After Discussing It, Nolan Names 'JTO' Starting Quarterback For '08 Season

After what I can only imagine were intense deliberations and discussions, 49ers' Head Coach Mike Nolan went ahead and named his starting quarterback this afternoon. The winner? As was expected, J.T. O'Sullivan, as reported by Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat.

J.T. O'Sullivan is starter going into the regular season, 49ers coach Mike Nolan announced on conference call with reporters this afternoon.

Nolan said the focus is on getting ready for the season. O'Sullivan got the better command of the offense right now. Moved ball as a unit and scored points with him as QB.

As Maiocco states, Alex Smith will remain with the team, and in the process, become one of the highest-paid clipboard holders in the league.

Honestly, it's not a bad job for Smith as he doesn't get hit, gets a front row seat to every Niners game (while being paid a handsome sum of cash), and like every backup quarterback, instantly becomes the most popular guy in town.

For O'Sullivan, it will be his first starting gig in the NFL after bouncing around eight different teams in six years (nine, if you include a brief stint in NFL Europe) .

He's only thrown 26 passes in a regular season game (A 20-17 win last year, while playing for the Detroit Lions), but was the most productive quarterback for San Francisco through the teams first three preseason games, throwing for 351 yards and completing over 60% of his passes.

He was originally a sixth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints out of California-Davis in 2002.