Storm- News » www.49erslockerroom.com

No matter what happens when Jimmy Garoppolo is healthy again and steps back in as starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers Solomon Thomas Jersey White , Nick Mullens has proven there's a place for him somewhere in the NFL.The former undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi who wasn't even deemed worthy enough to invite to the combine in 2017 has been one of the league's more prolific passers since getting his chance to play last month."He's shown he can play in this league," 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said. "I hope we can keep him because teams need a quarterback. This guy's not just playing conservative football, oh man, get the ball in the right places. He's making the right decisions, he's making good throws under pressure. I'd say he's playing like a top half quarterback in this league. You have guys that are out there right now that are not playing better football than Nick Mullens. He could be a starter for a lot of teams in this football league and we appreciate that we have him and he's playing his tail off for us."Mullens has built on his record-setting debut against Oakland on Nov. 1, when he went 16 for 22 for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 151.9 passer rating that was the highest since the merger for a player in his debut with at least 20 attempts.He took a little step back the following two games in losses to the New York Giants and Tampa Bay before starting to show noticeable improvement in the second half of a 43-16 loss at Seattle earlier this month.Mullens followed that up by leading the Niners (4-10) to wins over Denver and Seattle to provide a rare bright spot in an otherwise down season for San Francisco."I try to get better every week," Mullens said. "That's definitely the goal. What you do in the past doesn't matter. It's all about what you do today and the next day and the future. It's definitely a goal of mine to get better every single day. Feel more comfortable out there. Obviously, experience helps. You could say the experience helps and I feel more comfortable. I'm just enjoying playing."Since taking over as starter, the player once considered too small and with an arm not strong enough for the NFL ranks third in the league in yards per attempt (8.6) and sixth in yards passing per game (292.3).He fared well against Seattle's strong defense in a 26-23 overtime win on Sunday, completing 20 of 29 passes for 275 yards and one touchdown despite a couple of key drops that prevented him from having even bigger numbers."Nick's played very well and he's gotten better as he's gone," coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. "I thought yesterday was probably Nick's best game Womens C. J. Beathard Jersey , especially the way he finished it in that fourth quarter."Mullens got his chance when C.J. Beathard was hurt heading into the Raiders game but now has put up better numbers than Garoppolo did in eight starts for San Francisco the past two years before a season-ending knee injury in Week 3.While Garoppolo will no doubt be the starter next season with his $137.5 million contract, Mullens has made his case to be the No. 2 even though Beathard was a fourth-round pick the year Mullens entered as an undrafted player."I think I can play in the league, that's for sure. I believe that," Mullens said. "But, as far as the extra stuff goes, I don't really worry too much about it."Mullens' teammates saw signs that he could perform on the big stage before he even got his chance. He led some late comebacks in exhibition games and had a relentless work ethic and attention to detail that he even practiced calling out plays at home with crowd noise blaring through his ear phones.He also took young receivers under his wing, making sure they knew the offense as well as he did even before he was playing."You talk about a young kid who's come in here, learned the offense, was on the practice squad all of last year. He's teaching the young receivers in his class the playbook," kicker Robbie Gould said. "He's really a coach. The kid has such an incredible story. He finally gets his chance about a year and a half later and he's really taken the reins. He's a true leader. You cheer for guys like Nick Mullens."NOTES: CB Ahkello Witherspoon will go on IR with a sprained PCL in his right knee. ... S Jaquiski Tartt has a stinger and his status for this week is up in the air. When it comes to the confidential settlement reached by and between the NFL, Colin Kaepernick, and Eric Reid Womens Kyle Juszczyk Jersey , no one is saying anything. About anything.Beyond the announcements issued by the parties on Friday, the terms of which no doubt were written carefully, reviewed painstakingly, and approved warily, nothing else has been or will be provided, at least not anytime soon.Here’s one angle that, given the standard approach to settlement agreements, likely requires no confirmation from either side: Any potential grievance or other legal claim arising from Reid’s suspicion that he was targeted for PED testing in retaliation for his collusion claim most likely were waived as part of the resolution.Most settlement agreements include broad, sweeping language releasing the party writing the check from any and all liability, with broad and repetitive language aimed at encompassing all claims that were made and that could have been made, typically including a description of the period encompassed as “from the beginning of time to the date of this agreement.”But prospective waivers of liability can’t happen. If Reid believes that he’s being singled out for PED testing or substance-abuse testing or fines for on-field hits, he could (in theory) argue that the league is retaliating against him. It’s nevertheless possible that http://www.49erslockerroom.com/authentic-c.-j.-beathard-jersey , as part of his settlement documents, Reid has signed an acknowledgement that he currently has no evidence of foul play as it relates to past PED testing and that all testing, fines, etc. were on the up and up. It’s not an absolute protection against future entanglements, but it becomes the best way to wipe the slate clean.The settlement agreement also could (and probably should) include an agreement pursuant to which Reid will make no allegations of retaliation absent evidence of retaliation, and that if he believes he’s the victim of retaliation he will say nothing about it publicly unless and until he files a formal grievance.Regardless of the specific language used, it’s likely the last we’ll hear of Reid thinking he’s been targeted for PED tests. If we do, it will mean either that Reid is violating his agreement or that the NFL’s lawyers didn’t do a very good job of drafting it.