Git Along Little Dogies
Mar 4, 2013 FOS Speculation
Sunday was the first monthiversary of the 49ers ignominious Super Bowl defeat. Some of us have moved on and some of us haven’t. Not sure which category I belong in, so maybe there’s a third group of somes that are undecided on moveingness.
Next week, the 2013 season kicks off, whether we’re ready for it or not, and the 49ers are expected to be active players in the free agency market. At least we fans expect them to. Perhaps HQ has other ideas.
On offense, the only pressing need is at wide receiver, but the defense will be undergoing a retrofit this offseason, especially after its abysmal performance in the playoffs which, ultimately, kept a sixth Lombardi from joining the other five in the championship display case at 4949 Centennial Blvd. The injury to Justin Smith turned the whole crew from a stellar unit to a scrambling mess. No defense should be so fragile that an injury to one guy sinks the entire boat.
The most troubling player on the defense is strong safety Donte Whitner, who seems to be the reincarnation of our old, much reviled, Mark Roman, who anchored the collapsing defenses of Mike Nolan, which are now located in Atlanta and still collapsing, doing so twice in the playoffs, surviving the first but not the second. In all fairness, Atlanta’s pre-Nolan defenses collapsed in the first quarter, and now don’t fall apart until the fourth.
Whitner is a smart player, helps set the defense, plays the run well, can’t cover a lick, and tries to make interceptions with his face. It hasn’t yet gotten to the point of tar and feathers, but a ticket to Siberia has been making the rounds. Still, the 49ers will probably keep him here for another year.
It appears Ricky Jean-Francois will be taking his hyphenated mouthful somewhere else this offseason. He wants more playing time and more money and he won’t get it here. Ricky was a 49er for four years and never developed to the point of being a viable member of the D-line rotation. He was little more than a speed bump at nose tackle and wasn’t good enough at DE or DT to be preferable to a one armed and ineffective Justin Smith in the playoffs.
At any rate, time to set your clocks. We’re eight days away from the 2013 season and a brand new year of heartbreak and disappointment will roar into being.
Tags: Donte Whitner, Justin Smith, Mark Roman, Mike Nolan, Ricky Jean Francois, San Francisco 49ers
March 4th, 2013 at 7:06 am
I think RJF is a starting caliber 3-4 DE or 4-3 DT. Probably best suited for 4-3. I don’t know that he is Pro Bowl caliber but he should have been rotated in more the last two years. I wish him luck if he does move to another team. IMO, not rotating the D-line is a formula for disaster for late season D-line problems.
March 4th, 2013 at 7:48 am
Larry Grant couldn’t find a deal last year in FA and came back with and re-upped for one year.
This year he’s in the same spot but there is interest in him from the Chefs and the Raiduhs and he will sign elsewhere for more money and the chance to start.
He had no future here playing behind Patrick and Navarro.
Wish him luck and figure out if Fleming can play or draft somebody like the Iowa State duo of Klein or Knott around the fourth eound or later.
March 4th, 2013 at 8:09 am
Grant is from Sacramento and has a charity he likes working. If the money is close he’ll stay here.
March 4th, 2013 at 8:32 am
Berger
If a team thinks Grant can start they will pay him more than the Niners can.
Grant just turned 28 and this is his best and maybe last chance for a multi year contract with guaranteed money.
He is destined to be a career backup with the Niners.
I’d like to see him stay but then he’s settling to be a career backup stuck behind the dynamic duo.
He left once before to chase the money and I see him doing the same this time at his age.
March 4th, 2013 at 9:07 am
bullit- I agree with everything you just said, but he had the same opportunity last year and stayed. I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’….
March 4th, 2013 at 9:31 am
Berger
For their success to be sustainable I believe Baalke has to look at least 3 years ahead
and plan accordingly.
2016 is when the contracts of Brooks, Willis and Bowman get into the $7mil plus range and you
have to deal with signing Aldon Smith to his first big contract. They can restructure but ultimately they will have to let one or two of these guys walk.
I think Baalke could draft a player and develop him into a quality backup to make this move less painful.
Clearly the teams in green, the Egos and the Jest tried to build dream teams which failed miserably
and are now dismantled due to that.
March 4th, 2013 at 9:31 am
I’m undecided about sayin’.
March 4th, 2013 at 9:36 am
PFT is reporting that David Akers will be releaed before 3/12 according to the ever present “source”. $3 mil off the cap.
Sign a vet K and draft a rookie and let them duke it out.
March 4th, 2013 at 10:30 am
Some new news on Goldson but strangely it’s coming from a Milwaukee newspaper
“An NFL official told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that free agent FS Dashon Goldson is seeking $8 million per year.
Sounds about right. Eric Berry ($12 million annually) and Troy Polamalu ($9.125 million) are the NFL’s two highest paid safeties. Behind them are Eric Weddle and Michael Huff, each making $8 million per year. Goldson intends to become one of the league’s top-five highest paid safeties. It remains to be seen whether the 49ers are willing to meet Goldson’s contract demands. They are not expected to franchise tag Goldson for the second straight year.”
March 4th, 2013 at 11:21 am
Nice knowin’ ya, Dashon . . .
March 4th, 2013 at 12:14 pm
I stole the “I’m not sayin’” saying from Stuart Scott at ESPN. It’s very Beatle like!
March 4th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
That was Twista2121′s favorite phrase over on the Insider of yore.
March 4th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Report is now that Akers will be cut today . . . I think the Niners need to be under the cap by March 4th. That’ll do it.
March 4th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Bills let David Nelson WR go into free agency.
He is a tall WR at 6-5 215 lbs and in 2 years with Buffalo caught 92 passes 1042 yds and 8 TDs.
He tore his ACL in the first game last year so his stats are 92 passes caught 1011 yds 8 TDs in 2 full years.
He had immediate surgery after the injury and has been rehabbing for 5 months and should be ready for the season.
He’d be a nice addition at a salary cap friendly price.
I think he’s worth a look.
March 4th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
i hope we can re-sign goldson ! keeping goldson and finding another safety to replace whitner would be the way to go imo !
March 4th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
on a team needing depth and players to rotate in on the d-line , re-signing RJF is a nobrainer imho ! he was the best d-lineman we had off the bench last year !
March 4th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
IT BEGINS
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000146366/article/report-cullen-jenkins-to-meet-with-seahawks-49ers
March 4th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Yeah. I like Nelson. he’d be a good big guy to get. I still like Ramses on the Giants. He’ll be a free agent as well.
March 4th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Before any of the recent moves the Niners were $3.9 mil under the cap per John Clayton of ESPN who posted this list in January.
The Seahags are $18 mil under which is suprising The Ohio teams have the most cap room with the Bungles at $55 mil and the Brownies at $49 mil under.
March 4th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Not going to surprise me to see both RJF and Ice move on.
Goldson could strike his deal with Jerruh in Big Duh perhaps?
I see Sensabaugh got axed for Cap management reasons down there.
With 15 Picks pending in April, I see no reason to flip out about losing a few guys.
Very possible that we could grab Jesse Williams, Margus Hunt and a S with our first 3 Picks in the Top 2 Rds.
March 4th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Bullit, seeing as the cap number was set at $123.9 mill 4 days ago, your numbers are old. The Niners are $342,000 under right now. Losing Smith and Akers alone will give them ~$13 mill.
March 5th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
CHUCK you and BULLITT are still wrong ! everything i read says we’re close to 1.5 under !
then again who’s counting !
March 5th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
hmmmm
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Appear-Interested-in-Keeping-Goldson-195282621.html
good news imo ! i want goldson back and think we’ll offer him a good deal ! i hope he takes it , and am pretty sure he will !
btw i love the way jed york is doing everything to get us to where we want to go !
go jed !
March 5th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
NJ
“Not going to surprise me to see both RJF and Ice move on.”
not too sure myself ! considering we’ll be about 12.5 mil under if and when alex and akers leave , i don’t think we can count sop and or RJF out !
well , then again i guess i’m just one helll of an optimist !
i hope we can keep both and still find a way to sign one or two good free agents !
March 5th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
I’ll provide a link to NFL.com
Most likely this is accurate and is dated yesterday from the NFL
http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/03/13/salary-cap-numbers-for-all-32-nfl-teams/
Reading the fine print this does not take into account cuts or recent transactions so read it anyway you want
You wanted an accurate snapshot so I’m trying to provide one
March 5th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Oops! Actually never mind. The above link was for last year as I just checked the date again and it said 2012.
March 5th, 2013 at 6:19 pm
BULLIT
awh man ! 3.9 under was sounding pretty good right about now !
March 5th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Rob it’s not that we can’t keep Ice or RJF rather, they may get better offers than we’re willing to make.
RJF is nothing special.
He can’t hold Justins’ jock.
At the right price you keep him but, I think we can do better.
Ice is in his early 30s.
He’s not a big contributor any longer.
I’d like a younger heavier NT inside but, that’s me.
March 5th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Goldson can walk too.
Let’s see how he fares this time around on the open market.
He’s looking for a bigger payday than we’re offering otherwise, his extension would have been done last year.
He’s now a year older, the market is correcting downward because, Rookies are no longer a Cap nightmare.
With 15 Picks at our disposal, we can afford a youth movement to replace our entire Secondary and DLine.
Sure, they won’t walk out and contribute all at once but, you can attract other FAs later, when the Post Draft casualties hit the market.
Baalke rarely pays for FAs in the early stages unless he absolutely sees an opportunity.
He tends to grab the bargains later in the process.
We’ll see how it shakes out.
March 5th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
NJ
i’m just being a bit sentimental i guess ! might as well imo !
good points on goldson ! i agree 100%
i’m thinkin he signs a deal that’s good for both sides !
if we can sign goldson we would be able to draft another safety too ! if we land a good one imho whitner might be the odd man out !
March 5th, 2013 at 9:30 pm
on the d-line RJF seems to be the one getting most of the attention !
March 5th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
It’ll all shake out Rob.
My 3 favorites at this point for SS are Eric Reid, Jon Cyprien and Matt Elam.
I’m betting we get one of them.
Haven’t decided on my FS yet but I’m working on it.
Phillip Thomas is in the mix.
Baalke will get the right fits.
March 5th, 2013 at 10:11 pm
NJ
elam would be a good pick with our 32 or 34 ! gotta love my fla gators !
having the KC pick is huge for us ! imho we have a good shot at not only elam , but we should be able to grab a pretty good D-lineman too !
March 6th, 2013 at 12:47 am
Meant to say Eric Reid and Phillip Thomas at FS.
Cyprien and Elam at SS.
We’ll get DT/DE covered for sure.
I see no problem getting the pieces we need even standing pat in our assigned slots.
March 6th, 2013 at 12:50 am
Shawn Williams from UGA is another guy I like for the SS position.
He’s a load and runs well.
March 6th, 2013 at 1:06 am
Earl Wolff from NC St is another SS option.
I’m happy with any of those 4 guys for the SS slot.
March 6th, 2013 at 6:51 am
My ideal draft is Lotolulei, who might drop because of medical concerns at 31. Tavon Austin at 34. With our next 3 picks, a DB or two and a TE, maybe even a DE,then PK Hopkins. That covers the first three rounds.
March 6th, 2013 at 6:53 am
Moving up to get DE Sheldon Richardson from Mizzu would not bother me one bit!
March 6th, 2013 at 7:20 am
I think Jimbo plans to use two of our first three picks to get Revis.
I’m skeptical and wary of that whole situation – but that is what I think is going to happen.
*If* we can sign him to a multi-year, even only three year, contract it would be an okay move. One year, no.
March 6th, 2013 at 7:52 am
Four things bother me about trying to trade for Revis.
1) He’s coming off a season ending knee injury. The unknown is will he be 100 and if the injury hampers his speed or change of direcrtion.
2) One year left on his contract and then he can walk. Giving up multiple draft choices for short term gain sacrifices your future.
3) Revis is greedy and even under contract threatens to holdout so year to year if you manage to sign him he’ll give your team grief and uncertainty
4)Because he thinks he’s the best corner he’s going to look for a long term contract of $15 mil plus a year with $30 mil plus guarantee. That’s going to cripple your salary cap and force you to let some of your core players go when FA comes up in the nest few years.
Bottom line you just need to look at how the signing of Nnamdhi the best corner at the time led to the disintegration of the Egos
and how their 3 shutdown corners
couldn’t stop anyone because they had no linebackers.
I give a big NO to acquiring Revis
if it involves anything more than a later 3rd round pick.
March 6th, 2013 at 8:34 am
This report just posted that Niners have almost no interest indicates the leaks are being generated by the Jest to stimulate a trade market
for Revis so they can get maximum return
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/9022182/san-francisco-49ers-serious-suitor-darrelle-revis-source
March 6th, 2013 at 9:25 am
bullit- I agree with your entire 7:52 post. Even though acceptable, I’d cringe at a 3rd for Revis and would rather not give anything more than a 5th. I see him as a 1 year rental who could still be damaged goods. I think the Jest would be happy to get anything for him.
March 6th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Now the Egos are supposedly shopping Nnamdhi where yesterday they were thinking about just releasing him.
They are looking for a big sucker
to take on his cap hit of his ridiculous contract for $14 mil.
The only way the Niners should even think about Nnamdhi is as a free agent and at a reasonable price of $7 mil/year.
He is no longer the corner he used to be but would be the best corner on this team.
March 6th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
The Vikes and Fins are going to play tug of war with Mike Wallace come Monday. Unless he gives the Niners a chance he will price himself out of the Niner budget.
March 6th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Usually with Mike Wallace you get “60 Minutes!”
March 6th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
I hope twista 2121 is doing ok, I enjoyed reading his comments and praying to the spirit of various 49ers.
.
rob – I wouldn’t get your hopes up to much about Goldson, he’ll bolt for the cash.
.
Skeebs, the past SB just brings a numbness to my brain, I’m not sure if it will ever go away. But our future is looking very bright and with all the competition in our division 49er football will be alive and well for some time.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
from what i hear revis is out ! imo we probably sent feelers to his agent . i’m betting he wants a big money deal and playing for a contender isn’t his main priority ! oh well , he’s all about the money !
March 6th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
BERGER
imo the chances we get the players in your ‘ideal draft ‘ are slim and none !
wow ! i thought i was the optimist !
March 6th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
might as well add the reincarnation of ronnie lott , michael carter and jerry rice to your list !
March 6th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
not only is revis off our radar we just released akers !
March 6th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
Akers departure was expected.
His issues this past season was confidence. It didn’t help when he started getting booed after botching kicks. It seemed to really effect him and if you think about it when the home crowd boos you it’s counterproductive. Unlike other positions on the team kickers don’t have real backups that can come in and take his place during the game.
When Akers was getting booed I was just thinking he’s still going to have to kick later in the game and the pressure keeps building.
He was so good in 2011 and came back to earth in 2012.
March 6th, 2013 at 4:47 pm
Easy trivia question.
Who was the last old school straight on kicker (non sidewinder) that kicked for the Niners?
March 6th, 2013 at 4:52 pm
bullit
i think an injury also hurt aker’s performance !
March 6th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Hey Rob
Gone to the beach lately for a swim? Just read FLA has thousands of sharks offshore looking for a snack.
Also watch out for the sinkholes.
Imagine lying in bed and being swallowed up by a giant hole.
Didn’t it happen near to where you live?
March 6th, 2013 at 4:55 pm
hmmm maybe i spoke too soon
this from revis …
“You gotta tip your hat off to them (the 49ers) for what they did last year. This is a team with a great coach, and with great players on their team. I mean they did it without me last year. So for me, looking at their roster and their team, I would just be an addition to help them win that trophy.” Would it be awesome? I mean yeah. My main goal as a player is to hold that Lombardi Trophy up in the air and wear that ring.
March 6th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
BULLIT
OUCH !
hey ! if you watch this video , this same thing happened to me a few months ago ! my hammerhead could have eaten this one ! if you look at the video at the 1:30 mark you’ll see the spot where i like to surf fish !!!
March 6th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
rob- Your video fell in a sinkhole!
March 6th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
I talked to twista about 14 months ago. He was loving the NO playoff win like the rest of us!
March 6th, 2013 at 6:07 pm
oops
March 6th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
the latest from dashon
49ers safety Dashon Goldson was a guest on SiriusXM NFL Radio Tuesday, and discussed the 49ers’ decision to not place the franchise tag on him and his desire to stay with the team.
“I’m thankful I didn’t get tagged but hopefully it still means a future for me being in San Francisco still for something that’s long term. But as far as the overall feeling [of not being tagged], it feels good, you know, but like I said, man, I really hope something works out with San Francisco. It’s been a long time there. I mean, that’s home for me. And we’re on a good path. We’re on the right track to make some things happen and bring that tradition and that dynasty back to where it was at.”
March 6th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Berger I’m all in for a blockbuster Deal Up too if we can get a shot at a replacement for Justin.
Lotulelei and Sheldon Richardson would be curiosities.
Shariff Floyd will be gone very early.
Lotulelei and the heart condition is a major health concern but, I don’t think it’s going to be a big flag.
He either gets cleared or, he won’t play in the NFL.
Sheldon could fall outside of the Top 10 and we have enough Picks to get there.
March 6th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Another medical to follow is on OLB Jarvis Jones.
He’s a Top 10 talent and gets to the QB.
I’d watch him closely too.
March 6th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
On Lotulelei I agree. It’s pretty cut and dry. If he’s cleared by the doctors he’s a top ten pick.
He will not drop further because of his heart condition. His medical report should beuniform and consistent with all teams.
Either Lotulelei is cleared to play or his told he might risk a cardiac event if he plays in the NFL. No in betweens.
March 6th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
I’m not ruling out Kawann Short at NT either.
I’ve read reports that he’s benched in the 400s but he didn’t lift or run in Indy.
By all accounts, Short handles the double team very well.
He and Jesse Williams seem like viable options if we hang tight at 31.
We could grab the big boy Jenkins later if he’s being considered on the jumbo scale.
Just can’t wait to see what’s coming with all the Picks and the potential to create some noise with a potential Trade Up.
March 6th, 2013 at 11:55 pm
More I dig into S Earl Wolff from NC St the more I like him.
He seems like a very good possiblity to replace Goldson in our scheme.
Assuming Goldson moves on of course.
Wolff played SS but runs and tackles very well.
March 7th, 2013 at 5:07 am
New post is up.
March 17th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital
to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Feel free to visit my web blog social media marketing
March 17th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Carmon, go away you little hopeless douchebag, and don’t come back until you can speak English.