National Football League

New fan favorite has been in Smith's shoes

Published Oct. 16, 2010 11:05 a.m. ET

foxsports

Fresno State's 100th homecoming football parade is today. Fans can buy popcorn and cotton candy, but sorry, no new David Carr jerseys.

"We just got a throwback jersey of his in, and they're already gone," said Dan Said, who works at the Bulldog Shop across the street from Carr's alma mater.

"That one cost $120. He's still real popular here."

Carr is pop-star popular everywhere these days, whether at Fresno State, where he starred nine years ago, or with the 49ers, where he has become a fan favorite despite taking no snaps this season.

Why is Carr so popular with Niners fans? Just ask Said, a Sacred Heart Cathedral High graduate from South San Francisco and lifelong 49ers fan.

"Because he's not Alex Smith."

Such is life as the backup quarterback when the starting quarterback struggles.

When fans chanted "We want Carr!" during Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Eagles, it wasn't because of anything Carr accomplished. All he's done since signing with the 49ers in April is hold a clipboard on the sideline.

Rather, it was an indictment on Smith for leading the NFL in interceptions. They want Carr simply because they're tired of Smith after six non-winning seasons, and he just so happens to be next in line.

"The backup quarterback is always the most popular guy on the team - it's like that everywhere," Carr said.

If Carr isn't politicking for playing time, it's because he has been in Smith's cleats before. He, too, is a former No. 1 overall draft pick who got nowhere in five straight non-winning seasons in Houston.

Plenty of 49ers fans might want him as their homecoming king Sunday against the Raiders, but Carr isn't running for office. Besides, coach Mike Singletary isn't running a democracy here. He casts the lone vote, and it belongs to Smith for at least another week.

"At the very beginning, David Carr was told the truth about what his responsibility is here, and we're not changing, and he's not changing," Singletary said. "How he's handling it is how he should handle it, it's how I thought he would handle it."

When Singletary told Carr he was going in the game Sunday, he warmed up and strapped on his helmet. When Smith went back in instead, Carr took off his helmet and assumed the backup position with no complaints.

Asked this week if he should be starting, Carr refused to stage a public campaign.

"I've been in situations like this on both sides," Carr said. "I understand how the situation is going to be very touchy. I'm the last person that's going to put any kind of negative spin on anything that's going on.

"Nothing changes as far as my approach."

That's fine, but Carr better make sure he's ready to play, because the Alex haters may get their wish if Smith keeps the interceptions up.

Singletary threatened to bench Smith during a game for the first time Sunday. He only relented after Smith argued his case, but a threshold was crossed - Singletary finally showed he is willing to make a change at quarterback after refusing to consider the idea all season.

If Smith starts giving away game balls to the Raiders, there is no reason to think Singletary won't give Carr a chance to save an 0-5 season.

When he does, expect to hear lots of cheering from Fresno State fans wearing recently purchased Carr jerseys.

"When you're 0-5, you don't care who's on the field, you just want to find a way to get a 'W,' " Carr said. "If it's me, if it's him, so be it, whatever can get that done."