As expected, Thursday Night Football between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals was something of a disaster.
Not only was the action on the field shrug-worthy, viewers had to listen to CBS’ Phil Simms talk up San Francisco quarterback Blaine Gabbert for all four quarters.
Gabbert went 18-of-31 with 162 yards and one touchdown to two interceptions.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio caught the…odd praise:
I got no feeling — I haven’t in anything I’ve read, watched, watching practice, talking to the players, talking to the coach — there’s nothing that’s given me a hint that anywhere close with that quarterback change could happen with the San Francisco 49ers,” Simms said on the broadcast. “That’s just my opinion. . . . I saw Blaine Gabbert taking all the reps, doing all the practice. A lot of encouraging words about him as a teammate, a player. Look, come on, I don’t want to hear anybody talk — this guy’s got talent. You see that on the field. Running, got a good arm. Yeah, he missed some passes tonight. It’s not a game of perfection.
NFL Network had a blast with Simms’ commentary job after the game, including this nugget from Irvin, per Florio: “Did anyone else feel kind of weird the way Phil Simms was talking about Blaine Gabbert, as we’re watching some of these passes? You know, he was talking about him like this guy was the next coming of Tom Brady or somebody.”
Tom Brady isn’t Blaine Gabbert. And vice versa.
It’s pretty clear to everyone who watches the 49ers it’s time to make a change. Coach Chip Kelly isn’t ruling the idea out. But it is Simms’ job to keep a game interesting, not trash the players and call it what it was—boring, if not borderline depressing.
That doesn’t mean folks can’t have fun with what Simms had to go out and do, just like they can bash Gabbert for his performance.
