Jimmy Garoppolo response to rumor mill is crucial for 49ers

While rumors have circled all over about the 49ers’ quarterbacking situation, Jimmy Garoppolo also has to respond in a productive way.

Each week, even multiple times a week, it seems as if the San Francisco 49ers are flirting with the idea of adding a new quarterback to replace their current starter, Jimmy Garoppolo.

Perhaps NFL insiders are fueling this based on reports and sources. Or maybe there are other teams out there, including the Niners, who are using the rumor mill to shake things up around the league. Maybe that’s why the LA Rams had to give up multiple first-round draft picks and their own starter, Jared Goff, to the Detroit Lions to acquire veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

From Stafford to the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins, then from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz to the Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson, pick a name and there’s a chance San Francisco is tied to him.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how one looks at it, this isn’t anything new to Jimmy G.

A year ago, the 49ers were confirmed to have flirted with then-free-agent quarterback Tom Brady, only to elect on passing on him in favor of Garoppolo staying as the guy under center. But what made that interesting was a suggestion from our friends over on 49ers Webzone’s No Huddle Podcast, Al Sacco and Zain Naqvi, last year’s interest in Brady could have had a negative effect on Garoppolo.

After all, Garoppolo spent 3.5 years backing up Brady waiting for a starting job. Why would Jimmy G be thrilled about losing another starting bid to Brady again?

A very fair point. While there’s no proof, it’s a fair theory to suggest Garoppolo “checked out mentally” heading into 2020.

Or did he? There’s an equal possibility here, one which the 49ers could hope with Jimmy G.

When The Athletic’s Matt Barrows appeared on the Niner Noise Podcast last December, he noted the following:

"[Jimmy Garoppolo] didn’t rise when the team really needed him [in Super Bowl LIV]. I don’t know what kind of leader he is, even to this point. He’s sort of has become “one of the guys.” … I don’t know if that’s good enough. I think Joe Montana was “one of the guys,” but also in crunch time, Joe Montana became a titan. I mean, he was a king in crunch time.I think with Garoppolo, if you’re going to be one of the guys in the locker room, soft-spoken, you need to seize the opportunity on the field. In the playoffs and in the Super Bowl, that didn’t happen."

If this assessment is accurate, perhaps Garoppolo never checked out in 2020. And maybe the 49ers are merely pushing him via some offseason chatter about a potential upgrade under center in the immediate future.

While all that’s important, it’ll be Garoppolo’s response in 2021 that’ll ultimately matter.

How Jimmy Garoppolo responds to critics will be the ultimate X-factor

Few, if any, quarterbacks escape criticism. Even the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is going through his own after falling well short in Super Bowl LV earlier this month. It’s the nature of the position.

What matters here is the response.

Garoppolo could proverbially “check out,” and some may view that as fine. Certain situations, such as the one Watson is going through in Houston, turn untenable. It might not be a “checking out” kind of context there, but there is a parallel.

But the flip side of that kind of response would be a “let me show you” type of effort. In that way, the offseason buzz, criticism and questioning of Garoppolo’s on-field abilities, his health and his mental whereabouts could actually turn into some sort of motivational factor.

Perhaps that’s the ultimate tactic from head coach Kyle Shanahan if he and the front office are indeed part of all the offseason speculation.

Good coaches know how to push their athletes, and one can assume this could be the approach Shanahan might be taking with Jimmy G. Even if it’s not, and all of it is purely fueled by media speculation, Garoppolo can still benefit from it.

At least that’ll be the hope if he’s on the roster come Week 1.