He hasn't been a starter in the NFL for very long, but quarterback Blaine Gabbert is quickly learning the job is a lonely one -- especially in San Francisco.
Take Wednesday, for example. Like most other starting quarterbacks around the league, Gabbert showed up at team headquarters for his weekly news conference.
There was just one problem -- there were no reporters there.
Mindi Bach of Comcast Sports Net Bay Area tweeted a photo of Gabbert sitting in the front row of the press room, right in front of the podium, ready to ask questions.
A few minutes later, she tweeted the reason for the misunderstanding.
"As far as Gabbert, he showed up on time," Bach tweeted. "He was a great sport about it. The #49ers did not list him on today's schedule so the media didn't know."
Gabbert's day wasn't all bad, though. Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who will face Gabbert on Sunday, was quite complimentary of the quarterback on his conference call that reporters actually paid attention to.
According to Mathieu, Gabbert is a "better option" than Colin Kaepernick.
"That's not to take anything away from Kaepernick, but it seems like Gabbert has a little bit better grip on what's going on," Mathieu said, according to CSN Bay Area. "If he gets in a situation, he knows where the ball needs to go. He's a hell of a passer. I think he's underrated when you talk about how well he can throw the football.
"I think he gives them a better option going forward. It seems like the wide receivers are more involved. So it looks like they're doing all right."
The Cardinals defense intercepted Kaepernick four times, including two by Mathieu, when they defeated the 49ers 47-7 earlier this season.
"We just knew Kaepernick's tendencies," Mathieu said. "We knew what he liked to do. We knew which way he wanted to roll out. We knew what side of the field he liked to read to.
"You don't pick up those same things with Gabbert. He's better in the pocket. He has a better feel for coverages. It seems like he can get to the line and see a coverage and then go to a different play. Or, see a coverage and not throw the ball. You can see Gabbert's maturity and the different things he does well that Kaepernick doesn't do well."
They said it
Indianapolis Colts Coach Chuck Pagano, in his postgame speech, after 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and 42-year-old kicker Adam Vinatieri led the team to another victory: "Bingo night on Thursday!"
Sports quiz
Where was Blaine Gabbert selected in the 2011 NFL Draft?
Answer
Gabbert was the 10th overall pick in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sports on 11/27/2015