When Aaron Rodgers played for Cal, he wore a Niner No. 16 T-shirt under his jersey as a tribute to legendary Niner quarterback Joe Montana.
His loyalty was tested in the draft four years ago when the Niners chose Alex Smith as No. 1 and heaped a guaranteed $25 million on him, while Rodgers kept dropping in the draft and received peanuts in comparison as he was sent packing to Green Bay.
I remember groaning and telling my wife the Niners' front office had made the biggest mistake in its history -- other than allowing Charles Haley to go to Dallas.
So far, time has proven me correct, although my wife still doesn't comprehend the NFL's profundity in a world torn apart by intolerance and warfare.
What makes the Rodgers/Smith irony even more ironic is that Green Bay Coach Mike McCarthy was the Niners' offensive coordinator who chose Smith over Rodgers.
Rodgers has handled the Brett Favre-created fiasco and McCarthy being his coach with the class and smoothness that once characterized the 49ers' front office.
Since Rodgers didn't fare well against the Niners' ascendant defense Saturday, the mold has started to rot in Cheeseheadland.
Why? Because most Green Bay fans worship Favre as their patron saint. They have forgotten the likes of Bart Starr and his cast of championship players.
They have also displayed crude invective, which they've heaped on me for saying Michael Strahan's "record-setting" sack of Favre should be taken away because Favre cheated and allowed the Giant to sack him.
I'm sure some of my well-wishers were among those who "welcomed" Rodgers to camp with four-letter words and chants of "We want Favre."
Rodgers was also shocked at the language of Cheesehead children who also hurled four-letter diatribes against the quarterback.
Not even the Raiders can top that, which is saying a lot when you consider the dysfunction that is the Raiders.
Back to the Niners.
It's difficult to heap criticism on Smith, who has had four offensive coordinators in four years.
Perhaps Smith can make a go of it in another system with a consistent offensive philosophy, but I don't think he will succeed in San Francisco, which is too bad because he's a great kid and a wonderful role model.
What is so bittersweet about this is that Niner fans had a dyed-in-the-wool Faithful in Rodgers who would have immediately improved the team four years ago.
As 49er fans read and listen to Mike Nolan's idiotic refrains about this year's "quarterback competition," at least we know Mike Singletary will provide what he said could be the best defense ever.
Since Singletary anchored one of the best defenses in NFL history in the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl run and victory -- and because he was in Baltimore during that team's outstanding defense of a few years ago, that is a profound statement.
The roller-coaster debacle that has been the "face" of the 49ers since Jeff Garcia left will continue until Singletary is made head coach.
Although I was initially enthusiastic about Nolan, that vanished last year when he inexplicably chose "what's his name" as offensive coordinator.
That's when I realized Singletary should be head coach.
Otherwise, this once-proud franchise will continue its oppressive losses that challenged the Faithful in the 1970s.
Quarterback irony haunts Niners
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About the Author Glenn Franco Simmons (analyst)
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2 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
James Stark 10 months ago
It was one preseason game, Favre has had some rough regular season games, it never meant that the cheese was moldy in Green Bay. Brett Favre is my favorite, but give Rodgers a chance.
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Glenn Franco Simmons 10 months ago
I agree, James. I think Rodgers will turn out OK. He's a good kid and McCarthy believes enough in him that he sacrificed Favre. Despite my criticism of Favre, he is one of the best, but it has to be put into perspective with other eras.
I wish Rodgers all the luck in the world, as long as he never beats the Niners. I can't root against my team, but I'll root for Rodgers all year. He'll have a rough time at times, but isn't that to be expected?
Thanks for commenting. Go Niners!
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