Truth & Rumors > NFL

Vagabond leading 49ers QB race?

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It may be a cliche, but a true Cinderella story may be taking place in Oakland. J.T. O'Sullivan, the former Jesuit quarterback, the former UC Davis quarterback and a vagabond pro quarterback, was the starting quarterback in the 49ers' exhibition against the Raiders. It's still an exhibition game, but he has to have made a good impression to be starting the preseason opener ahead of franchise quarterback Alex Smith and wunderkind Shaun Hill. According to our 49ers beat reporter, Matt Barrows, this truly is a quarterback competition. What's helping O'Sullivan's chances is that he has a fan in new offensive coordinator/passing guru Mike Martz, who coached him last season in Detroit.

Sacramento Bee

J.T. O'Sullivan, AP J.T. O'Sullivan, AP
August 9, 2008  08:17 AM ET

Certainly an upgrade to the deer in headlights Smith (over compensated deer in headlights)

August 9, 2008  08:54 AM ET

Vagabond? What he's homeless? Couldn't they have found a better adjective to describe O'Sullivan?

August 9, 2008  09:29 AM ET

I don't understand the vagabond reference either. I thought, maybe, it had something to do with UC Davis but, no, their mascot is a mustang inspired by a thoroughbred stallion named Gunrock, at least until they change their mascot to a farmer which looks like it could happen if the alumni gets behind it.
Maybe vagabond has something to do with the Jesuits.

August 9, 2008  09:49 AM ET

I applaud the 49ers for doing something about the homeless problem in America instead of just talking about it...

August 9, 2008  09:50 AM ET

Probably got tired of using journeyman.

August 9, 2008  09:56 AM ET

Not after last nights game, sure its preseason but J.T is nothing but a career 3rd stringer, he wont start come opening day. Noland HAS to be Fired! a 4th & 2 and you go for a field goal? Raiders went for it on a 4th & 1! Touch down baby!
49ers better hold on to #1 draft pick next year.

August 9, 2008  10:19 AM ET

I really don't understand why Alex Smith was taken so high in the '05 draft anyway. If theres not a true #1 caliber quarterback on the board, don't just grab the best quarterback available at #1 just because you need a quarterback. They should have gotten the best player, plugged in a veteran quarterback, and waited for a quarterback with true first round talent to become available to them. Then they could have avoided paying all that money to a guy that probably won't be there in another year.

August 9, 2008  10:47 AM ET

I was all excited - I thought by the headline Vagabond was his real name. Just goes to show you that's why they have their names on their jerseys !!!

August 9, 2008  11:05 AM ET

jughead: I agree with you there. If they were smart they would have drafted Braylon Edwards, then drafted a decent QB the next year. They could have conceivably had Matt Leinart throwing to Edwards. That would have been a dynamic duo for years to come. Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but drafting a QB in a weak QB class didn't make much sense. Looking at the 2006 draft class they probably would have been further ahead at this point by drafting Brodie Croyle at #85 then getting Alex Smith at #1 in '05.

August 9, 2008  11:48 AM ET

Friend,
same! and many already covered it....what an unusual choice of words!?? Maybe adept writer discovered the "synonyms or thesaurus" feature in Word? Hoping to make editor.

August 9, 2008  11:59 AM ET

Smith had a decent career at Utah. That's why SF drafted him. However, his college career hasn't translated well to the NFL.

August 9, 2008  12:06 PM ET

It's amazing to compare what the 49ers thought they were getting in Smith and what they actually got. Smith is more amiable and less petulant that Ryan Leaf, but the results look like they're going to amount to about the same. Hey, and they could have had Aaron Rodgers, who sunk like a stone in the first round of the draft because the 49ers were so high on Smith. High is right.

August 9, 2008  01:13 PM ET

The 49ers are like the Cleveland Indians in the movie 'Major League'...."I'm gonna put a team together that will help us relocate to (insert city here)" "What do you mean, some of these guys are furniture movers?"

August 9, 2008  01:14 PM ET

I really don't understand why Alex Smith was taken so high in the '05 draft anyway. If theres not a true #1 caliber quarterback on the board, don't just grab the best quarterback available at #1 just because you need a quarterback. They should have gotten the best player, plugged in a veteran quarterback, and waited for a quarterback with true first round talent to become available to them. Then they could have avoided paying all that money to a guy that probably won't be there in another year.

jugheadwill | 08/09/08

Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20 jughead

August 9, 2008  01:41 PM ET

jugheadwill you just summed up what ATL just did this year.

August 9, 2008  02:28 PM ET

Mike Martz may very well implode this team too. His ego is bigger than everything around him, and it wouldn't surprise if everone wants to string up his arse.

August 9, 2008  03:09 PM ET

nolan is the worst coach in the NFL. smith is the better of the 3 qb's. smith has had a different offensive coord. each season he has played. if you look back at when norv turner was there he excelled.

nolan should be fired if smith doesn't start. martz is the head coach in waiting in SF.

August 9, 2008  03:20 PM ET

AFScott..The reason he was drafted so high was because of Utah's long history of producing NFL QBs. ..OK, truth is, it was a name they could spell..

August 10, 2008  05:53 AM ET

Im very concerned for mike nolans job do we really think the niners will make the playoffs with thee three qbs i think not...

 
August 10, 2008  04:30 PM ET

I think Favre should dismiss this as a frugal attempt at degrading his integrity.

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