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Around SBN: The Most Dangerous Division in Sports

Picture Of The Game: Alex Smith And Matt Leinart

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I don't know if this necessarily lends itself to Caption This (howtheyscored should be back with it next week), but it's certainly an interesting picture nonetheless. Alex Smith and Matt Leinart aren't quite as intertwined as Smith and Aaron Rodgers. At the same time, it's amazing how much has changed since 2005.

It was six years ago that many 49ers fans were hoping Matt Leinart would turn pro and be the number one pick of the 2005 draft. Instead, Leinart decided to go back for another year at USC. He was a rock star in LA and could have solidified another high draft spot with a solid year. Unfortunately for Leinart, things slipped up and Vince Young surpassed him as the quarterback "flavor of the month."

The two quarterbacks have both struggled in their careers, but they've also ended up with different paths. Both made it into the starting lineup their rookie seasons. Matt Leinart ended up being replaced by Kurt Warner and then Derek Anderson and company. Alex Smith was sort of all over the place due to a mix of injury and poor performance.

And now we sit here six years after first pondering Matt Leinart as a possible number one overall pick. It's not earth shattering or anything, but it's still an interesting path this has weaved.

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Smith:

Hey Matt. I wanted to thank you again for getting number eleven. This way we can blame the number for being cursed.

by mcwagner on Aug 28, 2011 12:08 PM PDT via mobile reply actions  

“Say, Alex, everyone tells me you’re smart. Our two jersey numbers added together is 22, right? Is that more or less career wins that we’ve had put together?”

by LondonNiner on Aug 28, 2011 12:11 PM PDT reply actions  

Leinart: What do Schaub and Kaepernick have in common? They’re better than us!

by LondonNiner on Aug 28, 2011 12:12 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Losing the locker room again, Leinart is traded to San Francisco seconds after the game. When asked how Leinart got traded, Harbaugh mentioned it was about a place where people can change.

by mcwagner on Aug 28, 2011 12:12 PM PDT via mobile reply actions  

Rare Ninjames rec

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on Aug 28, 2011 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yo. How is holiday mon brother?

by LondonNiner on Aug 28, 2011 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions  

It goes well, how are things in Wiltfordshiresteadglenburyton? Fooch keeps pestering me to write things, could you use your mod powers to give him a warning, or perhaps a suspension until my vacation is all over? Thanks.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on Aug 28, 2011 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

Knowing that they will never get a chance to battle on the field, Smith and Leinart start a dance off. Matt got served.

by mcwagner on Aug 28, 2011 12:17 PM PDT via mobile reply actions   2 recs

Smith: How come you’re looking directly at Moran Norris and laughing?

Leinart: You have to ask that, dude?

by LondonNiner on Aug 28, 2011 12:17 PM PDT reply actions  

Them and 27 of the other 30 first round draft picks from 2005

Rec anyway

"The past is the past. The only time I look into the rear view is for the cops and I don't speed." -Shawn Andrews

by TryAndCatchVD on Aug 28, 2011 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

always a gentleman

Leinart welcomes Alex to the Career Backup Club

by mcwagner on Aug 28, 2011 12:24 PM PDT via mobile reply actions   2 recs

almost works

except for referring to Leinart as a career gentleman. “how bout we get some beers and slam pieces, brah!”

by bignerd on Aug 28, 2011 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

In the news today:

Internet funnyman, mcwagner, misses out on a rec because the jerkness of Matt Leinart transcends beyond himself and affects others. Bignerd was heard saying, “There is nothing funny about Leinart and gentleman in the same sentence”.

by mcwagner on Aug 28, 2011 1:15 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Leinart: There's enough bust power here between us to blow up Al Qaeda *Will Ferrell Voice*

Smith: Ha, yeah. You’re beginning to resemble Will Ferrell…

Back on board. Now time to trade Mays for Clausen

by supraman on Aug 28, 2011 12:37 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Seriously

I want Matt Leinarts job. Millions of dollars for holding clipboards on the sidelines, and getting to say you play in the NFL, which is technically true.

I’m not saying I want NFL defenses to hit me in occasional spot duty, but his line of work still seems better than most people’s.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Aug 28, 2011 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

’"Who’s got samll hands now!?", Smith was heard shouting. Leinart’s failure to retaliate would mark the only time that smith went untouched by the opposing team during the game.

by BuffaloNinersPhreek on Aug 28, 2011 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

ESPN

Refused to cover the story of course because Brett Favre announced he was changing his underwear.

by mcwagner on Aug 28, 2011 1:20 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Alex: eleven…we’re in a parallel universe Matt

Leinart: oh,yeah—strange how our careers do seem to mirror each other

by Doni S on Aug 28, 2011 1:33 PM PDT via iPhone app reply actions  

Rec

This made me lol

"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."

Norm Sloan

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."

Weldon Drew

by EcERyda69 on Aug 28, 2011 2:19 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Seriously

We seem pretty collectively funny and clever after that loss. Maybe, if the team continues to be awful, we can turn this into a sight aimed at comedic gold, rather than discussing football. And I don’t mean that as a bad thing, either. The bad thing was the 4 quarters the Niners turned in yesterday, after Brooks made that pick-6.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Aug 28, 2011 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

Pictured here

QBs Smith and Leinart watch in disgust as Jed York once again makes an ass out of himself in the commentators booth.

Lienart : Look at this guy trying so hard to convince us that he’s a regular joe. Isn’t that cute.

Smith : Yea the clothes almost had me fooled until he opened his mouth and puked out all those silver spoons.

by BuffaloNinersPhreek on Aug 28, 2011 2:33 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

What?

Jed’s awesome. I think he’s a fairly solid owner moving forward.

"Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer "extortion." The "X" makes it sound cool." - Bender Bending Rodriguez

Eleanor Rigby - "Greatest Song" or "The Greatest Song"?

Kaepernick is some kind of Montana/Young/Roosevelt hybrid, and will absolutely ruin the NFL experience for the other 31 teams and their few fans.

by jbrown63 on Aug 28, 2011 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions  

The people that bash Jed just kinda-sorta pay attention

Like the ones that blame Alex for bad play last game.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Aug 28, 2011 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

"Kinda-sorta"?? Ooooooh you gone and done it now...

You really didn’t notice the complete 180 in Jed’s persona between on air appearances and his obviously contrived and extremely poor attempts to help his public image? Come on, I was embarrassed for the guy. He shows up during the Saints game and was mocked and laughed at by the commentators for his idea to have the seats in the new stadium colored various shady of red wine, and his only response is “hey it’s not my fault San Fransisco has the league’s classiest fans”, Now I’m not saying that I don’t have class or that there is anything wrong with being classy, but he’s not doing the team or the fans any favors by trying to portray us as the “classiest” … come on, it’s just weak sounding for a football team. I live near Buffalo and if I ever went into Ralph Wilson Stadium (which I wouldnt’) and said that I’m far more classy then all the Bills fans because I’m a fan of the 49ers, I would get get my ass kicked from end zone to end zone while being slathered in beer and buffalo wing sauce… anyway Jed was born into money and lived a very “high class” life, I get it… so flash-forward two weeks to the Houston game. Jed shows up wearing jeans and a casual pull over (which the commentators were quick to point out that he never wears) and rambling about how he’s just one of the fans today and how much he loves hanging with all the “regular people” in an absolutely sickening attempt to try to appear the complete opposite of the way he came across during the Saints game and make us all think that he’s just one of the blue collar guys. Do you really believe that? He even said he would sell the team just to be able to sit in the crowd with the fans. LMAO! What.. a load… of sh*t. I understand it’s a PR move and part of it was to try to show that the stadium is still safe for even him to walk around in, but he’s sooo damn phony. I just can’t stand fake people. So, How closely were you “kinda-sorta” paying attention?

by BuffaloNinersPhreek on Aug 29, 2011 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions  

I also have this feeling

that anybody defending Jed York…. probably really is Jed York

by BuffaloNinersPhreek on Aug 29, 2011 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions  

Have you ever read "The Catcher In The Rye"?

Anyway, I feel that I missed your whole point there. I thought you were saying that he was a bad owner, when you were actually commenting on his phoniness in his booth appearance. I like Jed, and feel that he is and will be a good owner, but yes, it is always annoying when public figures act phony in an attempt to influence public opinion. Of course, if the general public was more intelligent and less narcissistic as a whole, then public figures would likely feel less of a need to pander the way they do.

"Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer "extortion." The "X" makes it sound cool." - Bender Bending Rodriguez

Eleanor Rigby - "Greatest Song" or "The Greatest Song"?

Kaepernick is some kind of Montana/Young/Roosevelt hybrid, and will absolutely ruin the NFL experience for the other 31 teams and their few fans.

by jbrown63 on Aug 29, 2011 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions  

Dude! Dude! Let’s trade jerseys and see if anyone notices!

by Rhombus on Aug 28, 2011 11:41 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

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