Sam Darnold In San Francisco? Maybe Not, But It Sure Beats Focusing On The Present

One year after a run to the Super Bowl, Jimmy Garropolo and the San Francisco 49ers have fallen on hard times.

One year after things went so-so, Sam Darnold and the New York Jets have now fallen on horrible times.

So why not Darnold in San Francisco?

Hey, dare to dream, Niners fans.

OK, let's back up for a minute. In case you didn't know, Garropolo has spent most of the season playing on a wobbly ankle. He re-aggravated it with a high ankle sprain in Thursday's loss to the Green Bay Packers.

On the bright side, Garropolo won't require surgery. On the downside, it appears he will be out until at least late in the season. Now his long-term future with the franchise looks to be in limbo.

Why? Because that's the way pro sports works. Today's G.O.A.T is tomorrow's goat.

Meanwhile, Darnold has dropped even below goat status, given that the Jets have completed half the season and haven't won a game. They now enter their vaunted Monday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots. As Jets fans like to be reminded, Darnold was drafted four spots before Josh Allen, whose Buffalo Bills are now 7-2.

Anyway, Garropolo's injury issues have the pundits talking replacement. Darnold may be a decent NFL quarterback someday. He certainly deserves more time before we make that call. Though it is very fair to wonder if it will ever happen with the Jets.

For these reasons, Darnold-to-the-Niners rumors are suddenly making the rounds. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is among those kicking the topic around, as you can see below.

It's probably too soon for the 49ers to give up on Garropolo. The guy is coming off an NFC championship, and if it weren't for some Patrick Mahomes magic, Garropolo would have ended last season with a Super Bowl ring.

It's also too soon for the Jets to give up on Darnold, though that time is certainly drawing near. You always get a shorter leash in New York.

Right now, the idea of Darnold in San Francisco is all speculation. But this is just the way things go in the NFL, especially at the quarterback position.

Actual perspective is almost always replaced by frustration, doubt and sometimes rage. Garropolo, Darnold, the 49ers and Jets fall into several of these categories today.

They all may as well starting thinking about what's next.

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.