The 49ers just tweeted their first round of roster cuts. There’s only one surprise: They cut their sixth round pick, Jason Slowey.
Here are the cuts:
- FB Cameron Bell
- OLB Kourtnei Brown
- DT Patrick Butrym
- WR Ben Hannula
- WR Joe Hastings
- DT Matthew Masifilo
- CB Cory Nelms
- CB Deante’ Purvis
- TE Joe Sawyer
- OL Jason Slowey
- K Giorgio Tavecchio
- WR Brian Tyms
The 49ers also placed Jewel Hampton on the reserve/non-football injury related list and Darius Flemming (torn ACL) on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
The next round of cuts will be harder and much more dramatic.
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What, no Alex Smith??!?
next year.
I’d like to see Bell-Brown-Nelms-Slowey+Tyms make it thru to the PS. Coach may like Hannula or Hastings more than Tyms.
I don’t think they will be on the ps if they were part of first round cuts
OFF TOPIC, but worth noting: Jerry, Steve, and Joe are all featured on today’s NFL Live on ESPN. It was sold as an in-depth look at the Niners, but of course, they can’t stop talking about Payton…sigh…
Anyway, good to see the guys, and Joe’s got some interesting points about the complexity of passing routes. Good stuff!
yes I saw that and it was good stuff.
Grant,
Can you tell me why a message I posted telling readers about Joe, Jerry, and Steve all being on NFL Live today got bounced? Didn’t seem that offensive as I wrote it…
The blog put the comment into the spam folder for some reason, but I fixed it.
Thanks, amigo!
….TB wasted a pick……still not buying what he is selling……
hope Slowey lands on the PS……don’t like the thought of wasted pick
Careful 19r, Grant stepped in caca sayin’ TB wasted a pick!
Would you rather have a basic squad that has a large need for average sixth round picks, or is it that you want a GM that finds hidden treasure with every pick?
The latter would be nice, but hard to come by.
….isn’t the latter why the GM gets much credit……
For every great pick there is a bad one. Just be thankful it’s just one and not all of them like the 2008 draft. I believe that’s the one that had Kentwan Balmer as our 1st round pick.
Draft pick bites the dust – Slowey
Was Anthony Davis a Sing draft pick or Baalke?
@FDM:
The generally accepted story is that Singletary wanted him.
That’s the generally accepted story for Taylor Mays. Baalke traded up for AD.
What do you guys think of that pick right now?
…good pick…..he has more starts than any other OT in that draft…..
…hasn’t missed a game since drafted……..good pick….would be excellent if he made the pro-bowl
Baalke traded up for AD.
… because Singletary wanted him.
So Baalke doesn’t get credit for Iupati, either? Baalke gets no credit for his first draft? Please.
@Grant:
Who had final say on the draft that year? As far as I know, no one has determined the answer to that question. The alleged heated argument between Baalke and Singletary prior to the Mays pick could be interpreted as evidence that Singletary had it.
And Jim Harbaugh had the final say the last two drafts, so I guess we can’t give Baalke credit for Aldon Smith.
@Grant:
And Jim Harbaugh has had final say the last two drafts.
Really? Where did you get that information?
Grant,
As far as I remember Sing had the final say in Baalkes first shot at the draft because he was a late fill in for McCloughan when he was fired.
The last two drafts he’s been the one with the final say, not Harbaugh. Baalke made it quite clear when Harbaugh was hired that he (Baalke) would have control over the final roster.
No Grant
Jed York when we hired JH as HC made it very clear who has which powers on the team. Jed made it clear that JH is a coach. Not a GM. Picks, good or bad are on TB. Not JH.
Baalke drafts for Harbaugh’s system. You don’t think there’s veto power? Come on.
Sing had it in his contract that he had final say on the draft picks. We heard him say it enough times that he had the power. Where were you Grant ,still in school,lol ?
And in “Baalke’s” first draft he was not the GM yet,so he was below Sing in the pecking order,so that should answer your question.
Now Baalke could fire Harbaugh if it ever came to that,so it’s very different .Of course Baalke gets credit or blame for all his drafts AFTER he became GM. Glad I could clear that up for you Grant !
You don’t think Harbaugh has final say? You’re dreaming.
GC is right on. JH’s system and who fits is his decision. Of course he has veto power.
JH will probably get his way on who is on his roster if it comes down to a conflict with Baalke over which player to cut etc. But Baalke hired JH and is his boss and is responsible for the long term future of the roster . Baalke will bend over backwards to get JH the players he wants,like any good GM will do,but Baalke has the final say,it’s in his contract …he is THE boss and only answers to the Yorks,period.
He answers to the coach’s veto as well.
Hof: Of course Baalke will draft to fit the system and he will probably draft whoever JH and his staff want,since that is what all good GM’s do if they want their HC to be succesful. But if there is ever a conflict that can’t be resolved then it’s totally up to Baalke who gets drafted,no question about that at all. Baalke is JH’s boss who hired JH and could fire him,so of course he has the final say on everything ,unless over ruled by Jed,who hired Balke. See how that works,lol.
Grant
Do you have veto power over your boss? If you do, you are in a unique position.
York hired TB as GM. TB hired JH. TB is JH’s boss. You don’t tell bosses what to do. You can make suggestions, but in the end, they have the power.
I urge you to look back to when JH was hired. It was quite clear.
And if the NFL didn’t think TB had this power, they don’t name him GM of the year. Puppets don’t get that distinction.
No, but I don’t make more money than my boss. Harbaugh makes more money than Baalke. The 49ers’ are Jim Harbaugh’s organization – make no mistake about it. No one tells him no.
Yeah Grant,he answers to the coaches “veto” as well. He either answers yes or no,since Baalke is the boss .
JH and Baalke are a team but Baalke hired JH and is his boss,so there is no doubt who makes the FINAL decisions. But saying vthat I would be shocked if Balke and JH didn’t work almost as one and any conflicts are resolved by concenses . Baalke wants to win and wants his HC to do well.
I’m sure he says no all the time. I’ve got a life-sized picture of that happening.
Jed York is the boss.
Tim if there were ever a power struggle, the pick would be easy in my opinion. I have a lot of respect for TB but you are not seeing the forest for the trees.
Well put. Thanks, Hofer.
I agree Tim (not many times I can say that lol)
TB isn’t going to force a player on the team who JH doesn’t want. That is why their working relationship is critical. If it were a dictatorship arrangement, their relationship is a non-factor.
But TB is the deciding/ending factor. Not JH.
Well Grant,they asked Baalke when he hired JH,who has the final say on things,you or JH…Baalke said there is no doubt that I do. And when they vasked JH he said the same,that Baalke has the power not the HC.
Now that does not mean that Baalke will not do everything possible to do what JH wants to help him win. But it does sound like you were not listening or were ,as I said,still in school at that time and were more interested in those things instead of paying attention to the Niners.
What do you think Baalke would tell JH if JH went nuts and wanted to draft a 3rd string college pl;ayer with the 1st pick (I know a stupid example but you get the drift). According to you Baalke would kiss JH’s feet and bow down and say,”of course Jim,anything you want ,no matter how it’s going to hurt the team” LOL .
NO,Baalke’s job is to look out for the long term health of the organization and that includes final say on everything JH does. (That is what the word boss means ,lol).
“The 49ers’ are Jim Harbaugh’s organization – make no mistake about it. No one tells him no.”
Which is the bigger loss today – JH or TB? Believe me JY doesn’t want to make that decision but with a stadium looming that needs to be filled who is most important??!
Sure Hof,if it ever came down to it ,it would be Jed’s decision to either fire Baalke or fire JH . But it will never come down to that imho. But until Jed fired one of them then Baalke would get his way overe JH in every case. But I doubt there is much conflict there to have such a situation ever come up.
This is just an academic discussion . And one to educate the youngster Grant,lol.
…Now I remember why I stopped reading Grant’s blog,because even the supposed “boss” of the blog ,is a child,lol.
But keep trying Grant,you will learn. (but maybe not,I never have ,lol)
We’ll miss you. Take care.
“youngster Grant”
Tim, come on that is derogatory. GC is well educated and to bring age into this debate is not appropriate. You can disagree but why the age dig? Keep it real. You aren’t the professor of the NFL teaching your students. It’s not that complex.
Grant
Think for a second about that.
AS makes more money than either TB or JH. He may make more than the two combined.
Normally bosses make more, but the lunacy of the NFL pay structure has guys making more than their boss. Does AS have veto power over JH? No.
Money has nothing to do with it. I bet the power for most teams is opposite the pay structure. GM’s paid less than HC who aere paid less than many players. And it gets insane if you include the Assistants who are the ones directly working with the players the most by far.
maybe Denise is the boss….heeheehee…think about it
LC had a good read on the Godfather a few weeks ago…maybe ED is the man behind the scenes. LOL
hof
Well without TB, we don’t have JH. I remember the experts here were pissed about Jed promoting TB. And not getting Lombardi.
TB responded by hiring the HC of the year. What more can you ask of the guy?
Jed York was targeting Jim Harbaugh before he even left the locker room in St Louis in Dec 2010.
DS, I don’t believe that is true. Many of us on this blog were discussing JH as the replacement HC as early as November of 2010. It wasn’t rocket science to realize, much like BW, that the answer to the 9er problems was 10 miles north of 4949 at Stanford. That was a no brainer.
hof
I’m not arguing that people wanted JH. I’m saying people had TB under the knife the moment he was hired. If he didn’t get JH, fans here were going to quit on him. Because at the time Lombardi was the lead guy to the press and TB was a scout for a guy who we fired.
If TB doesn’t get JH, it would have been UGLY. But he did. And he deserves full credit for that. Miami and others wanted him.
Trent Baalke hired the guy Jed York told him to hire plain and simple.
Remember the concept team, TB and JH are tied togeather. The performance of the team is a reflection of the relationship between TB and JH. As with any relationship there is a give and take to it. Without that there would be in house fighting. I view the powers of the team is equal distributed and often coelace as one. TB is boss but I think thats more like window dressing.
DS, it is a good team. According to JY, TB hired JH. Either way, it was a good hire. Good times.
Baalke has final say on the roster. He said it and Harbaugh said it. We can all speculate on how they would handle a difference of opinion on a player, but everybody including York has made it clear that Baalke is the boss and makes final decisions on the roster. Case in point is the pick of AJ Jenkins. Baalke put the pick in an envelope the night before and made it. I highly highly doubt a 6ft WR would have been Harbaughs 1st choice at that spot especially with one of his former players at a position he loves to scheme with still on the board.
If we’re talking about Baalke ignoring Harbaughs wishes and forcing a player on him, I doubt that would happen because they work well together and Baalke seems like a reasonable guy, but there is no question on who runs the personnel end of this team. It’s Baalke.
Baalke’s first.
That was a Baalke pick. He even traded up to get him while the consensus was that he would have been available had the Niners stayed put at 13th. They moved from 13th to 11th (trade with Denver and gave up a 4th round pick). By the way, Denver traded that 4th round pick to NE who drafted TE Aaron Hernandez.
Or maybe Sing told Baalke to move up because Sing was afraid he would be gone later? Sing had the authority,not Baalke.
Baalke has it now,since he is the GM now and was not then.
@oneniner:
TB wasted a pick
How do you figure? I thought it was pretty clear from the beginning that Slowey was a developmental pick. This just seems like the first step in getting him to the practice squad.
…….he wasted a pick because he didn’t find a LB or T or G in that round who could be a backup on the team………
….I would think my undrafted picks are my developmental players……and my draft picks are at least my backups…….
Yeah, but we amateurs tend to overstate things quite often. Wasted pick? Really? My take: missed on a 6th Rounder who could conceivably develop on the PS and make the 53 next year.
…not gonna argue with that…….
OneLatina
Go back and look at the draft results. Who would you have picked instead? One pick that would have made sense to me would have been Alfonzo Dennard (Ht/Wt: 5-10/204 lbs), CB from Nebraska instead of Slowey. Dennard’s stock dropped due to off field issues, but was touted pre-draft as a 2nd to 3rd round talent.
+1
The team is better and it is getting harder to make the team, especially when you’re drafted for a different position and then get injured. Cam Johnson sticking around is intriguing.
you have to make a buy out to cut an injured player. they might just be waiting till he gets healthy to cut him.
Thank you Coach. Great point! I for one didn’t know about that rule.
you hit it right there razor…Even old Mike Nolan used to say that it isnt necessarily a good thing if all your draft picks can start or easily make the team….alot of the great football teams in the league “waste picks” because of staceked rosters
For those that haven’t been paying attention, our team is much deeper than it has been in many years. It was expected that it would be harder to make the team this year. We cut a 6th rounder last year, too.
Slowey was our 2nd 6th rounder; #199 overall. He was changing positions, and was injured during TC. If he made a good enough impression, he’ll likely turn up on the PS. Either way, I’m glad we’re no longer so bad that all our picks are guaranteed a roster spot.
+1
…”We cut a 6th rounder last year, too.”……you have a point
Grant – FDM, DS and I have been trying to get this blog question/suggestion answered for a couple days.
Under the heading “trending topics” we can only preview the last 5 posts listed in here, is there anyway possible to increase that amount to 10 or more? Also, can we have the persons name who wrote it visible? We think it would be helpful for all of us and cut down on time searching for replies etc.
Many of us have to step away from the blog then return throughout the day and it would be nice to see the last 10-15 posts (with the names), rather than just five.
Thanks for any help Grant.
I’ll ask the blog master.
Ms Cohn? just kidding about the family business :>)
Thanks Grant!
That’ll help if it happens.
Thanks Grant
How is Tramaine Brock not on this list? Did they actually cut him on the sidelines during the Denver game after that embarrassing missed tackle?
Lol! As soon as I saw that play (and the TD pass he gave up), I said he’s not going to make the team. Then Parrish Cox picked off the pass, and I said, Brock might as well take his pads off and hand in his 9ers jersey.
Cox got beat quite a few times yesterday.
I’m not sold on Cox. He doesn’t have the speed nor the agility to be an effective CB. The knock on him coming out of Oklahoma St. was stiff hips, slow reaction times, and bad ball skills. He’s clearly improved in some areas, but may have hit his ceiling already.
Grant,
This is a family website. Keep the dirty talk to yourself.
Houston,
You saw that too. Don’t worry, Brock has to go. There has to be 20 cornerbacks in the NFL that can give up plays in front of them all game long then whiff the tackle half the time. He was just as bad last year. When he came in for brown last year in the championship game, I knew it was over.
Makes me wish we would have drafted Janoris Jenkins.
I agree 23.
Domingo,
With a 2nd, he was worth the chance but he was gone by then.
Dennard would have been the better option since he would have cost the team less in the draft.
@Grant, Houston:
Well played, gentlemen, well played.
Claude,
I think Houston was actually reprimanding Grant.
as to baalke wasting a draft pick. really good teams keep about half of their picks each year. its called outstanding depth
…….I will agree with you if an undrafted rookie does not make the team……
if an undrafted rookie makes the team. that just means the scouting staff did a great job. if an undrafted center makes the team over a drafted center IE slowey that might be a mistake.
I had figured that 3 drafted rookies make the 53 man team. Two are gone one injured and one released. Jenkins and LaMic make the team maybe Looney is another. Lots of depth for rookies to make it.
Any guy with an apo’strophe in his name should get cut automatically.
+1
I was glad to see Netter is still ‘alive’. He’s still kind of a longshot.
I’m rooting for him too… Good kid, didn’t give up many sacks at NW.
I’m not surprised by any of these names. Slowey was a developmental prospect from DII who was changing positions. His chances were slim unless he showed something special. Being unable to practice or play in the preseason made it an easy decision to cut him. They may bring him back for the PS though.
As Grant said the tough cuts are later this week.
Did you guys notice Leonard Davis playing tight end on Sunday? Also, it was good seeing Will Tukuafu getting action at FB.
No, Nick, I kinda missed that. I remember being confused by the narrow network focus as whether Leonard was getting reps at OT; I guess that’s when you saw him at TE. Interesting, and maybe not good news for Rueland……….
Yeah Tuna, it was fun to watch L. Davis playing TE. I’m not sure about Rueland fate – he made a nice catch on a throw by CK – but still may not make the team.
Maiocco posted this about LD playing TE:
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/49ers-355-pound-tight-end-heads-list-of-?blockID=763407&feedID=5936
I know Tukuafu is getting alot of press because he’s going 2 ways but I thought he played poorly at FB. There were at least 3 plays where he completely whiffed on his block. On one play, he had a choice between 2 guys to block and he didn’t get either one of them. He had one pancake block but I’m curious on that play as the RB didn’t follow his block. Looked like he kicked out a DE but the RB ran up the middle. I’m wondering if someone screwed up that play. Bruce Miller won me over last year. Tukuafu should really only be used as FB in a jumbo package. Miller is the best man for that FB role.
Houston,
I couldn’t disagree with you more on Tukuafu. From what I saw he did a great job from the FB spot and cleared some guys right out at times. Bruce Miller is in no danger imo, but Tukuafu showed to me at least that he can do a good job in that role in special packages.
Al Netter survives the first round of cuts. Could he make the final roster? He’s looked better than Mike Person so far.
I was thinking the same. He has looked better in every aspect than than Person. Maiocco claims Person will make it over Netter, but Netter has been a beast
@ Adam707
You’re such a Homer! Hahaha, me too. As a Petaluman, I’d love to see him make it, but let’s wait until the weekend cuts & re-signs. I think he’s got a chance to unseat Person, but they could also be looking at vet OTs on the waiver wire.
BTW, the Petaluma PD met the Little Leaguers Team Stretch HummerLimo at the freeway off-ramp and gave them a lights & sirens motorcycle escort to the Fairgrounds for a big reception.
I watched every Petaluma LLWS game. It was amazing. The Tennesse game was one of the best ive ever seen.
Godfather Fangio live presser….csnbayarea!
Technique and the inability to win individual matchups cited as problems. Justin Smith singled out as ready to go along with a few others unamed. The Godfather looked pissed and amused at the same time. ?….
Thx Razor. We can actually learn something from his Pressers. I missed the broadcast by that much……
hastings shud have been cut sometimne last year. we cuda used his spot for a reciever that wuda produced, not hatin on the guy he did his best. just took up a roster spot a whole season for nothin
Grant,
About the game yesterday, and all preseason in general; I understand playing “vanilla” on both offense and defense but the biggest problems I saw were with their tackling. Last year everyone was flying to the ball and looking to stick someone hard. I haven’t seen that this year. From what you have seen, is this a “lazy preseason” mentality or will this be a continued problem for the D?
Absolutely zero surprises today.
Considering I maybe heard of one or two of these guys with any kind of memory of what they have done here, no shock.
Cut randy moss. Alex smith can’t get The ball that deep accurately To him anyway n doesn’t look like AS is getting cut
Grant,
Now that cuts are starting to take place is there anyone you think the 49ers should take a look at picking up?
Jack
Do you have any thoughts on that yourself? It may be a little early for that, maybe over the weekend.
Just barely making The 70 ish req. After cutting 12 didn’t we? How can we think o Of being in pick Up mmode?
Maybe under. The 4th/5th CB spot is an area that could use an upgrade.
I wonder if the team will pick up Gaffney and cut Moss. Gaffney is 4 years younger and seems to fit Alex Smith’s style better.
nope…players in the niners lockerroom love randy
nope……players in the niners lockerrom love randy
I don’t think locker room presence is going to determine roster spots on this stacked team. Randy Moss hasn’t been able to get on the same page as Smith. He hasn’t been productive in game situations.
The team loses nothing if they cut him before game 1. I think if he is cut, he’ll be cut as close to the GB game as the coaching staff can manage to disrupt GB as much as possible.
what does harbaugh always say, the team, the team the team, dont underestimate that statement…..randy and alex have ent connnected in the preseason games cause he has only really played in really one game…dont worry randy will be a factor come regular season….he has taken the younger wideouts under his wings, swimming and stuff…he a mentor…thats big for this young team and wr core…
I don’t think they’re showing much of Moss. Just my hunch (and I’m usually right :P)
I noticed yesterday (during the dullest game in forever) that he was running a bunch of short clearing routes and then pretty much coasting. Other than the ‘keep-the-secondary-honest’ deep route where he was smothered by three guys, there wasn’t much going on.
I think they’re keeping him under wraps. Just running some basic sets in pre-season, nothing spectacular.
I’m actually getting used to the Vernon Davis post and wheel routes as routine. Weird to actually take those for granted – and that they can and will be successful. Haven’t had that kind of confidence since Montana-to-Clark.
@Adam
People typically only remember the times they are right about something. If they are right, they have a great memory. Wrong, not so good of a memory.
Kind of surprised on Tyms, although obviously the depth makes this tough. I thought I’d read somewhere that the staff liked him. Wonder if he’s a guy they hope clears waivers?
He started out playing well in training camp. Don’t know what happened beyond that.
I think the Niners are trying to sneek at least a couple of their WRs to clear waivers. That may explain why Napalm and Owusu didn’t see any action the last game. Don’t want to audition them for another team.
* sneak
Adam,
I think it’s a case of too many good players at one position. They have Owusu and Napalm still on the roster along with Jenkins and Williams ahead of them. You can’t keep everybody.
Grant. Love that you are right there, first in the Bay Area with your grades after a game. Its awesome that you don’t stop to look around to see which way the consensus winds are blowing with other writers.
But the guy that I really want to meet is Commentor TIM. He has so much to teach us. Leave it to this youngster, when stuff is made up with the passion that he brings to the game, I feel like I have to regonize a true boss.
+1 Brian