I appreciate when we get a chance to hear from former NFL players about current NFL players, but often we are left with a lot of generic answers. This week at the Super Bowl, we're getting more of that. Each of the networks has their personalities on hand for media availability. CBS is broadcasting the game on Sunday, so they went first. Later this week, NFL Network and ESPN will also be meeting with the media. I'll be there for NFL Network and ESPN, and hopefully will get some time with Steve Mariucci and Steve Young.
On Monday, two former quarterbacks were involved in CBS's media availability: Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms. The Bay Area News Group got a few minutes with each of them, and made sure to get in questions about Chip Kelly and Colin Kaepernick.
Esiason brought up Kelly's system, but I wonder how many people use that phrase "Chip Kelly's system" without actually having a full grasp of what Kelly does on offense. They see the running and particularly what he did at Oregon and just sort of assume everything translates over. We get more value when our own David Neumann actually breaks down film, but I am still at least moderately intrigued to hear if former players will add a little more to the conversation.
Esiason
"I'm hoping that Chip Kelly can do something with Colin," Esiason said Monday. "I don't want to see guys fail. I don't want to have to sit there on Sunday and tell a fan that his quarterback stinks for whatever reason. But now he's going to be going into a new system, I think a system that will be more apt for him to do well and hopefully Chip will give him a chance. I think that's probably one of the reasons Chip is here, I would think."
Simms
"Three years ago, (Kaepernick) was in the Super Bowl and (now) people are going, 'Well, do you think he'll be in the league next year?' Yeah, I think you're 6-4 or 5 and you can really run, you've got a great right arm, I think your chances of finding a place in the NFL are pretty good."