Line of Scrimmage: Nolan-Smith in steel cage match

So it's finally happened. The first public rift between player and coach during an abysmal season. It's not that uncommon for players to question their coaches when things aren't going well and vice versa. But who would have thought 6 months ago that the first guy to speak up would be choir-boy QB Alex Smith? Well, it's a reality and fans are sure to start taking sides. Case in point, Ben and JR argue who's really in the wrong, Coach Nolan or Alex Smith.

JR: I know this isn't going to be a popular opinion, but I'm going to have to side with the coach on this one. Not because I don't see any harm in what he allegedly said to his team in regards to their starting quarterback — I think that's entirely uncalled for and immature behavior for a coach. But rather I'm siding with Nolan because up to this point, he's at least been feigning a unified front to the fans and media as not to turn this whole team upside down for the foreseeable future.

Alex went and set the whole world on fire with his latest remarks. I definitely don't doubt their validity. Alex doesn't seem like the type of man to go seek media attention nor does he seem like the type to instinctively buck authority. However, he felt attacked by Nolan's public remarks regarding his toughness, and as any young man knows, sometimes there's a nagging voice in your head that tells you to protect your pride, and to do so by any means necessary.

It's a stupid voice.

There's a saying about not airing out one's dirty laundry that I think holds a lot of water. Alex never should have gone to the media with this before talking to his coach about his concerns, and if he did indeed go to Nolan beforehand and didn't get the understanding he wanted, he should have pushed harder to make himself clear.

He should have stated to his coach that if they didn't get to some kind of common ground over this issue and get to a point where Alex didn't feel like his respect was threatened, then he would go public with his feelings. I'm sure that would have rang loudly in Nolan's ears and at the very least, forced him to compromise.

Now, not only this season is blown, but a huge black cloud hangs over 2008. The likelihood of both men returning to the organization next year appears seriously in doubt, and we don't have to look far, only across the bay at the Oakland Raiders, to know that it's rare for a team with a new starting quarterback and/or coach to win in this league. Not that Nolan and Smith were blowing shit up to begin with, but now they're really behind the eight-ball.

What a difference a few months makes, eh?

Ben: This is cool. Finally a sign of life from this dreadful team! Yes, I know, it's needless drama but the world needs these things. It's like following Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan. At least it gives poor shmucks like us something to talk about. Who knows, maybe Brit or Lindsay could play quarterback better than Alex?

Alright, my record on Coach Nolan is pretty clear and there shouldn't be any surprise when I tell you that he's completely out of line. What's more is I think Alex Smith did the only thing he could do. Nolan is in John York's pocket. York is beating disgruntled season-ticket holders off of Nolan with a pitchfork these days. Can you imagine what York would have said to Smith if he went in and said look, this guy hates me? I'm imagining a trade to the New York Jets, where the team is not only bad but it's really cold, too.

I've been calling all year long for someone to stir the pot. I was behind Frank Gore when he started calling people out in the media. There's a positive to this kind of grumbling. No, it's not because the media is the way to solve problems. It's the fact that Nolan is constantly fronting for this awful team. Yes, I know it's all a ploy to save his job but at what point should he say "Look, we're awful, I know it and we need to blow this thing up and start over"?

There was a black cloud hanging over this team for next year already. The same personnel was set to come back and Nolan was coming back to run the rudderless ship. I will agree on the point that this is going to get worse before it gets better. No media-driven feud has ever ended well for a sports franchise. Maybe one day, though, it will get so absurd that it will get both Nolan and Smith booted out of San Francisco. Then we'd be rid of a bad quarterback and a dull coach.

On a positive note, if Shaun Hill gets hurt this week we all get to see Piedmont native Drew Olson! Woo hoo!