The Seattle Seahawks will take any edge they can get in their NFC West pursuit of defending champs the San Francisco 49ers. ... but is there an edge in being informed by former NFL GM Michael Lombardi that 49ers quarterback Trey Lance is such a non-talent that it was apparent when Lance's "momma lifted him from the crib''?
Appearing on The GM Shuffle, those are the words Lombardi used describe the struggles of Lance, in his young career and in 49ers training camp. The Niners invested heavily here, taking Lance third in the first round after trading three first-round picks to Miami for the spot.
At this moment, it seems like he might end up being the Niners' third-string QB, behind Brock Purdy and then Sam Darnold ... a steep drop from being billed as a "franchise quarterback.''
But "momma'' and "baby'' and "crib''? What are we doing here? The weird analogy from Lombardi feels awfully personal ... and is likely delivered without Lombardi having actually studied the player on a daily basis in camp. Nevertheless ...
"As you go down this road with Lance it just becomes harder and harder and harder,'' Lombardi said. "At the end of the day, when his momma lifted him from the crib, he just didn't have that quarterback instinct ... He is not going to be the backup quarterback. I don't know what they're gonna do with him.''
Chances are very good that what Lombardi is doing here is trying to be clever while trumpeting an earlier analysis of Lance as a player ... and then going way too far with an odd "I told you'' so analogy.
The discourse over Lance's ability? Totally fair, as of course Seattle fans selfishly hope that the 49ers' plan here fails. But "momma'' and "baby'' and "crib''? That's not scouting. That's not discourse. That's not fair.
More must-reads: