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Niners name O'Sullivan their Week One starting quarterback
By PFW staff
Aug. 22, 2008
The 49ers ended the uncertainty about their starting QB job late Friday, declaring J.T. O'Sullivan would be their Week One starter.
Although indications had been that O’Sullivan was ahead in the competition, the announcement still comes as a bit of a shock for a franchise that used the first overall selection in the 2005 draft on Alex Smith, signing him to a six-year, $49.5 million contract that included $24 million in guaranteed money.
Besides Smith and O’Sullivan, Shaun Hill had been involved in the competition. Hill signed a $6 million contract this season after having recorded a 2-0 record as a starter last December when Smith and Trent Dilfer were injured.
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J.T. O'Sullivan
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Although O’Sullivan has been in the league since 2002, holding spots on the active rosters or practice squads of eight different teams, he threw his first regular-season passes last season with Detroit, where he played in four games. Although initially considered a long shot to win the job, O’Sullivan had the advantage of having learned new offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s complex system last season with the Lions. Smith and Hill reportedly struggled to learn Martz’s system.
“This is not a case of Shaun or Alex not playing well,” Niners head coach Mike Nolan said. “This is a case of J.T. O'Sullivan performing very well.”
O’Sullivan has started all three of the Niners’ preseason games, and he cemented his hold on the job in a Thursday-night win over the Bears, completing 7-of-8 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown.
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