In burying the former starter, Mathieu offered what sure sounded like genuine praise of Kaepernick’s long-ridiculed replacement, Blaine Gabbert. Praise for Gabbert remains unfashionable, even after he has showcased a strong arm, quick release and in-the-pocket toughness in his first two starts with the 49ers. Gabbert’s past made him a punch line, and his legion of longtime critics are hesitant to declare he has transformed based on a small sample size. Kaepernick, of course, didn’t throw the football well in the 49ers’ 47-7 loss to the Cardinals on Sept.