San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and all of his teammates are probably getting tired of being asked questions about Jimmy Garoppolo. The perception of the quarterback is different from the inside than it is from the outside. Inside the team, everyone believes in Garoppolo and sees him as a player that can lead them back to the Super Bowl. Outside the building, everyone is trying to determine if there is a better option.
Kittle got asked one more question about Garoppolo before he and his teammates disappear for a much-needed break following a disastrous injury-plagued season. The tight end responded as he always does, expressing great confidence in his quarterback and friend.
"Honestly, I've never had to talk about someone so much in my life," Kittle told reporters. "You talk about his leadership, you talk about the wins that he has, where he led us, where we've been without him, the wins that he produces. Jimmy's everything that you want in a franchise quarterback, in my opinion.
"I think sometimes he gets flack because everyone's like, 'Well, his leadership is the first thing everyone brings up.' Well, leadership is kind of a big deal when it comes to football. If you don't have guys that lead the right way and lead by example, also lead with their voice, especially at the quarterback position, I don't think you have the best shot at winning."
The 49ers finished the season 6-10, and Garoppolo missed 10 of those games. The quarterback has now missed the majority of two of the last three seasons. However, during Garoppolo's first full season as a starter, he helped lead San Francisco to a Super Bowl. Kittle believes the quarterback is a major reason why they were able to compete for a championship.
"Jimmy's attributes that he brings on top of the leadership, and the types of passes that he throws," Kittle added, "and getting us into the right place, everything that he does, he just kind of elevates the level of play of everybody around him because he expects greatness from his teammates. I know he expects greatness of himself.
"So, when you're around a guy like that, who expects that out of you and requires it of you on a daily basis, it makes you a better football player."
Added Kittle: "Jimmy's a good friend of mine, but I also think he's a hell of a football player."
