Kaepernick and Russell Bet on Eyebrows

by Justin Cheng

There has been a lot of offseason jawing between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. The mutual hate between the two NFC West rivals are expected to play out later in the season, as they figure to be in the mix for a Super Bowl bid. Quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson are two of the young stars in the NFL today, and they put a wager that might change how they look after Week 2 when the 49ers travel to the Pacific Northwest to face Richard Sherman's never-ending, rambling mouth and the obnoxiously loud 12th man.

I hope Wilson is a big fan of these ninja dudes.

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The Bayless Babbles is a sports blog is co-authored by UC Merced/ USC alumnus Justin Cheng and UC San Diego alumnus Brent Lee.

For EVERYTHING about The Bayless Babbles, check out our blog page (HERE!)

Bayless Babbles: San Francisco 49ers Guide to Week 1

By Justin Cheng

Oh, what might have been. The Kaepernick family was originally from Wisconsin, and Colin grew up a Green Bay Packer fan. Don't think for a second that will play any part in Sunday's game. The 49ers have beat the Packers twice last year, including a memorable NFC Divisional game at Candlestick. 

These teams are two favorites to meet in the playoffs again, and here's a couple things to sit on for Week 1.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


1) Quarterback Espionage

Scott Tolzien sighting!! It felt like it was just last week that we were talking about how Tolzien was on the wrong end of the quarterback carousel. Tolzien has been the resident backup under the Harbaugh administration and recently signed with the Packers after being cut after Week 3 of the preseason. Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman had utilized a pretty bare playbook in the preseason to hide his hand to opposing teams, but Tolzien has extensive knowledge of the 49ers playbook and can provide valuable knowledge of what to expect.



2) Hey everybody, Patrick Willis is okay 


All-Pro Patrick WIllis has been out the entire preseason with a broken hand. I'm not exactly sure what this does, Patrick, but I'm going to trust you on this one.

3) Sack Feast

With the Packers' left tackle, Bryan Bulaga out for the season -- thankfully for The Blind Side, we now know is the second-most important position in football -- this poses a huge problem for the Packers' offensive line.
Aldon Smith, who apparently likes target practice in all aspects of the word, should focus his efforts on terrorizing Aaron Rodgers rather than worrying who has next for beer pong. 





For previous guides, click below
Preseason Week 2
Preseason Week 3
Preseason Week 4

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The Bayless Babbles is a sports blog is co-authored by UC Merced/ USC alumnus Justin Cheng and UC San Diego alumnus Brent Lee.

For EVERYTHING about The Bayless Babbles, check out our blog page (HERE!)

Behind the Tattoos

By Justin Cheng

Colin Kaepernick's quick rise to fame has been met with an equal amount of criticism. From his tattoos to the Miami Dolphin hat incident, many have taken it upon themselves to provide their own perspectives about the 25-year-old. Wikipedia glancers know that Kapernick was adopted, but, many don't know the rest of the story that comes with it. This video gives a deeper glimpse into San Francisco's resident quarterback.

Bayless Babbles: San Francisco 49ers Guide to Preseason Week 3

by Justin Cheng

AJ Jenkins (left) was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday.

49ers management started the Week 3 of the preseason with a huge bang, cutting the cord with last year's first-round pick, AJ Jenkins, trading him to the Kansas City Chiefs for wide receiver Jon Baldwin. This comes a day after Jim Harbaugh said Jenkins would likely expand his role as kick returner. Jenkins, who couldn't catch a common cold, let alone footballs, was expected to give the 49ers a much needed deep threat, coming off a loss in the 2011 NFC championship game. Jenkins was only active in three games in 2012, costing the 49ers  $1.2 million, which by Johnny Manziel standards, is two weeks worth of signing his own jersey.

The 49ers defense was suffocating.

With two weeks until the start of the regular season, the 49ers are still one of the clear favorites to win the Super Bowl. The defensive line absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage and terrorized Alex Smith like lions on a piece of meat or walkers on Rick Grimes. While Colin Kaepernick was given one series of playtime, B.J. Daniels, as predicted in our guide to Preseason Week 2, got some valuable minutes and orchestrated a final scoring drive to beat the Chiefs 15-13.



Now that we got the battle of the prodigal quarterback over with, we can refocus for Week 3. With August 27 as the date when teams have to trim their rosters from 90 to 75, this is the time when players really need to start making good impressions on their coaches. Practice reps are a weeklong audition for playing time, which will be sparse compared to the first two games of the preseason.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



1) Done Capping Kap

As much as I hate looking at this picture, red zone offense is a huge question mark for the reigning NFC champions. There is no question that Kaepernick has a rocket arm, but the progression he has made in that aspect of his game is yet to be determined. Harbaugh is bound to unleash the beast -- at least for the first quarter -- for Sunday's game, then we can make judgments if body shots, GQ covers, and oddly coordinated outfits have deterred any progress from being made.



2) QB Carousel

With the addition of Seneca Wallace into the mix, this makes for one crowded neapolitan quarterback competition. 49ers Insider Matt Maiocco reported that after his performance against the Chiefs, B.J. Daniels would start getting some more looks at quarterback with the second team offense. So far in the preaseason, Scott Tolzien and Colt McCoy's performances have been laughable, throwing a combined whopping zero touchdowns, three interceptions, and 264 yards. 



--Recommendation--
Don't put too much stock into Daniels' latest performance against the Chiefs. Daniels entered late in the third quarter, and most of the players that he was facing are more than likely to be out of the league in two weeks. 


--Depth Chart Prediction--

Starter: Colin Kaepernick
Second String: Seneca Wallace
Third String: Colt McCoy

Seneca Wallace has been a backup in this league for ten years. Such experience is indispensable, and he looks to be slotted to make the team as Kaepernick's backup. 

Colt McCoy still hasn't shown much in two outings, and this week will be pretty critical if he wants be the second string back up. He has shown good mobility, rushing for 37 yards against the Chiefs. McCoy has the ability to be a solid backup in this league but will probably be the third string.

B.J. Daniels will not be on the quarterback depth chart . Last week's guide noted how Daniels lined up at running back and tight end, so he will make the team because of his versatility. If not, he will probably be stashed away for development on the practice squad.

Tolzein is the odd man out. Dating back to last year, he has completed 47 percent of his passes (26 of 55) with a 46.7 passer rating. Sorry buddy, BYE BYE BYE.







3) Seattle Stomp Job

The Seattle Seahawks' 40-10 beatdown of the Denver Broncos, another favorite to win the Super Bowl this year, should have bandwagon 49ers fans quaking in their new #7 jerseys. The Seahawks absolutely dismantled the Broncos, a beat down that had not been seen since Dwayne Johnson was The Rock and not chasing Dominic Toretto in his rice rocket.






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The Bayless Babbles is a sports blog is co-authored by UC Merced/ USC alumnus Justin Cheng and UC San Diego alumnus Brent Lee.

For EVERYTHING about The Bayless Babbles, check out our blog page (HERE!)

Celebrate! Football Season is Back... kinda

By Brent Lee

Are you looking for a reason to cheer up during a lackluster summer of sports? With the NFL preseason kicking off this week, teams will be rolling out their potential opening day starters onto the field. One notable game of the preseason will occur in week 2 of the preseason with Alex Smith and his Kansas City Chiefs facing off against his former team, the 2014 Super Bowl favorites, San Francisco 49ers. Last night was a preview of a likely Superbowl 2014 showdown between the 49ers and the Denver Broncos. The reigning NFC Champions played mediocre at best. After a clock killing, ground-and-pound opening sequence by Colin Kaepernick and the Niner offense resulting in a Phil Dawson field goal, the Niners committed 4 turnovers. Thankfully, the Broncos were not able to capitalize on any of San Francisco's errors (2 interceptions and 2 fumbles). If this is any indication of the upcoming season, the Niner Faithful are in for a bumpy ride this season. Thank god this is preseason football!

Few positive things to take away from tonight's game: LaMichael James is a beast, Aldon Smith HULKED up, the Colin to Anquan connection is already developing, AND Vance McDonald and Eric Reid are transitioning nicely into the red and white. 

With that being said, let's look forward to the watching Alex Smith throw the ball out of bounds next week. Look for Alex Smith to be fired up for this pseudo-homecoming. Meanwhile, enjoy this compilation of sports celebrations. HAPPY FRIDAY!

Kent Bazemore doing his thang on the bench.Classic Baze.

Made it nasty.

Oh hello, TEMPER-PEDIC TEMPER-Cloud Collection, my name is DeShaun Jackson.

Insult to injury.

Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, trying to relive his heydays.

Matt Cassel is playing Twister with his teammates. Right hand on red, right foot on green. Nastia Liukin approves.

There's just so many things wrong with this celebration. This must be why dinosaurs went extinct.

Oklahoma bench air guitar-ing its way to the lead against Texas.

Mama forgot to teach him that he's not supposed to celebrate with opposing team.

Chad Qualls is just too smooth.

Villanova's all star bench: Legolas, Christopher Columbus, and white MC Hammer

David Akers is just as surprised as we are that you are reading this blog.

 I mean come on, who isn't happy when a ice cream truck drops by.

Alright, you can get back to work now. Celebrate! It's Friday!

The Bayless Babbles is a sports blog is co-authored by UC Merced/ USC alumnus Justin Cheng and UC San Diego alumnus Brent Lee. 



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No Kobayashi, No Problem

By Justin Cheng

Watch and learn, young Colin Kaepernick. Bay Area native Joey "Jaws" Chestnut has established himself as Nathan's 4th of July hot dog-eating contest powerhouse. Winning his seventh straight competition today, Chestnut downed 69 -- no, this is not a typo -- hot dogs in ten minutes. This annual competition was again without its original icon, Takeru Kobayashi, for the fourth straight year, leaving the San Jose State alumnus to be untested (his closest competitor only finished 51).

Image via ESPN

It has not been an easy road for Chestnut, as competitive eating is a sport that requires more dedication that one may anticipate. The mental taxation alone of jamming 69 (again, this is not a typo) wieners in one's mouth would be enough to break a lesser man. If Kaepernick is to dethrone Chestnut as the Bay Area's crowned athlete, let's hope that he has the same will-power to plow through the any obstacle (or plate) put in his way.


Tale of the Tape

Name: Joey Chestnut (age 29)

Height: 6'0" (1.8 meters)

Weight: 218 lbs. 

Hometown: Vallejo, CA

College: San Jose State University

Accomplishments: 
Ranked as International Federation of Competitive Eating's #1 eater 
Seven-time champion of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Ate 45 pulled pork sandwiches in 10 minutes
Ate 53 soft beef tacos from Taco Bell in 10 minutes

Name: Colin Kaepernick (age 25)

Height: 6'5" (1.96 meters)

Weight: 230 lbs.

Hometown: Turlock, CA

College: Nevada University

Accomplishments:
Rated #81 in Top NFL players of 2013
First Division-I quarterback to have 10,000 yards passing and 4,000 yards rushing
Took the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl in first year as NFL starter
Packs an 87 mph fastball
Has lots of tattoos

Joey Chestnut with the hot dog record. 69! Sorry @Kaepernick7, but @joeyjaws might be the Bay Area's greatest athlete
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) July 4, 2013

The Bayless Babbles is a sports blog is co-authored by UC Merced/ USC alumnus Justin Cheng and UC San Diego alumnus Brent Lee.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

Follow The Bayless Babbles on Twitter (@BaylessBabbles)

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The Perfect Pickup

By Justin Cheng & Brent Lee

June 13, 2012 -- Matt Cain hurls the 22nd perfect game in MLB history -- which easily becomes one of the greatest moments of my life, as I was sitting in the bleachers watching this masterpiece unfold with my co-author Brent Lee. San Francisco has since celebrated the victory of our second World Series championship in the last three years with a triumphant parade down Market Street and a classic speech by the rambunctious Mayor Ed Lee holding the golden broom to the city.

-- Fast forward one year --

Not to sound completely ungrateful, but the euphoria of winning another World Series, emergence of the Golden State Warriors as a legitimate threat in the Western Conference and Colin Kaepernick as the 49ers quarterback of the future have been withered by the recent struggles of the entire Giants rotation, Michael Crabtree tearing his Achilles tendon, and Andris Biedrins & Richard Jefferson stalling the franchise's growth (& are due to make higher salaries than Tim Duncan and Blake Griffin respectively).  

If you are reading this blog, I have come to the following conclusions.

1) You are taking your finals this week.
2) You have taken your finals because you are from Merced but nevertheless spend nine months out of the year in social purgatory.
3) You live with your parents because you don't have a job.
4) You don't have a job because you live with your parents.
5) You sincerely enjoy reading this blog and appreciate our stellar personalities.

If any of these applies, you are sure to have a depressing life or are simply an awful judge of character. Well, enough of the unpleasantries. Below are some feel-good videos from the past year for you Bay Area fanatics to reflect back on to pull you out of your dump of a life.

1) 27 Outs of Matt Cain's Perfect Game

2) 2012 NLDS Game 5 -- San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds -- Buster Posey Grand Slam




















3) Draymond Green Game-Winner Against vs. Heat

4) Stephen Curry Gets OFF at Madison Square Garden

5) The Rise of Colin Kaepernick 

6) 2013 NFC Championship -- San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Bayless Babbles is a sports blog is co-authored by UC Merced/ USC alumnus Justin Cheng and UC San Diego alumnus Brent Lee.

For more about the author and the blog (Click Here)

Email: baylessbabbles@gmail.com

Follow The Bayless Babbles on Twitter (@BaylessBabbles)

Like & Share the articles on Facebook.

Do one of these! Thanks!