Posted By: Smith Sucks (02/03/2008 6:34:34 AM)
Comment: As for Bengals fans, of course we know that our team sucks. That isn't relevant to whether or not Justin Smith sucks. You Niner fans got yourself a non 3-4 end (he weighs 270 or so) that has never in his career been able to get consistent pressure on the QB. He's good at one thing: staying healthy. That is good, don't get me wrong, but he's possibly slightly above average vs the run and way, way, way, below average as a pass rusher. And, the idea he could also play LB in a 3-4 is one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Look, if it wsas true, it would have happened last year, when the team was so desperate for LBs that they signed guys off the street who started that week. In addition, it's kind of funny for Niner fans to be insulting the management of the Bengals, when the Niners are at least as bad.

Posted By: archie (02/03/2008 2:16:30 AM)
Comment: don banks makes some good points on the j.smith signing: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/03/01/sat.snap.judgments/index.html

Posted By: Jake BY (01/03/2008 11:21:41 PM)
Comment: Great signing for a quality player. Smith is a high motor player and is a team leader. The niners as are definitely in the going in the right direction McNolan I give you props

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 8:58:43 PM)
Comment: tgflynn-Where do you live now?

Posted By: Marco from Stockton (01/03/2008 8:53:42 PM)
Comment: Not sure Smith is worth that much money with only 2 sacks last year. However he is a good upgrade over the journeymen we have now. I say go for O-Lineman with 1st pick. Keep drafting O & D Linemen. Just don't trade our Number one for next year McNolan.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (01/03/2008 8:49:44 PM)
Comment: Oneniner, easy with the Jason Taylor man love, Bruce Davis from UCLA is his modern day youthful equivalent. If desired, Scot could very easily send a card to the podium with his name on it in April. There are so many LB options for us that we'll probably trip over one in Rd 6. But the thumpers will be gone by Rd 4. Groves/Avril/Davis/LawJax/Crable are all worthy options and plenty more I won't waste space on, but we'll get a couple of good options, up to Scot and Singletary mainly on which guys get selected of course, we can only play along and speculate, but it's fun nonetheless.

Posted By: tgflynn (01/03/2008 8:49:42 PM)
Comment: Berger-I think we are truly birds of a feather. When I lived in L.A, I was constantly derided for rooting for UCLA Basketball and USC in Football, I told them I like to be disappointed as little as possible. Someone might ask why then am I now a 9er fan, answer "beats the hell out of me!

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (01/03/2008 8:39:25 PM)
Comment: Smith Sucks,What else would a Bengals fan be thrilled about? Who tops the local Police blotter? Dying to hear how much you'll hate Chad Johnson too when he's gone. Go Draft another Loser to replace him.

Posted By: Parker (01/03/2008 8:25:16 PM)
Comment: I find it hilarious that the Niners went to these great lengths to court a "good" FA player like Justin Smith. I guess York didn't join him for the helicopter schmooz, because he would have hijacked the chopper and flown straight to the Metrodome. I like the guy - yes he's versatile. Yes he's got a high-motor. But he's B level at best - never had the speed, muscle, or consistency of a #1 to put the quarterback on his back. Remember, he was a 4th overall pick from Missouri back in 2001 and has never quite lived up to expectations. At least he will be a step up from Banta-Lame. Our best shot with Smith is to run the 3-4 - he could potentially keep Lawson's jersey clean and free him up to make more plays behind scrimmage. We shall see.

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 8:23:10 PM)
Comment: tgflynn-I respect your opinion. I would rather have Rodgers-Cromartie, if available. Also, my favorite college team is always any PAC-10 team that has a chance for a national title. If I could choose, that would be USC in football and UCLA in basketball. I've lived in SF Bay Area, the LA area and Arizona for extended periods. That's a lot of PAC-10 territory. So I'm happy when any PAC-10 team does well. And of course I always root for Nevada(UNR).

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (01/03/2008 8:18:11 PM)
Comment: Tony (and others): We won't know the cap figures until the 9ers release the figures and makeup. Basically there are 3 ways to pay a guy. We can roster bonus them, which counts against the cap in that given year. We can give him a signing bonus, which is amortized over the life of the contract. We can also salary them, which is like what you and I make...except much bigger. You gotta like this FA period, DL help - Soap(resigned) and Smith. ILB - DThomas. RB - Foster. Secondary - Fossum. Special teams - Fossum and Robinson(resigned). WR - Bruce. Looking to the draft we can concentrate on OL for sure, and it's the deepest position in the draft. We don't have many "needs" as long as everyone can perform like they're capable. You gotta respect McCloughin's strategy.

Posted By: Smith Sucks (01/03/2008 8:13:18 PM)
Comment: Bengal fans are thrilled to see the incredibly overrated Smith gone. Have fun paying him 5M per sack. Or maybe 3M per QB pressure.

Posted By: tgflynn (01/03/2008 8:01:34 PM)
Comment: Berger - I too am a fan of USC Football and have been since John Mckay. Baker has been dinged up some but not enough to keep him from being a first team All-American for 3 out of his 4 years and a starter all four years for the best team in college football and certainly the best offense in college football for that 4 year period. The injury this past year I see as a gift to the 9ers and makes the possibility of getting him a distinct possibilty.

Posted By: Blade (01/03/2008 7:47:25 PM)
Comment: for te most part i'm happy with what the 49ers did this off season if melvin oliver and manny lawson stay healthy we can be a bad butt deff,i'm also happy with bruce coming yes he lost a step or 2 but hes a class act you never heard him complain about being over shawdowed but t holt,we need more play out of our QB or randy moss terrell owens and jerry rice on the same team cant help us if we add depth on the o line we may really win the division this year the first time ive really belived that in 6-7 years gooooooooooo niners!!!

Posted By: johnP (01/03/2008 7:34:52 PM)
Comment: Is J Smith really such a huge upgrade over Bryant Young?

Posted By: steveh (01/03/2008 7:20:53 PM)
Comment: this is a great signing, but it really comes down to how manny lawson's knee holds up. unfortuntly like mcnabb it take about a year and a half to totally come back from that type of injury. so if lawson comes back with his speed etc then this move becomes crazy!

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 7:11:36 PM)
Comment: tgflynn-I'd stay away from Baker. I'm a USC football fan and I can tell you, he is good, but he is hurt more than he is healthy. Kind of like having another Jonas Jennings on the roster. Anybody know anything about Shane Olivea. It seems as though he was a good OT. Why did SD let him go? Would he be a good 2nd tier player to go after?

Posted By: GH (01/03/2008 6:40:42 PM)
Comment: Briggs re-signs with Bears, 6years - 36 million (KFFL) Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 6:23:00 PM)
Comment: "Taylor, who is 33 and will be 34 before next season begins. Taylor has averaged 11 1/2 sacks over his career and has had at least 11 in six of the past eight years. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 and was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year last season for all his charitable work and public service."........http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AhwD_I73dWnOjss20vlsFKvsYNAF?slug=jc-taylor030108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&print=1

Posted By: Michael (01/03/2008 6:22:58 PM)
Comment: Now that the Niners executed their plan a with their signing of the top free agency Justin Smith. What 2nd tier guys that the Niners might go after?

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 6:21:18 PM)
Comment: If we do go old we should go for J. Taylor....from yahoo sports .."Taylor knows the end of his career is near and he's already beginning his transition. He told the Dolphins a month ago that he was going to take part in the "Dancing With the Stars" television series. For that, Taylor has already moved to Los Angeles to prepare and he could be on the show until mid-May, cutting significantly into any offseason program with the Dolphins. Last month, Taylor appeared on Oprah. Last year, Taylor was the face of the NFL when the league was promoting the Dolphins-New York Giants game in London. And what a face to use. In 2001, Taylor was featured by Sports Illustrated as one of the "Ten Sexiest Athletes" in sports. He has done movie appearances, has been a pitchman for companies like Neutrogena and has had an eye on Hollywood for as long as he has played. One can't blame him for that. Making $8 million for a movie is a lot easier than chasing quarterbacks for the same money. Taylor has two years left on a contract that pays him $7.5 million this season and $8 million in 2008."............why not the niners?

Posted By: EZ (01/03/2008 6:19:24 PM)
Comment: I agree Simmons is old and may not be the answer, but there has got to be someone other than Thomas that we could have signed on the cheaper side say maybe a Landon Johnson or Demorrio Williams?

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 6:00:16 PM)
Comment: Brian Simmons is tooo old..why would you want to bring in a lb who is being dropping off in stats since 2005. Dontarrious Thomas or someone else young makes more sense.

Posted By: tgflynn (01/03/2008 5:53:58 PM)
Comment: To me the potential bargain in the draft is Sam Baker and boy can we use him. The socalled experts are putting guys like Clady, Williams and Otah ahead of him and to me it's laughable. He has the brains and technique to help soloidify a very suspect O-line. Second we need a real banger at TED Linbacker and that's Curtis Lofton from Okla. Mayock and Davis both talked him up big time at the combine. After that who knows who will be there but in 3, 4 and5 at wide receiver, for me it's Jordy Nelson (K St,), Eddie Royal (Va Tech) and Dexter Jackson (App St). A couple guys who could still be there late and are real footballers are Jeremy Zuttah (OG/OT Rutgers) and Hester Jacobs (LSU FB and Special Teams Demon).

Posted By: EZ (01/03/2008 5:48:04 PM)
Comment: Anders - I'm not saying they need a top dollar FA ILB, I'm all for building through the draft. I only mentioned Briggs because everyone had him pegged to go to the Niners before FA started. I'm actually glad they weren't players in the Briggs bidding war. I was looking more for veteran players who we can get on the cheap but can still come in and start alongside Willis like a Brian Simmons that Berger mentioned.

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 5:46:14 PM)
Comment: Bernard Berrian .. six-year, $42 million contract, with $16 million guaranteed.......WOW

Posted By: Razoreater (01/03/2008 5:43:44 PM)
Comment: what would it cost us to jump in front of seatle&pittsburgh for brandon alberts?jennings&a 6th round?

Posted By: Larry Weisman (01/03/2008 5:42:02 PM)
Comment: I haven't heard about DeSaun Foster signing. What's holding things up?

Posted By: thoughtful (01/03/2008 5:37:04 PM)
Comment: Size is not the most important thing to look for in a DE. That is overated.

Posted By: 49erJimmy (01/03/2008 5:31:57 PM)
Comment: ...I have to agree with Berger. It's either CB or OL for the 'Niners at #29....Also, Hey Zurdo - How's the weather? If I was in Costa Rica, the only "footballs" I'd be thinking about would be the ones on the Women down there. They are gorgeous Women. Matt - You'd should take him up on that offer! LOL

Posted By: E form A-town (01/03/2008 5:30:15 PM)
Comment: ny#1:49ersfan, I asked the same question about Roy Williams a couple of weeks ago and Matt replied with something like Roy didn't put in the time it took to be a Martz reciever.

Posted By: Anders Frost Bertelsen (01/03/2008 5:29:59 PM)
Comment: @EZ: First of all - Briggs does not fit in the Niners scheme. Unless you want to bench Patrick Willis? Second - You can't expect a team to sign high priced quality players at every position - teams have to make do with mediocre players at some positions. I'm not saying that I'm not worried about that LB-spot, but between Moore, Ulbrich, Thomas and possibly a mid-round draft pick, we just have to hope that an acceptable solution emerges.

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 5:27:56 PM)
Comment: EZ- Brian Simmons just got released by the Saints. I don't know what he still has in the tank, but he has been very reliable in the past. He's got to be about 30 to 32yrs old?

Posted By: Mike in Marin (01/03/2008 5:22:12 PM)
Comment: I think that Bryant Johnson would be a great signing.

Posted By: EZ (01/03/2008 5:20:43 PM)
Comment: Is Dontarrious Thomas really the answer the Niners are looking for to fill Smith's LB spot? He did NOTHING for the Vikings so why would he be any better with the Niners. I still think they need to add a more proven ILB than Thomas. Other than Briggs, is there another ILB that could fit in the Niners scheme?

Posted By: Mike in Marin (01/03/2008 5:18:39 PM)
Comment: Glad to have Smith aboard! Has anyone heard whats going on with Pace?

Posted By: Razoreater (01/03/2008 5:09:50 PM)
Comment: Sweet!does this mean douglas will not be coming back?&when u get a chance matt can u give us a $ amount of where we're at capwise after these signings?

Posted By: ZURDO (01/03/2008 4:59:43 PM)
Comment: I ´m starting to love this time of the year. 5 years ago I didn ´t even need to check and see if we had any good pickups. Lets hope our GM keeps everyhting in order. I tell you, last night I went to bed (early, tough week) and when I woke up Matt ¨Santa Claus ¨ Maiocco had delivered the gifts. I love the two big pick ups (Bruce and Smith) both offered nice but sensible compensations. Matt, again my offer is still there, if you ever com to Costa Rica, I ´ll plan an amazing trip for you. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 4:54:01 PM)
Comment: Comparing Andre Carter to Justin Smith is like comparing apples to oranges. Carter is an outside speed rusher, only. He can not be used to hold the point. Justin Smith is very versatile. He is a run stopper, an edge rusher, can play DE or DT in the 4-3, and apparantly, can play Elephant. And we signed him for less than the going market rate for a #1 FA at DE. Unless the only thing you are looking at is a pass rusher, what could a person not like about this signing?

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 4:53:22 PM)
Comment: With Hardy we have two number 1 WR, Bruce(as much as i hate to say it) could mentor Hardy+ Hill into a Pro.......our offense would be feared. (A.Smith,Gore,Davis,"Hardy",Bruce,Hill,..lets not forget my main man Battle.....Jackson+leile+Foster)...and of course the future MROB.... Mike Martz do your thing.

Posted By: threeniner (01/03/2008 4:47:28 PM)
Comment: And, Smith is no Kevin Greene. Man, remember him? He was an absolute animal. A key piece of our last Super Bowl.

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 4:47:20 PM)
Comment: twoniner (nice name)......Andre Carter was weak against the run, i watched some of his games last season, he his perfect for a 4-3, in the words of J.Smith - "The only way to play football is to go 100%." Andre Carter does not go 100%...yet

Posted By: EastCoastNiner (01/03/2008 4:44:03 PM)
Comment: I want Chris Williams to fall to us at #29. If not Williams, then Quentin Groves. I also like having a big receiver like James Hardy. Maybe we can snag him at #38. Hardy and Davis would be big time red soze threats because of their size.

Posted By: twoniner (01/03/2008 4:43:00 PM)
Comment: Banks made some good points: [a] Andre Carter averages more sacks per year than Smith and [b] signing Andre Carter before his free agent departure would have come cheaper.

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 4:30:02 PM)
Comment: I'm starting to think our first pick shuold be Rogers-Cromartie. I read that with the way he is moving up on everybody'd draft board, there is no truth to the rumor that with Glen Dorsey's stock dropping, he is going to change his name to Dorsey-Haynesworth!

Posted By: Gary (01/03/2008 4:00:45 PM)
Comment: I've just read Don Banks' comments on the Smith signing, the same old national media bias. At one point he even says that the niners resigned Jesse Sopoaga!!! I think Smith will be a better signing than Jonas Jennings was but he won't get 15 sacks a year, and i don't think the coaches expect that. A solid BY replacement (if there is one).

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 3:54:28 PM)
Comment: i wish we would sign Travis LaBoy....another GOOD news the "Jets and guard Alan Faneca have agreed on the largest free agent deal ever given to an offensive lineman."...means the sorry RAMS are not getting him...

Posted By: Luca (01/03/2008 3:54:25 PM)
Comment: Did the niners take a look at Stroud?

Posted By: John A (01/03/2008 3:50:21 PM)
Comment: Not that he matters. But Don Banks at SI rips the hell out of the Niner FA picks. He calls the Washington Redskins West just about. East Coast Reporter who is as wrong as Peter King...who seems to be always wrong on everything...even coffee.

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 3:47:12 PM)
Comment: Thanks to Mcnolan we got probowlers on every position on defense. secondary= clements, LB= willis, Dline= Smith. Great job Mcnolan, we do believe.

Posted By: oneniner (01/03/2008 3:43:22 PM)
Comment: great newz....now we can focus on backups and the draft....hardy boy get ready

Posted By: 49erJimmy (01/03/2008 3:41:53 PM)
Comment: YES!! Way to go 'Niners! Soooo many good pick-ups! WOW!!! It's like x-mas all over again. All of the good teams have TWO good running-backs. Now we do too! Our defense is going to be much improved, with a pass-rush we haven't seen in a long time. Hasselbrick is gonna be on his ass. GO 'NINERS!!!!

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (01/03/2008 3:37:04 PM)
Comment: Sounds like a good guy, thanks Matt! 49er4life- As Matt has pointed out to myself and others, there is no interest in Walker.

Posted By: 49er4life (01/03/2008 3:21:46 PM)
Comment: Good first move, now make a move for Javon Walker. Its a great fit becuase he's tall, fast, and powerfull. Tory Holt style and see how that worked out.

Posted By: NY#1:49ersfan (01/03/2008 3:17:23 PM)
Comment: like i said roy williams is the man they need to trade for

Posted By: oneneiner (01/03/2008 3:10:50 PM)
Comment: Brandon Moore as tradebait? If Moore is limited to special teams and/or backup, how about using him as a bargaining chip toward draft picks and/or a WR?

Posted By: kc (01/03/2008 3:07:05 PM)
Comment: Stallworth to Browns, Berrian to Vikes, Henderson resigns w/ Saints.. the WR dominoes are starting to fall. And Faneca finally agrees to deal w/ Jets.

Posted By: GH (01/03/2008 3:02:39 PM)
Comment: I would say I hope they are not finished. Other than a bunch of 3rd rate back-ups and overpriced and somewhat undersized DE we have not done much IMO. We need an O-line, OLB and at least 1 WR to get somewhat excited about.

Posted By: Battle (01/03/2008 2:57:43 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, thank you for the coverage the last few days...really appreciate it! I know Nolan has been called out for throwing Smith under the bus and his record is pretty darn horrible, but the fact that he consistently impresses players (Smith/Clements/Lewis for example) and makes them want to play hard for him despite a horrible record late in the year, doesn't get him the credit he deserves. He motivates his players to work hard and buy into his system which is hard for any coach to do at the NFL level. I see Smith's signing is evidence to the fact that he is well respected and players around the league still believe San Fran is building a winner. Your thoughts?

Posted By: medford (01/03/2008 2:56:31 PM)
Comment: matt when will we hear from issac bruce? 49ers webite wont confirm the signing

Posted By: ny#1:49ersfan (01/03/2008 2:50:21 PM)
Comment: : I say the 9ers need to make a deal to go after roy williams he already knows martz's system and he is big and physical then we wouldn't have to draft any wr he would be a perfect fit and we would have one of the top receving cores in the leugue Go 9ers what do u guys think of that

Posted By: Tony (01/03/2008 2:48:16 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt could explain a little about the terminology of the deals that players sign? After our earlier signings, I didn't think the 49ers had the cap space to sign Smith to as large a deal as they did. He sounds like a real character guy, great pickup!

Posted By: John A (01/03/2008 2:45:35 PM)
Comment: Sweet!! He had an off year last year, but this is high motor man...a mans man taboot!! He could have a MONSTER year!! TBC didn't have it last year, Manny was hurt, nobody got to the QB..Now everyone is healthy and it could be very fun to watch how they stack these guys up on passing downs. Lot's of to look forward to. Justin Smith will have to be accountable now on Sundays. Only BY had that honor over the last few years. This is huge for the team. Matt - Are they done now with the spending?

Posted By: Vance (01/03/2008 2:31:19 PM)
Comment: Everyone asking Matt about Briggs needs to read his blog more closely. He's said time and time again: That he doesn't believe the 49ers are "in the mix," for Briggs.

Response: Thanks, Vance. I have never given the Briggs rumors any credence. I'm certainly not going to start now. --Matt M.

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 2:20:40 PM)
Comment: Matt- Are we to intrepret the one Q as meaning he might be used as a rushing LB or Elephamnt?

Response: He said he can do that, but it's up to the coaches. --Matt M.

Posted By: jameel (01/03/2008 2:16:30 PM)
Comment: yeah what's up with briggs is there a chance how ever slim we can get him

Posted By: Joseph (01/03/2008 2:16:10 PM)
Comment: This signing is fantastic, I am getting excited to see what our defense can do next year, and hopefully we can do something on offense. Is there any word on what the Niners want to do on offense in terms of free agency, I now Bruce and O'Sullivan but what about others?

Posted By: Berger (01/03/2008 2:14:56 PM)
Comment: Everybody keeps saying that McCloughan won't spend a lot of money on guards. I agree he has said that in the past, but I read in a very recent interview he mentioned some recent signings that infer he could be hedging on that thought. I would say that him not wanting to spend on Guards seems to be an old thought that has been revised. That is the way I interpreted his remarks, I could be wrong.

Posted By: chris (01/03/2008 2:12:52 PM)
Comment: Whats up with briggs?? If we sign him our D will be tops! Draft WR, Oline, LB

Posted By: mark (01/03/2008 2:03:19 PM)
Comment: does the smith signing mean the contract offer to fanaca is pulled back? How do you reconcile mcloughan's prior comments about not thinking guards are worth big $ contracts with their pursuit of faneca?

Response: There never was an offer. --Matt M.

Posted By: Fred Douglas (01/03/2008 2:01:21 PM)
Comment: Outstanding!

Posted By: RalphWiggum (01/03/2008 1:59:19 PM)
Comment: Very nice that the deal's done. Hope he can step up and bring the heat this season

Posted By: Patrick in Mission Viejo (01/03/2008 1:58:28 PM)
Comment: Woot!