Jed York spoke outside of 49ers headquarters this afternoon about Alex Smith’s contract status. Here’s a transcript.
York said the ball is in Smith’s court. He also said, “Alex is just trying to figure out what he wants to do.”
When asked if he was surprised Smith hasn’t signed yet, York replied, “No, free agency hasn’t started yet.”
I don’t have inside knowledge, but it sounds like the Niners are prepared for Smith to test the market. It also sounds like they haven’t upped their offer – the one that’s been on the table for months.
Smith told Kim Coyle that his agent and Trent Baalke are working out the details of a contract – i.e. negotiating, going back and forth – but York says the ball is in Smith’s court. Hmm.
It sounds like Smith and his agent are trying a last-minute bargain before free agency starts: “We’ll accept a three-year deal, but not the one you proposed. We want more guaranteed money.”
To which the Niners are saying, “No deal.”
How do you interpret this?
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someone should let jed in on whats going on with his own team
Yeah I really wish he was more like Daniel Snyder lol
I think it shows that Jed has faith and trust in Trent and Jim.
Reading the transcript, it sounds like typical negotiations. JY and AS sound reasonable. It’s up to PMarathe and TC to get it done. BTW, doesn’t seem like the JMorg, ASnyder, or CRogers are moving much quicker! lol The AB and CJSpillman contracts are all they’ve completed to date!
York sounds staunch to me.
I’m thinking the deal is done but how do they make it look good to both parties? AS doesn’t want backup money and the FO isn’t paying elite money so it has to be in the middle.
“The ball’s in his court” doesn’t sound like the Niners are willing to meet the middle, and “Free agency hasn’t started yet” sounds like a dare.
Of course he sounds staunch, these negotiations are like a game of chicken. The first one to flinch loses.
Which is why I stand by my 40 percent prediction. If Smith hits free agency tomorrow, and it’s looking more and more like he will, things will get weird.
Indeed its very weird, I figured Alex would be a lock. But, if some other team offers him a gonga deal and the 49ers don’t, then I don’t blame the guy.
Not much room for interpretation in my opinion, I believe your view is 100% the stance the niners are taking. Alex has no bidders outside the 49ers, he will take it or be a waterboy in the cfl.
Sounds more like, “Take it or leave it.”
Yep, a waterboy in the NFL..who is better than many starters for lots of teams.
-Jacksonville, Cleveland, Miami, Seattle, Arizona (unless they land Manning), Kansas City (Cassell is better, really?), Denver (unless they land Manning), Minnesota, Bradford, Oakland (until Palmer shows something), Tampa Bay (easily), and is at least equal to Atlanta’s Matt Ryan.
Don’t let your hatred of Alex Smith overshadow the fact that he has become at least a decent QB, if not better than most.
Yep, he’ll have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER.
It could be interpreted the way you lay it out Grant. It could also be a situation where the Niners were the last of the two parties to make an amendment to the deal and they are waiting on Smith’s rep to counter or accept. You really can’t read much into this kind of thing. Negotiations are time consuming and there could be number of reasons why it hasn’t been completed yet.
There has been nothing to indicate the Niners have ever upped their offer for Smith.
@Grant:
Nothing, except for (1) the fact that Jed York said there has been back and forth contact and conversations between the parties and (2) the reality that very teams adopt a take-it-or-leave-it position with their first offer.
What there is nothing of, however, is any indication that the 49ers made an initial offer and haven’t budged on any term since.
Yes, there is every indication that is the case.
Grant,
Spell it out for me. Where is the indication that the Niners have had one offer on the table for months and haven’t moved off of it? I’ve obviously missed something here.
Numerous Maiocco articles over the last couple months have referenced an offer on the table for Smith. It is the Niners philosophy to determine a value, give an offer and stick to it. There’s been nothing to indicate they’re doing differently with Smith.
Grant
This is one of those times where you (MM or any other) don’t know, and we never will. There is no reason for either party to reveal such things, and such things happen behind closed doors.
They tell us what they want. Not necessarily what happened.
Rocket,
They presented him with a three year deal in December. According to reports, the team has not modified the offer. The biggest sticking point was that Smith was looking for five years and the team only wanted three. It appears Smith is resigned to the fact that they aren’t going to increase the length of the deal.
Grant,
I’ve read those articles and Maiocco is always very vague when referring to that subject. He has said that NFL sources said the offer would be in the 8-11 mill range over 2-3 years, but he’s never posted anything to say he has heard definitely that is the offer or how long it has been on the table.
I think you are speculating quite a bit here, which I have no problem with. However I see how things could be interpreted very differently from what you’ve surmised.
*definitively* Geez I need to check closer before I hit the post comment button.
BigP,
It’s the “according to reports” I’m taking issue with. I’ve read nothing that has said the Niners gave him one proposal and said take it or leave it.
Im with you York sounds like he knows what is being done with his money and is not giving up any more to Mr. Smith. Weird Smith is being like this barely had a decent season which has more todo with harbaugh than him not Smith is behaving like a typical idiot athlete. hmmmmmm……….. Another one of your Dad’s quotes coming true. “all athletes come in the league nice but get changed by fame and money’
Rocket,
Smith has acknowledged that a 3 year contract offer was made and that he is happy with it. That offer was made in December. Maybe they bumped it up a little bit, maybe they didn’t. It just sounds like Smith has realized they won’t go past three years. Look for a three year deal with some fluff added in the form of very hard to attain perfomance bonuses. It looks better on paper.
If Alex can get a longer deal with more money should he take it? Is he being low-balled? I just read on Adam Schefter’s twitter account that Randy Moss signed a one year deal with the 49ers, we’ll hear much more of that later. Pertaining to Alex’s situation I just happened to scroll down a bit on Schefter’s page and he mentioned that Tony Pashos (ex-Niner) was cut and he said, “Just a guy that played hurt and got cut for it”. There was a link that showed Pashos’ foot after the operation, gruesome. These pros should take whatever they can get because they’ll be discarded like yesterdays trash if they are injured. In the end, it’s just a business.
Overanalyzing something like this with zero public details means you have nothing to report. Too many maybe’s in this situation. Doesn’t matter what anyone “thinks” is going on. The only important thing is what actually ends up happening. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for adding to the discussion.
Grant don’t worry Jim has wanted to have alex smiths baby for many years, if you don’t lie and say alex is great Jim doesn’t value your opinion.
Thanks for adding to the discu— oh. No, wait. Nevermind.
matt barrows blog quotes jed as saying”we feel pretty good about where we are” in regards to negotiations with alex smith
Grant,
Really, please, stop teasing…this isn’t good for the heart! Where else is he going to go? Nowhere!
He’ll be a 49er in 2012, this is the best opportunity for him and he knows it.
What about Seattle, Cleveland or Jacksonville? All three are desperate for a QB.
Add in the losing bunch in the PManning sweepstakes and that’s another 3-4 teams. AZ, Mia, Titans, Den, etc.
Do you honestly see him deciding to leave SF for one of those organizations? Cleveland and Jacksonville appear to be somewhat dysfunctional, and Seattle would put him competing against the Niners.
I just don’t see him opting out of SF, even if he doesn’t get the money his agent is asking for.
Plus, Alex seems awfully confident he’s going to return…why would he if he wasn’t getting some indication from Baalke and co. that they were going to work things out?
My only guess is Smith might find it embarrassing to accept the offer the Niners have had on the table for him this whole time without at least testing his leverage in free agency, even if he wants to return to SF.
Hof, you’re not helping. :-)
If Smith found anything embarassing it was coming back last year after being boo’d off the field in the prior season.
This reeks of Condon trying to salvage his reputation as an agent than any legitimate obstacle between the club and Smith. If Smith hasn’t already made up his mind that he’d be back he wouldnt of caddied for JH. His agent is probably just pissed because Alex made his intentions known to management before letting his Agent get involved, now that agent is trying to stare down the wrong front office for it to work.
49er girl… Gotta disagree with cle. Holmgeen will turn that franchise around here soon. He’s made some steps in the right direction so far. But I can’t see smith going to any of those teams to start another bad 6 years of his life. He has no leverage. The front office is staying true. Good for them. Cheaper the better
MD not possible to repeat 6 years of history. None of those teams has MN or MS as their HC’s. lol
Seattle, no… even with McClueless there, does Carroll’s ego not immediately veto this move. If he doesnt have success with Smith than he just gave ample evidence that Harbaugh owns him at coaching.
Jacksonville is gonna give up on their 1st round QB after one year and no offensive weapons outside of RB? not likely.
Cleveland is a possibility, but with how good our defense was last year are any teams really valuing Smith more than the niners? Especially with so many games that were never put away by our offense & how many 3rd downs were never converted… it’s hard to see any franchise making a more attractive deal for Smith than the niners.
MR. Smith goes to Washinton ( Please ) That would be two wins automatically.
Grant…did you watch the cleveland game last year? the best qb on the field was mccoy….much better than alex…..ZERO teams in the nfl will pay alex starter money…at best a 4-8 mil dollar signing bonus to come in and compete…at best…..great kid…just cant play football very well
Grant,
Did I miss some news somewhere along the line? You’ve mentioned the fact the Niners have had the same offer on the table for months and I don’t recall hearing about that.
If I am Alex Smith I would have to consider Arizona very strongly. If Larry Fitzgerald can make John Skelton look like a pro just imagine what he could do for Smith. You just need to get the ball in the vicinity, which Alex is good at. Alex might make the pro bowl down there. Now if Arizona gets Peyton, Alex won’t be going there.
What this tells me is that they think they can win with CK.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say the 9ers swoopin in like a thief in the night and try to aqcuire Manning’s services. It appears that Alex’ contract situation has been up and down. Under normal circumstances, I think Alex would have been signed by now to nearly whatever stipulations he desired. But the pending/releasing of Manning changed the game a bit. However, the Manning window is closing fast. I feel that if Alex hits the market, the 9ers will make their push for Manning. Just my 2 cents and a WILD speculation after reading reports from all over about this situation. Alex says the deals is getting done, Jed is saying the ball has been in his court?!? Man, what a seesaw.
Guap, that would be a “classic” move! Might we say very BW. lol
HAHA!! Pretty wild, huh Hoffy boy!!
TC is the agent for both PM and AS. If AS tests waters and gets a huge offer and signs with another team, if PM is available at that time, there is no conflict of interest to sign with the 9ers. Hmm.
@ElGuapo
If that happened Harbaugh, Baalke and Jed York could shout out,
“I SHOOK THE WORLD”.
The statement “The ball’s in his court.” tells me that Alex may be contemplating testing the waters in free agency. I’m sure the Niner’s FO has contingency plans and feel confident regardless of how this plays out. I, for one, will not lose any sleep if Alex decides to leave.
Interesting side note: Seattle which has shown interest in Peyton Manning, may be out of the running according to reports from NMF.com and ESPN. Will they be interested in Alex Smith should he become a free agent?
Another side note: Alex Smith was in Arizona over the weekend. If PM does to Denver as is being reported, will the Cardinals also pursue Smith?
NFL.com
Smith was allegedly in Arizona for a Kurt Warner fundraiser. Can Alex actively speak with other teams or does he have to wait until free agency starts?
the other teams have to wait till tomorrow otherwise it’s tampering.
grant you sound almost eager for smith to leave—are you a hater? Alex gave you alot of good things to write last year…..
No, I find these series of events fascinating. I’d love him to stay – he’s a blogging goldmine.
Do you get paid per blog, per number of hits to this website? You sure stir the pot up. Alex will either sign or he won’t…
Kudos, and eureka!
A.Smith really is ‘money.’
Mark you are a nerd that shouldn’t even use the word hater you don’t even know what it means. You mad the niners lowballed your school girl crush alex smith? Sorry Mark Alex isn’t going to be starting much longer so you can go back to watching figure skating, please leave football to the men to discuss.
is this the real Dan Bunz? if Yes I used to go to your restaurant in roseville alot and loved the food and 49ers memorabilia.
So leave then Dan.
Any agent would tell their client to wait til free agency starts to see what else is out there. Thats what agents are suppose to do, present every option available to the player and hold out for as much money as they can. They do get paid on commission!
Also the Niners do have a plan B, C, D with or without Smith but the fact is both are married to oneanother based on everything that happened in 2011 and the continuity factor the organization has preached since JH was hired.
Its all part of the art of negotiating so Grant take that 40% BS of AS leaving and remember next time, research is key, speculation makes you look dumb! Just ask Bay, 23J and all the other haters who are killing your blog!
Did Ahmad Brooks’ agent tell his client to wait until free agency started? No.
If you know anything about Tom Condon, you would retract that statement. He is one of the most ruthless agents out there.
I don’t think Alex feels he “owes” the Niners anything, as well as the Niners feeling the same way toward Alex. If Alex calls the Niners bluff, the Niners could very well move on. The Niners hold the leverage. If Alex reaches free agency, it’s because he wanted to.
Or he feels the Niners current offer is insulting.
Agreed. The Niners may have “low-balled” him on purpose. This may get interesting tomorrow if Alex tests the market place. Who could blame him?
You could almost blame him if he doesn’t test the market. Show some pride.
@Grant
It makes no difference in the realm of things if AS is signed or nearly signed before FA begins.
It has the same impact as AB signing as well. Both never entered the FA market. So there is no difference in the things that matter. Both never went to the market and shopped their services around. The only difference is in your head. Both are the same thing.
Grant,
do you think if Alex tests the waters that would change the Niners stance on Payton Manning? Or do you think that regardless, they want to stick with the philosophy to grow their QB’s from within the system?
Yep, if PM is available sign him for 4 years and trade CK to the highest bidder. The 9ers need draft choices to keep the team replenished for the long haul.
I don’t think the Niners will sign Peyton Manning unless he throws for them. Has he thrown for anyone?
Wow Hofer,
and then what is your transition plan? Trade CK who has no value yet?
Thought you were smart. Guess your only focus is AS…
Grant,
the guy will throw if it means getting his dream job. I bet the Niners are at the top of his list.
I just don’t know if the reluctance to talk to him has to do with getting a bargain with Smith as their QB or whether it has to do with Philosophy of home grown QB’s.
I bet PM would rather play for the Texans than the Niners. And I’m suspicious that his arm will ever be NFL ready again.
Bay, just keeping with GC’s theme – controversy and blog hits. LMAO!
On a serious note, just wish PM would sign with someone/anyone – too much drama especially at NFL Net with all of the “Breaking news”.
The only reason he would pick the Texans over the Niners is the fact that they play indoors.
The Texans have Schaub. They actually don’t need Manning.
Houston’s defense is nearly as good as the Niners D, plus the Texans have Andre Johnson and Arian Foster. They could sign Manning and trade Schaub to Seattle.
@Grant
Which great offenses did the Texans stuff?
Indy went into the toilet. They lost to the Raiders at home. That alone should spell the end of any Super Bowl dreams.
The Texans D played the Ravens tougher than the Niners D did.
Grant,
not buying it. Schaub is 6 years younger and he is elite. The Texans saw first hand in the playoffs that not having a decent backup hurt them big time.
Also why would Manning want to go there with Mario Williams not signed? That’s a deal breaker.
Houston had the second ranked defense last year without Mario Williams. Schaub can’t stay healthy and is not elite.
Update: As if on queue: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/report-texans-inquire-about-peyton/
Texan’s defence was nothing special, certainly not in the same discussion as the 49er D, stats from any one game notwithstanding.
The Texans D finished second in yards allowed in 2011. The Niners D ranked fourth. They’re certainly in the discussion.
The Ravens scored how many TD’s against the Niners?
How many TD’s did the Ravens score agianst the Texans?
Who had the shorter week and traveled across the country?
I believe the Ravens were scoring like 34 points at home before playing the Niners there. They got like half that number. Even with the short week, and home advantage.
The texans and niners were pretty close in points allowed also if i remember correctly. The best situation for Smith is here and he knows it. I’d like to know if Manning can actually throw as well.
The Texans gave up:
40 against NO in NO
29 against Baltimore in Baltimore in the regular season
28 against the Panthers.
And finished the year losing to the Colts giving up 19 and the Titans giving up 23. Both bad, bad teams.
Looking at their schedule,they didn’t play a lot of good offenses. And when they did, they looked bad or average at best.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Houston_Texans_season
Sorry Grant. Can’t agree with you on the Texans being nearly as good as the Niners D.
Did you watch them against the Ravens in playoffs? J.J. Watt looked like Justin Smith.
@Bay:
Schaub … is elite.
Did you mean to write that or were you typing too fast?
Careful now Grant.
Justin Smith is my guy. Nobody compares to him.
So, who was the Texans version of PW, NB, IS, RMc, DW, DG, CR?
Position by position the Texans are at best equal to the Niners. And likely not as good.
The Niners never allowed 40 points in a game all year. Or 30 points (regular season) either. The Niners D did not allow 20 points in 11/16 games.
They’re not as good as the Niners, but they’re very good bordering on elite.
If Manning goes to the Texans and say Smith to the Seahawks, then it wouldn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for the Niners to trade for Schaub.
@midwest
I wouldn’t do it.
Schaub has never performed well in pressure games. He has nice stats but he also has a better than nice WR to help him out with those stats.
Besides, the Niners want to build thru the draft. Why trade for a guy, lose draft picks in the process and for a guy who fails time after time in big moments?
Better to get CK in there and give him a shot rather than trade for Schaub. The Texans should have dethroned the Colts a few years ago. A big part of the blame lies on Schaub.
For the record, I don’t think that CK is ready either. But I won’t give up draft picks for a guy who folds as often as Schaub has.
@Claude,
Schaub can dissect a defense. Look at his two best year and compare them to Smiths and then talk to me.
He is a veteran QB that can make all the throws and is very well respected. Yes at this point in his career, elite.
I disagree that he can dissect a defense. He benefited from Andre Johnson. He’s a play-action/roll-out quarterback with good weapons, but he’s only started all 16 games in two seasons.
Bay,
Schaub is good, but I can’t think of any other QB who benefits more from the system he’s in than Matt Schaub. He’s had success no doubt about it, but look at the weapons he’s had to throw to, the great running game he’s benefitted from and the great Oline protection he receives.
Kubiak took his offense from Shanahan and it’s made some pretty average QB’s look pretty good. Remember Brian Griese? Jake Plummer?
@Bay:
I am not trying to make any comparison of Schaub and Smith. I am just trying to figure out your formula/system for evaluating NFL QBs. You seem to have a larger class of “elite” QBs than I would have expected.
How many NFL QBs do you rate as elite?
As for dissecting a defense, what role do interceptions play in the dissection?
@rocket
How is Schaub good?
He has the 2nd best WR behind LF in the NFL, yet his name is barely mentioned when talking about elite or I want that guy to be my QB with 0 time outs and need to drive 80 yards to win the game type QB.
Schaub has benefited a lot of things outside his control. And he has flopped every time.
To be a good QB for me, you need to show up at some point and win a big game. I don’t recall Schaub having done so. Of course I am not a Texans fan, so maybe he has.
Either people throw the word elite around too much or as long as you win consistently, you are an elite QB?
I think Schaub is a good QB, but he is not elite to me. Schaub and Matt Ryan are in a similar class for me, at the good/very good range. Schaub has an elite #1 WR, good tight end, really good o-line, and really good running backs too. He probably needs one more good receiver to be an optimum supporting cast, but Schaub has lots of things going for him, somewhat like Ryan does.
Btw, Houston just released Eric Winston! 49ers should jump on him as fast as they can and move Davis over to RG immediately. Not only will you improve the RT position, RG is now very good as well.
“Schaub is 6 years younger and he is elite.”
Bay, seriously *elite*???! With all of this talk about elite QBs and he is one of your examples? Wow you are losing credibility with that one. There is a hand full of elite QBs and he is not one of them.
I heard on Sirius that he threw 50 times in Denver to Brandon Stokely!
Schaub is good QB but brittle.
Stop trying to interpret things. We will soon find out when he signs or doesn’t sign.
This would be a pretty boring and drab place if we didn’t interpret, speculate, over analyze, hypothesize, or debate the issues. Just a lil’ chicken soup for the bloggers soul for ya.
Guap,
Lol, good times.
Its sounds like an owner positioning himself on his side of the bargaining table with a player. Of course he wants to make it sound like the ball is in Alex’s court, that’s what you call Media Manipulation 101.
Hes a blogging goldmine but the fact remains you can’t write yourself out of detention. Keep piggy backing on AS, you’ll move up in the journalism world fast.
Grant, without A. smith you wouldn’t have any story to tell about…Alex is your bread and buttter t get your blogg going,
Most any quarterback discussion is fun.
I can see it now, Smith leaves and Kaep take his place, he is bad, and the Smithers will say I told you so.
Neil, especially with the QB friendly infrastructure the 9ers have in place now to succeed.
That is true Hoffer to a point, the Niners played a conservative offense because of Smith’s limitations.
@Neal:
And what about Harbaugh’s offense at Stanford? Why was that conservative?
Looks like Brock got signed for a year. I wonder why Alex would be embarrassed to make millions, besides he’s mentally tougher than that I think. Either he signs or not. I know Baalke/Harbaugh/Fangio have a plan so I’m indifferent. I do like the midnight covert ops play for Manning though.
Keep on dreaming ! you sound like an idiot..lol
You’re like Bob Wiley from the movie “What About Bob”?
Everyone please stopped with these none sense, the 49ers front office and myself willl have a deal before the end of the day. No need to worry a contract will be signed..
Test the waters alex let’s see if anybody else is willing to make you a starter, don’t come back again with your tail between your legs.
@DanBunz, it sounds you’re upset? I have been abuse and yelled at by the fan base, been told by fans like yourself with mean words. I have lot of respect to the 49er organization and to the fans in the bayarea.
The amount if posturing that is coming out from both sides leads me to agree with Grant in that Smith wants to test out free agency.
Things might get very interesting around here pretty soon.
If I was Alex Smith I would test the market. He is young and improving and he finished top 10 statistically last year. Condon will generate interest from one of the teams that has expressed interest in his other client, Peyton Manning, and will drive up the price for the Niners. I think the deal for Smith should exceed that given to Mark Sanchez, who IMO is not as good as Smith.
Why would AS leave a contender for some mediocre team? He should go play for those losers in Miami or Cleveland and see how good his stats are.
@grimey
Why would AS do that? He has spent 6 years in mediocrity (at best).
He finally has a winning team, and somebody thinks he wants to skip town? After he has resigned twice with this team now (before now)?
That is at best a very thorough investigation by AS to see if the Niners are the team he wants to be on.
Sounds unusually simple: Niners have offered what they are willing to pay (and what they think AS is worth.) They are probably right and AS should (and will) accept it.
New York is putting lipstick on a pig. AS is worth more right now than MS but our front office is smart and so far has not over paid.
Alex is not going anywhere and here is why he will not sign with anyone. Alex knows that switching offensive coordinators has hurt his career more than anyone. Hell he has used the seven coordinators as a excuse for years. Unless he is dumb as rocks he will not go anywhere else. Plus he knows he was over paid on his rookie contract so he has large amount money that was unearned that he is sitting. So he should sign for a reasonable price so he can stay in a system that is tailored for him. He will not get an 8th coordinator in 2012.
@Jared, You mention about my rookie contract and how much i was given. Now let me asked you a question, in your honest humble opinion, don’t you think in 2005 draft was chosen #1 overall, I should be paid as the #1 overalll pick. I didnt make the rules, the NFL was the one the implemented the rules. I have nothing to do with the rules in how much a player coming to the NFL should get paid. I wasn’t over paid, if you understand how the rules is in the NFL.
Alex Smith would be a great fit for Seattle. 49er fans keep trying to convince themselves that Alex has no value, but he is a playoff winning QB. Put him on any team with a good defense and running back, and the team will make the playoffs. A lot of teams see value in that.
But he’s not gonna leave 13-3 for 8-8.
Good WR corps, a young but improving OL, a big running back, and a tough defense. Smith could easily go to Seattle.
Alex Smith Blows 29th ranked passing offense really? Hes great? Nahh man 17 tds in a year is not very good IMO
14-4 and going to the Title game is good. There were 28 other QB’s who failed to do so.
over a 3:1 ratio of TD:Int is very good.
6 comeback wins (twice in the same game in the playoffs is very good).
But, you keep focusing on the one thing that matters not. It helps you sleep at night.
Dean,
what the virus means is that there were 28 other teams that failed in spite of the fact that their QB’s had better production than Smith.
But we all know it was because of coaching, special teams and mostly defense….
And yet Smith had five comebacks Bay. And how many times will it have to be mentioned that play-calling and inconsistent play from the WRs and the OL played a role in those stats as well?
Classic DS,
Alex Smith was responsible for all 14 wins, we won inspite of his flaws.
Flaws or not, AS was the starter in all those games and did lead the comeback in all those games.
Not many QB’s lead 6 come back wins last year. But, nahhh. That fact means nothing, right Neal? Any QB could do that. It’s just that all those teams with 500 or below records chose not to come back and win. Right?
Comeback wins have always been credited to the QB. Always. Right or wrong, that is how it has been. By the way, you can’t really say a QB played great all game long if the team was losing all game long until the comeback. JM always opens up every discussion about how he won so many by saying “I wish we were better the rest of the game, so we never fell behind.”
The football people are here for a reason. If they’re the ones who are going to be in charge of everything and be responsible, I have to make sure I listen to them, and I’ll support them in whatever they need.
Grant said – The Texans D played the Ravens tougher than the Niners D did.
The niners played the Ravens on a Thursday night away from home on a very short week
True and it was the Niners O that lost that game. Maybe Peyton gets them in the right protection schemes, releases the ball quicker and doesn’t get sacked a bunch of times.
Everyone keeps laboring on Alex Smith with the idea of the ball being in his court. The absolute truth is the organization has gone through years of below mediocre play at the most critical position being Q.B. I’m not an Alex Smith fan, but I know that if you’re a game away from winning it all, the ball is not just in Alex’s court. You brought back a guy with no track record of winning (and now he’s winning) but believed he could still be your guy, you added no veteran Q.B. to your ball club in case he faltered, you only have two rookies with absolutely no experience of reading defenses, and you want to entice free agents to join your ball club without a signed Q.B. It seems to me Alex and his agent are in the drivers seat.
I think some people here are missing the point.
The 49ers have been this way for a few years now. They set THEIR value and don’t budge. They did it with Harbaugh. They did with Goldson last year. They’re entire approach to Free Agency has been consistent.
They will pay, but they will NOT overpay. They will set value and won’t panic.
They stick to their guns. I respect that, and so will agents when renegotiation time hits. They will also EXTEND players before their contracts are finished, so players know they will be rewarded when the time comes.
@Grant:
I don’t have inside knowledge, but … It also sounds like they haven’t upped their offer – the one that’s been on the table for months.
Your speculation might have some merit but for the two times York said that the parties have been going back and forth.
From the Maiocco transcript you linked to, but only quoted from selectively:
Q: Do you expect to have Alex Smith signed by start of free agency?
York: “We hope so. We have a lot of contact going back and forth and the ball’s in his court. He knows that we want him to be here. We’ll see how it ends up.”
…
Q: Are you at your highest offer to him?
York: “I’m not going to talk about where we are. We have good conversations going back and forth and hopefully Alex gets everything locked up soon.”
That hardly reads like the basis for assuming that anyone has taken a hard position and refused to budge.
York said they’re going back and forth with “contact” and “conversations,” not on dollar figures or contract details.
Why would York reveal those numbers to the media Grant?
When the deal is signed, then there will be a press conference and we will know.
You can’t keep wondering if there is a hidden agenda every time the Niners/any sports organization does not reveal everything you want to know when you want it.
It is their job to sign the players and get a winning franchise. It is not their job to keep the media in “the know”.
I’m not saying York would reveal the numbers, but to me he insinuated the Niners were standing firm on their offer and now the ball is in Smith’s court. Take it or test free agency.
@Grant:
What do you think they were going back and forth about? Movie recommendations? Vacation plans? The Republican primaries?
@Grant
“…but to me he insinuated the Niners were standing firm on their offer..”
And if your job is largely based on you making contracts and you get a rep of not holding firm, where does that get you?
The unemployment center sooner rather than later.
If he (TB) did “cave in” or whatever, then every FA who the Niners will covet will do the same thing. It has nothing to do with the Niners risking losing AS or whatever.
Grant,
I think you’re reading more into this than there actually is. It seems as though both parties are saying negotiations are ongoing. My guess on what York meant is that the Niners made the last pitch and are waiting to see what Condon comes back with.
I also don’t see Smith publically stating he likes the offer and it will be done soon as a sign the offer was embarrassingly low or forced on him.
Rocket,
I disagree. The Niners have never said negotiations are on-going. They’ve said an offer is on the table and the ball’s in Smith’s court. Smith has said negotiations are on-going.
GC, you are splitting hairs.
How?
@Grant
It is clearly on going because it is not done yet.
And it might be in AS court now. The ball is usually at one end of the court or the other. How often is it in the middle (literally and figuratively)?
The Niners don’t budge, ask Dashon Goldson.
“Offer on the table” often refers to being in review. Do we really believe that in all the time JY has been part of the team that *all* contracts that were in a state of “offer on the table” mode was signed “as is” and not modified or negotiated further?
Name the player who got the Niners to budge in contract negotiations over the last year. Gore was the closest one, but he barely got anything. Goldson failed. Rogers has failed so far. The Niners front office has a lot of horsepower right now and they’re flexing it.
DG was coming off a year with 1 TD (last game of the 2010 season against a horrible AZ team with a QB who is likely in Canada now).
DG didn’t get a single nibble in FA. And, the Niners frankly had no reason to care if he did or not. DG stank it up big time in 2010.
AS did not stink it up big time in 2011.
That is your difference.
The Niners did the same dance last year with Goldson and he ended up taking less than they offered to begin with after he tested free agency. I am not saying Smith will work out the same way but I do think the Niners feel they have options at QB other than Smith. True they did sign Brooks but I am guessing that they thought that was there best and perhaps only option.
@Grant:
Are you saying you believe that the 49ers offered Goldson the reported 5 year/$25 million contract at the outset, and never moved from their opening offer?
It would be a rare negotiation that would call for one to open with his best offer.
GC, that’s not what you were implying. You said an “offer was on the table” and that it hasn’t been changed (negotiated) since day one. Or, maybe I missed something??!
Grant,
The Niners have never said negotiations are on-going. They’ve said an offer is on the table and the ball’s in Smith’s court.
The Ball is in Alex’s court comment came from York last night. He also said there was back and forth communication going on.
Have we heard Baalke say anything? Harbaugh? Nope. So near as I can tell the only thing we have from the Niners is what York said last night which certainly – at least to me – didn’t sound like a “take it or leave it offer” was where they were at in the negotiations.
As I said in an earlier post, if I’m missing something here fill me in because I sure don’t get the impression you are stating from the info I have seen.
No, York said that today outside of 49ers headquarters. Where are you getting your info?
He said there was a back and forth communication, not a back and forth negotiation. There’s a big difference.
Grant
There is only a difference if a reporter (you?) asked if there was a difference between “communications” and “negotiations”. And he said “yes” and defined what they are doing is not negotiating.
If no question was asked to clarify the meaning of his words and Jed did, then that assumption is wrong.
@Grant:
He said there was a back and forth communication, not a back and forth negotiation. There’s a big difference.
I’ll ask again. What do you think those back and forth communications were about, if not the contract and its terms?
I think you are really reaching here.
About the Niners stating their intention not to increase their offer, and about them feeling out if/when Alex Smith plans to capitulate.
Grant,
No, York said that today outside of 49ers headquarters. Where are you getting your info?
My bad. I mixed up his text from last night with what he said today, but that really wasn’t the most relevant point from the post. It was the fact we really haven’t heard anything from the team at all to give the impression that there has been one deal presented and it hasn’t been negotiated further. I also don’t get that impression from Maiocco’s comments on the subject.
He said there was a back and forth communication, not a back and forth negotiation. There’s a big difference.
Do you think there’s a slight chance you might be focusing too much on the words used instead of the overriding meaning here? I think Claude said it earlier, but why would they be communicating if they aren’t negotiating? Doesn’t make much sense to me.
The communications could be the following:
AS: “Hey, I’d like five years, but I’ll take three if you give me a little more guaranteed money.”
Niners: “We’re going to stick with the offer on the table for now. Have you seen any good movies recently?”
Those are communications, not negotiations.
LOL Grant, you are a tough nut to crack.
The communications could be the following
Could be, but wasn’t.
Have you ever been involved in any contract negotiations of this type or of any type?
If you say so. Now you’re going ad hominem.
@Grant:
Now you’re going ad hominem.
Who me? Not my intent at all.
Claude,
I believe he was referring to my “tough nut to crack” comment, and no Grant that is not what I was doing.
I was actually pointing out in a light hearted way, that I think you are being stubborn on this issue in the face of evidence that you are misreading the whole situation.
No I was referring to Claude questioning my ability to comment on NFL contract negotiations. I liked your comment, Rocket, but what is the evidence that I’m misreading the situation?
Grant,
It’s morea lack of evidence for you to make the assumptions you are. Doesn’t mean you are wrong, but to say “the offer has been on the table for months” and “the team hasn’t budged” when there really hasn’t been anything said alluding to that, is jumping to conclusions imo.
It’s obvious we see different views from what has been said and I can’t say with confidence that I’m right and you’re wrong, but my sense on this from the years I’ve watched these things play out, is that the negotiating process has been, and still is going on. I have a hard time believing the 9ers would be playing a game of chicken with Alex Smith…unless Claude is onto something with his Manning theory.
Now wouldn’t that be interesting?
They play chicken with all their free agents – it’s their M.O. They’re demonstrating their horse power.
On March 7th, Matt Barrows wrote, “According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, the snag is the length of the deal, and with it the amount of guaranteed money.” Now Smith apparently says that’s “completely false,” but there’s no video evidence of him saying those two words. Very fishy.
@Grant:
As I said, it was not my intent to attack you personally. It was also not my intent to “question[] [your] ability to comment on NFL contract negotiations.”
It’s just that in my somewhat limited experience in, and exposure to, contract negotiations, I have seen very few take-it-or-leave-it initial offers, and I have never seen such an offer in negotiations involving parties who both wanted to see a deal get done like I believe both parties here want.
That’s not to say that parties don’t sometimes reach a place where they cannot agree on a deal breaker issue. It’s just that point usually arrives later in the negotiations, not at the beginning. Negotiators do not like to open with their best offers. It gives them nothing to offer in exchange for a desired concession from the other side.
Because my experience/exposure is somewhat limited, however, and has not involved contracts of this type, I wondered whether there was something about professional athlete contract negotiations that made it more likely that a team would make its final offer at the beginning of negotiations and play hardball the rest of the way.
Since you seemed so certain about the course of these negotiations, I thought that you may have been basing your opinion on experience. That’s why I asked about your experience in contract negotiations.
Fair enough. It’s been my impression that the Niners have been take-it-or-leave-it with all free agents recently, including Goldson for about a year and Rogers right now. They’re trying to show complete confidence in their football evaluations by giving an offer and sticking to it. They’re aiming to give precisely what’s fair and nothing more, and they’re saying they know what’s fair better than the agents and players do. If the Niners meet Smith in the middle, that would be uncharacteristic for Baalke and contrary to what York seemed to suggest today, but maybe they’ll break their tendencies in this case.
Tramaine Brock resigned to 1 year deal for about $544k. Are the 49ers preparing to move on without Carlos Rogers?
It looks like they’re more than prepared.
Grant, do you think they will follow the same plan at CB by signing a low-cost/high reward free agent or focus on the draft? I see some good options via free agency.
I think they’ll hedge like they always do – sign a low-cost/low-risk veteran and draft a CB. Jenkins and Gilmore are good options in the first round.
Management knows what they’re doing, the key to this team is the front seven on defense. Culliver and Brown are under the radar. I like Rogers, but this is a young mans game. The end comes very suddenly and more so
for someone over 30.
They better be prepared, he hits the open market tomorrow.
Let him test free agency. And if he gets a better offer and a guaranteed starting gig, then fine, but that is highly unlikely. More likely is that the reality of what the league really thinks of him will set in and he’ll wind up signing here at the Niner’s price and can continue to rebuild his career.
He is not elite, regardless of the pats-on-the-back that Harbaugh gave him to build up his confidence during the season.
I hope he get’s a 6 year 10 million dollar contract per season , but not with the Niner’s. Seeya Caddy !!
Listen to the NFL insiders here. Hey, shouldn’t you guys be charged with tampering violations?
This years free agency for the Niners in regards to the QB situation, sounds awfully familiar to when Kurt Warner was up for grabs. Keep things on the hush, no advantage for SF to publicly announce their plans. No doubt in my mind that at least a few conversations between balky and condon have happened already.
3 year deal for Smith so that CK gets a shot…? Wouldn’t you rather have manning for 3 years, teaching CK? With Manning and Wayne, maybe moss, SF would be a scary team!
Manning took a lot of the reps in practice from the backup QBs in Indianapolis. He could actually hinder CK’s development.
Dallas and Washington got caught….
So it sounds like we get a extra 1.6 mil in salery cap space…
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/league-strips-cowboys-redskins-of-millions-in-cap-space/
Please Alex leave, all the real niner fans who understand football want you gone. What have you done? Ohh you road a great defense all the way to the NFC championship just to show your true colors. How bout the monster contract you signed when you were a rookie that you failed to live up too. Take a hike smith we already have a real A. Smith living up to his 1st round pick. Aldon Baby!!
If you were a real fan, you would recall that the defense broke down in the final minutes of the playoff game against the Saints and AS led the team not once but twice to victory. Don’t talk about knowing football if you can’t remember that detail.
I like how people try to hijack the term “real”. “Real” fans, “Real American”. Who are you to decide what’s real or not? I could say “real” fans cheer their team, their Qb, regardless, but that’s not fair of me cause there are those who just don’t like Smith but love the niners. I know I’m a “true” fan and I cheer for Alex Smith. I see his strengths and weaknesses as well as the strengths and weaknesses of everyone on the team.
You hijacked the term “serious.”
@Serious
I can’t say for certain, but when I first started reading the blog, it was the “real” fans who claimed that AS sucked and this and that. And the “unreal”(?) fans said otherwise.
I started reading the blog over 2.5 years ago by the way.
not to mention the highjacking of the term “true”.
@Grant – You got me. But not using it to denigrate others that don’t agree with my position like used in the first post.
@Jake – that’s why i put in quotes, it was used sarcastically.
Grant, I still think Smith might be waiting to see who they can get to help the offense in free agency. This is probably just a smokescreen created just for the media.
It is amazing we are kicking the tires on a parasite like Moss and possibly not even considering Peyton. Peyton at 70% is better than Alex at his best.
Manning is comimg back from four neck procedures while Moss is coming back from being retired because he didn’t want to play.
Would that be wheel-chaired stats? You are probably right. PM would be in one if he came here. And movement was never that big a part of PM’s game, so you have a point.
PFT just report that the Cowboys and Redskins violated league rules in dumping salaries during uncapped year. Now they are being punish for it. The other teams in the league will gain 1.6 mil in cap space because of it.
Schefter reports that the Cowboys will lose more than $10 million — and that the Redskins will lose $36 million. (And now we know why the Redskins got the Griffin deal done last week; the Rams likely would have wanted even more for the second overall pick now.)
The teams can divide the cap losses between 2012 and 2013 in any portion they want. As of Sunday, the Redskins more than $30 million in cap space in 2012. The Cowboys had less than $5 million.
The money will be reallocated to the other teams, with every franchise except the Saints and Raiders picking up $1.6 million in extra cap space. (The Saints and Raiders presumably don’t get the extra money as their own punishment for engaging in similar tactics in 2010.)
With free agency starting tomorrow, I almost feel like a kid on the night before Christmas. The anticipation is killing me!!!
I’m expecting the wait and see approach like last year, although I do have a feeling albeit somewhat remote that Baalke has something up his sleeve.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT OCCUPY STARTING QB
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-HATE-ALEX-SMITH/224533823680
Very creative
Why are you bashing Jed? He is staying out of the football operations, you have owners like Jerry Jones or Daniel Snyder, and where does that get you. Two ego maniacs that can’t win squat. I would like to see Alex Smith leave but I won’t blame Jed.
love it… Very funny…
Doesn’t sound at all like he’s going to test the market. Sounds like typical non-news during an amicable negotiation. I also read that Smith says he never asked for five years. This will get done, probably today.
The question is, will they be adding any receivers soon?
Smith will sign. We know his true colors. He lacks the guts to pull the trigger. He knows he cannot succeed without Harbaugh. He will sign. Maybe this lowball contract will FINALLY be the thing that lights a fire under him. With this contract he’s got to know that if he doesn’t get the passing game to another level, the Niners will WITHOUT him…
On another note, if we get Moss, then I see us going CB in the first round…
Grant, if we are going to engage in baseless speculation, let’s not limit ourselves. Try this one on for size.
This isn’t about paying Alex Smith what the team has calculated he is worth, and not one dime more. This is about something much bigger.
The 49ers (York, Baalke) have taken a hard-line position with Alex Smith in order to compel him to explore free agency. Once Smith starts talking to other teams, the 49ers will have all the cover they need (with Jim Harbaugh, with the media, with oneniner, etc.) to pursue Peyton Manning without seeming two-faced. “Hey, we said Alex was our guy, and we meant it, but if he is considering other options, then we have to as well in order to protect ourselves.”
If you want to rile people up and get a lot of page hits, that’s how you do it. You suggest to them that the 49ers have a secret plan to get Peyton Manning.
But I don’t think Manning will have an NFL arm ever again.
1. How then do you explain your “The Niners Should Sign Peyton Manning” blog entry?
2. You don’t believe Brandon Stokley?
He’s refusing to throw for teams, there’s been a report that says he’s a ways off from being 100 percent, and a doctor I respect recently told me he believes Manning’s arm will never be NFL ready. Unless something changes, I’m currently against Manning for the Niners.
@Grant:
Well then, we found two things we agree on:
1. It is doubtful that Manning’s arm will recover anytime soon; and
2. In light of 1, it would be a bad idea for the 49ers to pursue Manning.
But, if Smith hits free agency, and Manning comes to the Niners and throws well and the two sides hit it off, then of course the Niners should sign him. It’s similar to the Moss situation. No one thought he would be a good fit for the team until Baalke and Harbaugh showed interest.
According to my sources he is throwing 50yds right now.
Its bad enough he stole from the niners all the way back from when he was a rookie. Alex is gone, bring on Josh Johnson/Kap
Too bad you are stealing valuable time from the universe writing that post.
@ Jag Ovv, unfortunately you proved your point of being a jag ovv who doesnt know the qb position and obviously never played the game. Have you been watching since we drafted smith or what?? Numbers dont lie and #11 proved he is a POS. This is why hes not getting his monster contract after one mediocre season and finishing 29th in passing offense. Open you eyes and lay of the crack pipe
@Jerms, All the propaganda about J. Johnson, who in the hell do you think he is an elite QB? He haven’t prove anything in the NFL that warrants johnson tobe in a niner unform. First of all playing for coach harbaugh at SD doesn’t mean anything..wake up this is the NFL Pro football not college…lol
CK is an overrated QB, I’d rather have Scott Tolzein back up A. Smith, because just in case we need a defendable QB anything happen with Alex, theres one thats gin tobe reliable..lol
I agree with you Smith blows he shouldnt even be in the NFL. Harbaugh turned him into a good back up QB
@dean, sorry to say this, where do idiot like yourself comes from? You’ve been playing Fantasy football to long.. Get your facts straight, you sound stupid…lol
@ nameless Jag OVV my stats tell me THAT IN THE NFL not fantasy that our passing offense was ranked 29th. FACT all you smith homers dont know what a real qb looks like. I was born in 1980 saw real qbs my whole life. Smith is not worth to wear niner Red and Gold. 11=BUST!!!
Really genius, you were still in your diapers, Since I have been a 49er fans and saw the great Qb’s.. It seems you don’t kow anything about Football ..lol
@Dean, Honestly do you know the difference from a starting QB to a back up??? How can A. Smith be a good back up qb, he started for the niners in 2011 from day one with a 14-4 record…Please post more your ridiculous comments..you’re a very entertaining comic…hahaha
Rotoworld is reporting the 49ers are looking at Peyton Manning.
The Denver Post has confirmed the 49ers and Texans are in the mix.
@Razor
Thanks for sharing that. Do you have links to these reports?
Suck on this ! Please share some of that coolaid..lol
You stop that Bob Wiley! I know its you!
After A. Smith signs later today, comes tomorrow @Razor will see his shrink to get additional dosage of his medication..lol
Bob, I’ve talked to your Doctor and he agrees with me Lithioum would be a more effective managing tool.
Rotoworld also said the 49ers contacted Wallace and V Jax. And that the 49ers offered the 3 year deal last week. IDK how much cred they have, but hey. This is what makes FA fun right? The rumors
Thanks for sharing that. Do you have links to these reports?
@Nickrow, you might want to asked him, where does he get what his smoking? hahaha
Mr. Wiley I don’t have to go get it, it grows all around everywhere here. Gol-ly!
No but it sounded so damn dramatic!
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20152563/peyton-manning-nearing-decision-is-impressed-broncos-sources
They are guessing just like everyone else, but this appears to be the origin of the rumors.
This reminds me of all the “breaking news” surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s hire.
A whole bunch of BS trying to break a story, when it was really just BS.
I wouldn’t read too much into this unless we hear that the 49ers have contacted Condon about Manning. So far, it does not appear that conversation has not taken place.
My sources indicate Condon and Baalke have had “indirect talks” about Manning.
WOW!! This excerpt gave me the warm fuzzies:
“It’s possible the 49ers would gain Manning’s attention, too, because they are the only clear Super Bowl contender among his suitors, having reached the NFC championship game this past season.”
Ahhhhhhhhh …. and the warm fuzzies are not so much for getting Peyton’s attention, but for actually being recognized as clear cut Super Bowl contenders?!?! My GAWWD!! after all these year of waiting I thought the day would NEVER come!! It’s great to be a 49ers fan right now!!!
Thats one thing i will agree on its 49er time.
If Smith leaves or holds out. Well he is a Idiot for real. Like wow! who would want him………………………………………. Harbaugh is why we are good and why Smith is ok.
So if Alex decides to explore his options when FA starts tomorrow, will we make a push for PM? Experts are still claiming the Niners to be a “Dark Horse” in the pursuit for Manning.
You guys love the posting that Alex is ging to test FA ! Sorry to disappoint some of you, the contracts is already been signed.. Try your luck next 4 years in FA…hahaha
Can you verify said information Mr. Wiley?
You have an inside scoop that no one else does? lol. get a life
I love this sh!t man. Football drama is a lot of fun.
OK. So do you think they will go with CK next season if Smith goes somewhere else and they dont sign Manning or Flynn?
@Adam707
I don’t know what Johnson has done in the NFL so far.
If we are going to get screwed in the QB position, I’d rather it be a guy currently on the team. Not a FA QB coming from a different team.
Tell me. Which FA QB played well last year going to a new team? Not one. Most didn’t even finish the season as the starter.
And, if Tolzein is more ready, then start him. CK and Tolzein need to earn their stripes.
I think Josh Johnson is more realistic if Alex Smith leaves.
I would like that option too but would suck to read Jordan gloat for months.
Why Josh Johnson when they have CK? Bigger, Stronger, Faster. Johnson would just be a consolation prize if they lost out on Manning and Smith went to Seattle.
Competition.
Niners FO dont view CK as a QB ready to play now. Johnson has been in NFL several years now and could play now
@razoreater
I agree.
When was the last time Johnson was in a JH offense? Does Johnson know the players here?
Johnson provides nothing. He won’t win more games than CK will. Didn’t he start a few games this year, and did he look great? If he did, then why haven’t the Bucs made every effort to keep him around? What is the media in Tampa saying about needing to keep Johnson?
This is all just a hypothetical scenario if Smith leaves. What else would you suggest DS? Starting a not ready CK?
I agree with Razors question Grant. Why a young QB when they have CK and Tolzien waiting?
I think Johnson would be the best option if Smith left, unless Manning can prove his arm is healthy, which I doubt he can.
Would you prefer the Niners sign Jason Campbell if Smith leaves? He’d be cheaper and he’s nearly as good, but he’s got less potential than Johnson.
If JJ was that good they should have received several inquiries regarding a trade, instead he is hitting the FA market and TB gets nothing in return. Not so sure.
Harbaugh won 14 games with AS last season, and no one wanted him last offseason. Harbaugh thinks he can win with bargain QBs.
Id say no way to Campbell. I think JJ would be a good fit, but It doesnt make sense if CK is waiting in the wings. And is suppose to be the future. Isnt JJ pretty young still?
He’d be good competition for Kaepernick, and he’d be cheap.
And yeah if Harbaugh could get Smith to play OK I think he could make his old pupil a star in this league.
The 9ers could have traded for JJ last year for as little as a 7th round pick and they didn’t do it. TBay would have jumped at it since they are losing him in FA this year anyway. Even if AS leaves I don’t see it.
Maybe the Niners wanted to keep their 7th round pick and sign JJ for cheap.
If Smith leaves and Manning works out in front of Harbaugh and does well, then signing Manning is a no-brainer. But if that doesn’t happen, I’d bet JJ is the next Niners target.
Last year I would have loved Campbell now I feel Alex could do better.
Agree, but Campbell’s cheaper now.
Grant, no disrespect to you. You make me laugh with that comment J. Johnson is more realistic…Dude ! You’re going to lose your creditability as a writer..
Honestly, what warrants him to replace A. Smith as the starter he hasn’t prove anything as yet in the NFL, but being just a back up QB…lol
Who would you prefer the Niners to sign if Alex Smith leaves in free agency?
If anyone in the NFL knows Josh Johnson it’s Coach Harbaugh. Maybe he feels he can get a little more out of Johnson than Smith. As far as I’m concerned the only thing that holds creditably is the decision making process of Baalke and Harbaugh.
@Adam707
If we are going to get screwed over by the QB position, I’d rather it be a player on our team right now rather than a FA QB pickup.
Can you name me 1 good FA QB pickup of a QB who went to a new team last year? Or the year before? Chances are very low that a FA QB makes a big difference for your team if he was not on your team the previous year.
And, who said anything about CK being the guy. If Tolzein is better, start him over CK.
I have not seen CK play in a meaningful game but I’ve seen Josh Johnson play a little and he looks kind of smallish and frail. Frankly did not see a huge advantage over CK potential. Sure you could bring him in to compete but not if Smith signs or Manning.
My sources say Manning is throwing 50 yards Grant. Enough with the arm strength thingie.
Your sources? Why won’t he throw for teams?
Don’t know the answer to that question. Why don’t you ask him? This is the Peyton Manning show. It’s not like Alex Smith is going to these teams and talking to the offensive staff to see if they measure up to his standards of success with their offensive minds. C’mon man!
During Peyton Manning’s visit to Denver, he threw some passes, after all. Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that Manning threw roughly 50 passes to former teammate Brandon Stokley.
Klis says that the pitch-and-catch session, which no one from the Broncos attended, occurred in a small park on Saturday morning.
Stokley also saw Manning throw passes in North Carolina, presumably at or about time that grainy Zapruder/bigfoot film was shot. “I saw him for three days at Duke and he was the only quarterback and he threw a ton of balls for three straight practices and the guy looked to me like he did when I was there six years ago,” Stokley said.
Saying that Peyton looks like he did “six years ago” is one hell of a statement, meaning that he’s not only 100 percent but also that he has found a way to turn back the hands of time.
Klis also reports that Manning’s workout at Duke was filmed and distributed to teams last week.
I don’t trust Stokely – he’s Manning’s friend. T.J. Houshmandzadeh said the same thing about Carson Palmer a few months ago, and he was wrong.
Why won’t Manning work out in front of teams? Fishy.
Sorry Grant not buying what you’re selling on this one. Manning does not impress me as a dude who would engage in such seafood shananagins.
Then why won’t he throw in front of teams? What he’s doing sounds like David Blaine shenanigans. You can only watch a video and take Brandon Stokely’s word for it? Strange.
Noooo Grant, if I was seriously interested in Manning His word would be good enough for me. The dude is going to throw the fooball man. He’ll throw it for the team he picks. Period. That is the benefit of being a Manning. You get to pick. It’s unconventional I know but it is what it is. Man that last phrase never gets old.
Razor,
Are you kidding? PM’s word is enough for you? Sure, because we all know how objective athletes are when assessing their own condition, performance level, and ability to heal and/or get back to top form.
PM not throwing for the 49ers doesn’t work for me, not unless he’s willing to accept a incentive ladened contract AND a viable back up is in the wings.
Grant,
Put yourself in PM’s shoes. Why should he throw right now? The teams interested in him are falling all over themselves just for the honor of a visit.
I would think PM is going to wait until the field was winnowed down to two, or three teams max, and then throw for those teams. And then only if required to do so.
@ex
It is rumored that PM is seeking an 18 million/year salary.
No team can afford a viable back up at that price.
Jed York says “the sky is blue”. Speculation has it that that could be code for 1) Peyton (who wore blue in Indy) is on his way to SF, or 2) Alex Smith (who has blue eyes) is signing his contract, or 3) the sky is blue. Based on blogger comments, the odds are 50% #1, 40% #2 and 10% #3.
That is pure win right there.
So is noone going to talk about the Redskin and Cowboys losing salary cap numbers? It appears that this Niners will get an additional 1.6 mil to spend.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/nflpa-agreed-to-cowboysredskins-salary-cap-sanctions/
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/nfl-warned-teams-at-least-six-times-about-not-dumping-salary-in-uncapped-year/
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/12/league-strips-cowboys-redskins-of-millions-in-cap-space/
Boring. This is Free Agent Christmas Eve. Get ready to run downstairs and open the presents.
Saw that. Oak gets nothing. Thats a good thing.
Grant is moss still in the building ????!?
We should be talking about Eric Winsont being released from the Texans!
No need to look for a RG in FA or the draft? Get a pro bowl RT and improve your RG at the same time once you move Davis to RG. That is called win-win proposition and imo, more important than any FA move they make, unless they get someone like Wallace, Nicks or V. Jackson.
No Freaking Way Davis moves anywhere. His progress has been excellent. Upside is very high.
I wouldn’t say Davis has been excellent. He still gets burned by speed rushers and badly too. He handles bull rushers much better, but against the best pass rushers, he allowed multiple sacks against each of them.
I feel his upside is at RG. His initial movement against speed rushers is too slow imo and even when he does have a good first movement, he doesn’t move his feet that well when they try to go around him.
Davis is still young. You put a veteran guard who can pass block as well as rode grade next to him and watch how well this offensive line plays. I would be very surprised if Davis got beat in training camp for his RT position. He’s a beast.
Unless Eric Winston is signing with the 49ers, I don’t think he would lose his RT job either. But if they did, I would bet he would lose his job to Winston. Then he would slide over to RG.
Alex hit some nice throws the second half of the season , i think alot of people will be surprised how many points this offence will score. This is the second coming of the Empire
You should be doing this in your car at 49ers Headquarters for the next 72 hours going field work GRANT !!!!!!!!!
Fock yea Grant. Go covert.
Bay I gotta ask , do you ever wonder how stupid you really are, sorry how bad your football knowledge really is. Schaub elite? Hes a walking bandaid, dude is a china doll and if he played behind our oline, he’d be out of football. What has he ever done or won to say he’s elite?
BTW, shouldnt you be changing your avatar by now, you got schooled by FDM so own up or are you like your boy toy buddy 23j and welch?
C.Rodgers has not been in any 49er conversation for the last couple of weeks. Is it safe to conclude that he is as good as ‘GONE?’ Also, the recent signing of T.Brooks may have sealed Rodger’ fate with the 49ers.
NFL Network is doing a pre-free agent segment at the moment. C.Rodgers was brought up during the segment by the panel. The panel of reporters seem to suggest that Rodgers may likely sign with AZ or TENN.
Also, Micheal Lombardi (a panel member) said that Rodgers benefited from the 49ers strong pass rush this past season. I’ve said for a few years now, that if the 49ers can provide a strong pass rush that our DB’ will have good-great numbers.
Point: Our pass rush for the 2012 season is still intact, and I look for our DB’s (whomever they turn out to be) to continue to find success. C.Rodgers (if he signs for ‘greener pastures) will not have the kind of season he had in Red&Gold. It would not surprise me one bit to see another of our DB’s have a ‘banner’ year playing behind our ‘elite’ front 7.
See-ya, CR!
@AES
Why do you seem happy to get rid of CR?
He was a great player for us. You just seem a little too happy to not resign a guy who was the ideal teammate and respected the media. Not to mention a Pro-bowl CB. How long ago was it that we had a pro-bowl CB, and you are ok to dump him?
AES is right DS. I wanted Peppers a few years ago bad! Because a good pass rush makes the secondary…”like a Clements” better. Rogers never had the year he had here. Neither did any one else in our secondary. Its because this is the best 7 man front weve had since 98. CR will NOT be as good as he was on a team with NO pressure on their front.Bank on that! The 49ers know this and thats why Brooks was THE TOP PRIORITY for us. Keep the front 7 together is key to this teams success. Without them. This team would have been 7-9 at best.
@md
We have some wires crossed.
To me it seems that AES was happy about not resigning a CB who went to the pro-bowl and was a pro on and off the field in every way.
I wasn’t arguing that we should overpay for him. But he seemed to be cheering the move. And I don’t get why you cheer losing CR.
If he did go to AZ, the Cards will have the best CB’s in the NFL. PP is really good, as he owned MC in game 2. If they have CR, that is deadly. They can rush the passer decently already, and they won’t need to worry about when they do want to blitz.
I wonder who’s going to get a bigger deal. Matt Flynn or Alex Smith. Flynn has been a Backup his whole career and is still ranked higher on the FA list than Smith. Hmmmm
I think its more because he is still an unknown, so people aren’t sure about Flynn’s potential. They see how he did in a couple game with Green Bay, but then again, he can’t bring those weapons and others with him in his new team either. Also, most people see Smith going back to the 49ers anyways.
Smith will sign. Its a no brainer. Not a chance he leaves after last year. The real bet should be will he start in the next couple of years.
MD, agree AS will sign. But some will eat their words when he starts hitting RM in stride similar to VD. Oh, stay tuned! LOL
Hof. I hope so, but I hope its V Jax instead. Although Id take RM too. lol
Really genius ! Where did you get your idiotic assumption?
Aes agree with the pass rush notion that it could make any secondary better but if the Niners think they can roll out T Brown, Culliver and Brock in a pass happy division, that could spell trouble. None of those guys are extremely fast or physical. Rodgers I’m not sure is the answer but he is a vet and played well in the scheme. I also don’t think theres much better in free agency. If the Niners think they can be cheap it sooner or later come back to bite them especially if divison rivals start plucking them up.
Prime,
If the 49ers can sign one of the WR F/A’ such as M.Wallace, V.Jack, Garcon, or R.Meachem (these are my best prospects beginning w/Wallace), that would give them more flexibility in the draft and perhaps go after a top rated DB with their 1st, but more likely with their 2nd pick. T.Brown aquitted himself with a ‘good’ season and C.Culliver could be a C.Rodgers type because of his size and physical presence with more experience.
But our front 7 is going to provide the platform for our DB’ to prosper, period!
AES:
I have been saying for as long as I can remember that my opinion is that pass rush/ pressure is maybe THE most important thing in winning football games, even more important than QB play and certainly more important than DB play.
The Niners front office absolutely agrees with you. They made it a priority to lock up their front seven to long term contracts and they play hardball with everyone else.
Duly noted, Grant.
Primetime:
I dont think the Niners are being “cheap” at all. I think they are being smart and they know that what WILL “come back to bite them” is if they consistently over spend and get in cap trouble.They seem to be picking and choosing where and when they dole out the big money.
the 49ers FO smart?? lol…in Jed’s time they lucked out Harbaugh wanted to coach Bill Walsh’s team. Otherwise the Jed who thought Singletary and Jimmy Raye and mountains of dirt were just what the 49ers needed would still be doing what he’s doing now-smug twitters..just doing it for his familys second decade of losing.
Harbaugh is all that stands between Jed the smug and Jed the fool.
Let’s talk about Jed York. York became an NFL team owner and president in his 20′s. He’s the youngest majority owner in the NFL by a longshot. Invariably, you expect anyone in their 20′s to make mistakes, and he did. The question is, did he learn from his mistakes? The answer is yes. If you credit Harbaugh, you credit Baalke and York. In a quote just taken today:
“The football people are here for a reason. If they’re the ones who are going to be in charge of everything and be responsible, I have to make sure I listen to them, and I’ll support them in whatever they need.”
At 32, York is already an experienced and embattled owner with a lifetime ahead of him. Jed York is going to be a Hall of Fame owner.
That’s York’s quote by the way. Have to say, I couldn’t have handled that responsibility at 28.
Wow I couldnt disagree with you more Stan. I think we are some of the luckiest fans in the NFL to have Jed as our sharp owner. If you dont agree then I feel sorry for you ,since Jed is going to run the team for probably the rest of your life .But then the way you talk it doesnt sound like a Niners fan at all? at least I will be rid of Alex being the starter some day but the owner is young and will be owning the team for many decades to come.
ONE Harbaugh from the familys second decade of losing…
And that he LOW balled Jim…and Harbaugh took it, is just one dumb sob’s fantastic luck.
Stan…… Take it easy. So you jumped on the Linsanity bandwagon and its broken down now. Its alright. He sucks. Get over it Guy!!
Yeah and Dirk sucks too-the WC Mavs have lost to the Warriors…
@Tim, here you go again with Attacks on A. Smith.. Everybody knows anyway how you hate A. Smith.. Admitted your a two face, one time you’ll say you like th kid and than you turn around and bashed the kid smith..lol
@Tim
In fantasy land (maybe nightmare for you), what would you do if AS took over HC duties from JH say in 19 years?
Then you have to see AS a lot more frequently than you ever did when he was a player.
All, those press conferences, draft talks, everything the Niners did anywhere, you would be stuck with having to look upon AS. And hopefully for a very long time with many Super Bowls in his tenure.
What would be your reaction?
((SPecial Report ))
The Niners came back with another offer, heard it from the inside the walls in Santa Clara, they are going to add another week to his contract to make him feel better.
A whole comment without using the word (if there is one) Smither. lol
Alex bolting after one good year? As smart as Maclean Stevenson leaving MASH to do his own show “Hello Larry”. You all remember that..
Stan, you are a unique dude. I really like your perspective (and analogies) on this blog! lol
BTW, WRogers left a bit early but made millions in the markets so I’m sure he doesn’t care!
Or stan, you could say Jed , in only 2 years of running the team had his team in the Championship game and has a new stadium in construction and has hired the coach of the year and exec of the year .Sounds pretty great to me !
Randy Moss signs…Again-is that wanting to play for Jed ..or Jim?
ONE HARBAUGH AWAY…lol…
Stan:
You dont really believe Alex is leaving do you ?It seems everything you have said so far on this thread shows you to not be up to speed on Niner news.Hang around a while and read and learn.
Nope-its the philosophical answer to why would he leave?
He’s like a gf you dont really like very much. When she says, “We need to break-up, ” you dont ask why, you just say, “Thanks.”
A raiders fan are you Stan ? explains the jealousy.
If they sign Alex for 3 more years and move to Santa Clara, they may just lose me. Wow! I just said that—and thought it!
Manning at the ‘Stick–now that sounds like SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS football!
I figure Alex will have Jed signing a three contract as his houseboy after he takes them to the playoffs again.