"In Shaun We Trust" Is More of a Question than a Statement for 49er Fans

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

For the love of Joe Montana, will the San Francisco 49ers please find a franchise quarterback in the foreseeable future?

That has to be one of the burning questions San Francisco fans awake to in a cold sweat in the middle of the night on more than a few occasions.

But that question was finally put to rest this week when head coach Mike Singletary named Shaun Hill the starter for the 2009 NFL season over previous No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith.

You’re not convinced that Hill is the answer to San Francisco’s quarterback question this season? I can’t imagine why you have your doubts.

Why do you question Hill’s credentials, ye of little 49er faith?

What’s that? You say he wasn’t even drafted out of college? Neither was Kurt Warner.

You say that he has only thrown 18 touchdown passes since he came into the league in 2005? You say that he doesn’t have a strong arm, and that he’s about as mobile as Brett Favre in coveralls on his Mississippi farm?

So, why exactly did Singletary choose Hill over Smith again? You could say it was because Hill has more poise than Smith, leading the 49ers to a 5-3 record after being named the starter last season. You could say it’s because Hill has completed 64 percent of his passes during his NFL career.

However, you could also say that Singletary picked Hill as the starting quarterback because there weren’t many other feasible options. Smith didn’t play last season because of injury and has been ineffective for most of his young NFL career.

The 49ers did try to woo Warner away from Arizona in the offseason, only to be spurned when he re-signed with the Cardinals.

A team with a franchise quarterback doesn’t go looking for another one during the offseason.

Whatever the reasons for Singletary’s quarterback selection, San Francisco fans will have to get used to seeing Hill behind center—at least until he has a bad game.

While that might not make fans giddy with excitement, there are other burning questions surrounding the 49ers as they enter the upcoming NFL season.

1. What is going to happen with Michael Crabtree?

Crabtree, who was almost guaranteed a starting spot in the San Francisco receiving corps this season, is still unsigned.

He has caused turmoil in the front office, and he will cause more in the locker room once he does sign.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?