Posted By: Dear Razoreater... (14/03/2008 8:50:50 AM)
Comment: Iran had nothing to do with 9/11. It was an inside job. Check the evidence...

Posted By: Tucker (14/03/2008 8:48:57 AM)
Comment: Good point stoner. We drafted a couple of DL last year and signed Franklin, extended Soap this year, as well as adding a high priced FA in Smith. We're liable to draft another DL or two, so yes, its time to let Marques collect his big pay day elsewhere, while we slot in a stud DL in Smith, who is more suited to the 3-4 we will sometimes play. He'll do well in that Tampa D, I figure he'll get about 8-10 sacks and be credited with a great year all-round, health permitting. Good luck to him, he served us well. As for Spikes? Great character guy, and we all know what Nolan thinks of character.

Posted By: Razoreater (13/03/2008 8:58:42 PM)
Comment: thank u for your service md, but the move is sound-now draft trevor laws & branden alberts & i'll be dancing in the streets like the iranians after 911

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (13/03/2008 8:31:00 PM)
Comment: A highly productive guy that said all the right things about playing for the 49ers. He is a class act, he's over 30 and doesn't warrant another contract, it's a business move. As Bill Walsh preached years ago, better to move a player a year early as opposed to a year late. We have Justin Smith, we will add in the Draft next month along with guys who were drafted in the past 2 years to move into the front level now. We all ride Nolan for many of his narrow minded plans related to Baltimore, but I give him credit for holding the line on character guys who play the game to win as opposed to playing for money and face time. Marques did us proud, nice piece Matt.

Posted By: Erik (13/03/2008 6:46:05 PM)
Comment: Matt - Any word on contract figures (salary, guaranteed $), for Douglas? As always thanks for the great work.

Posted By: Sandip (13/03/2008 5:58:59 PM)
Comment:

Posted By: Mike Martz Fan (13/03/2008 2:37:16 PM)
Comment: Martz just gave me the answer...Nolan realizes some of his offensive picks aren't quite cutting it, so he's shoring up the defense so they can keep us in games. Nolan's not too sure about the 9ers ability to score more than 17 points per game with the current offensive line-up...

Posted By: Mike Martz Fan (13/03/2008 2:31:26 PM)
Comment: Can someone help me out here...Doesn't seem like 9ers are always on the look out for defensive players? It seems like their always finding someone or are interested in someone. Is it 'cause Nolan's a defensive minded coach? He brings in all these defensive players and no one says a word. Bruce comes in and he's too old, past his prime, etc. Enough with the LB's, if we're going to continue going defense can we please look for an stud safety, shut down corner, pass rushing specialist? Why aren't we looking for an OL player? Or looking to trade for Chad Johnson? I need to talk with Martz...

Posted By: StonerLab (13/03/2008 2:11:24 PM)
Comment: It seems that some of you are getting all bent out of shape about Douglas moving on. Gee...what a surprise! The 49ers made it pretty clear that they weren't going to make any effort to re-sign MD (over-pay) so now that he finally signed with Tampa some of you are screaming bloody murder. People seem to forget that the 49ers drafted a couple of young D-line (Cohen,McDonald) last year so it's time to see what they can do, after all they DID draft them for a reason. The 49ers are obviously going to a youth movement. Plus we have this year's draft so let's not panic just yet.

Posted By: ZURDO (13/03/2008 2:00:51 PM)
Comment: Matt, could you explain a bit more on the process of the physical (T. Spikes situation)? Does it mean he neglected his reocvery process and might not be able to play for the 1st month of the season?

Posted By: DCN9er (13/03/2008 1:58:25 PM)
Comment: Matt, please tell me that Nolan and Takeo Spikes are in a helicopter flying somewhere over the bay right now because he would instantly provide that veteran experience to our linebackers, aside from Singletary, that would really make this defense into something special. Not to mention what a leader on and off the field he is. Have you heard anything at all about the severity of the shoulder injury ? After hearing those stats from last year, I just can't get my head around why the Eagles released him ?

Posted By: DCN9er (13/03/2008 1:34:39 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, what is the latest on Takeo Spikes ???

Response: No word on his arrival. I'm sure when (if) he gets here, the first order of business will be a physical. After all, he failed his physical (shoulder) with the Eagles, resulting in his release. --Matt M.

Posted By: Sandip (13/03/2008 1:20:17 PM)
Comment: I know this is going to sound stupid but I don't see Justin Smith as a even a moderate upgrade over Douglas. Why pay a guy that much money (even if you have plenty of cap space) when you already have a guy who can do almost if not just as much for a much lower price. Over the next two years a big-time FA will be available and we'll pass on him because we decided to spread around a lot of inflated contracts to above-average players rather than write a big check for a great player.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (13/03/2008 1:12:30 PM)
Comment: Thanks for your time Marques! I enjoyed watching him play hard every Sunday. The Bucs will benefit from him, but Smith is an upgrade for us. Assuming we draft a couple dlinemen, we will be fine. Rollin'.

Posted By: Mike Martz Fan (13/03/2008 1:12:18 PM)
Comment: I'm telling ya, there's a package in the works for one of the top two picks. There's 2 good DL players and an exceptional OL. They're gonna swing a deal, just watch...

Posted By: PDXLarry (13/03/2008 1:03:04 PM)
Comment: Sign one, lose one....are the Niners really getting any better during this off season?? So far I see only 2 improvements...the signing of Bruce at WR, and the signing of Martz. Other then that, it seems like the Niners are spinning their wheels. I hope the draft picks up a few winners. Meanwhile we are stuck with a lame QB to run this thing.

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (13/03/2008 12:59:18 PM)
Comment: Sam and others - Even if M.D. returned our starting D-line was already SET with Justin Smith at RDE, Franklin at the NT, and Soap at LDE (B.Y.'s spot). Why over pay for a back up D lineman? I will take the upside of Fields, Cohan, McDonald, Ellison, and the forgotten man Melvin O. to play first off the bench over M.D. That's just one man's opinion (well-..and apparently McNolan's as well).

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (13/03/2008 12:31:29 PM)
Comment: We're in trouble if our main b/u at the nose is Cohen. It may be Soap at LDE and b/u NT. We'll draft DL for sure now, unless the Ravens cut anymore lineman. Ellison is listed as the Starting UT (LDE) on the web site. Wow, he must be improving a lot if he went from the Ravens PS to on our roster, but inactive for an entire season to the starting LDE. Particularly with no playing time. We STILL need DL! If we don't go OL and one DL in the draft we're screwed.

Posted By: SavageVinny (13/03/2008 12:13:41 PM)
Comment: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Posted By: kc (13/03/2008 12:10:13 PM)
Comment: who knows... maybe J. Allen in '08. Jared Allen showed up to the Chiefs' 101 Banquet, normally a black-tie affair, in cowboy boots, jeans and a classy tuxedo t-shirt to receive the Derrick Thomas team MVP award. We'll see if he shows up for minicamps. Allen made it clear that he wouldn't be happy if he got the franchise tag, but the Chiefs slapped him with it on February 18. He claimed this would be his last year in a Chiefs uniform.

Posted By: Jake (13/03/2008 12:05:44 PM)
Comment: Jared Allen in '09 SCOTTY MAC!

Posted By: mark (13/03/2008 11:54:00 AM)
Comment: matt--have you heard that the 49ers hired scott pioli as a scout in 1992, at $24,000, but belichick convinced him to renege on his niners deal and join browns at $18,000 a year (this was in David Halberstam's book on Belichick)

Response: Yes. I have heard that. http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080203/SPORTS/802030405/1010/SPORT01. --Matt M.

Posted By: JJninerFan (13/03/2008 11:53:06 AM)
Comment: I think Soap will be the starting end with Cohen backing up the nose in 34, then slide inside with Mcdonald working at end in the 43, you still have Oliver that will work back into the mix, Same size and type player as Douglas

Posted By: SonocoNinerfan (13/03/2008 11:43:48 AM)
Comment: Remember that guy Justin Smith? He's at the top of the depth chart in Douglas' old position. Smith/McDonald/Oliver is our group of right defensive ends. We'll be fine.

Posted By: sf_ftbl1 (13/03/2008 11:41:54 AM)
Comment: Gonna miss Douglas, but I agree that if he was better than what they see is available in the draft (or even better) -whats on their own bench--they would have kept Douglas. Remember Nolan likes to pick up anyone that wore a Ravens jersey. Now Scott Mc has the decision making without the Nolan bias for ex-ravens. I think they go after at least two more DL (with one being a BIG guy in the middle--i.e. Red Bryant or Atyba Rubins)-in the draft and they get Ray McDonald and Cohen some more reps. With the injuries that hit the defense last year --they don't know what they have right now.

Posted By: drspaceman (13/03/2008 11:39:19 AM)
Comment: Douglas was also a stand up community guy, he will be missed: http://marquesdouglasfoundation.org/ProgramsActivities.htm

Posted By: 16280 (13/03/2008 11:20:55 AM)
Comment: I'm sure the coaching staff has a plan in place for the defense. If M Douglas was the best guy for the job they would have kept him. They never made an effort to keep him so they must be going in a different direction. That concerns me as Nolan seems to go in the wrong direction often but it's the off season with the draft upcoming and I'm going to stay in the GHF mindset.We had a lot of guys hurt last year and maybe one of them or Mcdonald is slated to take that spot. I believe they will go for O & D line in the draft. Douglas was solid not spectacular so the loss won't be significant and maybe we get an upgrade. Whatever the solution let's pray for a more aggressive attacking D.

Posted By: jbeezy (13/03/2008 11:10:14 AM)
Comment: I always liked Douglas. In my opinon he overproformed. I wasnt expecting half of what he did for us when we signed him. Ihope he does good in Tampa except against us.

Posted By: xl (13/03/2008 11:07:36 AM)
Comment: with the abundance of cap room we got this year i am sure that the niners could have "swallowed" (he is and was still very productive)a 3yr contract with Douglas....bad move by the niners you can never have two much depth especially on the DLine

Posted By: tom (13/03/2008 10:58:18 AM)
Comment: You guys all seem happy to get extra picks next year, but who is going to rush the passer and handle the run support this year??

Posted By: Sam (13/03/2008 10:56:50 AM)
Comment: Just great, B.Y.t retired, now this. 2 d.e. gone and only one signed. Who is going to take his place?? No on team has his stats. IMO, this was a baaaaaad move!!

Posted By: Drew (13/03/2008 10:55:33 AM)
Comment: YEA! Another supplemental pick. With all these guys leaving for other teams, wouldn't it make sense that we had some talent on our team last year and the reason for our sucking was Nolan?

Posted By: Larry (13/03/2008 10:54:45 AM)
Comment: hey matt...great stuff....well since you been talking about compensation picks, we will get one here right since he will be starting

Posted By: Will"s Dad (13/03/2008 10:54:29 AM)
Comment: M Douglas is a class act. Matt, thank you for your continued updates. Hopefully this signing will bring us another comp pick in 2009.

Posted By: ny 49er (13/03/2008 10:43:48 AM)
Comment: hey matt any news on spikes?