Jim Harbaugh has repeatedly said all obstacles can and must be overcome, but this could be getting ridiculous.
After the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the NFL’s stay Monday, a doomsday scenario – no minicamps and an abbreviated training camp – became more likely.
The 49ers, you might have heard, would appear to be at a distinct disadvantage if the lockout lingers deep into the summer or beyond: First-year NFL head coach, first-year NFL offensive coordinator, new offense, new defense, 10 rookies and a starting quarterback yet to be officially determined.
A tough spot? Consider that Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the NFL’s second-longest tenured coach who has a quarterback in Tom Brady entering his 12th season in New England, is preparing to possibly lop off parts of his playbook due to the lockout.
“We’ll have to take the windows that we have to teach things and try to see how much we feel realistically we can get done,” Belichick said in this Boston Herald article. “Something’s going to have to go, I would think. The progression’s got to stay the same, but the breadth of that amount of installation could be subject to being trimmed back, maybe drastically.”
Gulp.
Harbaugh has been relentlessly optimistic when asked about the lockout and he even seemed to relish the challenge prior to the league’s lockdown.
“There’s something I really like about being in uncharted waters,” Harbaugh said in a KNBR interview on Feb. 18. “… There’s just something I like about being in a different situation, uncharted waters and having to figure it out. So I’m not worried about it. We’ll get it done.”
A month later, at the NFL owners’ meeting in New Orleans, Ravens coach John Harbaugh relayed a conversation to the Philadelphia Inquirer in which Lions coach Jim Schwartz talked with Jim Harbaugh about the lockout’s potential ramifications.
“We were having dinner the other night and Jim Schwartz told him basically there’s no way you’re going to be able to get it done (if the lockout lasts into the summer),” John Harbaugh said. “He told him there’s no way you’re going to be able to accomplish what you need to accomplish in two weeks if this thing lasts a while. Jim just kind of bit his tongue, which is what you’ve got to do in this situation. Because there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Given Harbaugh’s personality, it’s safe to assume he remains resolute and undeterred.
He was known for pulling rabbits out of a hat as a player, but, as he’s noted, these are uncharted waters.
And it appears Captain Comeback, now a first-year NFL head coach, could be facing a deficit before the game even begins.
• The NFL is dark, but it will be lights, camera and action for Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke today.
Harbaugh will be a guest on NFL Total Access on NFL Network at 4 p.m. PST as part of its 32 teams in 32 days series. The series is looking at the 49ers today.
Baalke will appear on CSN Bay Area’s Chronicle Live at 5 p.m.
49ers RSS feed
This really sucks because I don’t think anything will get done with regards to the CBA until Mid to Late July. That doesn’t leave alot of time to get the team battle ready for the season.
I put the blame entirely where it belongs, on Jerry Jones, Dan Snyder and owners like them. The greed-crazed monsters are unable to compete fairly, so they want to destroy parity and simply by championships the way the Yankees do.
Odd you should mention Jones and the Yankees… they’re in bed together in a business deal (to screw their employees over, no less!)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/in-nfl-owners-enterprise-nothings-free/2011/05/16/AFW4gD5G_story.html
This is where Alex Smith’s high IQ comes in handy. He’ll pick up the playbook quite easily without tutoring. In this situation, the smarter you are, the better off you’ll be.
I don’t think he has ever had a issue learning the playbook. Knowing the play and executing the play are two entirely different things. Executing the play at a high level takes practice, time and chemistry with his receivers and backs. It will be a good test of Harbaugh’s NFL coaching chops right off the bat.
The positive side is the NFC West is terrible. Every team in the division is going with either a new starting QB (Seattle, Arizona) or coordinator (SF, STL). Obviously progress will be slowed, but it’s not like there is an established power house in the division with years of continuity on the roster. Everyone is kind of playing with the same hand of cards.
OK – label me naive – but to take up where BigP left off, I think we will be OK – after a fashion. As stated, our division contains no juggernauts and ALL teams will be in a “crash” mode. I think that two things will factor in if this does indeed drag out: I wouldn’t want to “guess” how many play books were actually handed out in that narrow, but legal, window when Alex and company got their’s. And secondly, as much money as is involved in this business, and as heavily as coaches and players fates rely on success, there are ways to get things done that may be in slightly “grey areas” but there are ways – and people will figure out how to negotiate the road blocks (i.e., think cut-outs, people out there with football acumen that are NOT in a teams employs).
Let’s face it, when it comes to matters where the almighty buck is in play, us Americans can be amazingly creative. There is ALWAYS a way. Always!
Agreed…I think the NFCW is a 25% chance for any team to win this year. We also didn’t get any favors our way having to play the NFCW and AFCN, possible the 2 best division in the NFL…back to back 7-9 division champs?! hooray…
Word during the brief window of football before the lockout was reinstated had Hasselbeck returning to SEA, and AZ is looking like the front runner to land either Kolb or Palmer. New OC’s don’t matter when the QB has talent. Steve Young had four OC’s in his first five years of professional football.
Translation: Seahawks get their starting QB to return, AZ lands a capable veteran to go with their stud receiving corps, and the Rams have NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford, who out played Alex Smith the 2nd half of 2010.
The good news: this could really help the 49ers in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes in 2012. I guarantee, if the 49ers are sitting at no. 1, Kaepernick won’t even be a consideration.
BW:
If the team almost won the division with Dingleberry in control then there is no reason they shouldn’t be a game or two better than last year. Hasselbeck was horrible last year outside of one wildcard game. Bradford will be learning a different offense this year. Arizona has lost quite a few key players since their run a couple of years ago. Everybody has question marks, but I wouldn’t say anybody has an advantage.
“New OC’s don’t matter when the QB has talent. Steve Young had four OC’s in his first five years of professional football.”
-He also had a 13-23 record after his first five years of “professional football.”
If you are going to read the Boston papers, read the Globe, Herald is the local tabloid.
Shaughnessy, Tonr Massarotti and Bob Ryan are good read.
They do something that you do that I admire. When you guys write a story you refer to yourselves as ” this reporter”.
Not like Cohn or Kamakazi( sp?) that mention themselves in third person.
I absolutely cant read either one of them anymore. They think that THEY are the story as oppose to reporters. They are insufferable.
I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of Cohn and Kawakami. They are truely unreadable.
Have to disagree with you on the Globe though. It’s a rag just like the Herald. I wouldn’t wrap dead fish in either of those papers for fear of contamination.
As usual, you have no idea what you are talking about.
Boston Globe is revered around the country by the people in the know. They are owned by New York Times and New York Times doesnt deal with rags. They have had 4 sports writers in the last twenty years alone that made the hall of fame ( Peter Gammons, Will McDonough, Bob Ryan and Jackie Macmullan).
Their journalists are nominated for Pulitzer prize on regular basis and they win their share ( Charley Savage,Walter Robinson,Smee and Feeny, just to name a few).
They are the ones that broke the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic church in the U.S.
I am sure that you’ve never seen a Boston Globe let alone ever reading one, I assume you made a comment just to hear your keyboard.
Seriously? Someone disagrees with you about a newspaper and you respond with such vitriol?
There was a time when the Globe and NYT were real newspapers. That time is passed. There was a time when the Pullitzer wasn’t for sale and the winners dictated by the guys at Columbia who have been corrupted by George Soros and his money. That time is passed.
Shaugnessy, Bob Ryan?? Really? Both those men are hacks. Gammons is the only one worth a damn. Ann Killion is a better writer than all of the men at the Globe save Gammons.
Milligan is an excellent writer but I disagree with her quite often. I still enjoy reading her work though.
I was quite shocked with your response but I should have expected such venom from a person filled with so much vinegar. Perhaps you can call Massengill and get the cure for being a Bag.
I have zero respect about your comments.
Please realize that and stop commeting on my post.
Just go back to your redneck newspapers in Houston and be happy with the track-pull results.
Really , I am done with you
And who the f is Milligan?
What the hell is a track-pull? You don’t have respect “about” my comments? What the hell does that even mean? You don’t know Milligan and you call me a redneck. She’s the former political writer for the Globe that took the fellowship at Harvard last year.
It always amuses me when PRICKly guys like you from Bah-stun want to act intelligent. You just go right ahead and enjoy that 6oo Sq foot apartment that looks like government housing while I enjoy my spacious home on a few acres for which I pay less than half of what you pay. Keep thinking people that live in the South are rednecks. That means people like you from Bah-stun – where segregation by choice still exists – don’t know how good we have it in places like Houston.
You know, that just reminds me how much I hate Boston and all of the Massholes.
The players practicing by themselves, need to get their butts in gear. The team needs the whole starting offense in there running plays, and studying film of Stanford last year. The agents need to find temporary coaches to help the younger players and rookies make the transition.
The problem is if someone gets hurt they are S.O.L. because the injury would be listed as a non-football related injury and they would not get paid. Many of these guys don’t even have health insurance currently. I wouldn’t step anywhere near a field with other players under those circumstances, way too much at stake-although I understand where your coming from.
Sammy Moore Jr.,
Why do you insist on filling up half the page with your awkward, pretentious, nonsensical writing?
Gabe,
Why the hostility? This forum used to be filled with venom, but now, it’s pretty much a thing of the past. Don’t agree with someone? Fine. State your case. A post is too long? Fine. Scroll down.
Problem solved.
Perhaps I’m a bit on the hopeful side, but I believe that if I were on the existing roster, or rookie roster, right now I’m busting hump with everything I’ve got. The only thing missing would be pads. This IS the OTA’s. Hofer put a nice post yesterday as to the changing complexion of the NFL ownership circle and their machinations, we KNOW who the bad guys are….about a billion $ short. For some of these guys, this is their only chance to play on Sunday. I don’t think that any of the players are ‘vacationing’. This is just plain stupid….for both sides, by both sides.
Got that right, Oregoniner. Stoopid, with an F!
If I had my way, the two sides would be forced into binding arbitration, with a little wiggle room. That is, I’d give them Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to sit together and come up with a fix for this problem. If they couldn’t do it, then they go home on Thursday, and Friday, you bring back your very best offer. The other side will do the same. The arbitrator picks one. He can’t mix and match, he just picks one. That’s how you assure a reasonable proposal from both sides.
Work for you guys?
I don’t believe OTAs would have started yet. If they had, it would be voluntary, I believe (except for rooks). I found a link regarding the pats offseason key dates from last season and the first mandatory mini-camps didn’t take place until mid June. So long as they’re working out and studying the playbook, that should be fine for now. The big thing they’re missing out on is direction from the coaching staff regarding the nuances of the system.
I think even if they were able to do some kind of OTA, they would have to severely limit what they could do. Who would cover their injuries?
Call in Larry the cable guy….and getter’ done.
Bet they get it done middle of June. In the meantime, players are getting a true rest from the game which could be a good thing for all…
Players are being led by an utter moron guys, demaurice is that crazy ex girlfriend you just couldn’t get rid of! It is killing me that the Niners aren’t able to build on the momentum of the Jim signing!
Canada, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of D. Smith. I believe he is standing up to the bully NFL. The owners and players have a partnership. If your partner asked for an extra billion dollars, refused to share financial information with you, and wanted you to work more days, would you blindly accept the deal? It’s his job to make sure everything the players have gained over the years isn’t lost. The NFLPA is already the weakest union among the big three American sports (not sure about hockey’s situation).
I do however agree that this is hurting our chances of taking advantage of a great coaching hire this year.
Highpriest, I must point out that by definition the owners are only partners with themselves. There is no partnership between the owners and the players. The owners own the league and the players are employed by the league. Prior to where we stand now, there was simply an agreement between the two parties, it was no partnership. Therefore as an employee it seems to me that you are not necessarily entitled to full disclosure of the leagues finances. I concede that the players have considerable leverage because they are highly skilled and near impossible to replace. They have created great value for themselves through their proficiency and it gives them negotiating power but it does not make them equal partners. I’m not always a huge fan of deep pockets and big business, but it was the owners investments in this league in it’s infancy that created this cash cow. Let them collect their return on investment. On that note, the only players I believe are getting the short end of the stick are the ones who helped build this league on their backs, not the golden boys of today’s NFL.
On the issue of Demaurice Smith, he most certainly is part of the problem. He is a lawyer… Lawyers are paid by the hour for their services, the only people who stand to gain anything positive from a long drawn out legal battle are the lawyers. I’m guessing it was a lawyer who suggested that the best way to solve this dispute was in a courtroom. How is that working out for us fans?
Shoeboy – The players make the ultimate investments, with their bodies. Many players have to deal the physical consequences of their careers for the rest of their life. Sometimes the results are deadly (Dave Duerson). Also I would submit that although the individual players are contractors, the players as a collective are in a partnership with the league. That is why when you see a broadcast, or play a Madden game, you see the logos for both the NFL & the NFLPA. And yes D. Smith is a lawyer, but how many lawyers does the NFL have. Don’t forget the players went to court to dissolve the lockout. The owners appealed to have it reinstated. This is not a strike. The players want to play, many are practicing on their own. The players are showing their commitment through sweat and pain. The owners are just giving lip service. Judge a man by his acts and not by his words. Negotiations could have continued without locking the players out. However, the owners planned this power move years ago. The players of the past fought for the benefits today’s players have (under the leadership of Gene Upshaw). It would be disrespectful to their predecessors, for the players of today to give back all of their gains. Also, the golden boy moniker doesn’t apply to all players. The average career for a player is less than four years. I believe the minimum salary for a roster member was 310,000 last year. Thats around $800,000 career earnings after taxes for many players (giving a high estimate). Many of these players are the first to earn large wages in their family. So they help support those around them, draining their resources further. Owners earn for life, or until the sell. The owners aren’t loosing money, they just want more of it.
Disagree with you Priest man! You don’t have to see their financials to know the owners are not doing that well. The dynamics have changed without government funding for stadiums and the introduction of psl’s are a necessary evil. The owners offer did nothing to hurt the players ability to earn salaries except try to put a limit … A large limit so they could plan for salaries. You have to admit, saying he owners offer was the worst in the history of sports was an utterly insane statement by dee and his scarface and going to war references are outlandish!
No gov’t funding for stadiums? Huh? Well… technically you’re right, it’s actually the tax payers who are paying the majority through the gov’t… Good read:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/in-nfl-owners-enterprise-nothings-free/2011/05/16/AFW4gD5G_story_1.html
The owners have been planning this lockout for three years. F the owners.
shoeboy:
“I’m not always a huge fan of deep pockets and big business, but it was the owners investments in this league in it’s infancy that created this cash cow.”
The ORIGINAL owners, sure. I agree completely. However, the majority of the current owners had nothing to do with that. Many inherited their teams, others bought their teams once they realized that the NFL was just that – a cash cow.
If the owners can lock out the players then they are a monopoly and have colluded to make the decision to lock the players out. The govt should revoke their antitrust waiver status. Why should they get a free ride?
Shoot, it was the initial owners along with PR, who by the way was a marketing and brand guru. He negotiated the first network contracts and put the NFL brand out there to build upon and where it is today. If PR was still commissioner, with his clout and respect on both sides, he would have had this thing settled. He would know there will be no winner by keeping it in the courts. Someone will have to ultimately give in and there will be bitterness (fans, owners, players) that will permeate throughout the 2011 season and into 2012. Not good for anyone.
DeMaurice Smith just needs to stick to making those sour beer commercials.
Hey Canada
agreed 100%… this signing of Harbaugh and staff should be the biggest signing since Mike Ditka’s “white haired guy”….we should be glorying in this instead of playing deck coits with the billionaire’s club. Loan it to ‘em NIKE…”JUST DO IT !!”
I have to agree with Big P, I think the Niners have as good a chance as anybody to win this division. First of all I think they have the most talented roster except Qb. The best qb in the div is Bradford but has anyone seen the Rams 1st 7 games on their schedule? If their not 1 and 6 I’d be shocked.
This is what happens when the Union decertifies. Anyone blaming the NFL only need to look at the move the NFLPA took to see how they could be locked out legally. That’s what you open yourself up to when you decertify to bring a lot of little lawsuits against a big Corporate monster like the NFL.
It’s the TEAMS that owe the players. Not the entity. I find it laughable that the players want the NFL to open their books. The NFL is only a custodian of the funds that are distributed to the players. That’s how they can fine the players. But being that the NFL is a bonafide charity contributor their books are open to the Government. If they weren’t above board you can bet the Government will have noticed any improprieties in that regard.
Personally I think that it’s time to start testing these players for PEs’ regardless of their issues. This is something they are obviously fighting against regardless of what the Reps are crying about publicly. More than a few times players equating their situation to slavery. To me that’s more than a little disrespectful to anyone that lived in that kind of environment.
If the players want this over and done with they should just ask for the NFL to return to the best offer that was on the table and get it done. There is no way to beat a corporate giant when you’ve shot yourself in the foot before day one. Still probably would not have won but they would have been in a much better position had they not decertified.
Good job NFL owners. A weaker product will bring in less revenue, guaranteed. A shortened offseason will mean sloppy play and lower fan interest. The owners’ grab for a bigger piece of the pie reassures the public that they have no business in financing future private stadiums with public funds; contentious relations with the players can’t be good for business; missing games will cost serious money; creating a market for alternative forms of entertainment (EPL, UEFA, NBA) will cut into revenues; my wife may get used to having my attention on Sundays. Basically, this is costing us all. Stop the madness, end the lockout, and pay the poor guys who won’t walk right by their late-thirties.
Jsteez
‘very good point…a weaker product will not bring in more revenue. The problem that no one seems to recognize is that despite it’s popularity, the strongest support group is us, those who have been following our teams since and through the 40′s, 50′s, 60′s, etc and so on. Those of us who have experienced the highs and lows and just want to see our teams regain their elevated status and swagger. I want to see the game won or lost on the field…NOT on some bean-counters 9-key. GIVE US OUR DAMN GAME BACK!!!
One more thing…it disturbs me to see my fellow posters taking for granted that the NFC west is akin to rookie league. Please don’t think that the hawks, rams and cards didn’t improve also. No matter that we have a stronger team….They do also. To think that we improved and they didn’t….C’mon, that’s high school stuff.
Until Alice Smith is replaced, the upcoming season will be doomed anyway. I don’t care how great of a coach Harbaugh is; until Smith is benched, the Niners will never be any better than average.
That comment was very compelling! BTW, who is Alice?
Backed with pure facts. Thanks for the insight, I had never thought about the situation in that light.
Shootme… thanks for the laugh.
Is there a new womens football league? Most of us aren’t in 3rd grade anymore. I bet you make millions betting since you already know what will happen this season. Share some knowledge instead of insults.
Hmmmm. …sounds like an increasingly more level playing field from that perspective. I mean if the almighty patriots have to strip down, and the 49ers are having to start new, this in a way seems to even things out just a little.
of course the major difference is the experience TB and BB have in the NFL and it puts not only the 49ers but many other teams at a disadvantage when compared to the pats.
When Jerry Jones bought in he was looked upon as a fool, now he is one of the most influential owners, why? IMO two reasons, the first is value of the Dallas franchise and second Jimmy Johnson. The message these non-negotiations are giving is that the greediest owners with the largest cable coverage have the most say.
I’ve read where some NFL player took out a loan at 23% vig and more players are doing the same. That sounds like the beginning of the end. Management, until the last couple of years, believed that concussions were a non issue. Johnny U was basically crippled the latter part of his life and was denied compensation by the NFL. The only way you’ll see change in ownerships attitude is if the fans stop going to games and discontinue their Direct TV subscriptions.
Speaking of direct tv. It pisses me off that I can’t get the NFL package on cable.
One of the wealthier 49ers need to step up. Richard Seymour is funding a 4 day camp for the Raiders. Complete with coaches, trainers, and nutritionist. Most of the team has confirmed. We should never get out classed by any franchise.
It would need to be either VD or PW – they have the biggest contracts and can afford to foot the bill.
I was thinking the same two guys, although Alex still has a lot left from his rookie contract.
Well, Alex Smith signed a $50 mil rookie contract and another $10 mil a year last year . I think he could efford couple of meals at Sizzler ( are Sizzlers still around ? we dont have them in Boston area).