Highly-paid Jimmy Garoppolo’s ‘checkdown’ performance for 49ers not enough to beat Chiefs, says Frank Clark

Defensive end Frank Clark didn't hold back — as if he ever does — in his criticisms of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the strategy used against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. The 49ers ultimately came up short despite owning a 20-10 lead late in the game.

"You paying the guy $140 million, $130 million, whatever he's getting paid, man," Clark told Peter Schrager, who worked the game for Fox Sports. "He's gotta throw the ball. Obviously he didn't do that. They threw for about 200 yards on checkdowns. That ain't enough to win a game against us."

Clark wasn't the only Chiefs player who criticized decisions by the 49ers.

"We were grateful they got out of the run and started to throw the ball," safety Tyrann Mathieu told Will Cain of ESPN.

Shanahan said after the game that he was more concerned with gaining first downs at the end than eating up the game clock.

"The last thing you're thinking about when you're up three points, and there's that much time left, I mean, clock's not an issue at that time," Shanahan explained, "especially with the timeouts teams have. The issue is moving the chains. If you do move the chains, then you will wind the clock. ... You've got to move the chains a little bit before you start running out the clock."