Now that the 49ers’ Front Office has bungled away the feel good atmosphere of the hugely successful 2011 season and reminded us of the ten years of ownership ineptitude which preceded it, everyone can get back to business. And thank you Jed York for smugly reminding the fans that it is, after all, a business. And you, despite being related to Uncle Eddie, are still, after all, a York.
Today, we’ll hear the spin from each side of the QB contract snafu, with all participants smiling good-naturedly. At least until Lowell Cohn throws a loaded question or two at the podium, which will no doubt put some serious squirm into the press room. Something like “Whose idea was it to pursue Manning?” Lowell will be looking, as he always does, for the proper donkey to pin the tail on.
Wonder who will shoulder the blame? Trent Baalke, most likely, who will then have to insist that everything’s okay and nothing’s changed and his relationship with Jim Harbaugh is as strong as ever. York will hand out the “Trust my football guys” shrug, but it was York who uncharacteristically went public on the negotiations with his “Ball’s in Alex’s court” take it or leave it attitude.
And then, at last, the 2012 offseason will lurch back onto the tracks and chug onward through the remaining weeks of free agency and predraft. Where were we? Oh, yeah, beefing up the WR position and searching for a new RG.
Maybe a slight comedic interlude would be appropriate here. Still out there in the unemployment line are former 49ers Chilo Rachal, Reggie Smith, Abrayo Franklin, Ted Ginn, Justin Peelle, Madieu Williams, Manny Lawson, and everyone’s favorite ex, Moran Norris. Good luck, fellas.
Abrayo’s stock certainly seems to have plummeted around the league. Two years ago, he was being talked about as one of the premier nose tackles in the game. The 49ers franchised him, he held out through training camp and half of the preseason, had a less than stellar year, and ended up taking an eleventh hour DT position in New Orleans last year and was not heard from again. PFT’s top 100 FA list had him slotted at value number 60, down there around Reggie Smith territory. He valued himself at seven or eight million a year. Mike Nolan is the DC in Atlanta now, so maybe Abrayo can find a home there. At about two million or so or less.
Also out there, while still in there, is the Broncos’ QB who got flattened under the wheels of the Manning Express, Tim Tebow. John Elway is so relieved to be able to safely run Tim out of town that he probably already feels Manning has delivered everything needed and any victories Manning adds to the haul will just be gravy. The Tebow Cult will move its tent elsewhere next year.
Colin Kaepernick has benefited from the QB merry-go-round by getting loudly reassured that he is still the Anointed One as far as the 49ers are concerned. With anointments come expectations, however. It would behoove Colin to show vast improvement from last year, when he rang up a 23.9 QBR in four preseason games, throwing five interceptions and no touchdowns. Not exactly Nate Davis numbers.
Today is the Spring Equinox, one of two days each year when black and white share equal billing o’er the earthly sphere. Tomorrow, white will nudge into the lead and maintain it’s preeminence until September 22, when black will regain the lead and this hopeful whimsy will not be useful to note. For now, though, we’ll go with it. “Here comes the sun, doo n doo doo, here comes the sun. And I say, it’s alright. Doot n do doot n doo doo doo …”
Haven’t found any news on the Geoff Schwartz visit who is actually a younger version of Asam Snyder. Both can play OT/OG
about the same height and weicht
and both were Pregon Ducks.
We need to sign a couple of OL just to rotate for the OTAs and training camp as Snyder is gone and Rachal is gone (I hope)
I am also curious what the preseason schedule will look like
The Raiduhs game is postponed indefinitely and I’m not sure if
they would play the Aints bases on last year’s preseason game and that we play them in the regular seaon.
Most likely San Diego and Denver for sure for travel and rpbably KC and Dallas as neither is on our schedule and they’re the closest.
Regular season finalized schedule still a month away from being revelaed.
We should find out soon if we are interested in Mike Wallace.
Moss, Crabtree, Manningham, and Wallace sounds a bit crowded to me.
Plus a couple of draft choices.
Despite all the WR’s we’ve signed, we still don’t have a speedy field stretcher. If Moss is the player he was 5 years ago, then I’m wrong, but I very much doubt he is. Crabs and MM are both more possession guys.
I’m not saying we need to sign Wallace – not sure I want to give up that first round pick – but we still need another good WR who can stretch the field.
A crew of good WRs is a nice crowd to be around! Where is Sngletary, get him away.
Skeebers- You didn’t mention Kyle Williams. Have you kicked him out of the crowd?
No, I didn’t want to complicate the numbers this early in the morning. Kyle might end up as our KR/PR – or not.
I was thinking more about the 4 big egos that would be fighting over the ball.
I don’t think Kyle Williams will be returning punts for the Niners anytime soon.
I remember in a previous game he was short hopping some punts near the sideline. The color analyst made a comment that he was taking huge risks for an extra five yards.
That ball that hit his knee was totally inexcusable and more than a brain fart.
Kyle Williams might have learned his lesson and might never fumble another punt return. The thing is if he does you’ll beat yourself to death as the coach and the magnitude of what he did is tough
to forget.
How about Wallace for Crabs….and throw in a 2nd, 3rd or 4th rounder…. then draft Fleener with our 1st….
Pete Carroll is a dumbass. What would make you say this after the fact?
“Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle quotes Seahawks coach Pete Carroll as saying Peyton Manning reached out to the Seahawks while figuring out which team to join. Carroll: “He had contacted me about wanting to talk about coming here. By the time we got down to where we had our chance he had already set his sights on going in the direction wound up going, with Denver.”
Pete’s huge ego just couldn’t resist. Otherwise there is no point in what he said. It’s like telling your wife I could’ve cheated on you and when I decided to do so the other woman had moved onto someone else.
Skeebs
FYI Niners re-signed T Gooden to a 1 year contract so he’s staying.
I had an inkling they had, but was too lazy to look it up. Should have known you would.
How has CK been “loudly” anointed? By whom? I think it is a bit too early to know what the heck he could be and I certainly wouldn’t judge it on a few PS games following last year’s massively long OTA’s and training camp. IIRC, our PS OL performed variously as a sieve, colander, etc. AS’s PS QBR was a meager 48.1 also coming with zero TD’s and 2 INT’s in 14 less PA. CK’s RS QBR was much more impressive — 81.2 (on 5 pass attempts!) And have I mentioned how much I hate stats — in particular, the QBR?
If CK is not a world better than Nate the Great, I’ll be surprised, and more than a little disappointed considering his place (and our cost) in the draft. But last year’s PS, coming on the heels of the lockout shortened…everything, is not much of a body of work.
Things are now as they should be, or at least how we all predicted, hurt feelings aside. Smith goes into TC as the starter — we all expect him to do better. We expect the same out of Kap and Tolzien too. And for good reason. If Alex goes down to injury, seeing some real potential from CK (or ST) will make us all feel a lot more comfortable.
Virtually everything written about the Smith contract issue the past week and a half has mentioned that he is just a “bridge” to CK, how highly the 9ers think of CK, Manning is a better bridge than Alex, CK should take over now, etc. I’d say that qualifies as loud.
I agree CK’s body of work is too small to judge, which just points out that nobody actually knows how he’s going to turn out. If he can’t read defenses or stay calm in the 4th quarter or make good decisions, he’ll go the way of all the other big arm QBs.
If they do somehow get Mike Wallace, I think they’d trade Crabs immediately.
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Cappy has been annointed as the next big thing because the Niners didn’t feel as if they needed to lock down Alex for a 5 year deal. They in the least wanted to keep their options open. Since there was little market for Alex, that’s how this worked out. A the Niners showed, they would have been fine going with JJ as the placeholder til Cappy is ready next year.
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Is their trust in Cappy warranted? hard to say, but they are around him a lot more than we are. On a side note, I have a friend in Reno who saw a ton of his games and said the guy is a pretty phenomenal player. For what that’s worth.
The Associated Press reports that Smith’s new, three-year deal will pay him $8 million a season but as much as $33 million overall and $16.5 million guaranteed.
Too bad Albert went away and missed another red ass moment. His 1 year at $4 mil seems to have missed the mark.
Sean Payton suspended one year. Mickey Loomis 8 game and $500,000 fine. Saints fined $500,000 and a second round pick in 2012 and 2013.
Wow.
Ny Jets have just traded a 4th round pick for Tim Tebow.
Gregg Williams suspended indefinitely.
Wow indeed. That’s one heavy lowered boom.
I’m glad I’m not a Jets fan. Or a Jet.
When you’re a Jet,
You’re a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette
To your last dyin’ day.
From Barrow, here’s what the AP says:
“The Associated Press reports that Smith’s new, three-year deal will pay him $8 million a season but as much as $33 million overall and $16.5 million guaranteed.”
Here’s what my prediction was:
“4 years 37 mil and…14 mil guaranteed.”
Pretty close. Anyone closer? Do I get to win anything?
Yeah, once the original offer came out, and then Flynn signed for what he did, the Niners had to up it some.
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In the end, no harm no foul. Smith got his salary bump, and the Nines got their 3 year deal.
33 has to be with all incentives… possibly including some rather unlikely ones. 8 million per year base, maybe 9 if Alex gets us to the playoffs seems most likely. 10+ if he gets into the Pro Bowl and wins a SB. If he didn’t get any Pro Bowl consideration last year, even as an alternate, after half the 49ers’ starter and ST were one or the other, the Pro Bowl will be difficult. Still, it’s hardly terrible for a guy who had precious little outside interest to give him any leverage.
You win the undying respect of your fellow bloggers barley . . .
Tebow to NYJ may fall through . . .
He’s going to StL?
Barrows poll: Asked the question, “Are you happy Alex Smith is back?” in a poll this morning. Results: yes, 86%; no, 14%.
The no voters were probably having a wake on the ledge with Dennis and didn’t respond.
Or, as my mom ws wont to say, never underestimate the stupidity of the public.
Check the tape but when they first announced it over a month ago I said the Aints would pay serverely and Spitoon said that this was much ado about nothing and the Aints would win their division again.
The Aints just lost their head coach for the year and their assistant head coach for 6 games.
The other shoe will drop in a week or so when some of the 22 players get suspended with Vilma probably out for the yaer.
When you get caught lying and you deny and try to cover it up and they find out the penalties probably triple in severity.
Goodell is making an example of the Aints. They are lucky they only lost 2 #2 draft picks.
Smith spoke to the media in a conference call
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/61555/smith-wont-have-to-compete-vs-manning
He said he was told personally by Baalke and Harbaugh that the Niners were going after Manning
and they left the contract on the table for him to accept and never pulled it.
Remeember when Spitoon said the Aint’s bounties never happened because he heard Darren Sharper interviwed and denied it.
Darren Sharper is in hiding and too bad he’s retired or he would be suspended. Sharper was more interested in finding the “rat’ or the “the stooge” that talked.
Oh, and Dennis dropped me a line today, Chuck. He is bummed out but he’s okay. Said he’d be around as the draft gets closer. Probably does not want to listen to Twinfan’s crap right now though.
Geoff Schwartz just commited to the Vikes for one year. Still looking for Snyder’s replacement.
Damn. The Achartz isn’t with us . . .
Maiocco is now reporting that Alex Smith’s contract is $24 mil with $9 mil fully guaranteed and another $9 mil in incentive bonuses.
If Niners really want to groom Kaepernick to compete in 2013 he needs to play and throw at least
100 passes this year under fire.
Maybe Harbaugh puts him in at the end of the 3rd quarter with a 2 TD lead to run the offense and not just hand off and kill the clock. Backups need quality playing time to challenge.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Source-49ers-raised-Smiths-offer-slightl?blockID=674522&feedID=5936
The Niners should look at Eric Steinbach for RG. He was making good money with Cleveland but was hurt last year but expected to be OK in April.
Some comments from the Brown’s fans about Holmgren and Heckert
“Look at all the Cleveland hopefuls giving thumbs down for the truth. H & H dropped the ball with RG3. No quality free agents want to come here. Mario Manningham insulted us. Flynn says out of the three interested teams Cleveland is ranked 3rd. Existing loyal players get shown the door and slapped in the face on the way out. Cribbs wasn’t too happy before his contract. Now he holds his tongue.”
“the 3 stooges in Cleveland Moe Holmgren, Curly Heckert and Larry Shurmur aren’t even making it look like they are earning a salary! Horrible and continued disasters in Cleveland!”
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Sounds like Niner fans just 2 years ago. The first fan said nobody wanted to go to Cleveland.
Holmgren is treading water and he’ll be canned within 2 years.
A lot of posters wanted the Niners to hire Holmgren but it’s hard to duplicate success with a different frnachise and cast.
Barley-
I had a pretty lengthy salvo with Albert a short time back regarding the pending Alex Contract offering.
Here was my official prognostication –
‘Again, if 15M/yr is avg, I’d think Baalke made an offer at maybe 60-75% of that. 8-12M/yr?
From that, I’d guarantee 15-18M.’
As for Tebow to NY?
J-E-T-S Yuk Yuk Yuk.
Can’t wait to listen the AM WFAN NY drivetime airways.
Gonna be relentless.
Boomer and Carton, NYJ guys both, should be drinking heavily tonight in preparation for the Gang Green assault on Sanchez and Jesus in Cleats as the answer to all things QB.
Santonio and Tebow? Oh No.
Should be entertaining.
I think Alex Boone plays ROG.
Well, Tebow may end up at TE if anything. Wildcat? Does anyone run that anymore?
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Or are they going to go single wing?
Talk is the Colts draft III . . .
If you believe SWAG . . .
The bigger question is whether Tebow can exist in the turmoil that pervades that Locker Room.
Those big dollar guaranteed contracts they’ve dished out handcuff them from unloading the malcontents without cutting their own throats.
Perhaps Rex and Tannenbaum are hoping Tim brings some much needed ‘Divine Intervention’ to the situation?
Looks like we’ll be drafting a WR. Mike Wallace told us he wants more than Larry Fitzgerald. Next!
NoFear- I’m guessing you are predicting we are going to re-sign Chilo Rachel if you are saying he will start at ROG over Boone?
A NoFear prediction? Zounds! He’s making a move on the vacant Albert podium.
Berger
You are absolutely correct that Wallace just sealed his fate with the Niners. $15 mil a yearis too much. At least he didn’t ask for Megatron’s $18.8 per year.
What do you think about playing the better RT between A Davis and Boone and shifting the loser in the postion battle to RG?
I know NJ was talking about drafting another OL in the first round but I worry about paying 4 #1 draft choices on your OL in a few years.
I’ve often wondered if Staley would not be better at guard, with Davis and Boone at tackle.
As for Wallace, good luck with that. The Broncos have enough cap room for a crazy deal like that; not too many other teams are even going to consider it. I might have bit for what we paid Alex, around 8 to 10, but not more than that. He is good, but not in the Fitzgerald / Megatron class.
At this point I’m happy to look for the BPA and rack them up. Maybe a guard in FA if one falls into our laps, but otherwise it’s on the draft.
Yeah, I think we’re good to go at WR for now. Let’s see what we can pick up in the draft.
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NoFear, the question isn’t why does Tebow catch so much heat for his religion, it’s more along the lines of why should a guy with such mediocre numbers even be considered a viable QB? I mean, if he wasn’t so outspoken about his religion, would anyone care about his mediocre play?
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Godless media?
And, NoFear, stop me if this has happened, but name another player who bought ad time before a Super Bowl to espouse his religios views.
Skeebers- I thought the same thing the moment I read it. “Holy moly, NoFear made a prediction.” With predictions like that one you can see why he is reluctant to do it much!
In other other words, if Alex Smith was as outspoken about his religion as Tebow is, would that make him a better QB in your eyes?
Berg: Ouch!
Reggie White caught heat when he said during free agency that he would ‘go where he was needed most’ for his ministries. He went to the mean streets of Green Bay Wisconsin instead of the yellow brick road that is SF or Philly. Talk about laughable. He went for the money, plain and simple.
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There’s nothing wrong with being a preacher or vowing to help the disadvantaged, but to be a sham is something different.
Bullit — re: Boone at RG, here’s a read from some guy named darkhorse from MB’s blog. Seemed logical to me.
“He doesn’t have the bulk to play RG which in most cases is the “mountain of a man” type of guy. Alex Boone is Joe Staley with less athletic ability. At 6’8 305 he’s just to lite in the shorts to play RG. Kicking Davis inside and starting Boone at RT could be a possibility although I doubt they’ll do that at this point. Davis seemed to improve as the season went on and is a mauler.”
Never a dull moment
You might be shocked who was identified as the snitch
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/shockey-hits-back-at-sapp-over-accusation-in-saints-bounty-case/
San Francisco free-agent offensive guard Chilo Rachal visiting Rams.
PFT’s mock has some suprises
starting st the top. Their pick for the Niners INO is a reach.
Five receivers taken befor Niners pick according to this mock
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/2012-mock-draft-take-one/
NoFear- Kilgore is another option. Boone looked good in relief last year so I went that way with my prediction. I could be wrong, but I have No Fear of that!
TE Coby Fleener just ran 4.45 40.
Too funny. I posted this morning on my blog that the Niners might take a shot at David Wilson, RB from VT.
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I’m still hoping for Fleener.
NoFear, why are you comparing Tebow to Mike Nolan?
RB may not be too far-fetched for the #1 pick, Bullitt. Gore is almost running on borrowed time. Hunter is a nice change-of-pace, but I don’t think he’s an every-down back like Gore was.
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‘He needs to work on some things.’
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Understatement of the century, NoFear.
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I don’t begrudge the guy anything. If he can keep improving, and get a grip on playing QB, sure. He may become serviceable. He should pray to get as good as Alex Smith. On the other hand, I think his hyping of his religiosity has propelled him into a much higher circle of influence and stature than is otherwise warranted.
Yeah, Tebow looks bad all on his own . . .
I give him 2 years before he’s out of the league.
looks like I just jumped on the Coby Fleener band wagon that NJ has been driving through the neighborhood lately!
I was saying Fleener before Sanu or Jeffery. I think the hybrid
3 TE sets are the future because most dbs are too short and LBs too slow.
David Carr must have some pictures
that he’s using to blackmail a GM.
Based on his stint with the Niners
I just ask why? Eli won’t play forever so why don’t they start grooming someone. David carr is just stealing here.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/david-carr-will-back-up-eli-manning-again-next-season/
Sorry guys. My ISP had some problems and the site was down for an hour or so (I think).
Ted Ginn has been re-signed to one year contract.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any dumber…
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/pat-robertson-a-peyton-manning-injury-would-serve-the-broncos-right/
RELIGION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL!
If as ISP crashes in the foret and no one notices, does it make a sound?
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Still kills me that Ginn’s injury turned out to unhinge the season.
Signing Ginn to as a kick returner is a great move and solves an otherwise big need.
I was worried he would ask for too much $$$ because he wanted a bigger role as a receiver which he needs to earn.
However I think just 2 yaers ago when we had 4 or 5 different people back there muffing punts.
Ginn is very good with ball security (knock on wood).
Rams pick and sign G Quinn Ojinnaka over Rachal
49ers have signed QB Josh Johnson to a two year contract.
That could slide Kaepernick down to the #3 guy.
Or unseat Alex for those inclined toward such dreams.
RELIGION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL!
Excuuuse Me, but dang Here I thought I was a card carrying member of the Church of Monday Night Football. (old line from the 80s)
I practice the Church of Football every week-end in Autumn.
If you think about it, there isn’t much difference between being a football coach and running a church. You need a solid plan and have all the answers. What’s the difference?
JJ replaces Tolzein for now.
Bergs good question. Right, no difference functionally between da pastor and da coach. For many da NFL and their team IS their religion. Not that they will admit it.
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Really it’s jest the “old religion” that annoys folk so much” da Tebows, da Robertsons. But their team? Why hell no. Well maybe da Cows, da Giants. I could see that..,
New post is up.