The Colin Kaepernick Dilemma

Harbaugh and Smith's relationship is straining with each passing week Colin Kaepernick starts, one too many and Harbaugh could lose Smith forever.

 Monday Night Football can, and often does, bring out the best in NFL players. Something about the bright lights of a prime time start and the oddity of playing on Monday night turns mediocre players into stars and stars into legends. Two Mondays ago we had the misfortune of having to watch two likely playoff teams meet in odd circumstances, both starting quarterbacks were out. Instead of watching a defense-centric 14-10 game, we saw Colin Kaepernick exploded on national TV to the tune of a 32-7 win. Knowing that the question was coming, coach Jim Harbaugh did his best job of turning a normal situation in a full-blown controversy by saying he'll "play the hot hand."

Harbaugh went with the "hot hand" on Sunday and he was luckily rewarded in a big way as Kaepernick produced an efficient effort throwing for 231 yards and a touchdown, while adding another big touchdown on the ground in an important Niners road win at the surging Saints. At 2-0, Kaepernick looks like the best bet on offense as he's proved his arm strength and decision-making to be NFL-competent. Right? No, Harbaugh is seriously mistaken.

The second year QB out of Nevada has played efficiently, but nothing that should conjure up memories of Steve Young or Joe Montana. This guy is two games removed from being a wildcat specialist quarterback, meant to come in and shake up the offense a few times a game. In his first win, with Alex Smith appropriately nursing a concussion, Kaepernick went out had an impressive game and all was well. In his second win, Kaepernick had another impressive game, but Alex Smith was suited up and visibly upset with the fact that he wasn't starting. Harbaugh has now officially angered the same starting QB that led his team to the NFC Championship Game, and had this team on its way to another deep NFC playoff run. Why did he do it? Was it to tame his own burgeoning ego? Does he not support Alex Smith? He turned this guy's career around and now it's looking like he's tossing him to the way side? I wrote an article earlier this season lauding Harbaugh with praise, I almost want to take it back now.

Has Harbaugh lost Smith yet? Probably not, but he's getting close. They threw Smith under the bus this offseason by pursuing Peyton Manning and more Smith pass overs could turn things real sour.  But that's fine you say. Look at Kaepernick, he's equipped with the skills to match Smith. Blah, blah, blah. Kaepernick has proven nothing. NFL teams don't even have a real scouting report on him yet. When they do, then we'll see the real Colin Kaepernick. We'll see if Harbaugh made the right decision. We'll see if he was right. But by then he will have lost Smith. He'll have lost the guy he has combed to lead his talented team to the promise land.

I will say Harbaugh has the chance to make things right. Start Smith against the Rams this Sunday, and all will be ok. Damage control will have done its job and Kaepernick will most likely agree to return to his specialist role. Leaving Kaepernick in the starting role will mean he's doing so without a 100-percent committed Smith behind him if the experiment fails, and that means worse news than an early playoff exit.

It wreaks of clubhouse disaster in San Francisco and Jim Harbaugh is the only one that can get rid of the stench.