According to an AP source, The Niners will give Alex Smith $16.5 million guaranteed instead of the $10 million they originally offered him.
So, Alex Smith and his agent (who still appears to be Tom Condon, unless I’m mistaken) made the right move dragging these negotiations on and on. They didn’t get Ryan-Fitzpatrick money (five years, ~$50 million), but they surpassed Matt-Flynn bucks (three years, $26 million, $10 million guaranteed.) Good for them.
Is this a win for the Niners? Senior Zohn thinks so. I’m not so sure. It seems like the Niners went against their whole front office philosophy by overpaying. No other team would offer Smith anywhere near that deal.
As you know, I believe the Niners would have gotten more bang for their buck had they signed Mike Wallace instead of Smith. But, the Niners paid a premium to bring their veteran quarterback back, and I understand that logic.
Trent Baalke needs to knock the draft out of the park, because his free agency has been modest at best. Besides the additions of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, the starting lineup is practically identical to last season.
The Niners can’t stand pat while the other contenders improve.
Areas the Niners still need to improve: Quarterback, wide receiver, right guard, punt returner.
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I’m thinking that JH and AS won the battle over the FO. Good for them. It will be the same dynamics as last year and they can now focus on the draft!
Go 9ers!!
Jh???? The same guy who wanted Peyton manning? How did he win? Listening to peytons interview he said it was hard for him to have to turn harbaugh down. Harbaugh was our pitch man. Of course harbaugh has to be on smiths side now. It looks like mr smith has some fragile feelings. If it were me in smiths shoes, the money wouldn’t bother me. It would be the years and can the release me. I’m thinking since they upped the Guaranteed money, there is a clause in there that says they can cut him or release him after 1 or 2 years. I can’t think of smith crying about the money, but about the loyalty.
I still think it was a marketing FO ploy. But we may never know. Who cares at this point. They now can all move on…
True hof we will never know. Now that manning gate is over and were back to square one like I predicted. Lol the draft is next and it doesn’t look like we will be hosting the saints this year. One road game got a little easier.
You’re assuming the pursuit of Manning was a Harbaugh decision and not a Front office decision.
@hof
I don’t anybody winning over anybody in the Niner organizaiton!
Why do you keep saying that?
1 winner vs. 1 loser in the same organization = 0.500
How are we getting better at 0.500?
Grant: Just report the news ok,you are ehe same guy that said sign Tebow. That worked out real good for you.
I’d rather read what Grant thinks, and debate with him and the others their various opinions, rather than simply have him recite the news ticker, thanks.
Question for Grant: No one ever reported the guaranteed money or escalators in the deal Alex has had on the table for 3 weeks, just “3 years at $8M per year”. That is still what he got. How do you know the 49ers upped the guarantee and upped the escalators when those two numbers were never being reported?
Maiocco and Kawakami reported it.
GC, I thought your bud Janie from AP received a tweet first??
I said the AP source.
I don’t think anyone knew the guarantees or escalators, just the parameters of $8M for 3 years, which is what this deal is. The rest was speculation. Once this guys
@Grant, has your GM 23Jordan check in yet? To give us all his latest insight with the niners..
He promised to never come back here again. (23J) when AS signed.
Not missing him.
DS, I wonder if he can stay away from Grant that long? Maybe he’ll come back here with a different name…lol
Mr. Baalke demonstrated he has the ability to do just that in the draft. If he can successfully strengthen the team at the positions you note this team will be ready to conquer its foes. The only important part of the Alex Smith contract is that it is only for 3 years. $16 million guaranteed is no big deal. If he wants to get any of the other $33 million he will have to earn it.
I think they will be alright grant. The money is a I’m sorry note. The most important is years and can they cut him at anytime. He’s still not paid elite money. That would have been a crime. I think the niners will be ok.
“The Niners can’t stand pat while the other contenders improve.” I think you are missing a few things here Grant. Year 2 in the Roman/Fangio systems and a full off-season for the coaches and players to perfect their craft and learn from what worked/didn’t work last season cannot be understated. They are better at wide receiver (Josh Morgan/Braylon were non-factors all season, therefore Moss/Manningham are HUGE upgrades over Ginn/Swann). Very young guys like Culliver, Aldon, Bowman, Iupati/A.D., Hunter, and Miller are all ascending players and they get their first real NFL off season. This will be a much better team in year 2 under Harbs. I don’t see how you don’t see that.
A lot hinges on the Smith-to-Moss connection.
Let’s agree to disagree. Smith to Crabtree, Manningham, K Williams, Delanie and Vernon is what really matters. Moss is the X-factor like Braylon was last year. Low risk high reward if Moss can contribute or play as a decoy to open up the underneath and middle for Crabtree/Vernon. This is a team that already made the NFC Championship game with less.
I know one thing, if Moss can still get up the field with 4.4 speed that he will catch way more Passes downfield than Teddy Ginn did. I doubt Moss will give up on a Pass as he’s rounding his route the way Ginn did early in the season.
I won’t hold it against Ginn too much because he and the DB got tangled up at that point of his route but he did give up and that was classic Ginn as a Receiver. Didn’t know how to work the sideline, the DB or the route and his hands are that of a Pop Warner kid. :p
Grant
I think that Moss is going to be about 50/50 deep threat or decoy. Maningham and MC are going to be the real threats, along with our TE /RB combinations. Whoever we pick up in the draft (WR) will have adequate reps to grow subbing for Moss. I believe that we will become a 65% passing team, and I personally have no doubt that Alex will proliferate.
RM is clearly a one year deal. They draft the vertical guy in the draft (moving up?) and RM in one and done. Who knows if he lasts the year or if he does have a tude adjustment by sitting off last year. AS would be better off creating chemistry with MC, MM, and the new WR. He already has it with VD.
totally agree man was kind of taken aback when grant said this team hasn’t improved we don’t need to make wholesale changes in free agency we got to the nfc championship game we’ve got the draft and the offseason to do the real improving
Tougher Schedule and they wont duplicate the best turn over ratio in 30 years. Signing smith just cost them the season. I say by week 5 Randy Moss biatch slaps alice smith for underthrowing him. Niners 10-6 this year lose in first round of the playoffs due to smiths poor play and they will blame it on the wr’s, the offensive line, and alex’s wife for asking him to take out the trash.
Such a positive 49ers fan Reggie. And please explain how 10-6 would be a bad season. It’s better than under .500.
@Reggie, Are you for real? I can’t stop laughing reading your dumb comments..I met Alex’s wonderfull wife and their newly born baby girl last year in Los Gatos. I don’t think it would ever happen the wife asking Alex to throw the thrash out and clean his own yard, with all their helpers around there millions of dollar home…lol
Nice try moron !
Grant, do you believe they will pick up a QB in the draft? Would it make sense to draft a QB to compete against Tolzien for the 3rd spot? Or are you saying we need to upgrade over our (presumed) #1 and/or #2? If so, how?
Absolutely agree on need at RG – glaringly obvious position of weakness on the team… and had been for years.
WR – upgrade through the draft. Go one and done or two?
As for the Alex signing, I don’t think a bit of increase for his guaranteed money is such a bad thing. The market showed the 9ers should value him a bit higher than they were (as you showed with the comparison to Flynn’s contract, imho), so they paid him just a bit more. They threw the dog a bone, if you will. Nothing wrong with tossing out a T-Bone to your favorite mutt if you made him stand in the rain all night, right?
With AS, CK, and Tolzien on the roster, there are other higher priority positions – OL, CD/Safety, RB, kick returner, DL – that will be addressed through the draft.
@Red&GoldBlooded
No need for a QB.
Does not mean they won’t pick one up. If that guy is the best player on the board and it is like round 6, then, maybe. Grant has really talked up CK. But he has proven as much as Tolzein at this point. We’ll see more this exhibition season about which one is really better between those two.
But, veteran guys are always available with the final cuts before the season starts. So, no need to HAVE to pick a QB
Heard Ray ratto this morning on KNBR,his advising CK to move on! Because he will never be a starter at SF with A. Smith at the Helm..
That was pretty funny what Ratto said.
Might be true as well.
i took it more like the fiasco that always occurs in the history of the 9r QB…..not saying CK can’t wrest the job from AS….just saying the niner organization and niner fans already have a history of hysterionics (if that is a word) when it comes to niner QBs….and that he just got a lesson on it….so see if for what it is with eyes wide open and tongue in cheek said if you value your sanity move on and don’t deal with it….
49ers have been going against their rules the whole offseason. they pride themselves on high character individuals and then gets moss and cox (two very good signings IMO with great upside and low risk)
it was smart to up the guaranteed money to smith as it shows the players on the team that the organization thinks highly of smith.
they also probably have enough cap room to go after wallace and i think now that smith is signed they can look into that further
if it were me though i’d rather take WR hill from GT at #30 and see what he can do. the kid looks like a physical beast and should have time to develop behind crab, moss, and manningham
i agree with both of you
plan A ….kick the tires on wallace
plan B …. look at hill
plan C … look at fleener
but what is the story on the FA right guard situation … did shcwartz come in and is lenard davis just a passing thought….
still have boone and kilgore in the fold so are they really OK with them….
What world do you live in?? The Alex hater world. If you can’t support your team, root for another team.
you dumb cracker you don’t know what hater means. Don’t use hip hop lingo out of contexts. Nobody with a brain thinks alex is good and numbers back that up its not hating just stating the obvious stupid.
@Reggie
“Nobody with a brain…”
Like yourself? Get a clue. If we are writing here, we have brains. But, I think yours is a little under-performing next to most here.
Yeah DS, don’t take the hip hop lingo out of contexts.
Reggie’s just stating the obvious stupid … crap that uninformed haters like to spew.
I know claude. Just pointing out how bad the insult is.
If you are insulting somebody, put a little thought into it so that if it is taken as stated, it won’t show how stupid you are.
Reggie is free game. Swing away.
Dumb Cracker??
Hahaha. Haven’t heard that since like 1974.
A for originality, Reggie but over all? Total fail. You’re a hater.
Keep calm and carry on.
Werent you a first round bust Reggie?
Adam…. That one still isn’t as good as honky. Lol George Jefferson’s trump card. Classic, but Reggie what’s with the racist remark? Not classic.
Maiocco posted his assumed starters last night . . . we look solid! Real solid!
I don’t think they have the cap space for Mike W, nor do I think they would want to part with their 1st round pick…I don’t they’ll pursue it…they’ll build and improve throught the draft…
Agreed.
This is great all around – CK won’t be thrown to the wolves with the tough schedule that is coming this year. Obviously he is not ready. If you think the QB position needs improving, you don’t start CK who has never started and JH knows this as well. With a full year in the system and now an offseason of OTAs, additional offensive weapons, and more talent from the draft, all arrows are up! Go 9ers!!!
You were the one saying they should go with CK over Manning because he was home grown. You were ready to throw him to the wolves when you thought Manning was going to sign. That was just two days ago. Lol.
News Flash: Sean Peyton suspended for a year for Bounty Gate! Yikes.
“News Flash: Sean Peyton suspended for a year for Bounty Gate! Yikes.”
Wow, look at NFL.com.
They’re just nailing these guys. The DC was suspended indefinitely!! Sucks for the Rams I guess.
But good for us….
Where’s the draft pick penalty??
$500k penalty? Seriously? That’s what the owners spend on birthday parties for their girlfriends.
2 second round picks forfeited
this years and next
Big P: I don’t see anything good for us in the suspension of the Rams Defensive Coordinator. Greg Williams sucks. I was happy we would get to play his D twice a year.
I would not be opposed to taking a flier on Kellen Moore in the 6th round.
Good call, Kellen Moore is intriguiging and may be worth taking a shot at in the middle rounds
Grant,
I think we may never know if the 49ers over paid for Alex this year.
1) from the beginning every organization believed Alex was DEFINITELY going to sign with the 49ers.
2) Even during the Manning drama, no one budged on anything until word started getting out where Manning was likely to choose and that it wasn’t likely SF. Miami new that Alex was just working for leverage over the 49ers.
3) After Manning made it official JH made the first move and that put everyone back in the “It’s-inevitable-Alex-will-sign-with-SF” mindset.
So I’m don’t know if can say either way.
I find it hilarious that Grant (and a buddy of mine who is a Packer fan) thinks we now overpaid Alex Smith.
Like we can’t spare the extra $6.5M guaranteed? That’s not a huge cap hit any way you look at it.
With Manningham added to the roster, Mike Wallace was never coming here.
I agree about Wallace: with Crabtree, Moss, and Manningham, who would we push to the bench if Wallace came on board. This offense doesn’t go to four WR sets very often and when they do they split out Walker or Davis instead. Sure we need depth at WR, but another big ticket name is no longer needed as we are a sure upgrade over last year’s squad (assuming Moss still has something left).
i would probably concur with this line of thought…..but what if….just for fun
1st round pick plus crabtree for wallace and pitts second round pick
maybe crabtree’s cap hit for the next couple of years is pretty high relatively speaking that it would cause pitt to take pause
but before the manning and AS signing it was suggested the niners had 23 mill and pitt only had like 5mill cap space….so i remain interested how this all plays out for pitt and wallace even if the niners are not involved because it will define for me how one organization can put pressure on another…..pitt would have to do an awful lot of restructuring or cutting
maybe broncos go after wallace since they also after the manning signing have about 20+ in cap space
p.s. this is not be cracking on crabtree…it is just me thinking about pressuring organizations and making deals ….
crabtree is a good rcvr put into the right positons and getting the manninghams and moss may teamed up with the VD very well could allow this to happen …..crabtree finding spaces and adjusting to those spaces as he did back in school and since AS is said to need to see rcvrs open this could work out fine
I believe the larger factor is that the Niner’s FO believes it must maintain momentum as the team approaches the era of the new stadium. If the team slides to, say, 8 – 8 or 9 – 7 and goes to 1 and out (assuming they make the playoffs) with any new QB, there is no possible PR upside if they had let AS walk. The safest, lowest risk solution is to retain AS with the assumption his level of play will be more or less in step with 2011, continue to develop CK and/or ST, continue to build the team and stay the course.
A very pragmatic business/PR decision!
“Alex Smith and his agent…who still appears to be Tom Condon, unless I’m mistaken”
As a reporter, you can’t always keep saying you are wrong (again) or put on a disclaimer. You have to build up your credential so that one day ESPN or SI will take the news source from you.
There is a quiet period of 5 days when changing agents in the NFL. In other words, fire agent #1 on Sunday you can’t hire agent #2 until Friday.
Grant is like his father … wants to go against everything the team does to foster controversy. I’m sure Baalke and Harbaugh stay awake at night thinking my gosh what have we done I should have listened to the Cohn’s.
Damn Sean Peyton suspended for the whole year and jets get tebow. Wheew! Good bye saints
If you are Brees, do you want to sign a long term contract with the NO Saints at all?
If it were me. I would. They still have a lot of talent and brees being brees makes them a real contender. He’s pissed because of the franchise tag. But he might just walk next year with this circus going on now. Brees to niners next year?????? Lol jk
Didnt see a while year. RG is handing down the iron fist. Just imagine the soft rules getting softer. You can bet on that. The good news is the rams will be fishing for a new DC. He was suspended indefinitely. They deserve everything they get. Pathetic has gone back to NO.
No.
I said before md. Of all the QB’s in the NFL, DB’s skills I think it would work here the easiest. Would translate what he does well there to what he can do here.
The guy has the same type heart as AS (and that says a lot). He was sorta tossed out by his first team (not all that different from AS) and he can move and throw on the run. A skill you’d better have if you are behind this line. And, he keeps his cool pretty well. I’ve seen AR and PM blow their tops. Never seen Brees do it. Guy can’t get rattled.
But, I can’t ignore the fact that AS out did DB playing DB’s game last time. And the time before, AS may have beat DB if the defense didn’t let him down near the end of that game in 2010.
My good buddy, huge saints fan, says that Brees will definitely not play under the franchise tag. Something’s gotta give with that situation.
@Angus
Don’t you pretty much have to play under the franchise tag? What are his options?
1. Quit or officially retire
2. Play
3. ???
MD, thanks for update. Damn need to read NFL com. wow!
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
WHAT?..I havent read or heard that..back to the internet…
I don’t think the Saints will fold if they get Brees signed. They’ll fo’ sho’ miss SP’s game planning and play calling, but Brees by now is almost like Peyton in running his offense. They’re still a real good team and will circle the wagons and have big chips on their shoulders.
Its wayyyy early, pre-draft and all, but at this point they still look like favorites in their division to me.
Tim Tebow to ninermd’s friend the Jets!
Thankfully he won’t be here.
Why do they have to be my friend?
I meant your friend who liked the Jets. The guy you spoke to about Sanchez.
He’s an idiot! And now I can give him all kinds of chit. He’s from NY. And he knows I hate everything about that toilet. Except my friends from there. The puerto rican community has been growing out here for years. The ny refugees. Still stick with their teams though. Poor *asterds. Lol gotta call him now and give him a good tebowin. Wheew. Made my day and better yet he’s not coming here.
I AM in NYC and everybody (Jets fans included) are just as gobsmacked as we would have been had the Niners followed Grant’s advice.
Woo-boy , it’s starting already.
ESPN Poll:
Who should start at QB for the Jets:
Mark Sanchez: 48%
Tim Tebow: 52%
Grant, would you really want that circus surrounding our team – all season long????
He’s a journalist. Of course he wants the circus! Sells more papers.
[DS]DON’T YOU SAY THAT. ALEX SMITH IS A GOLDEN, GOLDEN GOD AND BETTER THAN JOE MONTANA, STEVE YOUNG, BRETT FAVRE, PEYTON MANNING, TOM BRADY, OTTO GRAHAM, TROY AIKMAN, ROGER STAUBACH and TERRY BRADSHAW COMBINED![/DS]
I WANT TO MARRY ALEX SMITH!!!
Mental Institute.
If you are not there, you should be.
I was only doing an impression of you, DS.
NO YOU WERE NOT.
I DON’T WRITE POSTS SCREAMING AND BOLDING STUFF.
Not making me proud at all.
Yes, I was. I was echoing your sentiments. YOU want to marry Alex.
Find somebody who cares about you.
In a world of over 7 billion people…the chances are not good.
Take a hike. I’m done with you.
Stand in line onelame is next!
His real name is Bob Wiley and he’s being treated for AlexSmithJockStrapSniffers disease by a local docter here that goes by the name of Dr. Leo Marvin. He has an Alex Smith shrine down in his moms basement. He can be a compassionate individual when controlled with the medication that Dr. Marvin prescribed, however Bobs’ business the AlexSmith Fanboy Show was cancelled recently and he can’t afford his co payment.
Damn you actually know onelame in life, I feel bad for you bra.
Razor, who cares. Do you have any 9er football knowledge/opinion to share? Jeez!
Loosen up a little. You seem a bit tight. Relax, just having some fun.
Bradah shut the he.ll up ! dummy
“Baby steps to the stadium”-Bob Wiley
Guy are you really that ignorant? You sound like your from another planet..lol
HAHAHAHAHA, looks like someone doesn’t want to know the truth about themselves.
I agree with mike#2 that all our young guys will be better in year 2 especcially with a full off season program in place. I disagree w GC that so far the free agency is modest at best. Balke is doing what he did last year by signing tier 2 (underwhelming) free agents to team friendly contracts with not much at stake for us should they not work out. Giving Alex the extra 6.5 mil (if u believe they only offered 10 mil guaranteed to start) is irrelevant because AS would have been the QB on the roster next year so he would have gotten the $ anyways unles he was cut (which is unlikely). If right after the season you told me that we would retain all of our key FA (minus snyder) and add RM and MM to improve our WR core I would have been pretty psyched.
Now just need to have a solid draft
Oh and by the way other contenders arn’t getting stronger. GB hasnt signed anyone NYG just lost MM and CB Ross Saints lost meachem and G nicks So out of the NFC Contenders were sitting pretty
And remember, because of the lockout this is the first off season for our 2nd and 3rd year players (Bowman, A.D., Iupati, Kyle Williams, Anthony Davis + Aldon, Culliver, Kaep, Miller, etc.)
Holy Sheet: NFL Suspended Sean Payton FOR THE YEAR and Greg Williams “Indefinitely” (Maybe lifetime ban?) for Bounty Gate.
I thought they’d lose some draft picks too.
$500k fine is pure silly talk. These guys spend this taking friends to dinner.
Nice to see Payton and Williams go down though. Looks like the GM took a hit too.
Wonder how big the player suspensions are going to be. 12 months, no pay?
Saints lost a #2 in 2012 and another #2 in 2013. I have zero inside knowledge, but I’m not so sure the players involved will get much sanctions; failure of leaderships what I think RG is focused on. Imo, the GM got off light.
Grant:
I enjoy this blog, but I think you tend to overstatement things, which is what you should do to generate interest.
Balke has done just fine in free agency. He kept one of the best defenses in the NFL together. No starter has been lost, THAT is significant.
As others have wrote he has improved the receiver corp. That was one of the teams biggest weaknesses. I realize journalist want drama as do some fans, but I think most fans want the best team they can reasonably get and that is what Balke is doing, with the exception of not getting Manning, but hey they tried.
It is much more difficult to have a great draft when you are in the #30 slot than in the top 10, so I am hopeing we can get an immediate starter, one or two players who can start in a couple of years and a couple of backup, special teams guys and role players. I think that would be an excellent draft.
It is a fair contract. The young man should be compensated for leading the team to the playoffs and hopefully the SB. Unfortunately, if the Niners keep the play-calling the same (run first, pass off play-action) we are never going to see Kaepernick. Smith is going to thrive in a system like that where he doesn’t have take a seven step drop and read coverage. Unfortunately teams that play zone and rarely blitz (ie NYG) are going to continue to force ASmith to make reads and throw into zones. Oh well, we will win with that ball control offense-field position defense. I am happy for now.
Don’t think u know much … I disagree with you..
I don’t think they really overpaid. They came up a bit, but the initial offer was pretty low. Smith has his detractors, and his options were limited, but IMO he deserved to make more money than Flynn and Sanchez. I think the Niners and Smith ultimately negotiated a pretty fair deal for both sides.
Wow the Saints are getting hit hard with the punishment. Willaims suspended indefinaltly. Loomis suspended for the first eight games. Payton suspended for the entire season and they lose 2 2nd round draft picks this year and next year.
also a half million in fines
Plus a loss of their 2nd round draft pick. So much for the Saints. Now the Rams need to find a new D Coordinator. IDIOTS!
Good!
MLoomis slap on the wrist because the first 8 games – most of the FA, draft, signings etc, are done during the off season. They should have lost their 2013 1st round pick.
While I appreciate what Alex accomplished this past season.. from a business standpoint .. he’s already got somewhere better than 70 million of the Niners money in the bank .. (since 2005) .. All that for one great season ?
In reality .. he should have signed the offer before all this Peyton soap opera ever began .. If he had done so .. it never would have happened … right ?
So– in a way .. he brought about his own ruffled feathers !
If Alex has a chip on his shoulder, this season because of all this… I’d say
it doesn’t look good for our opponents ! …And that’s a good thing !
Alex … this season … let’s see a lot more of your “cold-bloodedness ” we heard Harbaugh speak about … !
You certainly have a lot more motivation for it !
Alex Smith’s gross income from the 49ers since 2005 is about $38M to which you can add the $16.5 he has coming even if he is cut five minutes after his new contract is official.
I’d be interested to know how you came up with that $70M figure. Given the way these blogs work, I’ll never know. Pity.
The owner can fix this by firing SP as HC and bring in a new guy. Clean house and he can move on now…
Naaa. Wait it out a year. Watch them suck next year. Resign brees and everything is back to normal.
Jay Glazer just tweeted that Tim Tebow has been traded to the Jets for a 4th round draft pick.
Who’s TTebow?
TTebow is Alex Smith Jr. Mediocre quarterback carried by the defense, inspires irrational love from the fans based on non-football reasons.
Tebow’s one heck of a running back, though.
MSC… this is a TEAM sport. Don’t know why people insist on saying a QB is carried by their Defense when in reality the Defense is just doing their job. That’s why there are Defenses in Football. To keep the opponent out of the End Zone. That’s their freakin job!
Sorry, I just can’t get with the Defense carrying a QB. It’s the QBs’ job to succeed regardless of how well or how poorly his Defense is playing. Smith did that all season long. Just be happy this team is fielding a top 5 Defense. I remember when this team fielded a Defense that was in the bottom 5. I don’t EVER wish to see that again.
Oh and you might wish to retract your statement based on the number of games the 9er Offense’s ToP battle. When the Offense is on the field for 45 minutes in one game, the Defense isn’t on the field hardly at all. It kept them pretty fresh. ;)
Trent Baalke needs to knock the draft out of the park, because his free agency has been modest at best. Besides the additions of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, the starting lineup is practically identical to last season.
This is an error in perception that I see many people make. Modest? He signed two very strong free agents who played very well, and played almost every single down for their team last year. One of them even went to the pro bowl. Those players? Brooks and Rogers. Don’t underestimate how hard it is to keep good players.
I think Manningham is a good addition. He made clutch receptions in the Championship game AND the SB. He’s also only 25. Moss may do well, or not. He’s a cheap gamble.
The Moss contract is worthy of the “Executive of the Year Award”.
No money if he does not work. Drop him whenever, and we don’t owe him anything for any games afterward.
@barleyfreak:
I also believe that the most important free agent signings a good team makes are the re-signings of its own free agents. By that standard, Baalke’s success in free agency has indeed been much more than modest.
Agreed Claude.
Of course, crapping on the starting QB by chasing a replacement sort of offsets the “resigning your own” benefit.
Amen.
@msclemons67:
I don’t think Manning constitutes a mere “replacement.” Nor do I think think that investigating the possibility of signing a Hall of Fame QB constitutes crapping on your QB.
Alex should look at this as his big opportunity. He really has had only one decent year in his career. But that came with very limited preseason work with the coaching staff. His biggest shortcoming last year was his tendency to play it safe, especially when in the lead, and hold the ball instead of just winging it. It paid off with a low turnover ratio but also showed up as a poor 3rd down and red zone completion percentage. If he can use this off-season to gain confidence in his ability to stick the tough throws, then he will indeed be the “elite” QB that Harbaugh proclaimed and big paydays will be in his future.
Tweaking the contract to give a little more guaranteed money is a wise move from the quarterback-confidence and team-chemistry point of view. It sends the right message to everyone. At the end of the day it’s still a moderate contract for a moderate quality quarterback, and represents fair market value.
Regarding the bang for the buck argument (spending on Wallace rather than Smith): I assume you’re still advocating Colin Kaepernick for starting QB? You may think that Kaepernick is ready to start, but it’s pretty obvious that that coaching staff doesn’t agree with you. And it certainly doesn’t do any good to have all-star WRs if your QB isn’t ready to play at an NFL level. That would be an enormous WASTE of money.
Not sure it’s fair to say it’s a loss for the 49ers for going back on their front office philosophy after courting a 36 year-old QB who, succeed or fail, would have taken up the entire salary cap. If the front office was prepared to pay Manning, this is a huge financial savings. It also has the advantage of saving the staff from learning a new playbook.
GWilliams suspended indefinitely may be done in the NFL. Wow!
WOW! That is harsh, but probably deserving. I’m not sure the Saints make it to the playoffs this year (or at least they won’t go far). Last year when SP got hurt and couldn’t coach they struggled, they even struggled when he had to be in the booth and not on the field. Not only that, but they’re gonna have to do really well in the 1st and later rounds of the draft. This decision could potentially hurt their franchise for years. Also, the Rams just got screwed too! Now they have to find a new DC.
What’s interesting is the players fought so hard to “protect players’ safety” during the lockout, only to find out that they probably didn’t care about it all along. All they wanted was to win the money battle.
At the very least, it’s going to be interesting to watch this unfold for the Saints and the Rams.
Was this the *only* team doing this in the NFL? Hmm.
@Hofer: If they weren’t before, they are now.
If the players were really concerned for their health, they’d agree to testing for human growth hormone use, which has all sorts of negative risks associated with it, and they’re all taking it, and refusing any level of effective testing whatsoever.
This is just a wild guess, but I think G.Williams will be able to apply for reinstatement down the road like Michael Vick did. Its still a tough row to hoe for him; what college program would take on that bad rep? He’ll be driving forklift at Home Depot.
I agree. The bounty program wasn’t illegal, just against the rules. I think he might be out for 2-3 years. But you’re right no college will take him…maybe some junior college, but even then he might only be an assistant.
A college WILL take Williams, because they don’t pay their kids. The reports are that Williams participated alongside the Players. It’s not quite clear if he instigated it or if he took part after it had started. The problem is that a Coach should know better. It’s against the spirit of the Cap when you put your own Money into this “Pot”. It’s not counted in anyone’s contract and added to the overall roster value.
Doesn’t matter though Cause he and Fisher are good friends. He’ll serve out whatever suspension he gets and Fisher will welcome him back no harm no foul. ;)
NinersRoc, though a criminial or civil case might be difficult to prove, because it would require differentiating between a normal tackle and clear assault, bounties like this are construable as a felony to incite injury to persons. Difficulty of proof does not prevent one or both kinds of cases being made. Roger Goodell had no choice but to come down hard.
Several hockey players have been convicted of assault for on-ice incidents that are “outside the normal scope of the game”.
Michael Vick should have been executed.
FYI
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/senator-calls-hearing-on-bounties/
Cannot disagree more on the FA note. We have had a very productive FA period and have actually gotten better in key areas (WR, even without Moss, Manningham is an improvement of Morgan and DB, Cox is a great pickup). Outside of RG and QB, there nothing to improve on, and we certainly gave it our best shot at QB. The team is loaded again to make a run.
Problem with the Smith deal remains that we still don’t know what we have with Kaepernick (and we lose one more year of knowing). Other QB’s like Newton, Dillon, RGIII, etc, will (continue to) develop and improve while Kaepernick sits. He might learn, but live bullets are essential in any development process. Worse, if he turns out to be anything but a franchise QB then we will be looking for an answer in the draft within 3 years.
I remain unconvinced that Smith can win a SB (making a run at a SB is not winning one). Why? Everything went perfect for us last year and we still barely won most of our games. The liklihood that we will avoid a major injuries and have a +38 turnover differential is slim. Most teams drop dramatically in that area. Again, when analysts constantly compare your QB to Dilfer, albiet a much better version, they are still comparing him to Dilfer. They are not saying that Smith is a worse version of Rodger, or Montana, or Young. Smith is and will always remain a slightly above average QB. Unfortunately, those types rarely win SB’s, but they do seem to acquire die-hard fans because they are such very nice boys (please see Tebow for comparison).
btw, I am not comparing Smith to Tebow other than the fact that they are both nice guys. Smith isa much better QB than Tebow. In fact, Tebow is terrible.
Not necessarily. Tebow has a ton of upside in as far tangibles go. If he can learn to throw some, he might be very good. Brian Billick was saying a while back that Tebow needs to lose some muscle, he’s not wiry enough for a QB, too stout.
The other option is maybe teach him to be a fullback or a tight end.
He deserves to be in the league, he’s just a bit of an anomaly right now. A creative coach will be able to do something with him. Not sure the Jets are the right choice, but whatever.
The other thing in common is Urban Meyer.
*intangibles*
I doubt they are worried about it. Aaron Rodgers sat for 3 years and he’s got a Lombardi next to his name. ;)
Bingo. Sitting three years used to be considered the norm for a QB before rookie contracts got so out of whack. It became impossible to sit a guy for three years when he was making $50 million.
With the rookie cap in place I wonder if we’ll see a period of sitting become the norm again for QBs.
Should be. No reason to rush a QB into service unless there are no viable options in Free Agency or should your Veteran QB go down during the season.
Nolan did start the ’05 season with every intention of bringing Smith along the right way so I cannot bad mouth him too harshly. We went through 4 QBs’ that season with Smith Starting 9 games. So it kind of jump started his career on a negative. His second year ended on a positive for a Sophomore QB. Everything else til this past season you couldn’t make up cause it shouldn’t happen. ;)
That’s a sound breakdown, DaNiners. That said, I disagree with the assertion that “everything went perfect for us last year.” Going into the season, our starting WR’s were Edwards, Crabtree and Morgan. Our 4-wide included Ginn. By the NFC Championship game, we were down to Crabtree, Kyle Williams and Brett Swain; ostensibly our #2, #4 and #5 receivers. The offense went a number of games without Delanie Walker and don’t forget Crabtree was limited before the bye. The starting receiving corps only started a handful of games together. Ginn’s injury also clearly affected special teams. Hence, our FA success this offseason, shoring up the WR positions.
Those Ronnie Lott freindships seem to be bad news mostly…
Grant, your self-contradictions have become epidemic. Yesterday you said that the 49ers “betrayed” Smith by “low-balling” him. Now you’re criticizing the 49ers for going “against their whole front office philosophy by overpaying,” when “no other team would offer Smith anywhere near that deal.” You bashed the 49ers for offering “only” the market rate, and now you’re bashing them for offering more. Grant, please defend yourself. If you don’t or can’t, I think it’s fair for me to wonder why I should take your opinions seriously.
Wuzzup Baby G,
Honestly i have to say u seem a little unhappy that they didnt make the move you wanted. Tebow was an ok character, but there is no way u can think he’d be better than Smith. We dont need a FB QB, we need one that can get the ball down the field. And we’ve seen what happens when u put the ball in his hands to throw. 48 and lower completion percentage.
Smith is better than Flynn, and half of the Qb’s in the NFL. The niners should have extended the contract to the Qb that helped, not soley, but helped them get to the playoffs. And put the team on his back against Brees.
Smith gives them their best chance to win, better than any of the QB’s available. The 9ers got caught out there, and now have to put pride aside and owed it after their misfire.
Dont be so down tho brotha. Poppa C was right. It’s ok to take it all in. :)
You may call this a modest free agency period but I think it has been fantastic. Not sure what kind of splash you are looking for Grant but the front office kept the best defense in the league together, added one playmaking receiver and another that could be great if he isn’t too old and buys the team first concept. Replacing Snyder hurts but other than that it has been a fabulous job so far.
@Grant
“…the starting lineup is practically identical to last season.”
Good! We almost went to the Super Bowl last year. We were the most complete team in the NFL. If you think that by ripping the team apart and bringing in a lot of new faces is the answer…no way can I agree.
We can disagree as to which few faces should be out and which ones to bring in, but this team was an OT away from the Super Bowl! You don’t suck, or luck your way to that. You have to be really good to win 13 games in the regular season and reach the title game.
As sleazy as Tom Condon is, he must be a genius to get an extra $6million for AS with minimal leverage.
@ Nick
I get that sleazy feeling about Drew R., but I haven’t with Condon. He’s tough and drives GMs a little batty, but isn’t that his job? Can you say why you think he’s sleazy?
@Brotha
The way he handled his clients PM and AS looked sleazy from the outside.
@ Nick
OK. Just your take on it. Your impression from it is as good as mine.
CK obviously isn’t ready so what leverage are you referring to??? Forget the agenda and think business…
@Hofer
There’s no agenda on my end. AS didn’t have viable options outside of returning to SF. He could have possibly signed with Miami, but that’s speculation. The only other option (and I’m guessing here) would have been Cleveland. On top of this, his wife wanted to remain in California and AS knows that his best chance at success is in SF. So where’s the leverage?
The fact that SF had no viable option other than Smith.
If CK started this year by default, we won’t win the Super Bowl.
We nearly got there last year with AS.
Not much more complicated than that.
@Claude
So let’s take that logic and extend it to the negotiation table:
Condon to Baalke: You have no viable option at QB other than Smith so give us an extra $6 million.
Baalke to Condon: Smith has no viable option other than SF, but here’s $6million extra anyway.
Does that make sense to you?
Nick,
That is why I think it was the FO pinching pennies and JH was in sync with AS. Will we ever find out??! NO.
@NickRow:
I wasn’t there, but I imagine it could have gone something like this:
Baalke: I am sorry you don’t like our offer, but Alex Smith has no viable option other than the 49ers. We aren’t budging.
Condon: With Manning gone to Denver, you have no viable option at QB. With Alex, you gusy knocked on the door last year. You think you can make it to the Super Bowl this year with Kaepernick? I have a better idea. Why don’t you sign Josh Johnson? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Baalke: [pause]
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, you got me. What will it take?
Condon: Another $8 million guaranteed.
Baalke: $5 million.
Condon: I’ll meet you in the middle: 6.5.
Baalke: Deal.
*you guys knocked on the door
Slow down, claude, slow down.
Like Hofer said ‘we’ll never know’
@nick
No. Jim Mora said that before hof.
Good. QB signed. Now we need to address the Frank Gore issue. This is his last year folks IF he makes it all the way through it. We need to sign Hillis as a gore backup and dish Anthony Dixon.
Write on that Grant. QB drama is over. Finally.
Hillis signed with the chiefs.
49ers need to grab a back in the mid rounds.
Hillis has already signed with a new team.
As usual-Larry Krueger in his own demented world “I cant see why you suspend with no proof?..where are the stats of injured players?”..The idiot Krueger didnt seem to hear that Payton and Willimas admitted guilt.
Why is he paid to be so stupid?
Give the guy some leeway here Stan.
He has to talk for 3 hours a day. You try doing that for 5 days straight and not say some really stupid stuff.
Well,c’mom every time he opens his mouth ? Cant he get any topic right? Its scary one minute he talks about coaching pee wee football..and the next breaking some guys kneecap for a bounty doesnt bother him “Footballs violent”.
Stan is bitter that Larry is critical of the Raiders
Who isn’t Nick?
That is not meant as a fight/insult. I actually don’t know who isn’t down on the Raiders in the media (not getting paid by the Raiders).
@DS
You have a point there
Winning cures all qualms about contract $$. If Akex Smith leads us to a super bowl then we low-balled him, if he reproduces what he did last year then we paid him what he deserves, if he’s worst than last year then we over paid. Compared to Kolb’s contract, this deal is probably right where it should be. Kolb proved nothing, robbed the Cardinals blind, then did NOTHING, and got a 7MIL$ bonus. Again, winning cures all qualms.
Completely agreed. I suspect Matt Flynn going to Seattle will have the same results as Kolb to Arizona last year.
I’m kind of surprised Arizona didn’t jettison Kolb to get Flynn, but I suspect they learned their lesson. :)
The Niners had all the negotiating leverage and just plain caved. Nobody else wanted Smith. He should have come to us on his hands and knees, not the other way around. As a consequence, we overpaid for a backup quality QB, and we will pay the price, both figuratively and literally, for the length of his remaining tenure with the 49ers.
Grant, You have stated in the past that you can’t speculate on the contract until you actually see the way it is laid out. Once we see the way it is structured we will know if they overpaid.
The AP source says that it will be $8m per, with a higher guarantee and that it CAN pay him up to $33m. The CAN part leads me to believe that the additonal $9m that was put into the deal will be incentives.
I am trying to see your logic with the statement that they need to still upgrade the QB position, when they just signed the guy who will be the 2012 starter, and have his successor already on the roster. Trying to give you the benefit of the doubt instead of just saying you are going for a reaction. Please explain.
AS just signed so the league should release the details shortly…
Hofer, I know. For Grant to say that they overpaid when we don’t know the details goes against what he has stated in the past about other deals. He knows that you need to wait to make that kind of comment. I am trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he is making it hard.
Don’t know if you noticed Jack, but Grant is being as active today as he has been the last week on the blog.
Likely getting the details you are talking about.
is *not* being as active
DS, He was probably on the AS conference call with the media. I am sure we will see another post from him soon.
Nothing(NOTHING) says “I’m sorry” like a $6.5 million increase in Guaranteed Money.
Shoulda just signed the guy instead of pussyfooting around. You dance with the one that brung ya not the one that turns every eye in the joint. Because that one is going to have a line of suitors a mile long to wade through.
Smith didn’t have teams banging on his door because of the VERY PUBLIC display of affection from the team prior to Free Agency. If they hadn’t done this my bet is that Smith woulda had Offers from Seattle, Arizona, Miami and Washington at the very least.
I doubt the public display of affection stopped anyone from contacting Smith. Teams or so desperate for quarterbacks that they do stupid things like trade for Kolb and give Flynn $10 million. Any team that wanted Smith would have thrown a bucketload of money at Smith to overcome the “affection”.
I guess the rb for the saints ( I forget his name) and he probably does to.. Was a good case of what goes around comes around. Ha ha haaaa! I still watch that hit.
LOL! NICE!
It was Pierre Thomas that Whitner laid out. Just to refresh. ;)
Damn the niners were bidding against themselves and they gave that bust 16.5 million guaranteed money lmfao! I would have given him league minimum which would still be too much and he would have to take it or he would be out of the league. What a great message to niner fans, “hey he’s not good enough for any other team in the league but good enough for the niners”. Freaking inaccurate cancer bum. No confidence shoulder slumped sensitive biatch alice 3 and out smith.
They were bidding against themselves, good point. I’m very disappointed in the Niners brass for trying to appease Smith’s bruised ego with more undeserved dollars.
Or maybe they simply recognized that they had no viable alternative in 2012. Leverage comes in more than one form.
And who would you have brought in to replace him if Smith had said “Up Yours” to the team?
Tebow?
Oh I know we go right back to the same formula that stunted Alex’s growth. Go with a Sophmore QB who hasn’t taken more than a handful of regular season snaps.
Look how well that worked for us. I like Harbaugh, I do (wasn’t happy with him an Baalke but it’s over now) but there is a world of difference Starting a Veteran QB who people don’t like and Starting a huge question mark who people do like(remember when you liked Smith?) and who has precious little experience in the NFL.
Smith could afford to sit out a season if he wanted to and there was no Guarantee that Miami wouldn’t have brought him in to compete with Garrard and Moore. There are also other teams that could use a Backup who could play 16 games and not throw Picks.
Team wasn’t just bidding against themselves. How about Teams that are expected to take a QB in the draft? Teams that don’t have viable options at QB1? Teams that would like to bring their guy along the right way? Imagine how good Flacco could have been had he time to sit and adjust to the game. Or Ryan? Or Stafford? There are a number of teams that were forced into starting their Franchise QBs’ before they were ready. You don’t think that Teams want a guy like Smith, you don’t know the game imho.
ALEX IS NOT A BUST. HE’S THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK IN NFL HISTORY! YOU HATERS JUST HATE HIM BECAUSE HE’S BEAUTIFUL!
ALEX, WILL YOU MARRY ME?
LOL Damn the niners were bidding against themselves and they gave that bust 16.5 million guaranteed money lmfao! I would have given him league minimum which would still be too much and he would have to take it or he would be out of the league. What a great message to niner fans, “hey he’s not good enough for any other team in the league but good enough for the niners”. Freaking inaccurate cancer bum. No confidence shoulder slumped sensitive biatch alice 3 and out smith.
Alex must give a mean bj for that scrub to get almost a decade on one team LOL. Sensitive little booch, doesnt have starting nfl qb personality.
@ Dan:
I infer from your comment that your own BJs aren’t very mean. Keep practicing, and perhaps you will find some success in your chosen career.
I hear they have a surgical procedure to remove a rib or two if you’re jealous.
On MB’s live blog 86% are HAPPY AS is back with the 9ers. Hmm.
I’m not happy the 49ers missed out on Manning but I’m cool with Smith returning. He’s better than the alternatives out there and I don’t think CK is ready yet.
Long way of saying I clicked the “happy” button on CSN, lol.
So that’s what??? 20 people? Lol. :-)
Hope moss and manningham like catching screen passes.
Maybe I missed something, were the Passes to Davis 25 yard Screen Passes?
See Grant? This is what happens when you inspire ignorant fans to comment about a game they know nothing about. :/
Somebody with some sense posted the other day some stats comparing Manning to Smith. Interestingly, yards per pass attempt, Smith was higher.
What I’m getting at is that you’re an ignorant poster. I actually wish the 9ers would use more screens (just not wr screens).
Is the Jets FO the dumbest in the NFL? They 1st over pay Sanchez while he was still under contract (still can’t figure that one out). Now they bring in Tebow (this is not a knock against Tebow). What kind of message are they trying to send? Unless they have plans to play Tebow at position other than QB, this doesn’t make sense to me.
@nick
Jets FO may have read Grant’s blog about Tebow and thought he might be onto something.
They gave Sanchez the money because of two successful years. He deserved it then. But their Line could use a little TLC, cause their Opponents have been getting to him pretty much at will. ;)
@DS… Prolly true. :p
Grant you really are trolling… looking to stir up controversy where none exists! This is yellow journalism at its most disgusting!
You think the 49ers did something wrong by not going after Mike Wallace and breaking the bank? You think they paid too much to Alex in guaranteed money?
You actually believe they had a moderate free agency only? They picked up Randy Moss, who can still run a 40 in the 4.3s! Manningham is a big improvement on Morgan. They re-signed all their defensive starters. No, they have not done much in free agency.
The only remaining hole is at RG.
You sound puerile and childish in seeking reasons to criticize the 49er FO. It ruins what little credibility you still have. I, for one, only glance at your stories these days; I no longer read them with interest, because frankly, I do not trust your conclusions and I think your opinions are ridiculous at best.
You are really hurting the Press Democrat by your absurd comments. Stop seeking controversy and try reporting the facts and letting the readers come to their own conclusions.
In your case, it would make for far better columns.
Supposedly, they are negotiating with Schwartz for G.
glad to hear that ….need some competition there
It’s hush money, now hush up and let’s get on with the Offseason preperations! Next up, Draft, OTA’s, UFA signings, and on to camp! Man I love football!! Go Niners!
Nice! lol
@GC Kendall Wright ran a 4.43 at his pro day. Do you think he is a viable option in the fisrt even after the Manningham signing or do we go with a bigger bodied WR in the later rounds?
The Niners aren’t heavily invested in Moss or Manningham, so I suspect they’ll take the best available WR in the first round. Wright may not be there @ 30 anymore, though. Baalke may have to trade up five to seven spots to get his guy.
Overpaying? It sounds like he’s slotted where he should be. Sanchez has gone to 2 championships – that has to be worth something – more than what Smith has doe so far. Ryan? Smith better make more than him, as Ryan’s done nothing except for that one memorable game.
Which game was that ribico?
Ryan has flopped big time in the playoffs. Maybe the new PM.
Whoops. I was confusing Ryan for Flyyn. Take me to the Matt on that.
I guess all those Irish QBs look alike to me (I kid, I kid)
Rib, you right. What AS is being paid is fine and not out of line. The FO were playing games and they upped the ante.
I find it interesting they upped the ante. They don’t do that often.
I’d suggest that, by definition, agreeing to pay him what they did, they decided it was worth it.
By overpaying, I mean the Niners gave Smith more money than they would have liked to (if you believe Maiocco and Kawakami’s reports on the size of the initial contract offer, which I do). The Niners usually win negotiations (see Dashon Goldson), but they gave a little ground to Smith, and that’s interesting.
Maybe some intervention from JH? Perhaps he was feeling guilty over the last week’s circus and was doing his best to help put things right (what do you think, Adam?)
Rib, that’s what I mentioned yesterday. JH must of had a great convo with PMurth. I still don’t believe JH says what he doesn’t believe because he knows the bite would be HUGE if the trust isn’t there or is discounted by the players. Maybe one of the columnist (LC, MPoole, MPurdy, TK, RR) can do a story on this??
No Rib,
no intervention. It means that CK needed more seasoning. Last year Smith only got a one year deal. They needed him. No one else was available. This year they determined after missing on PM that they once again needed him.
Smith saw what happened last year and was fighting for a longer term not wanting to be used for a year until CK was ready. To a degree they compromised. The plan I believe is still CK unless Smith does a complete transformation….
@Grant:
1. It’s a rare negotiation that doesn’t move beyond the opening positions of the parties. And just because the final numbers do not match the 49ers’ initial offer doesn’t mean the 49ers overpaid or “lost” the negotiation.
2. It would seem that Alex Smith has more leverage in 2012 than Dashon Goldson had in 2011. The 49ers were a muffed punt away from the Super Bowl last year. Why would they want to blow things up and start over with an unknown at QB if they are that close? That’s the leverage that Alex Smith had.
3. I have a problem with the suggestion that there has to be a winner in every negotiation. Every team pays more than it would like, and every player receives less than he would like. The goal is to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, not defeat the other side.
They had to give a little “baby please”.
@claude
You got it right. Negotiation is a process and not a simplistic win-loss fight. Every participant in a negotiation operate within a window of acceptable terms on all parameters (length of contract, total $$, guaranteed $$, no-trade, etc, etc) while trying to stay close to their starting position.
The size of the window of acceptable parameter range depends on how highly the Niners value the services of the player they are negotiating with. The length of the negotiation process is also often a direct indicator of the value they attach to that player.
There is absolutely no indication that there was any division within the Niners F.O. and coaching staff over Alex’s contract.
Tom Condon did not want to set precedence by accepting a lowball offer the Niners. So they negotiated in an extremely fluid market. It’s a lot of work hammering out the details.
I believe Matt Flynn’s contract had some bearing on the current market value of Alex. Alex wanted mid-term security and so he got 2 years ($16M guaranteed) instead of 1 ($8-10M guaranteed). He would have preferred three years with $24M guaranteed.
What probably happened is what hofer alluded to yesterday, Condon had his hands full with the blockbuster Manning deal, physical clauses had to be ironed out and such. And didn’t start any serious talks with the 49ers until yesterday. There was no “holdout”, no one was miffed, both sides were ameniable, and as Claude alludes to, the FO is not ignorant to the concept of negotiation.
Deal done. lets move on (all the while laughing at the Jets).
How is it overpaying when a guy with two games worth of work is making the same amount as a guy who just came off a 13-3 Season and took you to the NFC Championship game and lost because he wasn’t the guy returning Kicks?
Sorry Grant I do not agree that the 9ers overpaid even if they only had themselves to negotiate against. They willingly curbed any and all interest in Smith.
Smith says he wasn’t insulted and that they told him they were going to talk to Manning, but I don’t buy that for an instant. It doesn’t ring true. But when your team pays you $6.5 million more than what they had on the table, the memory can redact all the negative stuff. :)
Looks like smith QB for us for guaranteed next two years. Super bowl or bust
As it should be Adam707.
And how it would be if AS was not the QB as well. Anybody who took over, better be at least as good and get at least as far.
Grant: The Niners would have had to give up the 30th pick, with the Steelers having the option of being able to match the contract the Niners offered Wallace. Probably would have cost at least $8M plus other options and incentives in year one just to get to the table. At 24 and with the productivity Wallace has been able to generate with Bib Ben at QB, he probably is worth it, but remember, it is Smith trhowing and Harbaugh calling the plays, so the question is could Wallace have continued his productivity and even exceeded it with the Niners?
@mike
It does not matter if Wallace produces as much. What matters is “Will Wallace still be as good or possibly better?”
Not the same thing at all. If we have Wallace, teams MUST 2 team him. Few teams have a CB who can single this guy. Which means, what do teams do with VD? If you double VD as well, that is a total of 4 defenders for 2 offensive players.
That must open up some holes somewhere in the defense for the other WR’s (really thinking KH here as a RB) to find lots of open space in the zones.
I don’t care if he puts up the numbers he put up in Pit. He only has to still make plays (he is now) and get coverage rolled over his direction. Because if he does, that leaves VD and everybody else open. And that means if a defense blitzes us, they better get there. Because we have 2 guys who can kill you.
This happens. We win the Super Bowl. But AS is still the guy to throw it.
I’ll take Mike Wallace over 15 every day of the year. The 9ers should offer 15 and a 5th for Wallace. Gonna have to do SOMETHING with the guy if they do decide to pick up Wallace. Cause he’s gonna get knocked down another peg and he will NOT be happy about it.
@Ceadderman
My point exactly.
I have been wondering if MC would be ok knowing he’s not going to be the #1 WR. Lots of people say, he’ll adjust fine. I don’t think it will be so easy for MC.
How much money approximately is left anyway?
I think Smith will let the ball fly a lot more this year. He’s the starter for the next two years at least and has more confidence and more weapons. If he can just believe in himself we will be good
Adam,
I totally agree with u he has a 3 year contract, so he will take alot more chances down the field and look out for Crabtree stats will be alot better as well.
Yeah right. 15 be better this year? Not hardly. 1 catch in the Championship game says he’s not what he was drafted for. I won’t trash on him like people trash on Smith, but he’s just not THAT guy and never has been.
I agree, but for the reasons you mention which I think will play a part. But two other reasons; 1) with full training camp they’ll work on more things to be prepared better, 2) JH will let him take more risks, 3)having recievers who show in practice they’ll win the battle for the ball will show up on Sundays.
2….3…..:)
“If he can just believe in himself we will be good”
Better pass protection and better WOs is what he really needs to believe in now. Last year has to have given him a major bump in his confidence, can’t wait to see how much an offseason will improve this passing game.
61, exactly! How can you say hey AS play lights out in the championship game when all they had a t WR was MC, KW, and BSwa?? Now, he’s got his upgrade (add a drafted WR) and it’s arrows all up!
and now AS and the team have to go through the nuances of the season…..and i don’t expect to see the same magnitude of turnovers…..even though the niners basically didn’t have a effective WR crew the last quarter of the season and the running game had lost some steam as well…..i still think the niners did get create some of their good timely luck …..that season could have easily been 11-5…..
and with this upcoming year’s schedule attaining a 11-5 in a stacked NFC who have better defenses requires the niners adjust the reins because they have plenty of work cut out for themselves….the offense needs to clearly improve to suck up what has to be what i am guessing will be a diminished amount of turnovers….
will special teams win the battle of field position with the same effectiveness as last year….
I don’t blame Drew Brees changing his mind next season not signing with the saints. Hes productivity this year will drop off dramatically..Things will be different without the leadership of Sean Peyton..
The rams on the ohter hand will have tobe shopping for a new DFC because williams won’t be coaching any defense for quite some time…lol
Grant;
Dont u think getting Fleener in the draft isnt an upgrade in the TE depth, with Moss verticle, Vernon, Crabtree (stats were good for missing 4 games and no preseason), Manningham, and Gore is not an upgrade on offense. Wow!!
And Delanie!!!!!!!
Moss has to prove he still has game, can function with Smith. Smith has to prove he can deliver the ball accurately to Manningham outside the numbers.
Correction. Smith has to prove he can function with Moss. Smith has NEVER been able to consistently function with a wide receiver especially one that specializes in the vertical route.
Now some genius is going to mention Antonio Bryant…..
I think Moss has to get only one deep catch and the defense will double just not get beat deep again, and will open up everyone else.
Not true…he did a supberb job with ABryant UNLESS you let agenda get in the way!??
Had to bite Bay because your blamertude was shining through! LOL
What WR has he had with vertical speed that can catch since AB? No agenda? Not much!
This year should put an end to all the Alexcuses. Will the defense carry him once again or – in the words of Bay – will he ‘transform’ himself?
Being the QB that helped VD tie the TE touchdown record isnt anything now is it? And can you name a legitimate wr Smith has had for any length of time?
Moss is not going to the focal point of the offense, he’s a diversion, a one trick pony in this offense, go deep and shut your mouth. Maybe 5 balls his way each game. Smith will have to form better chemistry with MM and Crabs and hopefully a new rookie WR.
Moss has never taken well to “five passes and shut your mouth.” It’s hard to imagine he’ll change at 35. People don’t change. We’ll see. I’m open minded, just skeptical.
Grant Moss knows this is his last chance in the NFL, he’s also seen what happened to Braylon in SF. He better tow the compnay lin eor it really is long term retirement.
The Niners have got to hedge their Moss bet in the draft because right now, they need Moss as much as Moss needs them.
I think the Niners will use Moss in the Jumbo Package – when they bring in 7 big bodies. Using that package, the Niners force the defense to make a tough decision:
1. Do they bring in extra defenders in the box to stop the run?
2. Do they keep a safety over the top to cover the wide out?
Last year, the Niners used Ginn in such situations. But Ginn doesn’t scare anybody with his catching ability. Insert Moss in his place and now you have a really scary scenario. The Niners will either run down your throat or one pass can take it to the house for TD.
Im not sure how Moss is so vital to the Niners offense? He’s a vertical threat, always has been, nothing more and based on JH’s offense, the deep passing game maybe accounted for 3-5 shots per game. You can easily find that type of receiver in the draft. I think the Niners are taking a gamble- longshot approach that Moss can be that guy, otherwise they will cut him for a cheaper more focused rookie willing to take what he gets, 3-5 balls per game.
@FDM
It is more than that. Moss is a known threat. What Niner WR is a threat to anybody but AS?
Moss can kill a team. He always does. Just don’t know if it will be the team he is on or the one he is playing against. That is why the contract from Trent is so perfect. Dump Moss, save whatever money you have not paid him to get somebody else.
I would not count Moss as a started. We still need another start at wide out or 2 non-starts hungry for the job to push Moss. Moss is a gamble we need to build the WR core so we never have to rely on a Joe Hastings or Swain again.
Stephen Hill will push Moss.
Bay
Why dismiss A. Bryant he was a bust in Dallas and Cleveland. I also think they will take a shot deep no matter what the read is and will still make the defense soft, just think about it, without thinking too hard u might hurt urself.
Your points are about as bad as the Laker point guards…
There u go with ur offtopic comments, go sit down and think about the Warriors point guard the only good player they have!
Wooo wooo bay… Take it easy on the mighty lakers talk. I leave your pitiful warriors alone. Lol goooo mighty lakers!!!! Next year because this year is a farce. ;-)
Let me put this way Kruegers SCPH. ave. (stupid comments per hour) leads the SF bay area media. He’s got some tough competition,but Larry also has a leading BTSC per hour ((big topic stupid comments) slugging percentage. You can’t argue the stats.
Alex Smith must love Joe Lacob….
He’s the Warrior owner where’s the analogy? Don’t you support the 9ers? Isn’t he the QB of the 9ers? Where you going with this?? All in or not!!!?
BTW, the cheers for AS were deafening at the Saints game comeback and when VD was able to get separation for two long tds against the NYGs!
Hofer,
I answered your question the other day. Now you answer mine. Unless your agenda doesn’t allow you to.
1. In your opinion, what are Alex Smith’s flaws as a QB?
2. Are you tied to Alex Smith through friends or family?
Hey bay, how does it feel to be wrong again about the 49ers and Alex Smith again?
Oh I wasn’t wrong… What was I wrong about?
That the amount of guaranteed money indicated the 49ers were looking to replace Smith sooner rather than later and it showed no committment to him.
Well the deal is for three more years and 16 of a possible 33 million guaranteed. That means they believe in Smith and he is their long term guy, something you said would never happen.
And dont ask me to go to the archives to where you said that, we tried that 2 weeks ago and you conveniently ignored it, you should have changed your avatar but your a joke and I never would expect you to follow thru on your word.
FDM,
that’s not the case. First off the 3 years means nothing. It’s the guaranteed money that means anything. That is the money they are willing to part with in the event that Smith doesn’t step up his production.
Remember, they were willing to part with this guy. What the offer says is that their backup needs one more year. If Smith wants the job beyond that he needs to produce…
I am still not clear on where I was wrong….
16 million guaranteed shows a huge committment, include the fact that the entire contract could esculate to 33 million if all incentives and length of the deal are reached. That’s a committment.
You said the Niners were looking to replace him and that they are not serious about Smith long term. The guarnteed money shows they are and the entire amount of the contract does also.
“Remember, they were willing to part with this guy”
When where? They investigated an upgrade in a future HOF. JH told Smith that if Manning was signed, he would compete for the job, the contract offer to Smith was always on the table, including their pursuit of Manning.
Bottom line is you were on here the last week popping off how the Niners lowballed Smith, they were not committed to him, Kap was their future if Manning was’nt signed, the league thought Smith was limited because no one offered him any offers when in reality the 49ers always wanted Smith and the deal just took a little longer than normal, so yeah, you were wrong about Smith like you always have been, remember, he cant get them to playoffs, cant win from behind, wont win the job in training camp, cant throw deep, yada, yada, yada, yada!
FDM, let bay have his delusional world. It will make his survival in the extended Smith era easier for him.
FDM,
I was right about everything I said. And if you think Smith was going to be allowed to compete with Manning who would have had a contract near $90 million then you are not just angry, you are crazy.
Are you serious? DS has competition for least knowledgeable football fan now…..
Tell me how 16 million dollars guaranteed is not a committment to the guy?
It’s what they are willing to part with if he doesn’t work out…..
A commitment is what Manning got. 5 years 90 Million. A commitment is what Fitzgerald got 5 years 60 million. Grow up. I was right…. There is no commitment. Alex got a seat warmer contract and he better kick butt with it because he has NO VALUE in the NFL to anyone but the Niners…. I didn’t use any big words so I know you understand what I just said….
Tell me again how 16 million dollars guaranteed is not a committment to the guy?
Of Manning 90 million, how much is guaranteed? How about Fitz?
The question was, how much of a committment in guarnteed money was offered? So I’ll ask you again,
how is 16 million dollars guaranteed not a committment to the guy?
You were so right Bay! lol MF got less and KK got his bonus and that is it! You better ck IF RF truly got a better deal. Not just years which don’t count if released!! The fact police are on your bumper dude!
If it makes you feel better, keep right on believing that, bay. You have every right to.
Does anybody know if Grant’s blog post about AS saying he would not come back if PM was here (he didn’t want to compete with PM for the starting job) is accurate at all?
Because it now seems to me anyway that AS would have been fine competing with PM.
Manning is just hoping to be able to participate in OTAs from what he said the other night.
He’s not at 100% yet.
There might have been a sort of mock competition to save face or show the media but certainly you don’t pay a guy $90 mil to lose that competition.
In other words, no real competition would have happened.
@Bayarea, I think I’m with FDm on this one, 16.5 million seems like a committment to me.
NO NO NO, ALEX LOVES ME!!!!!!!
ALEX, MARRY ME!
I’m sure he’s not interested in manboobs.
Well he’s clearly not interested in playing football either, based on the past seven years.
Clearly.
Where do you guys come from?
u mean he empathizes
No surprises here, and sounds fair for both sides. Good for him.
Can we still make a pitch for Mike Wallace? That would get us to the next level.
That sneaky bastard Sean Payton will be coaching from his couch at home! He’ll get creative with some highly advanced wireless device.
Where are those toothless “swamp people” that invaded our blog when we played the Saints?
I’m hoping it happens to Jim Schwartz next.
Couldn’t happen to two better people! :P
Question for all of you;
If Fleener and Stephen Hill available at 30 who should get drafted?
CFleener will prob be better than DW as pure TE although DW gives the offense flexibility as H back, lining up as a WO, etc. So they would go with SHill although the CF pick would be intriguing.
This is a tough choice because Hill is raw but has explosive potential. This draft, however, is very deep with WR’s, and not very deep with TE’s. So if TE is important (and it is to this offense) they should go Fleener and think WR in the next couple of rounds.
Tim Teebow & Rex Ryan together. Goody two shoes and a foul-mouthed slob!
Maybe Rex can turn him to the dark side. To be played out in the NY tabloids!
Or a mouth full of toes! Ba ding! Lol
Tebow the Toe Truck Driver.
Grant,
I think Balke is doing a great job. I hope you’re not complaing that we have most of our starters back next year, especially on defense haha. I think getting Rogers, Brooks and Goldson back are huge. Cartright replaces Costanzo on ST and has great leadership qualities. We resigned a couple of our other best ST guys Gooden and Spillman. Addressed our biggest concern at WR by signing Moss to a no risk deal with no guarenteed money. Signed Manningham who could be a solid #2. We still might get Larry Grant back, if not we get a late round draft pick. We may have paid A Smith more than any other team, but the truth is he is worth way more to us than any other team. Outside of actually landing Manning, I don’t know what else Balke could have done thus far. FA isn’t over either. Are you basing this on the fact we didn’t make a big splash at WR? Im glad we didnt overpay on WR’s like the Redskins. I wouldn’t mind giving Wallace a big contract, but giving up a 1st rounder on top of that is just too much to give up IMO
obviously we still need help at RG and a return specialist to replace Ginn would be nice as well. We really don’t have that many “holes” on the roster though.
BTW for those of you not absorbed with your personal thoughts of Alex Smith, the league just handed out a very stiff penalty for the Saints and Greg Williams. Williams is suspended indefinitly meaning, he is suspended for this year and will be evaluated by Roger Goodell at the end of this season to determine his future. This could kills the Rams defense, although its hard to kill roadkill.
These punishments help the Niners they play the rams twice and the saints once in 2012
Absolutely
Wow, the media circus surrounding the Jets will be crazy! Rex Ryan with Tim Teebow, odd couple is an understatement.
Trent Balke does not need to “knock the draft out of the park”. Hate to break it to you Cohnster but that same lineup that we had last year could have and should have won the NFC Championship barring Kyle William’s fumbles. If it aint broke don’t fix it. An offensive lineman and another WR should set us up for another Super Bowl run…with Alex Smith.
Does anyone in here think that ward is NOT a hall of famer? Always thought he was media hyped and overrated. How is he any better than John Taylor.
MD, east coast bias. HW is a good player but not above JT. Totally agree with you!
@md
JT is the best #2 WR of all time. He would have been the #1 on 27 other teams (only 28 teams when he played).
Ward is a trooper. Hard worker. Just like JT. Just in a a different way. I like them both to be in the HOF. Steelers likely don’t get to or win their last 2 Super Bowl victories without Ward being on the team. That is worth HOF mention.
Taylor was MUCH better than Ward ever thought about being.
JT was the rock.
Uh oh. The tebow deal isn’t done yet. They are having some issues with a certain clause in tebows contract. Jax he’s a going…
Maiocco is reporting 9 mil guaranteed, not 16.5
Depends how the contract broken down and guarantee is guarantee. Grant says he is confident it is $16.5M.
MM is right.
“…Areas the Niners still need to improve: Quarterback, wide receiver, right guard, punt returner….”
Quarterback: Really? The Niners have no “elite” QBs, but we have a solid vet with a better then 3-1 TD to INT ratio and no fumbles. 5 turnovers in an entire season for a QB that started all 16 games is amazing. And the Niners drafted Kaepernick for a reason.
Punt Returner: If Ginn does not get what he wants in FA, we can resolve that by re-signing him. He’s a productivity steal re field position relative to contract. But will he accept a role as special teams only?
Wide Receiver: Looks like we are out of the Wallace Derby. Hill, Feener or someone else in the draft.
R Guard: The biggest need. Except for that great one from Stanford (who will not last till the #30 pick) most rookies will take a few years to gel. Hope for a vet in FA that if not spectacular, can at least read blitzes and react the right way. How is Kilgore developing?
Depth at running back and depth in defensive front 7 are a more pressing need then QB (unless there is a true elite QB sitting at home twiddling his thumbs). Look at our schedule. Even with great improvement the 49ers will not get a playoff bye. We will need all the depth at positions that rush the passer and stop the run. (Hope no other teams sign Grant).
Did I call it or did I call it? Rhetorical of course I did right around the time Mr. Cohn was Tebowing about Manning :-)
This is incorrect. Smith is guaranteed 8 million this year, plus he can make about another 1.2 in incentives.
Next year if he gets cut prior to April 1 – we owe him nothing!!
Smith is 1 and done. CK or JJ will have to step up and take this team over.
Harbaugh turned Josh Johnson into a QB @ San Diego State, and now he has 2 options instead of 1. No way we sign JJ if JH had all the confidence that Alex would be our guy for years to come.