SF has the best chance to win the SB this year and Moss will get his ring. I am seriously routing for Atlanta to pull it off this weekend.

PatsFaninAZ

Obviously, anyone who anoints any QB the next Tom Brady is going to be wrong 99 percent of the time. I'm aware of that. There's also a tendency to decide you know what's going to happen next week by what happened this week. Just because the 49ers looked great last week doesn't guarantee anything this week. But I can't help but notice parallels to 2001, and I really don't see it as a stretch. Are there differences between Bledsoe and Smith? Of course. Beldsoe was a hall of fame candidate. But Smith did take the team to the verge of the Super Bowl last year. And there is a difference between getting picked 35th and 199th. The analogy is not perfect.

I think if you had to make a list of the most courageous and important coaching decisions in the NFL in the last 20 years, Belichick's is number one and everything else is competing for second place. Harbaugh's decision has to be up there.

I don't know where Kaepernick will be in 12 years. But there do seem to be some pretty significant parallels this year to me.

fxkane

Kap in the future I don't know... but right now, he seems to be peerless in terms of his deeper options. Also, Brady does take quite a few blows in almost every game, although most are in the pocket... and not as destructive.