Here’s the article I wrote for the Tuesday’s Santa Rosa Press Democrat. It’s about the Niners free agency situation. They believe they’re a Super Bowl team, so what they want to do is keep what they have and resign their core players. Pro Bowlers Carlos Rogers and Dashon Goldson are two of their most key guys, and they’re going to want a lot of money. The Niners may be able to sign just one of them. I wrote my article on that dilemma. To read it, click here.
Polls
Loading ...
49ers RSS feed
Sign em both!! Use the Franchise tag on Goldson and re-sign Carlos now while his emotions are high! If we let Rogers hitthe FA market then no way we sign em both, but if we ink him ASAP, then tag Goldson to work outa long term deal, then next year will be SB!!
Oh, BTW, we need to include a contract clause for Goldson that penalizes him for knocking out his own team mates!! Don’t hit the guys in the Red Jersey’s dude! Especially when they’re intercepting the ball!! Can’t believe everyones down on Williams when a lot of our guys made mental errors that wound up costing is the game. Just a little too big for us this year, but we will be back and we will win!! Whatever it takes right Jed?!?!?!
Are you blaming goldson for what happen to brown? i hope not
I think he is, and he’s correct. It’s the safety’s responsibility to avoid his cornerback.
Rogers, without hesitation.
BOTH!
As for 49or69 all the time’s comment on Goldson,
I hope you were kidding. He was trying to make a Play.
This was an inexperienced play off team and overexcited. They made errors because they are human being. It was sad that 49ers lost that game but I am very optimistic about the future of 49ers. Its our good luck that both the offensive and Defensive Co-ordinators are staying and I believe 49ers will find a way to sign majority of our unrestricted free agents. Our player know that they are just one step away from winning a Superbowl and I have every reason to believe that majority of these will sign contracts to stay as 49ers.
Go 49ers.
These two players must stay with 49ers; they are very competitive and we need them very much.
Here’s something a little different. I got to the game early. I set up my camera equipment and waited for players to come warm up on the field. First came the kickers and long snappers.
Got to see some of the guys close up. Culliver looks big and imposing. Hunter is very bulky for his size.
Finally the QB’s come out. The first thing I noticed is that CK’s delivery has gotten very smooth. He throws are on a rope and he has the tightest spiral. He was off on his own throwing fade routes to the new receivers. He also threw a couple to KW.
On the other side you had Alex and Jim Harbaugh. They take turns throwing different routes to receivers. I’m not talking about one or two throws, Harbaugh is out there for a good ten minutes throwing with Alex. Almost like competing with him. And what shocked me at least on this day is that Harbaugh was the most accurate of all the QB’s that afternoon during warmups. Even more accurate than Tolzien. I just couldn’t tell why he was out there. Was it because he misses the action? Or because it was part of a pregame competitive ritual he and Alex engage in. Anyway, it was interesting.
utube it
we will make our own opinions
Not video, still pictures.
Are you the former Telecat?
First off, good observation.
I get the impression Harbaugh will compete at anything at all. (breathing, blinking, eating, throwing, etc.) He’s also a believer in the “iron sharpens iron” philosophy. It doesn’t surprise me at all he was out there throwing “against” Alex… unfortunately, it doesn’t surprise me he was more accurate either. 0_o
LMAO.
The real question is whether or not Press Democrat resigns Grant Cohn. What’s your starting point Grant? 5 yrs, $60 millin? You’re still young and got a number of good writing years ahead of ya.
This space is a stepping stone. He’s young, he’s pretty and can’t possibly be beat.
Won’t be hard to retain both if the Niners really want too. The franchise number for a safety is not a crazy amount. Franchise Goldson and focus on Rodgers. Brooks could actually be harder to resign. He had 7 + sack season is great against the run and is young. All teams are looking for guys like him.
I think we spent well below the cap maximum so there should be plenty of money to sign them both as well as Alex Smith.
Plus the playoff run should have helped Jed’s cash reserves.
I’m more concerned if there’s enough money to sign a decent wide receiver. Braylon was a bust (maybe the only offseason mistake by Baalke) so we still need a good one and not a marginal player like Swain, Hastings or Williams.
And here we can compare to the good old days under Eddie D and one reason they were so good for so long, NO SALARY CAP!! If it were yesteryear under Eddie D. he WOULD pay them whatever it took to keep them here. But now, in part as a reaction to the spending of Eddie D. we have the salary cap. Harder to keep everyone you want. That’s why as we all know New England is so amazing. I sure hope we keep Costanzo and Spillar. They should be pro bowl players on special teams!!
If it’s a reasonable contract, Rogers. The problem with Goldson, is he’s a SS playing FS. I’m not saying I wouldn’t resign him, just not for huge $$.
Goldson is so intent on blowing ball carriers up, he gives up too many big plays for a FS, IMO.
@exgolfer
I agree with you about DG.
He tends not to wrap up the offensive players to often for me to feel safe with him as a FS.
Agree with some other guy on here. Franchise tag on Goldson if we have to. Rogers should be willing to resign on his own accord.
Time to get some creative financing. Maybe they can reach out to the ex Enron accountants for help.
Just kidding. You need to start with resigning Rogers. He is too valuable because he fills an area of need for them, and it is easier to develop a safety than a corner. If you can get that done then you go to work on Goldson and use the Franchise tag if necessary, although that might be a hefty price to pay.
agreed
We haven’t paid big money to anyone on offense. We don’t have an elite WR, RB or QB. The good news is that we are not paying elite money to any of them either. VD has the big contract on the offense. Pay the money to the defense and keep it intact.
If we are going to throw any money out to the offense, save it for a wide receiver. However I believe that if we do get a playmaker big bodied receiver it will not be through FA, it will be through the draft. KEEP THIS DEFENSE TOGETHER….
Goldson is a top priority, IMO. Don’t know what team you guys were watching this year based on some of these comments. A SS playing FS? Not even. Goldson has excellent range. Just look at how he baited Drew Brees into a int when we played the Saints. Look at the near two picks against the Giants where he was right there as the ball arrived. FS is hardest position in the secondary to find talent. Goldson fits our scheme and is still young. Don’t hold the fact that he hits like a ton a bricks against him. He is a very good FS. Sure he needs to work on form tackling but those hits send a message. They are tone setters, just ask Mike Williams. WRs and RBs know when they play us, they are going to feel it. And he will only get better the more he gets time with Donatell and Fangio. Baalke knows whats up.
Rogers thrived in our scheme but I don’t see him returning for the years he wants. He said he wants a 5 year deal. That’s not going to happen. He will be 31 at the start of next season. We have a stud in waiting in Culliver. T. Brown has turned himself into a legit starting CB. Brock is young and improving. We have needs elsewhere also. WR and resigning Brooks is also a must. No way should we give a 31 year old Rogers top CB money after ONE good year. At least Goldson has another good year in ’09 under his belt so you know this year wasn’t a totally fluke. I rather us get younger and go after some talented, young guys who fit the scheme. Terrell Thomas or Brandon Carr would fit in nicely here and won’t demand the contract Rogers will. And both will be turning 26 next season. I appreciate all that Rogers did for my Niners this year but you have to think about mutiple SB runs in this situation, not just next year. Make it happen Trent….
Rogers got torched for 124 yards by an undrafted free agent WR in the biggest game of his life. What I am saying is, he is not worth the money.
I’d offer Rogers 2 years 15 million. Take it or leave it. Goldson is a big hitting safety with range. He hits so hard that receivers have been short arming catches the last two games. Guys like him don’t grow on trees.
Did you say or was it 23J that on Sunday you went to the game and witnessed the WR’s, specifically Crabs was getting open and Alex did not see him open?
Rogers got torched by 124 yards but then made adjustments and completely shut him out in the second half. I mean, COMPLETELY.
He was, BY FAR, our best DB. Not only in INT but specially with lots of pass defended.
We really need to re-sign him.
I hope we can work something out to 4-5yrs but only 2-3 guaranteed. That would be money very well spent.
I agree on Goldson over Rogers based on age and likely contract size, but in either case, it has to be a reasonable contract. Frankly, they’re both excellent,, and it’d be great if we keep both. Personally, I think Goldson is the ideal safety – tall enough to cover big TEs, fast, ballhawk, plays the run well. For CBs, I’m a fan of youth over experience. Draft and develop more Cullivers and Browns…
All non-bandwagon fans remember how it was last year when we had no pass rush pressure… all the DBs looked bad. Now we have JSmith, AlSmith, McDonald and Brooks getting after the QB on passing downs, and all DBs look better. The Giants CBs weren’t great, they just didn’t have to cover for more than 3 seconds on most plays.
I agree with the resigning of Brooks.
It would be nice to have them both back, but if we are going to bring in some receiver help I think we are only realistically going to be able to sign one of them. If that is the case, I’d pick Carlos Rogers.
The defense carried this team all he way to the championship game. Baalke should do whatever is necessary to keep this defense together.
Pick up just a a bit of help for the offense in the draft and this team can compete for a Super Bowl berth. Heck, if the offense can just convert two 3rd downs per game instead of only one they might make it.
give carlos a 4 yr deal.. then he will be 34 when playing under his last year of contract.
He has said that he wants to stay in SF, and also made the comment
that he would even take a little less $$$.
Goldson fits the 49ers personality of big hitters. They have them up front, in the middle and on the back end. One thing I am leery of is giving big money to anyone past the age of 30 that is not a QB. Rogers has the right build for covering the slot receiver position, he’s lean and quick. If the organization thinks Culliver is the genuine article Rogers walks.
I just read an article that said that the Giants were aware of Kyle Williams’ concussion issues and knocked him around early and that it paid off later. Either way, my take is that he played an undisciplined game and discipline is what Coach Harbaugh teaches. I think he should be dropped sooner rather than later to help erase the memory of that game. Also it sends a clear message to the entire team if you can’t protect the ball, you’re gone.
Just relax on KW. He’s a 2nd year guy, filling in at a position he doesn’t normally play, in horrid conditions. He’s a slot receiver, and we need a guy with his abilities on the team. Dude was playing well (as a receiver) up until the last game. I certainly don’t recall anyone warning about the risk of KW returning punts before it happened. If you doubt that he’ll be a better player because of this, then you probably don’t understand what it is to be a competitor.
The Niners don’t have to cut Williams now. The need for wideouts won’t allow him to make the team next year anyway. He was last on the depth chart already. Even he can see the writing on the wall. He knows he won’t be on this team next year. If he is, then our wide receivers will be as bad as they were this year.
23J were you at the game Sunday? Did you post that the WR’s for the Niners were open and AS just didnt throw them the ball?
When you are in your 60′s and 70′s and followed the team for over 50 years you see very clearly there are not many shots. America’s game has a nice scene where Tom Rathman narrates a sequence. He was fumbling during his rookie training camp, Coach Walsh tells him, this isn’t college, you’re not on scholarship we don’t have to keep you.
Coach Walsh had a sign in the locker room, “Protect the Ball”. In the business world if you make 4 mistakes on a million dollar deal, you’re gone.
This is going to be a tough one for Baalke. Goldston is going to want 35-40 million for about 5 years. Rogers is going to want 40-50 million over 5 years(or more). We need to bring back A. Smith, Costanzo, Spillman, and Snyder. Cut S. Spencer, M. Norris and C. Rachal. We need to have some money to look at some potential free-agent wideouts. V. Jackosn, D. Bowe, M. Colston. And then there’s the draft… which won’t cost us as much money as previous years b/c we won’t be picking in the top ten this year. We NEED a big play wideout on the outside. Size and speed. Break out the money for V. Jackson, Goldston, and Rogers. Get the rest for bargains(b/c their not pro-bowlers). Use the draft to add good depth. Make anothet run!! Go Niners!!
+1, though resigning Rachal as cheap depth works for me. He’s young, held up well in short stints late in the season, and should be the first extra OL in the run-heavy formations because of his power.
Grant,
How does the 9ers salary cap position look? Is it feasible to sign both guys and pick up a decent free agent wide receiver?
They are 30 mil under.
Cb’s have more value period!! On a football team the pecking order is, QB, LT, CB, WR, pass rusher, RB, and the rest……I might even switch WR with pass rusher.
They need to sit down and ask them if they want to be a part of something special. What the difference in 2-3 million to them? Add incentives to make up for it to the end of their contracts so if they’re still producing, they get paid and we’re still getting a good deal.
@big niner
Generally I think your list in order is accurate.
But I would put WR now 3rd. The Giants nor Pats have a great CB. And the Pats don’t have a great pass rusher. But both teams have great WR core.
A decade ago your order would be accurate, but I think the rule changes have moved WR in top 3 status now.
Our glaring need for WR’s puts this at the top. The Patriots arew a prime exmaple of not needing high drafted Wr’s and in some cases they’re undrafted. Wr’s can’t throw the ball to themsleves so that position is high dependant on someone else. A pass rusher, rushes and if he’s good to beat a double team then he’s great on his own. A CB is often on an Island by himself and a Great one ( Deion) sometimes doesn’t even need to join the huddle, lol just cover!!!
Hihihihihihihihi..
Sign Josh Johnson. I guarantee it.
lolololololololololololol..
Never happen. I guarantee it.
Hofer,
Don’t be so sure. If you think this last performance from Smith put him over the top, you should think again, I hear everyone crying about Crabtree. I ask you to look at the last 1:47 in regulation. Blame that series right there on Crabtree. Smith threw it at Crabtrees feet when he was coming back to Smith for at least a 9 yard game. Take another look at the 2nd down bullet at Crabtrees ankles for 5-6 yard gain. Then watch the 3rd down pass with no pressure that he threw to nobody across the middle near Delaney Walker.
Crabtree is feeling the same way Braylon Edwards felt. He feels like he wasn’t put in a position to make plays in that game. Crabtree has had that frustration for several games this season. His teammates know it and JH knows it.
Talk about bringing wide receivers in here. A true number 1 will have to come from the draft. No quality free agent is gonna come here to catch 2-3 passes a game for 27 yards. Smith still has accuracy issues and 1 good game does not make him a world beater. I hope JH does bring in Josh Johnson here to challenge Smith. iron sharpens iron right? Almost every time Smith has been challenged for his starting position, he has lost it. Let’s see what happens. It will be interesting to see what that contract extension is.
I think we need to keep both but still draft a DB in the draft. Our secondary was much more improved this year by two things 1 Adding players like Roger and 2. The coaching.
unless cover corners and young, big-hitting safeties with cover skills grow on trees, we need both.
this is one of the reasons why a team has to capitalize on those few/fleeting chances to get to and win a Super Bowl: success is costly. you find out the players you love are loved by others. so they get bid away, and you lose coaches. this is the next challenge for Baalke and Harbaugh, but based on what we’ve seen this year i’d bet they are up to the challenge.
The Niners will make reasonable offers to both guys. Then each of them will decide if they want to be part of what is an excellent defense and team or be selfish. If they chose the latter, I would prefer that the selfish guy go away.
This business of doing what is right for their families is hogwash. That is not a consideration when the difference is between $10M and $12M. What is best for their families is to live a stable life and pursue values which are higher than money.
Ego is why players go for the higher bid, not family.
It’s difficult to look at an inferior co-worker or competitor who you know is being paid more than you. Same goes for guys making $5MM/yr
As soon as Mr. Ginn was injured and probably not going to play I had the sinking feeling Mr. Williams would be our achilles heel. At Arizona he did not secure the ball for his team and the scouting report on him coming out said he was reckless with the ball. I knew he would turn it over once in the game but the boneheaded act of not getting away from a bouncing ball was IMHO unforgiveable. Your primary job is to secure the football for your team. SECURE THE FOOTBALL>I would cut him and I would make signing Mr. Ginn a priority along with Brooks and Goldson. Rogers in my opinion if the price is right.
Signing DG is a must. He is young, fast and a big hitter. I would be happy to see Rogers back but a five year deal might be too much unless we structure the contract with more incentives in the third and the forth year. I also would like Brooks to be back as well.
Grant, the Wall Street Journal today has a great article titled, “OK, Now THAT Was A Defense!” Maybe a link to it would cheer up a few Niner fans.
http://tinyurl.com/7h4uzdr
Chemistry is a tough thing to build. The 9ers defense has it and they play like it – top 3 defense. Do everything possible to keep both guys. On offense the chemistry is good but the 9ers need a playmaker at WR. Based on what AS has done with VD, a top WR from a bad team knows how far the 9ers have come this year. He (FA WR) would add value immediately by helping this team in its weakest area, could make a name for themselves on a very good team, and help this team with impact yards – all upside.
I could see a scenario where the 9ers sign a FA WR and draft a WR although may not be tier 1 1st round guy. They were close and the org knows what is missing.
Special Teams coach Brad is interviewing for the Colts HC job tomorrow.
Remember how Vernon Davis came to this team. He had a hard time catching the ball but kept working at it on his own time and now he is better. I wonder if this is what needs to be done with Williams. He needs to hire someone to help him practice securing the ball. The kid has speed and I would hate to lose that if all he needs to do is work out securing the ball. The other thing is don’t let him return kicks or punts. maybe we draft someone that is a ST guy that can back up Ginn at any time needed.
Might take heat for this but oh well, If amount not blaming KW for the loss and I think those whoare blame him are very near sighted.If believe this moment was too big for him, the coaching staff should have recognized that fact early on, that is their job to recognize such things, KW hasn’t documented issues with returning.This is alston what happens when there are injuries, its football.he is young and will get better and is a valuable receiver, just nothing a Punk return guy, IMHA.
Can’t spell today, not blaming him, I believe the moment was too big.
I think Goldston in the game went for the ball, hes trying to make a play on the ball, it was just that the CB’s made a great move for the ball, it was just bad luck, but he should be re-signed, him and Whittner are solid at the backend and boy can they hit.
As for Wr’s there some options out there, Mike Wallace, D. Jackson, Vincent Jackson, D. Bowe and M. Colston. So there are some options out there, to add they need to spend money because of the new cba rule to spend about 95% of the money, not sure about the exact percent, so they should be able to re-sign and sign freeagents, as long as they dont over pay!
A lot of people think Culliver is a top notch DB prospect. I don’t know, I get the idea he would be a serviceable DB but not necessarily top notch. Maybe I’m not seeing it in games like the rest of you. He does make some good plays but he also doesn’t play the ball at all. A few times I’ve seen him stride for stride with a WR and the WR makes the catch simply because Culliver doesn’t know what to do when the ball arrives.
Like I said, I could be wrong here. He hasn’t really impressed me much. Maybe I didn’t watch him close enough.
Also, was it me or did it seem the the game was too big for Andy Lee? First time kicking in the playoffs and he didn’t have an Andy Leed type of day against the Saints or the Giants. He was a big reason why the 49ers played so well this year, but he was completely human during the playoff run.
Andy Lee was killing punts in both playoff games. He had one line drive punt in the Giant game. You probably couldn’t tell how well he did in the lion game because our field position was often as poor as the giants was. We didn’t have any real offense. Andy Lee is the best in the NFC and he showed it during the playoffs as well.
I think Culliver is doing a good job, and will get better, he is young, not as flashy as the other guys back there.
Years and guaranteed cash are the keys to these re-signings. Rogers wants four to five years at 30 years of age. I trust TB to keep him for less years but more cash upfront and guaranteed. Goldson and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will “hawk” the mon-ay. Start looking for FAs and hope Reggie Smith adds speed and range and instincts during the off season. Be weary of draft hype from the gurus who hyped up Taylor Mays!
Bay,
The only way a top quality free agent wideout comes to this team is if you pay him enough not to worry about his numbers. He won’t have impressive numbers with this team. That contract he gets netter be his last big contract and he better know it.
Utter nonsense.
If he has the talent, can get his separation, make the catches, he’ll get his yards. Any propsective WR FA’s just need to have a conversation with Vernon.
Any good wide reciever that comes here should get over 1,200 yards. Crabtree got close to 900 without even trying!
I like both players and hope they sign them, it also worries me a little bit with Rogers, I really like him and his demeanor but how often do you see a guy that get’s a contract and then his play is not as good. Also KW will not be with the team in Sept, I give him a football IQ of a zero, who the hell dives for a punt, how stupid is that, then he fumble’s that reverve play and we know about then other two, I would expect more from a Pop Warner player, stay away from the ball if you are not going to run with it, then the deal breaking fumble. The guy needs to go.
Andy lee struggled this post season!!! I don’t know what you were watching. I was at the saints game and might as well punted left footed. Forget the stats/ numbers for a second. His coffin corner punts weren’t there. Line drives were common and he was not himself.
No NFL contracts are guaranteed, just the signing bonus is. I hope these players really want to a part if this and other players see it and want to join the party. Hopefully they will join at the right price.
This coaching staff is changing the culture. You know this staff is working hard now as we speak.
Don’t be surprised if all positions are open for competition including the QB position. I want to see what our staff can do with a full off season.
Is Josh Gibbs a free agent?
How about getting a big, fast TE and regularly running 3TE sets? They come much cheaper than WRs… run Gore regularly with the 23 formation.
Mix it up and bring in KH with 3WR sets (VD, plus Morgan, Crabtree, KW, or new guy). Adding Alshon Jeffrey (or Floyd if he were to slip) is what we need at wideout rather than an expensive 28-30 year old vet.
Can not be content with what you have — gotta keep improving and bettering the personnel. I’m certain Trent Baalke and Coach H knows this. Don’t be surprised if there are many and surprising personnel changes as Coach H continues to build and implement HIS Team and Team Identity ……………….. Go Niners and what’a season!!!
9ersurf, i fully agree. There are going to be some drastic changes that are going to surprise many people. i would not be surprised if they got rid of AS as well as Goldson and maybe even Rogers.
Rogers was not necessarily ‘tourched’ as I’ve been reading. His coverage was actually pretty good coverage. Manning had all day to pass in the first half and his synergy with Cruz is something I wish AS and Crab had.
Exactly, whatever he did at halftime sure worked. Whether it was the improved pass rush or whatever, he shut him down in the 2nd half.
If we keep this defense intact, it will only improve next year!
To be honest i am not sure if we should sign either one of them! Goldson played down in 2010 then played up this year because he was looking for a new huge contract. Yes, he likes to hit but isn’t that football where everyone should like to hit? I am not sure if $6Mill per year for him is worth it or if we should shop now to see what we can find. Rogers on the other hand should go. He will want $9-$10mill per year and will turn out to be another Nate Clements in 2 years. He will want a 4-5 year deal and that will be much too much for his duties. We have pretty good corners with Culliver, Brown, and Spencer and should get another in the draft and another in free agency again. I really do not think we can afford to spend $20 mill per year between them when it was the linebackers and the D-line that created all the interception opportunities to begin with. We should keep Brooks in the LB role absolutely. i would rather have them spend this money on one more “beast” defensive lineman to give Justin a rest when needed and an offensive line that can protect the quarterback better. I personally like Snyder but not sure if he is worth the money he wants but they should let Richal go but they will need another 2 very good O lineman in free agency.
I think signing both are key. The main reason why the 9ers made it as far as they did was because of the defense. Sign Goldson and Rogers. Period. Next situation. Do whatever possible to keep this defense in tact.
On the WR situation, I would target Colson. This guy is the business!
And if they don’t sign a WR FA but the defense is in tact, the 9ers will be in the mix for six next season!