Here’s a very interesting tidbit from the great Mike Sando on Trent Baalke’s free agency philosophy.
Sando asked Baalke at the Combine when is the right time for an NFL team to spend a lot of money on an outside free agent? And here’s what Baalke said:
“There’s reasons why we don’t do it and I’m not going to get into those reasons of why we operate the way we do. It’s just our own philosophy. But if you are asking me when is the right time, I don’t know that there is a right time. It is really an individual question for the 32 people making the decisions across the NFL for their own team. … The model that we use isn’t much different than certain other people in the National Football League that have been successful. Does it guarantee us that we are going to have success? Each year is a new year. But we’re going to be very consistent with how we operate.”
So, the Niners do not invest heavily on outside free agents as a rule, according to Baalke. Good to know. That declaration rules out the top available wideouts for the Niners – Mike Wallace, Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, and Stevie Johnson.
Last year, their biggest free agent splurge was Carlos Rogers, to whom they gave a one year, $4.25 million contract. They also signed Donte Whitner to a 3 year, $11.75 million contract. It appears Baalke feels most comfortable offering around $4 million per year max to other teams’ free agents.
Here are some wide receivers the 49ers could sign for that kind of money:
- Plaxico Burress – Would have to agree to a cheap, one-year deal. He’d only play when the Niners were near the opponent’s goal line.
- Pierre Garçon – Not tall (6’0”), but he’s young (25) and fast. May want more money than Baalke is willing to give.
- Mario Manningham – Probably will want more money than Garçon, so he’ll probably be out of the Niners price range. He’s on the fringe, though.
- Robert Meachem – Big (6’2”) and fast and relatively young (27). Like Garçon and Manningham, will probably be paid No. 2 receiver money on the market, which may be more than Baalke is willing to spend. But Meachem would probably be the cheapest of those options.
- Laurent Robinson – Big (6’2”), young (26) and he caught 11 touchdowns last year (11). The Cowboys say they want to re-sign him.
- Eddie Royal – Would be a replacement for Kyle Williams and/or Ted Ginn Jr. Caught 91 passes as a 22-year-old rookie four seasons ago. Also returns punts and kicks.
- Reggie Wayne – Old (33). Still one of the best receivers on this list. May be willing to sign with the Niners for a shot to win another Super Bowl.
Would you be satisfied if the Niners 2012 wide receiving corps consists of Michael Crabtree, Joshua Morgan, one of these free agents, a second or third round draft pick and Ted Ginn Jr.?
To me, that seems like a mediocre group.
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I think it is a huge projection to rule out all of the top FA WO candidates. If Baalke has proven anything it is that you cannot project what he will do, not that he has proven he won’t go after talent.
I totally agree Richmond,
Until the dust settles after the FA period nobody knows what will happen including Baalke. Besides…what’s he suppose to say right now?
funny how Grans say 6′ not tall , but 6’2″ is Big i guess when your hung like a first grader 2inches is Big
Braylon Edwards? If healthy is there any chance he comes back on a 1 year deal? Obviously the production wasn’t there this year but if they aren’t going to spend big I’d rather try him again over those mentioned above
You’re joking right?
Just… no.
Could’t agree more. In addition, at the #30 slot it appears unlikely we will find anyone who will be able to contribute much in the 1st year. Must be holding out that a healthy Morgan and a motivated Crabtreet can get it done. All in all, who am I to argue with Balke?
Randy Moss, Anquan Boldin & Marques Colston would like to have a talk with you.
I like the addition of Plaxico Burress. Also Grant, he would definitely play the entire field and not just goal line offense. He’s a good down field blocker and great for Alex as a big target on 3rd down conversions. Right on par with how the 9ers operate.
then they should have got him for the last part of last season and given him a test drive …. even if he ended up being a decoy
Evidently you haven’t been paying attention to Baalke’s Philosophy the past couple of years.
Plexico is old & Baalke want’s to sustain a Young Team so why would he spend any amount of money on a WR that will be done with the NFL in less than 2 years? That makes no sense.
While I don’t disagree with you f49er, I wouldn’t write off Burress just yet. In football years, he’s a little younger than his age and with Crabtree, Morgan and Kyle Williams, there’s plenty of youth to rely on him chiefly as a 3rd down and goal line option. At 6’5″ he may be the tallest free agent WR – and we’re looking for height. Baalke flew Burress out for a look last summer. He may go cheaper this year and we’re a more attractive option. It could be the right price for the right team.
No one can really say what the Niners will do. A lot of people thought that they’d be big spenders last offseason, but they weren’t. I think it will come more down to who fits the team-first motto.
seems like a medicore group cause you just ruled out the best receivers first off. we had crabtree williams an swain with ginn playign soemtimes last year at the end of the season an still went 14-4 to the NFC champ game. are you telling me that after getting morgan back puttin ginn on returns, getting a tall free agent and drafting one we wouldnt have a TON more production. be realistic. we did it with barely any receivers this year just getting morgan back with double our production just think if we had vincent jackson or another tall guy lining up…our offense would finally be as scary as the rest of our team
Here’s the thing… despite having claimed prior to last season that his 49ers would “make the WR position relevant again,” Harbaugh didn’t support the comment in the way many fans anticipated. However, if you ask opponents’ defensive coaches whether our WRs excelled, they would unanimously say YES – in blocking for the run game. Who’s the last great WR that Harbaugh threw to as a QB or coached, at Stanford or in San Francisco? There isn’t one. Why? Because Harbaugh doesn’t value the position as much as we do, at least for the reasons we do.
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So, is Alex incapable of throwing to WRs, are our WRs horrible, or, …….. , does our all-knowing HC just not believe that these guys really matter all that much? We’ll have our answer in the next two months, but it’s at least worth pondering, given Harbaugh’s manifest disregard for WR production in the traditional sense.
pondering pondering pondering
Dunno about 2 months but it’s way too early for a conclusion on this. Misconception by the fans that just because they hear JH is bringing back the WCO, they’ll see players that look like Montana-Rice-Taylor. Not so. It’ll be a return to offensive unpredictability and drives, taking what the defense doesn’t expect. Smith, Crabtree and Morgan are still questionmarks for the future but this season will determine their fit for the system by the chemistry they attain.
The Niners are sticking to their philosophy, this is the secret to their success. I can see them making a big move before they move into the new stadium. This will cause more buzz and sell more Stadium Builder Licensing Seating or known in the street as Gimme The Money Sucker. Check out the article by Troy Aikman and the demise of the NFL, it shows how greed brings the sport down from its’ pedestal.
Back to the team, Pierre Garcon looks like a steal.
Though I loved this year, I don’t believe ONE season defines a trend, let alone a philosphy. Let’s hope everything works as well this year as it did last. No sophmore jinx please!
It was a great year, though the end will always leave a bitter taste. I think the organization is following the guideline not to overspend, which works.
Thats very true and the media is guilty of labeling some things as trends when having a very small sample size. However, from what I hear from Baalke and Harbaugh I think the 49ers are trying to establish a trend so I would expect them to treat the draft and free agency the same way they did last year.
Manningham would be a good pickup, and I’m not so sure Stevie Johnson is going to get as big of an offer as he is expecting so we might be able to pick him up for relatively cheap too. I don’t like Baalke ruling out the expensive free agents though, Wallace is a top 5 wr and you aren’t likely going to get a better contributor at 30.
Jed got the cheap gene from his Dad.
And you got the Stupidity gene from where?
I like Laurent Robinson! Draft Fleener, resign Morgan and Ginn.
Agreed, Robinson has the biggest upside of all the other 2nd tier FA WRs
my buddy is a cowboys fan… i asked him about robinson, and his take is that he had his biggest impact when romo scrambled and coverage broke down. he wasn’t running good routes and getting open the traditional way. seems more like a flash in the pan, though he’s tall and fast and looks good on highlights and paper
IMHO, you’re on the right track, MontanaMan. I don’t know about Robinson or any of the other wide receivers, but I believe Harbaugh wants Fleener and that getting him will be the main focus. Harbaugh will be assuming that he can further develop Crabtree, Morgan, and, yes, Alex. If this scenario happens, we should wind up with one of the scariest offenses in the league.
That’s too bad, cause VJax, Vernon, Crab, and Morgan sound pretty good to me! Oh well, I’ll be happy with Garcon and a solid draft as consolation.
Prime Time… how does your comment add anything AT ALL to this discussion? 5 yrs $25 mill for a coach is not cheap. Baalke’s contract is not cheap. Young Mr. Bidwill paid Kolb $60 mill. Prime, be cool. Don’t stir the pot about the kid who just oversaw the firing of the worst HC in history, replaced him with the best HC in the NFL, hired the best Exec in the NFL, and watched HIS team (not yours) go 13-3 this year. Capiche?
Pork,
Don’t waste your time with Stupidity.
Vincent Jackson is trash. Give me Meachem and Garçon.
I’m not sold on Meachem. He hasn’t been very productive in a pass happy offense. On top of that, his production has declined in the past 2 years and he’s never cracked 800 yards in a season.
Garçon, is however, another story. He’d be a great pickup in my opinion. Even with Peyton Manning last year, he was quite productive.
YEAR Rec Yds Y/G
2008-09 23 1.6 5.8
2009-10 47 765 51.0
2010-11 67 784 56.0
2011-12 70 947 59.2
… even with without Peyton Manning …
I wouldn’t be shocked if the 9ers signed two FA WRs. Both RM and PG would be good signings. But my feeling is RM fits the 9ers business plan of not breaking the bank and he has upside. They’ll need to see how competitive he is since that is JH’s mantra. If they sign one of the tier 2 WRs, they can get a bigger WR in the 3 – 5 rounds. Someone like Fuller or Streeter. I’m still thinking they go defense with the 1st round pick and possibly the 2nd round pick (CB and OLB).
Signing two 2nd tier FA WRs might be a likely scenario. I think Garçon can be had relatively cheaply. JH wants competition, so more talented bodies is never a bad thing.
Vincent Jackson is trash… then you follow up with you wanting Meachem AND Garcon. Yeah, that’s a winning idea.
Dummy… Vincent Jackson is trash because he has ZERO character, and that doesn’t mesh with the Team, the Team, the Team. I love his size & talent, but he’s proven himself a cancer, and that’s playing with Rivers under Turner.
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On the other hand, Meachem has made huge clutch catches over the years and Garçon runs crisp routes with great hands, and neither of them has ever been anything but a stellar teammate.
offense simply has to be improved. 3rd down efficiency is unacceptable for a team that wants to win a SB.
WR is a position where we have no impact players
if you dont bring in WR talent, what else are you going to do to improve the passing game?????? :-)
If Mike Wallace is allowed to hit the market and we can get him for our 1st Round pick, that’s is a no-brainer. He is young and is ALREADY a proven, fast, reliable, smart WR. He would be much better than any WR we could get at the 30th pick. If he was 30 then I would understand not going for him. But he’s 26.
However, from the remaining list of players I wouldn’t mind either Manninghma, Robinson or Reggie Wayne, plus someone like Joe Adams in the draft, plus Crabtree, Morgan and Ginn, not too terrible.
You arent just getting him for your first round pick. Youre getting him for your first and paying him as if he were the ~5th pick overall. Whats the contract for the ~30th pick going to run, like 1-2 million a year. Wallace is gonna want 8, 9, 10 million a year money. Its not worth it by a long shot. If you believe in Baalke to draft wisely, couldnt he get a wr in the draft at 30 that would offer more than Wallace, like the ability to do more than run the go route? Michael Floyd is said to be available at that pick, as well as Fleener, both offer very good speed and are big bodied receivers with legit hands. Draft one of them and use that extra cash to resign Rogers/Goldson/Brooks.
Williams is still 10x the WR Ginn is!
waaah waaah……no stevie johnson….waaah
ok so two things pop to mind ….. i am more enamored with the idea of getting one of those FA guards…..and if your logic follows thru then the stanford TE, feeney, becomes the odds on favorite…..just for familiarity of system sake
meant … fleener
I would be perfectly happy with Crabtree, Garçon and Morgan at wide receiver. This passing offense is not going to set the world on fire – it just needs to get a bit better in the red zone and on 3rd down. The defense, running game and special teams will continue to carry the team.
I strongly agree with the philosophy of not paying outside free agents. Look at the Redskins and Eagles. When you bring in an outsider and pay him more than the guys already in the building that outsider had better be great. Otherwise you see a mediocre Babin being paid 10 times more than your star receiver and said receiver giving up on the team.
The most solid teams in the league – Packers, Ravens, Steelers and even the disgusting, hateful Giants – all build through the draft with the occasional low level FA signing. So far Baalke is following that philosophy and I like it.
Have I mentioned I hate the Giants?
Agreed with the exception of the Steelers who recently have a cap issue because they paid some damned good players ( Troy, Hampton, Harrison, Timmons, & the big rush LB from Michigan ). They seem to have slipped over the edge on cap. Pitt always gets back on track and will again.
I don’t think that Baalke’s “Scottish” style is about cheap owners, but more about sustainability.
To answer Grant’s question: I could start 2012 w/ Morgan-Crabtree-Garçon-TGJr-a 2nd/3rd Rd choice+Kyle Williams/or 4/5 Rdr.
If they trade KW, fine, but I’d like to see some value recovered. I mentioned 5 cuz TGJr is a returner. Obviously, they might not keep 6.
Eli is the closest thing the NFL seen to Joe Cool. If you hate the Giants, I hope you at least see what a truly gr8 QB that team has.
If Baalke meant this, then he meant the 49ers are happy being mediocre at WR. I can’t see JH settling for mediocrity. I think Baalke/Marathe/Harbaugh will spend and draft SMARTLY. Such as, let Brooks go to retain Rodgers, and franchise Goldson. With the exception of Edwards, they made great moves in free agency last year and with the Super Bowl in the balance this time, I think they will have a repeat performance.
@porky, don’t get me wrong Jed is doing a great job. What I’m stirring is spend some money on some guys that make you extremely dangerous.
The Niners need to sign everyone of their own free agents and then a starting wide out like Bowe or a why not a run at Mario Williams?
I don’t like what Baalke said that he didn’t know if it ever was a good time to spend. I think to get better from 13-3 your gonna have to spend in free agency and hope to get lucky in the draft. The Niners are right there, they just need another marquee player on offense or defense.
They have several marquee players on D. What they need is a gameplan that uses the RBs in the short passing game a la Craig/Faulk, and a full offseason with real competition at QB/WR/OL. We’ll be fine, with or without Bowe, though I agree adding him would be awesome. Imagine adding Bowe and the emergence of CK7, who runs 4.4 and throws a 70 yard rope! If the O comes together over the offseason, this team will be unstoppable!
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For the record, I want Fleener.
Last year we offered alot of money toward Namdi, but we weren’t an attractive option. We are in a much better position this year. I think SF would offer market value, just never over purchase like the Redskins do almost every year. But I’m still crossing my fingers we get Peyton, who would make any of our wideouts look good.
How do you know how much money we offered Namdi? None of the negotiations were made public. We kicked the tires, the price got too high so we backed out.
Supposedly the Niners were one of the top three bidders, so they offered money. You rookies kill me. Do you really think Baalke is going to tip his hand? If he’s savvy, really savvy, he threw this statement out on purpose. I believe he has a plan. Based on last year, I trust him.
Of course they offered money Bay. They kicked the tires saw the money was getting too high and backed out. What’s your point?
Of course Baalke and crew have a plan. They know their limits and will work up to those.
Bay,
You’ve got this one right, but it’s pretty obvious [which you alluded to, I realize].
BTW, weren’t you blasting Baalke for not doing anything early on in free agency last year? Just asking.
Grant,
I don’t think TB’s MO is “$4 mil max for other teams’ FA”, or anything like that. It seems to me that TB firgures out his idea of the real worth of FA’s he has targeted, makes offers commensurate with that assessment, and no more. I think this approach makes a lot of sense.
>>Do you really think Baalke is going to tip his hand?
I agree with you there, bay. JH isn’t the only guy on the squad who knows misdirection plays.
All Mr. Baalke has to do is carry out his plan and hope it works out as well as last year. He does seem very confident. There are plenty of options for him at receiver and cornerback via the draft and free agency. He’s just gonna let the game come to him and manuever accordingly.
Hey Grant, its probably robert meacheam because 49ers love former first round picks. I read that steelers cannot afford mike wallace. So when the season starts what happens to mike wallace if hes not signed? How can you franchise someone you cannot afford?
i am kind of foggy on an aspect of this idea….
if pitt can’t afford wallace and can’t sign him due to the cap, how are they allowed to get a first round pick for him……
say they have 5 mill left on the cap and another team offers 4 mill then i could see pitt getting a 1st round pick if pitt chose to let him go….
if the other team offers 10 mill then why should pitt get a 1st round pick….
franchise tagging him guarantees him getting what, 9-10 mill, which means they have to clear space for this to occur….
pitt should not be rewarded for having a cap management issue
Something I’d like to say about Pro-sports ownership, Frank McCourt is selling the Dodgers and they’re lining up. The rate I read was 1.5 billion. He paid much less and will make a huge profit after running the team into the ground and using team money for his and his wife’s lavish lifestyle. I’m okay with all that, but what boggles the mind is that he gets to keep the parking concession after the team is sold. His ex is a lawyer, maybe she can work out a deal on the percentage of beer sales.
I don’t think you have that right, Andrew. For the $1.5B figure, the buyer gets everything. That’s the last I’ve heard, although I’ve been on vacation and away from LA for two weeks, so things might have changed.
Bruce Jenkins writes, from time to time, how Giants fans should root fot the Dodgers to become relavent again. I love Bruce Jenkins, but hell no. Let the Dodgers stink for another ten years, then, maybe, I’ll think about being OK with their return to respectability.
Last I read the Joe Torre group fell out of the Dodger bidding due to the parking concession issue. Franchises today use public and private funding to finance their teams. This Seat Licensing is another way to rip the people off. What do the owners think, that they’re selling seats on the Stock Exchange. My relatives shelled out 40k for two seats at Jersey Stadium. If an organization knows they can get that kind of money from whatever they are selling you can be sure they have elaborate plans in the future to get more.
McCourt made all his $$$ on parking lots decades ago. He’s a cunning devil, returning to the well even now!
Yes. Mediocre at best. Sad to say, but WR mediocrity would be an upgrade from last seasons WR corps. That being said, apparently, sub-par WR play didn’t keep us from hosting an NFC Championship game. So Imagine, if you will, our WR corps looked like this:
Mike Crabtree
Joshua Morgan
Robert Meachem?
Ted Ginn, Jr.
and for chits-n-gigs … I don’t know …
Michael Floyd (ND)?
I’m good. Not estatic, but content.
Don’t forget Williams!
Do forget Ginn! Thx.
I will forget about Williams, he will be on the squad when traiining starts but if the Niners play their card’s right, they will have fierce competion in the wide receiever position and Williams will be cut before Sept, Ginn is a horrific receiver but a good return man, took a couple to the house and never fumbled and if the price is right they will keep him.
For some reason I still like Williams. I never got over my hatred for Dexter Carter, so I’m not sure why Williams gets a second shot, but I think he’ll be a tremendous asset for years to come.
Music to my ears,
If signing one of the “top tier” receivers means blowing a large chunk of cap space at the expense of keeping the core of this team together, then we should not even consider it for a microsecond!
Continuity is key, it’s the single most important aspect of creating a perennially competitive franchise! Our Wr’s will improve with continuity, MC will be better, KW will hopefully use his errors in the Championship game as a massive motivation to improve, on top of continuity, JM will be back and better, add a “tier 2″ receiver like Meachem or Wayne, plus getting it right with a Wr at the draft, is the way to go all day long!! Depth kills!!!
Keeping our Defense together should be target no.1, nailing the draft is target no. 2, FA’s a distant 3rd in my book, let the dumb franchises overpay for the moneygrabbers, there will be plenty left to help this team over the top.
I don’t care who you are, how long you have been in this league (or any walk of life), you can get better! you can always get better! (yes i support Alex) didn’t Jerry Rice teach that lesson better than anyone else, time and time again even after he was regarded as the best WR in history he gave examples that he was still trying to improve! never resting on his laurels. This team is only scratching the surface of it’s potential, the biggest danger now is the disease of more, the overblown ego’s! the locker room cancers! pay big bucks now for a FA and take a big risk! Which of course also means if any of our current players contracts the Disease of more, then bye bye! don’t let the door hit your arse on your way out!
Dwayne Bowe, no thanks too streaky, Stevie Johnson!! no way, dumbest thing i saw last season was him mimicking plax’s gun thing, way to blow games stevie, he gave it all the mouth, then dropped game winning touchdown passes!! I like Colston, but not his knees! Wallace is too expensive for the contract, giving up a No.1 and paying the man is suicide!!
So Trent, keep playing that tune! we are in good hands people!!
Id like to say we only need one more good Taller wr. Jimmy runs a 3 TE set so morgan, crab man, and a reciever aroun 6-3 ish for the goal line. davis amd walker makes the passing game better and helps the running game. walker was hurt in the end of the season making him not 100% when we needed him a little more, and we have to bring back rogers. Gohlston will get to much money now that the 9ers were better and we can draft his replacement in the 1st round.
quick note: The seachickens lost the coin toss and will draft 12th instead of 11th, bwahahahahahahahahah
Hey grant….. What about brandon Lloyd? He’s not big but he is “slinky” like when getting open. He’s got great hands for alligator arms. Not tall but has good leaps and big play ability. Just wondering if the niners go cheap. Would he be another maybe?
…of course NOT….dummy
Niners had a chance at him this season, right when Edwards/Morgan were gone, and let him go to division “rival” Rams. That should tell you everything.
Mj…. That doesn’t say everything. The 49ers aren’t big on interrupting chemistry in the middle of the season.
And look at the biggest loser on here calling someone dummy. After all “nobody fears Aaron Rodgers” right? One idiot.
…….you big putero rican dummy…….”The 49ers aren’t big on interrupting chemistry in the middle of the season”……WRONG.
…they let go BE who had built somewhat of a chemistry with Alex…..they also signed Brett Swain in the middle of the season……
You’re both dumb f-ks. It’s Puerto Rico, not Putero Rico
Did they sign a free agent that wasn’t on the squad? You fn moron! Did they go after T.O? Or Moss? The names that were out there. No you idiot. Stick to Alex smith. Didn’t think it was possible for you to be any dumber. I was wrong!
Brett Swain wasnt on the squad. They brought in a few wr’s as well who “werent on the squad”, put them through a try out and went with Swain. You have no argument, Lloyd isnt coming back and never will. They didnt want him last October when they needed him, they dont want him now when the market is much more stocked with FA wr’s and the..dun dun dun..Draft.
@Grant:
I don’t know that I would use Baalke’s approach last year as a blueprint for the 49ers’ future actions. With the lockout, abbreviated free agency period, nonexistent OTAs, and abbreviated training camps, 2011 was an anomaly.
The glass-half-full part of me says that Baalke correctly read the landscape last year and selected a plan of action best suited to that landscape. Because the landscape is different this year, Baalke will adjust accordingly.
It doesn’t mean the 49ers will overpay or spend lavishly on other teams’ free agents this year or any year. That approach has pretty much proven not to work, particularly when it comes to building a team for long term success. I just think that last year’s plan of action was last year’s plan of action, and not necessarily the 49ers’ plan of action for every situation.
@claude
I know. We are all just assuming that TB won’t go be in FA based upon last year.
But 1 year is not a good sample size to judge future events from. And, we do know that TB went after the prize last year in NA, and the Niners were in the running for quite awhile there. Had they gotten NA, then TB would have the history of going after the big names.
If Niners had gotten Nnamdi, they still would have been under the cap! $15M under the cap and a fumble away from the Superbowl last year. Keep that in mind. Niners are in the catbird’s seat here… if they WANT to compete in FA, they have enormous capacity to outbid the competition.
I dunno Claude. I felt that Baalke waited for the market to come to him last year rather than chase the market. I don’t necessarily think that Baalke won’t go after a big name free agent but I do think he’ll be patient. His approach last year was to let the market settle down and then find players at a price point he felt was appropriate.
In a way, Baalke played the free agency market the same way Harbaugh plays offense. Take it easy, don’t rush, wait for the other guys to make mistakes. Boring but efficient. I see that continuing this year because it seemed like more of a philosophy than a reaction to the weird post-lockout market.
TB let the market come to him only after the 49ers lost out on Nnamdi Asomugha and Johnathan Joseph.
Reports are the 49ers’ offer to both players was very competitive with the winning offers. Had either of the players known how good the 49ers were going to be last year, one of them would probably be a 49er.
its not that balke/harbaugh are satisfied with being mediocre at WR its that they believe in building through the draft. do’nt be surprised if they draft fleener and a WR in the first 4 rounds. they’re following the patriot/steelers philosophy. 2 B level FA’s are cheaper and more valuable than one A level FA. it has nothing to do with being cheap the new cba forces all teams to be near the top of the cap
well if this is the strategy and i can see it as being a sound one….then in FA i would really look at the FA OG and maybe just overpay a bit here since ROI would be significant on three levels…run game, pass protection (which could allow the RB to become an outlet in certain situations instead of having to be kept in to pick up a rusher up the middle) and lastly allowing the TE to release more often as a rcvr….
trying to get a handle on the potential activities for the niners if they have 30 mill plus in cap space
AS 4- 5 yrs 8 mill/yr…..will he go for it
goldson 3-4 yrs 4mill/yr
rogers 3 yrs 4mill/yr
ok, leaves what 14 plus under 2012 cap space
franchise tag for an OG like nicks is like 9 mill……does seem like a lot but again i think ROI is extremely high at this position so i can’t just reject this out of hand…..a 6-7 yr contract at 8 mill/yr seems appropriate…it would really help out the middle of that OL raising the level of play for the running game, the TE game, and 3rdly if can stop the up the middle push of defenses than the level of play of the QB position should improve ….
so what about connolly of the Pats….he is versatile and maybe more valuable with the niners tendency to have OL men who can play multiple positions….what do the niners offer him….4 yrs 5 million/yr but he does get groin and ankle injuries….
stevie johnson is probably a 4yr 5million/yr
meachem is like what? a 3 yr 3.5mill/yr
so let’s just for the sake of argument niners can get nicks for 8mill and johnson for 4 mill
that would would take up 28 mill in cap space when adding it to rogers, AS, DG…
leaving another 5 or so mill for grant and brooke and the draft class plus other special team players…..maybe not enough if the cap space was 33mill …. but if it is 40 mill like i have heard rumored then maybe this works….
maybe I would not sign rogers to have more room for nicks…..i just think it is much more important to shore up the OL and take a bit of a drop at the CB spot….but maybe culliver makes up 90% of what rogers provided this past year….
i am just keen on getting this OL fixed and would pay up a bit to make it real
then could either target a CB with the first pick or get that formidable 3 TE monster if go for fleener, and get that stephan hill in the 3rd round…..which might be more cap friendly if don’t go after the stevie johnson guy….
bottomline …. FA will really set the tone for the niners draft and i would like for them to get a nicks/connolly in FA as well as a possibly a johnson/meachem to at least have tested NFL caliber players at two offensive spots that where weaknesses… and then use the draft to target other potential threats like fleener and the stephan hill guy in the 3rd……also would like to see a CB picked up as well….
enough rambling but i suppose the gist is out there
WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE
I AM JACK HAMMER. WHO ARE YOU?
Bond James Bond
I’m Spartacus!
I am Crixus!
I’m Batman!
Well, maybe FatMan…sigh…
I’m yo daddy
…I am still shocked we got to the NFC championship without a confirmed number 1 receiver………
oneniner, somehow it does not surprise me that you would be stumped. You can’t fix stupid.
And which WR do we have who would have started for the Pats or the Giants?
Assuming 4 starters combined. Do the Niners have 1 guy who would have started for either team?
Do the Niners have a WR who would come off and be the 3rd WR on either of those teams?
Don’t ignore the facts jack.
Who’s we? You and Alex? You aren’t a 49er fan. Your a scary individual. I’m sure Mr Smith is happy the packages and self made video tapes he gets from you read… Out of country! Pathetic!
…ha ha……you not only a racist but a big dummy
Mediocre is better than poor. And all the receivers would benefit from a more accurate passer, whether that person is Alex or not.
Mark Kreidler on 95.7.. Talking about David Lee’s game as a Warrior big man. Then…”The only..uh,dent,in his armor is..”
Lee/Lin..
Kreidler almost fell to Linsanity.
Stan… Puh-leeeeez, nobody gives a hotdog about most of the things you post; the above being the reason! Who the hotdog is Mark Kreidler? Who the hotdog is Jenny Lin? Who the hotdog is David Lee? And WTF are the Warriors?!!! Go post on Lowell’s blog where someone gives a hotdog about your 2 cents!!!
Stan, don’t pay a second of attention to PBL. You are a genius my friend, GENIUS!
Stan, a day or two ago you were crowing about being that first to bust ESPN on the Jeremy Lin headline issue.
Firstly, how in the world do you know if you were the first to notice the slur and call ESPN on it?
Secondly, so what if you were the first one to bust ESPN? All that means, is you were watching Sports Center when the comment was first made and you were paying attention. Big f*****g deal! Good god, get a life.
ex golfer, you are just upset that you aren’t nearly as cool as Stan. The dude is a genius!
I thought golf was a gentleman’s game. That language doesn’t seem to gentlemanly to me. Relax, pretend you are holding a bird in your hand. Maybe that will help.
I tried it. I crushed the bird.
How can you consider Stan a genius? He can’t even figure out this is a 49ers blog and is constantly clogging things up with non sequiturs.
His posts are more annoying that hockey highlights on sports center.
Genius, pure genius. You silly golfers take yourselves too seriously.
@JackHammer… either your dry wit is admirable or you assert that Stan’s mental incompetence is akin to savant brilliance, and therefore “genius.” A 3rd possibility is that you are, in fact, Stan.
Well, did explain at the time..but again on feb 12 I posted on Bay Area SPorts Guys blog that I heard thats phrase used on ESPN radio on 1050. So,I was nearly a week ahead of its next use by ESPN on its website. AND,ESPN did issue an apology about the wesites error,then admitted “It had learned of an ealier use on ESPN radio..and that would be me when I posted on their website about my BASG blog. Sabe?
And pork bun..thats so flattering-lol. But I ONLY post as me. Although I have had many use my name..I cant control that.
Gee,just as I thought this post was going nowhere..
Stan, I read your comments gleefully, just prefer when you’re on-point! Keep it coming, old man! I’ll see you over on Lowell’s in a bit, K?
To Pork in your Bun,
Without Stan this place would be a total bore, there is so much you can Niner talk Keep it going Stan.
It’s Pork Bun, Neal, and everyone knows you have always played second fiddle to Stan… so while his quirky insights are funny and add something, you have never said or done anything remotely worthy of consideration. Sure, when Lowell’s site went down you followed your man Stan over this way, and now you feel like your comments are cool, but they’re not, and you’re not. You fill empty space with dribble from your empty skull, you knock other people, you enter lyrics from lame songs, you bash our QB, but you never add anything. Sad.
Pork in your Bun,
Does not take much to get your pork to sizzle. Stan is so much over you bacon head, along with everyone else on this site, he can easily be running his own blog. Opinions are like assholes pork in your bun everyone has one.
Stan,
So you were the first to point it out [not exactly documented], what do you want, a gold star?
Bird in the hand golfer. It will help cure your slice and infatuation with Stan.
We’re going to have to hope that one of the really good WR free agents truly is more interested in a chance at a ring than in squeezing the absolute maximum number of dollars out of a contract, rather than just giving that cliche lip service. Because Balke won’t overspend – which can be frustrating, but should put us in a good position for years to come. On the other hand, this is a year when we actually do have almost all the pieces – assuming we re-sign our important free agents – so if ever there was a time to splurge, this is it.
Another option is a trade with a team well stocked with WR’s – heavy on draft choices from our end, because we don’t have as many needs as usual.
Baalke also said, in the Chron, that the locker room was a real important aspect in who they keep and/or go after. So I imagine that will be important in who they bring in.
My guess is that with them selling seat licenses and a much tougher schedule next season they will “invest” in a top flight receiver. They need to stay very relavent in order to sell all those seats. An expensive wide out will be a cheap investment given what is at stake.
So they’re remodeling the locker room?
balke needs to draft well and maybe find a diamond in the rough FA. thats how consistently winning organizations do it
harbaugh on matt barrows blog talking up coby fleener……if last yr is any indication harbaugh talking up stanford players pre draft means we’re not drafting them
So HarBaalke won’t break the bank for F.A.s. Perhaps that’s a surprise to you, Grant, but I and some others made this exact observation in the previous post. This list of F.A. receivers look mediocre to you ?! Maybe too much fantasy football, and not much of a lesson from going with Carlos Rogers over may flourish in a different scheme. Like some other fans here, Pierre Garcon looks like a good fit for the Niners to me.
Spillman locked up for 3 more years. Only 5 more to go.
Here’s a link:
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/Spillman-signs-three-year-contract-exten?blockID=657408&feedID=5884
Mr Claude Balls,
Way to stay on the Ball. Thanks you Mr. Ball
Good news
Interesting that Ginn Jr had to take a pay cut to $1M per year last season and CJ gets $6M for three years. Maybe Teddy will get a nicer offer this time around so we can keep him as our field position warrior and WR option/decoy.
Ginn is a great return guy but a horrific receiver
Interesting to see if Flynn goes to Miami.
http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/02/23/cosell-talks-matt-flynn-and-the-art-of-quarterbacking/?module=HP11_hot_topics
Another KKolb?
Another Matt Cassel?
I like how so many of the posters here who were pining for KK, where bemoaning the Cardinals trading for him, and were convinced the 49ers were doomed without him, now just pretend they never wanted him in the first place. Comical.
It was obvious he was most likely going to be an good NFL QB, at best, and mediocre at worst. Not the type of guy to target.
As for Flynn, he put up much better numbers that KK did in the games he started in Philly. The difference being a smaller sample size, in Flynn’s case. It would be very scary to sign him, but a desperate team might need to take the chance.
Bird in the hand golfer, bird in the hand.
Discuss the comments, not the commenter lest you appear incapable.
Know football before coming on a football blog, lest you appear incapable.
Very original, Jack.
If you think I don’t understand football, why don’t you discuss my point of view instead of throwing insults?
I have been for the last 45 minutes golfer. Throwing insults, I just made a slight change to what you just said to me.
Jack,
You’re saying that telling someone they don’t understand football, on a football blog isn’t an insult? That’s really funny.
Huh. Cosell talking coaches smart enough to game plan around a QB’s skillset. And addition to that, stressing continuity between those same coaches and the QB.
Where have we not seen that? In, oh say, a particular northern california NFL franchise?
Good for Flynn. He gets to go to a new team and NOT have to start from scratch. Compared to a QB in say, a particular northern california NFL franchise, who stayed with the same team, yet had to start from scratch every year.
rib, good point. If you have an hour and a half to kill some day check out the “JH QB clinic” on youtube. Anyone that watches it will see why AS played the way he did last year. It’s like watching BW in his prime. JH really drops the wall/filter when working with these coaches on QB skills and techniques – good stuff!
To quote JH, “most important thing for playing qb is protecting the ball.”
And JH again,
“The number one statistic for wins/losses is turnover magin.” and “+2 lose 80% of the time.”
Who are you talking about ribico?
JC, the QB (Raider ex-starter who won games)…that must be him. I figured it out.
He might, especially given that his former OC is now the head coach at Miami. But, I heard chatter on the NFL network last night that the Packers will most likely put the franchise tag on Flynn. If they do, Flynn will make more than A. Rodgers next year. Talk about rediculous.
Nick, they would do that as a sign and trade type of thing. New England did the same thing with Cassell and got a 2nd round pick for him.
@bayarea wish you would go cheer for miami
All those top FA WRs and thats a list you guys in front office and come up with wow . They are a top WR and maybe a couple key FAs of our own away from getting back to playoffs if now SB. Last time I heard they have 30 million to spend. I like Michael Crabtree as number two WR we need a guy like Bowe or johnson to take the FS and S and maybe some LBS down feild that would open up Michael Crabtree and VD for the 10-15 year catches. Dammm i hate to read this!!!!!!!!!
Dammm i hate to read this!!!!!!!!!
Believe me, we all hated to read it. Please proofread your comments, or have someone literate proofread them, before posting.
I’ve never seen a 10-15 year catch before.
You will 10-15 years after CK7 launches a pass into outer orbit…
49ers 3rd round pick WR georgia tech stephan hill 6’4″ 215 blocks and gets deep
I read the title of this post and thought “No $hit, really..the Niners won’t spend big money on FA’s?” (Sorry, Grant, couldn’t help it :-)
I know I’m repeating myself, but here it goes anyway – my gut says it’ll be Reggie Wayne – one other thing about him that hasn’t been brought up is that he is only credited with two dropped passes this past season …..his QB’s were Kerry Collins, Dan Orlovsky and Curtis Painter. Should tell you all you need to know about his hands and his ability to catch whatever is thrown at him.
It could be Garcon
I like Garcon, too. He had similar numbers to Wayne last year, should be cheaper and is almost eight years younger than Wayne.
Wayne is too old. Just say no to Wayne! Please! Unless, of course, Baalke and Harbaugh like him. In that case, I’m totally on board.
Isaac Bruce Part Deux
Garson isn’t going to help bail out our qb in the redzone with fade passes. Plus he is an astro turf player. Can’t say that I’d trust him on grass and outdoor conditions as much as a bowe or v jax. Those guys can fight for a badly thrown ball. Garson is use to perfectly thrown passes in stride. With the average accuracy smith possesses we need a big playmaker that fights for balls. Don’t get mad folks! That’s just how it is. Smith needs the greatest team around him to become elite.
md, one question. Who the heck is Garson?
Hater 4Life!!! Yeah, Buddy!!!!!!!! I want CK7 as much or more than the next guy, but I’m not the DB that calls out our 13-3 QB.
So Troy Aikman wasn’t elite….because he put up numbers that mirrored Alex’s, because he had an elite defense, elite line, legit wr’s and elite rb?
This is a team sport, no qb has ever been elite thats been on losing teams. They go hand in hand. You have a great team with great pieces, your qb easily turns elite.
The 3 seasons Tom Brady WON the SB, 18, 28 and 26 tds and 12, 14 and 14 INTs respectively. Looks like a 17 to 5 TD ratio trumps all of those. Elite QB? Funny, when he got Randy Moss and Welker, he turned into the 50 TD guy. Did he become Elite or did the fact that his line was all world and he just got a top 10 wr allow him to be elite?
@ninermind i know you didnt make it to bayarea’s taint bleaching but we held your kit for tomorrows waxing at 23jordans house dont forget i cant wait to see you again :}
@49ergirl Neal says I can learna lot from you and how you can fit so much in your mouth let alone your hands skills
damn dragqueens so many skills
My guess is that Reggie will hope to land wherever Peyton lands. He might not get that opportunity, but I think its a preference.
Meachem is a bit of a sleeper because his stats look mediocre on the surface. But that’s largely due to the fact that NO has a large stable of very good WRs and when the rest are healthy Meachem simply doesn’t get the targets. With the Niners Meachem could turn out to be Braylon Edwards without the attitude.
“With the Niners Meachem could turn out to be Braylon Edwards without the attitude.”.
Jerry that does not sound like a ringing endorsement. You basically just said Meachem will come in, make 1 great preseason catch, then get hurt in game 2 never to be heard from again in a positive way until they release him. AWESOME!
Baalke will grab Reggie Wayne. He’s a playoff tested veteran with sure hands. No team is going to get into a bidding war for him, so the price will be right. RW can mentor our younger receivers (especially Crabs), but most importantly he will be both a red zone and a mid-range threat (plus he can still go deep); not to mention he can bring at least a tiny bit of wisdom that he’s picked up from Peyton. JH & TB like Crabtree AND Morgan, and the way we use our receivers doesn’t merit spending big (or even moderate) money on a free agent. We’ll draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd round.
However, I think Crabtree and Morgan both have good seasons in 2012. A receiver like Reggie Wayne will be able to give us 2-3 years as we get the rest of our receiving corps in shape. Exciting times!
Far from a certain, I would think that Reggie Wayne would follow Peyton if he can play.
Wayne might follow Peyton, but that’s actually unlikely. IF Peyton plays (which I doubt he will) it will be for a team that’s looking for either a stop gap or a short term solution. Which means they’ll likely be relatively satisfied at WR. Wayne would have to fit into their plans for them to pick him up because they don’t want to alienate their younger players by bringing in a pair that dramatically changes team chemistry and scheme.
Wayne is not a long term option (and neither is Peyton, wherever he goes), which is why he’s perfect in SF. I don’t think Wayne and Peyton are a package deal, because that would be too complicated for any team to try coordinate. Wayne wants to win another super bowl and SF is his best option this late in his career. He can play 2 years win a couple rings then retire as or younger receivers step up into bigger roles.
We’ll see! Baalke has us all guessing (wrong) on his next move last year.
And Harbaugh being a chair boy for his brother in laws basketball team? Harbaugh beats that midwest work ethic and midwest is great this and that..while putting down California?..That tells me he wants to do great here for a few years..then move on-to the midwest.
And you know-for all the weird goofing off he does..why does he give the Cohn’s the evil eye for asking impertinent questions? It should tickle him pink.
And I see my typing is really bad today…
The written transcripts come across as brusque but when you watch the televised interviews Harbaugh actually seems to have fun with the reporters. He has a sort of dry wit that doesn’t translate well to text.
Stan:
You seem to have a problem with Jim Harbaugh. Is there a good reason for that?
No real problems-what’s he ever did to me?. Just observations of the guys peculiar attitudes and ways. I havent said a thing about Allan(on the other side of the bay) other then he’s dull.
I should have said BECAUSE Allans dull…
Come to think of it-Harbaugh di both mock and quote me when I first brought up Gores hip on the BASG blog when I said Gore must be Superman to have no complaints about the hip..And the next week,Harbaugh laughed and said Gore “Was Superman”. It was that very same week as I recall that Gore had to come out of a game very early..and so it went the rest of his season.
But hey,That was just “I told you so” from me and not anger or a grudge maker.
See, Stan, when you get-a-Rollin on Niners stuff you’re perty dang feirce (spelling is for Stan). Kim Jong Hardballs will take guff from no Cohn, and I LIKES it!!!
–
Gore is DUNZO!
Come on, Stan. Harbaugh quoted you earlier this year? You’ve got to be nuts. Just because he called FG “Superman” the same week you posted that on a blog. You’re becoming more delusional by the day.
Bird in the hand, relax, visualize it, deep breath…..shhh no noise please.