Since it is a slow news day, I figured I’d take a page out of the ‘What the Hell Were The Niners Thinking’ department, and take a trip down memory lane. Most Niner fans know of this debacle, and some don’t. We flashback 15 years ago to 1991. The Niners announced Carmen Policy as the new team president, and for some reason decided it was time to spruce up the Niner logo, did they ever. Not sure whose idea it was (hopefully they were fired) but they unveiled this new piece of crap logo that looked like a 3rd grader made it using nothing but construction paper. Anyway lets just say that the logo wasn’t a hit and Niner fans voiced their displeasure. 24 hours later the ’one day’ logo was no more.
I think we all need to take a moment and thank everyone of those fans that voiced their concerns. I know I thank you.
Next up: Lawrence Philips.
Deion Sanders taking it to the house
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Video compiled by Matiby (Mayhem)
With the CBA still in limbo, the current NFL Salary Cap sits at $95 million dollars. At this time the 49ers are $17.5 million under the cap, with a million of that due to the release of Plummer. If a new CBA is reached, (John Clayton is reporting he expects it to be done within 24 hours) the new cap figure is estimated to be between $102-$107 million. Thus putting the Niners in this range: $24.5-$29.5 million. So lets hope Clayton is correct and a new CBA is done soon. $24 million will certainly make this free agency an good one.
Simple as that. The Niners need to draft Vernon Davis. I have been on the AJ Hawk bandwagon since the end of last season, but after hearing more and more of Davis, then seeing his combine numbers. The Niners need this offensive weapon. For those living in a cave or under a rock, Davis destroyed at the combine coming in with these numbers:
Measured in at 6’3" and 255 pounds and ran the 40, per a league source, in 4.38 seconds. 4.38 seconds for a Tight End? You have to be kidding me. I say the hell with the defense. Grab ‘The Duke’ at number 6 then look for defense in Round 2.
Lloyd tendered top level, Dorsey tendered low, and Nedney signs.
According to Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, the 49ers are not letting Brandon Lloyd go anywhere.
The 49ers will tender Lloyd, the team’s leading receiver last season, at a first-round level, coach Mike Nolan said. The move makes it unlikely any other team will attempt to sign the three-year veteran. Lloyd will receive approximately $1.6 million next season if he signs the one-year tender with the 49ers.
If Lloyd signed an offer sheet with another team, the 49ers would have the right to match. If they declined to match, the 49ers would receive a first-round draft pick as compensation.
Other Niner Notes:
Quarterback Ken Dorsey, will be tendered at the lower figure, Nolan said. The 49ers would receive a seventh-round pick as compensation if another team signed Dorsey to a contract the 49ers declined to match.
The 49ers have reached an agreement with place-kicker Joe Nedney on a multiyear contract that averages $1.4 million annually, according to a league source. The deal is expected to become official on the first day of free agency.
The 49ers will not make much of an effort to re-sign fullback Fred Beasley, Nolan said.
Who’s primed for a Break-out Season?
By Avo Arikian
Before the 49ers roster starts changing dramatically in the coming weeks and months, it’s good to take a look at some of the guys who are currently on the team that are the most likely to have much-improved seasons next year. Here’s the top five:
1) Brandon Lloyd, WR
I’m going to assume he’ll be back under a one-year tender. With unrestricted free agency at the end of the tunnel, expect Lloyd to do everything within his ability to bust out and have a huge year. Besides that, though, Lloyd has made consistent strides each year, despite playing in rocky situations at best. You don’t have to like his game, but you do have to agree he could very well go for 1000 yards and 8-10 touchdowns if things fall into place. And that’s why this team can’t afford to lose him – not until it can find something better, at least.
2) Shawntae Spencer, CB
Spencer quietly had a much improved season last year. He had his rough moments, no doubt, but even without a lot of pass rush and safety help, Spencer showed flashes of ability no other Niner CB has shown in years. Two of his interceptions were clutch ones in the end zone. Another helped seal a win against Tampa Bay. And he was able to take his interception against Tennessee to the house on a 61-yard return, which dropped the jaws of most fans. His 15 pass deflections were among the tops in the league. If Spencer gets a little help from his pass rush and works on dealing with the deep ball, he has scary potential.
3) Frank Gore, RB
If he stays healthy, there’s no telling what Gore can do once the team gets some semblance of an offense around him. With almost no passing game to speak of, and without huge running lanes most of the time, he managed to put up 4.8 yards per carry, something no other rookie back with over 100 carries was able to do. Truthfully, Gore would be the #1 guy on this list were it not for the questions about his durability. He’s simply a speedy 210 pound bowling ball with excellent vision. The ACLs look alright. Keep those shoulders healthy and you’ll be the man, Frank.
4) Justin Smiley / David Baas / Adam Snyder, OL
Yeah, I just lumped three players into one group. But I really feel they’re all poised to take their place as very solid starters along the line. Smiley showed more and more ability as the season went along and certainly wasn’t the liability he was in his rookie year. He has a chance to be a very good left guard should he continue to improve at that pace. David Baas took quite awhile getting adjusted, but was pancaking defenders by the end of the season, and will be an absolute bull when he fully understands his role. The offense finally looked decent again later on in the season when Adam Snyder settled in as the left tackle, and he’ll be a solid, hard-nosed player somewhere else along the line this season.
5) Arnaz Battle, WR
Battle didn’t have the year the team hoped he would, but they did see enough in him to extend his contract and secure his place with the team. Battle’s in a very similar situation to Gore, where he just has to stay healthy enough to remain on the field. He morphed into an extremely tough possession receiver this season, very much in the mold of Hines Ward. However, he has some run after the catch ability that the team needs to take advantage of. He showed plenty of it in the couple years prior, but was mostly getting hit as soon as he caught the ball this year. If he can stay healthy and Norv Turner gets him the ball in favorable situations (including gadget plays), Battle will be one of the more valuable players on the team.
Rattay audibles at the line of scrimmage then goes deep and connects with a diving Brandon Lloyd for a TD.
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Video compiled by Matiby (Mayhem)
Adam Caplan of Scout.com is reporting that according to a league source, this may be the final year that TE Eric Johnson wears Red & Gold. Johnson is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2006 season. The 49ers would like to find a new tight end to take over the position this year, but need to keep Johnson around as insurance since he still is by far their best receiver at the position.
Here are some of the plyaers the Niners have spoken with at the combine, and other notes of interest that deal with the Niners.
Chad Greenway/LB/Iowa
San Francisco 49ers were his favorite team growing up because of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.
Bernard Pollard/S/Purdue
Has interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers
Michael Huff/S/Texas
He said most of the top 10 or 15 teams have shown an interest
Ray Edwards/DL/Purdue
He followed the 49ers growing up and that would be incredible if they called on draft day.
Highlights of the 2004 Defense.
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Video compiled by Matiby (Mayhem)
No not Chad Stanley…Montavious Stanley
During his NFL Combine interview, Louisville DE Montavious Stanley said the San Francisco 49ers have shown an interest in him. >> Full Bio
(Source: KFFL)
The Niners have won the coin toss against the Oakland Raiders to determine who gets the 6th overall pick in this years draft.
Clip of 2005 #1 draft pick Alex Smith.
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Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye
With the deadline for salary cap compliance looming, the 49ers finally cut their ties with high-priced, oft-injured cornerback Ahmed Plummer, the former first-round pick from Ohio State who played in only three games last season because of an ankle injury.
Already unpopular with coach Mike Nolan, Plummer’s $25 million contract signed in 2004—which included an $11 million signing bonus—also made him expendable. He was scheduled to earn $5.5 million in base salary in 2006.
The motives behind the moves were purely financial, Nolan said Thursday. Plummer in particular never was healthy enough for Nolan to evaluate him as a starter, the coach said.
‘...Durability is part of the kind of player you have," Nolan said about Plummer. "You just don’t evaluate the type of player on the field only. If a guy is not on the field very much, it is a huge chunk of the evaluation.’
Dennis Georgatos, writing for the Sporting News, reports San Francisco 49ers MLB Jeff Ulbrich (biceps), who missed the last 11 games of the 2005 season after tearing a biceps tendon, says he’s nearly back at full strength. Ulbrich has resumed light weightlifting and running and has regained full range of motion in his surgically repaired arm. He expects to participate in the 49ers offseason workout program beginning March 20.
(Source: KFFL)
