Posted By: Graham (27/08/2008 8:44:15 PM)
Comment: I love Matt's work. I would not comment on the his mistakes if he did not typically hold himself to very high ethical standards. This post, however, represents a departure. As I mentioned, it's speculation based on speculation; an attempt to get so far ahead of the story that the speculation BECOMES the story. Nothing common sense about drawing conclusions and making projections based on speculation. Hot air.

Posted By: Race (26/08/2008 6:30:52 PM)
Comment: I have been reading the blogs all the time for the past year or two and I think they're the best info on the 49ers anywhere. Lately people have gone off the deep end with this board and really need to relax. This board is about sharing ideas and opinions even if some of the people sharing them are a little near sighted. Matt can speculate all he wants because unlike many media types, his speculation is founded and based off common sense thoughts and reasonable conclusions. This shouldn't be so heavy, its a way to be a part and talk about our favorite team...Thats all....Thanks Matt and keep pluggin..

Posted By: Graham (25/08/2008 9:18:34 PM)
Comment: Matt Maiocco, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You're betting heavily that Condon and Smith will ask for a release, when apparently that hasn't even been on Smith's mind. It's very likely he's just towing the party line, but you have no evidence to support that contention--only your own speculation (a post in which you argue that if Smith is benched, the 49ers would be obligated to release him), which you've underlined with YET MORE speculation ("This is the kind of statement that might spark such talk"). This is exactly the sort of echo-chamber media hype that degrades journalism and makes news unwatchable, without substance or basis in reality. It's certainly likely that Condon and Smith are not going to blab about wanting a release, but that itself is not proof that they actually want a release, or should. Why not let them decide the direction they want to go? I am well aware that this blog is a forum for more than reportage in the strictest sense. But the wiggle-room for your own opinions is giving way here to HOT AIR--that is, speculation fueled mostly by speculation, with the conspicuous absence of any reporting whatsoever. If and when Smith's desire to be traded (which may or may not exist) and/or the 49ers' obligation to trade him (which may or may not exist) become a story, how about you report it at that point? From where I sit, the initial contention (that benching Smith would lead to an obligation to trade him, which Condon would pursue) was a highly likely outcome has not advanced beyond the speculation stage, and in fact, concrete facts and statements by all parties do not support the idea that Smith or the 49ers want to part ways at this point. I love Instant 49ers and am a big fan of your work, and think your reporting is some of the most consistent and scrupulous out there. But this post is a lot of baloney. It's entirely possible that you know something I don't here about Condon and Smith's intentions. If so, why not report it???

Posted By: pbasil9er (25/08/2008 9:11:06 PM)
Comment: nolan undermining Smith yea I think so. the raider game 3rd & goal @ the 4, run up the middle 4th & goal FG. preseason we have a QB with a shoulder problem and he goes for a 23 yd FG with our best kicker? 'Half time' After the half we get the ball and it seems to me that Smith throws a nice pass down the field and gets pulled. I don't think he played more then 5 minutes in the game ? I really doubt that nolan wanted Smith to look good ? I've beaten this to death and I just wish I could stop and go home, there's no place like home! beam me scotty, scotty? peace out !

Posted By: Bryant Young (25/08/2008 8:25:32 PM)
Comment: I think you got the Dilfer performance confused with Nolan's quote. I think Nolan's "best performance" quote came as a result of a game against the Cardinals, where we put up a lot of offense and won. At the time, I completely agreed with Nolan.

Response: Check out the last paragraph of this blog: http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=703420. --Matt M.

Posted By: pbasil9er (25/08/2008 7:37:45 PM)
Comment: This is all so sad, so very sad ! We use to be so very Proud, and now we're just a shadow of our former selfs. as good as an origination as the Bengals ! damn it, it hurts ! nolan has to go, pure and simple.

Posted By: Tobol in PG (25/08/2008 7:30:18 PM)
Comment: I've never posted before but this time I can't help it. The worst aspect of Nolan's comments is that he didn't man up to it later which leads me to believe he may have been misquoted. I believe he's genuinly impressed with Martz. Over the last two games, the offense has looked progressivly better and last week it was even better than during the Turner years. Anyway, who could argue with the overall point if he was simply talking about JTO? In a quarter and a half, JTO looked better than Smith has over 3 YEARS!! We all hang on to the 3 instances AS has stepped up his game and actually helped the team win but that just doesn't cut it anymore. It was simply an exhibition game but AS has NEVER looked that good, period. Excuses over. I like AS and believe he may be able to get his head together on a different team but his play just hasn't cut it in 3 years. I think it's interesting that the few times AS has performed it is typically a situation where he doesn't have time to think, the guy clearly is in his own head too much and has forgotten how to just play. His regression last year is clear Nolan's fault but an NFL quarterback shouldn't need a YEAR in a system to be functional, as in better than a 40 percent completion percentage, that's way below the Kordoza line.

Posted By: brian in tahoe (25/08/2008 7:08:18 PM)
Comment: got tiered of watching the democratic convention, way to much filler. anyway, in my humble opinion Alex is a bust. I maybe wrong, it happens. I'm tiered of the 4 coordinator excuse, a dig route, slant route ,out routes are all the same w/ any coordinator, ANY OFFENSE, its all the same throws. he can not throw the ball. Hill is not a great QB, but he won two games by hitting the open man and getting first downs. Alex is a good guy, smart, big, all that. But he will miss a open man alot of the time, we all saw the preseason, looked alot like the last four years. is anyone else tiered of field goals? w/ our defense and gore we don't need 28 points (but it would be nice) we need just an OK QB, A.S. is not ok, he is a bust

Posted By: steveh (25/08/2008 6:58:49 PM)
Comment: AS is a bust, but coach nowin picked him. So he should really just shut up, he wouldn't know good QB play if Montana was on the team. A ten year old kid knows more about offense then this lame duck. He's an embarrassment of a head coach.

Posted By: Niner-Fan (25/08/2008 4:33:26 PM)
Comment: Look guys...the 49ers took a "kid" out of college and through him to the wolves. In hindsight, he should have held a clipboard for a couple of years. Smith is in this situation because of the 49ers mishandling him. They knew what they were getting in Smith: A kid, book smart, strong arm, not particularly accurate, who played in a mickey mouse system, with a huge upside. He needed time to learn and mature, not by throwing him to the wolves, but by letting him hold a clipboard, even if it was behind Ratay. If they wanted a serviceable QB right off the bat, they should have drafted Rogers.

Posted By: Bill (25/08/2008 3:25:26 PM)
Comment: Matt. Please read.....finally the truth... 'Bust' label is too strong for 49ers' Smith By Mark Kreidler Special to ESPN.com

Posted By: montana to rice (25/08/2008 2:53:39 PM)
Comment: Classless statement. who is Nolan to say anything about any qb, he doesn't know what a real qb looks like. also, if my memory serves me correctly, Nolan could've picked any player with that 1st pick and chose smith so he's really undermining himself with these comments. It's obvious that Nolan doesn't like Smith, and if i were Alex, i would show some balls and not take this sitting down. Show some fire Alex, get MAD!!! More niner fans support you than Nolan, use that public support against him. with that said, i'm glad we have Martz to piece together a pretty good offense. I also support JTO starting, i believe he's gonna be a good qb. But i still believe Alex in a year in this offense will be great, and to treat a guy who's been nothing but classy in this situation like this shows Nolans true colors in this qb competition. Mike Nolan is not ready to be coach of an nfl team.

Posted By: globohobo alias jgwindsor (25/08/2008 2:28:47 PM)
Comment: MM will u verify with nolan these comments to PK? And then will u lump them together with nolan's other comments for perspective and ask nolan for clarification? I am conflicted on many fronts when it comes to this 9r situation. First conflicted with MM because he really doesn't have a reaction which is telling me he doesn't really have a good feel for what is going on...sure MM points out previous statements made etc. but, there is really none of his emotional insightful analysis displayed (just inciteful). I am conflicted because i really can't get a read on the relationships between jed, john, scott, nolan, martz....is this a camp divided?...i have seen statements made that no they are not divided that it was a team decision...but comments by the media runs counter to this perception...I have my opinions, i.e. martz played nolan...but if all these previous nolan statements are true then maybe martz and nolan have an understanding and nolan actually played scott...hill (supposedly supported by nolan) gets a tired arm allowing jto to come in and displace smith....who is to say smith is #2 (esp after the PK nolan statement), maybe if jto gets hurt hill comes in....and the comments coming from players....are they truthful or just spewing vanilla (actually i like the smell of vanilla)...something is not right here and if MM has any skills he would figure out the underline story with some definitive interviewing sooner rather than later and stirring the pot is making for some sensationalistic blogging but it is not enlightening....is it true martz has no intention of dramatically trying to improve smith to replace the ceiling impaired jto? (all jto did was have 2 good throws in GB game in 2 quarters of work and those came in the last 3 minutes of the half, and he had a great 1 quarter in bear game) after all the good things martz said about smith when he was hired...is he renneging on his implied commitment just because smith is behind the learning curve because nolan has to win the first 3 games to have a significant chance at competing/winning in the west...i barely agree with scenerio of jto executing the offense the best, therefore, i believe jto should start over smith to begin the season because those first 3 games are critical...but i also believe the competition should be kept alive going forward from there....if not then smith has had an injustice done and martz is a nolan enabler....i also think smith should grow a pair and piss on the coaches fender...well not really but he should be a bit pissed off at something either himself or the team...but i have to say smith has been respectful...now he needs to demonstrate some true fire and grit...and scott as well...is he really condoning this kind of throwing under the bus behavior from nolan? does he not want trade value for smith or does scott want to keep smith for the long term and does he really think that smith will be the backup over hill in nolan's world? something needs to come out of scott's camp.....MM needs to do an in-depth interview with martz and scott to get the real read....and PK getting this kind of quote is kinda of telling about our local team contact...other bloggers may be happy with this I am somewhat dissappointed...but like i said it is nice to have this forum...MM do ur job or under the bus u go...

Posted By: otis4949 (25/08/2008 2:15:34 PM)
Comment: Sorry Matt - et. al. meant for another article... just a breakdown of who I believe our final 53 man roster will be including a stab at the Practice Squad...

Posted By: Wake up Darren (25/08/2008 1:56:05 PM)
Comment: I can listen to "Mike Nolan is so lucky I live in Northern California for if I had the time, I'd go down there in Santa Clara and give him the what for"; ummm, Santa Clara is in Northern CA. Or how about "You should take up speaking Germany and say Heil Nolan and Achtung" that would be German, Germany is the country. But when you say "Does anybody think there will be extra security at Candlestick? Nolan is only encouraging some fan to pop out of the stands if he doesn't shut up" you have crossed the line by encouraging violence. As you say "We have a right to question your sanity...".

Posted By: Mind of McCloughan (25/08/2008 1:15:40 PM)
Comment: John, I've done nothing but laugh at the report of the "49ers tried to make Rodgers look bad" since it first appeared on PFT without a quote or a source. The national media won't accept (in their view) a bad team beating up on a good team at face value if they can find some possible ulterior motive or explanation to stir the pot. Hasn't it been documented that the sacks in that game came on four man rushes? Doesn't that make the Green Bay "insider's" suggestion of pettiness totally ironic? Even IF we were blitzing more than we should have been, couldn't they have done as the Bears did and use some max protections? Teams are still allowed to make ADJUSTMENTS, unless the Packers are so good (arrogant) that they don't think they need to make adjustments because they're playing the 49ers. Consider it from Green Bay's perspective: they NEED Aaron Rodgers to look good to justify the decision to play hard ball with Favre; if that means going out of there way to deflect the blame from Rodgers when he has a bad game, it's in their interests to do that. Why are we accepting another team's lies at face value if we're so quick to point out lies from our own? That report is somewhere between "bunk" and "sour grapes."

Posted By: ChrisB (25/08/2008 1:05:59 PM)
Comment: It doesn't matter who is starting for the 49ers (JTO or Smith) a comment like this from a head coach (with a history of making bone-headed comments) is at best childish. There is no need for Nolan to make comments disrespecting his players. No need.

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:51:51 PM)
Comment: ddmur, I say true and I do hope Smith is not undermined in this. I do hope fans will chant Fire Nolan at the Stick. Call up Damon Bruce and say Fire Nolan as I vow to do that every post game.

Posted By: Ziggy (25/08/2008 12:49:22 PM)
Comment: Nolan is an idiot. Hopefully he will be fired 3 games into the season, if not sooner.

Posted By: michaelv in windsor (25/08/2008 12:45:24 PM)
Comment: NOLANS AN IDIOT CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM GO! PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR? WE GOTTA BE DREAMING. The best case scenario is Holmgren coaches the niners next year!! WILL FINALLY BRING THE WEST COAST OFFENSE BACK!

Posted By: Matt (25/08/2008 12:35:53 PM)
Comment: What purpose does this serve, really? Nolan can spin every question he gets from the local media but SI talks to him and he can't spin his way out of a wet paper bag. Come on Nolan, why?!

Posted By: ddmur (25/08/2008 12:35:52 PM)
Comment: True or False: Assuming that Martz stays withe 49ers for the next three seasons, Alex Smith will be a better QB is this system than O'Sullivan is right now. This would make his younger than O'Sullivan is right now. If you answered the question "true," then you can't say that Smith is a "bust." If you answered the question "false," then you are saying that he is.

Posted By: Matt (25/08/2008 12:32:12 PM)
Comment: otis4949-- ?

Posted By: Otis4949 (25/08/2008 12:30:31 PM)
Comment: 24 Offensive Players 25 Defensive Players 4 Special Team Players QB 1. JT O'Sullivan 2. Alex Smith 3. Shaun Hill RB 1. Frank Gore 2. DeShaun Foster 3. Michael Robinson 4. Michael Clayton FB 1. Zac Keasey WR 1. Isaac Bruce 2. Josh Morgan 3. Bryant Johnson 4. Arnaz Battle 5. Jason Hill (although I'd rather see DZ here - Hill catches the ball with his body not with his hands) TE 1. Vernon Davis 2. Delanie Walker T 1. Jonas Jennings 2. Joe Staley 3. Barry Sims G 1. Tony Wragge 2. David Baas 3. Adam Snyder 4. Chilo Rachal C 1. Eric Heitmann 2. Cody Wallace DE 1. Justin Smith 2. Ray McDonald 3. Isaac Sopoapga DT 1. Ronnie Fields 2. Kentwan Balmer 3. Abrayo Franklin OLB 1. Manny Lawson 2. Tully Banta-Cain 3. Parys Haralson 4. Roderick Green ILB 1. Patrick Willis 2. Jeff Ulbrich 3. Dontarrious Thomas 4. Takeo Spikes CB 1. Nate Clements 2. Walt Harris 3. Shawntae Spencer 4. Donald Strickland 5. Reggie Smith 6. Marcus Hudson 7. Tarell Brown SS 1. Michael Lewis 2. Keith Lewis FS 1. Dashon Goldson 2. Mark Roman LS 1. Brian Jennings K 1. Joe Nedney P 1. Andy Lee PR/KR 1. Allen Rossum Practice Squad 1. Dominique Ziegler - WR 2. Brian De La Puente - G 3. Louis Holmes - DE 4. Larry Grant - ILB 5. DJ Parker - S 6. JJ Finley - TE 7. Cam Colvin - WR 8. Ricky Schmitt - P/K

Posted By: LondonGrapePicker (25/08/2008 12:30:13 PM)
Comment: Nolan drafted the loser, and now he bashes him. Go figure. Look forward to Martz as our head coach and Nolan and Smith looking for new jobs next season.

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:27:28 PM)
Comment: Hey SFJay, did you see that from Randy? He has to go write up material for Barack Obama at the Democrat's convention> Talk about duck down and do flip flop from a good 49er fan! That's OK, Randy, go ahead and vote for the wrong man in November for we already have a wrong coach taking our team down the toilet. I thought the NWO was dead, but I was wrong. Nolan came along to resurrect it and turn us into the Raiders. Just sad.

Posted By: SFJay (25/08/2008 12:25:10 PM)
Comment: Randy in SR - I was not whining but merely pointing out the ignorance of the statement and any attempt to defend it's legitimacy. TC, OTA's, etc. are even less of a legitimate indicator of success against "real game results" than a preseason game so that argument doesn't really work. And I am not arguing that Nolan is not the HC, I think we are all aware of that. I just think his handling of the situation, exemplified by this comment are embarrassing and unprofessional to say the least.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 12:23:58 PM)
Comment: Darren- Back to work for me. I'll be here either way during the season. When we do well, something tells me you'll be back under a different name. I'll leave it at that, since anything further I have to say to you will just lead to getting the comments shutdown again.

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:21:37 PM)
Comment: Hey Randy, I recommend you take up German and start speaking it because that's who the 49ers are. They are not an NFL football team anymore. Reality will be this: JT will bail by 09 or he's cut. Nolan will be fired, and he's doing a good job setting himself up to be fired. Santa Clara will tell York to go F himself and send the team to Los Angeles. Glad you think it's all OK, Randy.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 12:18:22 PM)
Comment: SFJay- Nolan also sees mini-camp, TC, etc. which we don't see. He words on JTO may or may not be true. Who knows until the season starts? Nolan is the coach this year. The Yorks made their decision. All this whining is pointless.

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:16:37 PM)
Comment: Does anybody think there will be extra security at Candlestick? Nolan is only encouraging some fan to pop out of the stands if he doesn't shut up.

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:13:34 PM)
Comment: Come on Randy, quit humping Nolan's leg and listen to what we're all saying. JT is not the answer. JT represents material you don't use to fix things because they will break easily. JT is the 'instant fix it job', but you use proper materials to fix stuff. Meaning you give JT an Oline and WRs. You give JT protection, which you need a right Oline to do so. And for Nolan to do what he's doing, he better learn to STFU before someday, a fan will pop him one and he'll be looking up at him. Put a gag on Nolan, make him STFU for the rest of the season! I told you what jsl said, but you didn't want to read it, Randy so that makes youa FLIP FLOPPER!

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:10:46 PM)
Comment: 16280, have the 49ers done anything right lately? No comes to my mind. JT is going to cost his coach his job, and we won't be in SF anymore when Santa clara votes the stadium down. Wow, nobody is even concerned about it. Why is that? You think NEwsome and York will work out a deal? Unless Feinstein and Boxer get a bill to make Goodell tell the Yorks to sell the team, get ready for Los Angeles 49ers by 2012.

Posted By: SFJay (25/08/2008 12:10:19 PM)
Comment: Randy in SR - That's not "backing your QB" as much as it is showing how ignorant the guy is. And for all the people trying to justify Nolan's comment that JTO has looked better you need a reality check - it's PRESEASON!! No one can honestly use a few good series (not a game) as a benchmark for success against the performance by another QB in regular season games. I am no Smith apologist but Nolan's statement is almost embarrassing being that he is an NFL head coach. If by mid-season JTO is performing as well as he did in part of the 1st half of the last PRESEASON game than Nolan can start to make a comment like that with some level of legitimacy but even then there is a better and more professional way to frame the statement, the guy just comes off as an unprofessional ass with no sense of diplomacy, something a HC should exercise. Statements like this can create a major rift inside of a locker room.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 12:09:29 PM)
Comment: Nolan doesn't have to tell us what's going on. It will be said on the field. Blogs are great, but every little word is always taken to far extremes by the drama queens. Oh, and politics should have no place on this blog...

Posted By: Chris (25/08/2008 12:08:34 PM)
Comment: Mike Nolan is classless. When I think of the other men with personal standards and decency (Walsh, Seifert, Mariucci, Dick Nolan) that have coached for this organization, it makes me both enovious of the past and sick at the same time.

Posted By: 16280 (25/08/2008 12:06:46 PM)
Comment: Does anyone think it may be possible that Nolan is just being a dutiful lap dog for the Yorks who may be pissed their $24 million in guaranteed money went down the drain? Like a Bush press secretary spinning like a mo-fo. Maybe they want to dump Alex and the rest of the contract so they engaged Mikey in a little dirty politics, a smear campaign. Hopefully they'll use the money they save to hire a real head coach.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 12:06:38 PM)
Comment: Darren- Please explain what questions I ducked?? I'm at work, so I may of missed one... If I was sitting at home, maybe I would have a little more time to go into pointless arguments with you ;-)

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:06:27 PM)
Comment: Hey Randy, Jsl and Greg are leaving points. Why don't you get an education and learn a few things and then we can talk, OK son? Start Alex Smith and Fire Nolan.

Posted By: Marin Joe (25/08/2008 12:05:10 PM)
Comment: Leave your name next time when you make a request. Why is it my fault that fans don't want to see a clear picture on this team? The QB competition was one sided. The play calling with JT and Smith was one sided and favored one QB. I don't see why we need to keep changing the rules of the game. Everybody just wants to sweep out Alex. No matter what JT does, he will not be with the team for who pays 10 million for a QB or puts a Franchise on a man like that? Winning means Martz goes bye bye so if you want to keep Martz around, you better lose some games and release JT. I am hopeful that Alex Smith will regain his job and I'm not ready to cut him. I don't want to be involved in this Alex Smith and JT debate.

Posted By: jsl (25/08/2008 12:04:28 PM)
Comment: Here I thought Al Franken's "Lies, and The Lying Liars That Tell Them" was about Bush. Turns out it was about Nolan all the time. The guy can't make a true statement about anything. Four days ago -- after the Bears game -- Nolan says he won't be able to figure out who the starting QB will be till he gets home and sees film. Three days ago -- and before any film review -- we "learn" it's JTO, and the decision was made on the plane ride home. But, Nolan tells us, all three QBs are doing well; he trusts them all. Yesterday (or earlier) he tells Peter King that JTO's had it virtually from the get-go, and "there hasn't really been much of a gray area." HUH? Then he HAS to add that -- as with Dilfer's horrendous play last year -- JTO is playing the "best" QB he's seen in the "last three years." Nothing like Nolan taking the gratuitous cheap shot -- but that's his forte. He's certainly no leader of men -- and no coach of football, either. Someone should just lock him up -- or shut him up -- until the season's over. Just let the coordinators run the team -- and let the guys play. Nolan, Begone!

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 12:03:40 PM)
Comment: Darren, er, 49erGenius- And where is Barlow now? Exactly. We haven't even played a regular season game yet. Nuff said.

Posted By: Craig (25/08/2008 12:03:27 PM)
Comment: I've never written a comment on a blog before, but I am just amazed at the lengths people will go to protect "poor Alex" and make excuses for him. The man was paid $24M over 4 years and had the responsibility of taking over QB for a franchise that covets great play from the position. Instead of accepting that repsonsibility and responding to it like a man, all we got were countless 3 and outs, throwing behind or above every WR and then complain injury is the reason he didn't play well. Lastly, for the apologists who complain that he had 4 OCs in 4 years: while true that it's not ideal to a QB development, most guys would have considered themselves lucky to have been coached by Mike McCarthy, Norv Turner and now Mike Martz (yes, Hostler was a disaster). Did ANY of that coaching stick? He should have won this job by a landslide this season and the fact that he didn't speaks volumes about his play. Or lack thereof.

Posted By: sd_ninersfan (25/08/2008 12:03:09 PM)
Comment: With the cuts coming up can we add the head coach to that list?

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:02:26 PM)
Comment: What are you talking about? This is a great long blog to read. Please stop ducking questions people put out to you, Randy. We have a right to question your sanity to the 49ers.

Posted By: http:// (25/08/2008 12:02:09 PM)
Comment: Matt- pull the plug again, it seems they did not get the message the first time...

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 12:01:19 PM)
Comment: Hi Greg. You are very correct, but see, 49er fans don't like to hear the right things about their teams. They want to hear Superbowl, playoff, and if you talk bad against them, then you are not a 49er fan. You should take up speaking Germany and say Heil Nolan and Achtung, Achtung! Thank God none of you fans were not around during the World War 2, we could've been speaking German with the attitude like that, sheesh! Start Alex Smith. Fire Nolan.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 12:00:56 PM)
Comment: Darren = 49erGenius. Doesn't take one to figure that out ;-)

Posted By: Dean (25/08/2008 11:59:33 AM)
Comment: Randy in SR- best post that I have seen on Matt's blog in weeks, maybe longer. GoNiners!

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 11:58:53 AM)
Comment: Hey Randy, we do have a soap opera on the 49ers. It's Sunday Afternoon Raw and Smackdown, only we're the ones getting SMACKED down and No Chance in Hell will sing out when the boss John York hopefully says MIKE NOLAN, YOU"RE FIRED! I want NFL football, no more Raw and Smackdown on the 49ers! PUt Nolan out of his sick misery, he's making the former 1940s fuher of Germany look good! No wonder Barlow called him that name.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 11:58:50 AM)
Comment: John- So you're saying the Cards wanted to make Russel look bad? The Raiders wanted to make Lienart look bad?? Those teams both blitzed like hell. It's called preseason football. Manusky is seeing what works. I guess you don't remember Nolan saying that Manusky called every play that night against the Pack, and a good game at that... Geez... Some of you need to go watch your soaps for your drama fix...

Posted By: 49erGenius (25/08/2008 11:55:57 AM)
Comment: Last season, Nolan said Trent Dilfer's play in a 49ers' 13-9 loss to the Rams was the best he'd seen a 49ers quarterback play during his time with the team. (Dilfer, by the way, was 20 of 42 for 231 yards with no TDs and two interceptions). It was seen at the time as a less-than-veiled swipe at Smith, coming one game after Smith went public with the extent of his shoulder injury. Oh my gosh, Nolan went FLIP FLOP and CLICK CLACK! Can Obama come manage this team?

Posted By: 16280 (25/08/2008 11:55:26 AM)
Comment: Ricky & Junior, the point is not who is better or who should start or who's at fault. The point is you don't publicly disrespect your team or players by making stupid insulting comments like Nolan has a propensity for. Hurts the player, hurts management by diminishing trade value and hurts the team when the rest of the players realizing he could turn on them next. He is everything a leader is not. That is the point.

Posted By: Darren (25/08/2008 11:54:50 AM)
Comment: Mike Nolan is so lucky I live in Northern California for if I had the time, I'd go down there in Santa Clara and give him the what for. This is all pure BS and something for Raw and Smackdown to write into a sick script, or does Nolan watch Raw and Smackdown to come up with this crap? Sooner we fire Nolan, happier we'll all be and Start Alex Smith! Can the 49ers please issue a gag order on Mike Nolan? I don't want to throw up again!

Posted By: The Other Rich (Columbus, OH) (25/08/2008 11:50:26 AM)
Comment: Matt - are you sure it was after the Rams game when he made that comment? I could have sworn it was following our overtime victory against the Cardinals. Then again, I'm far to lazy to look.

Posted By: John (25/08/2008 11:50:04 AM)
Comment: I am embarrased that I was a supporter of Nolan. This man just has no class at all. The worst part of this statement is that it had no value or benefit to the team. On top of that, if you take it at face value, it shows that he has been inept over the past 3 years as the leader of the Niners in both selecting Smith and letting him be the starter. His childish approach has been noticed by others as well (i.e. the Packers Coaches)... did you all see this on ProFootballWeekly.com: Did the Niners and head coach Mike Nolan go out of their way to make Packers QB Aaron Rodgers look bad in their recent preseason encounter because they had passed over Rodgers in the draft three years ago in favor of Alex Smith? "They were in an all-out blitz mode big-time," a longtime Packers insider said of the Niners' amped-up defense in the second preseason game, which sacked Rodgers four times in the first half. "I'd like to think pettiness doesn't exist at the pro level, but there's no doubt it does."

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (25/08/2008 11:48:15 AM)
Comment: Nolan is backing his QB as he should. This is football, not a soap opera. I could care less what is said, as long as we win. It's JTO's show now... He has my full support. Rollin' to the playoffs.

Posted By: Greg (25/08/2008 11:44:44 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt, this is kind of conspiracy-theory of me, but I was reviewing the preseason performances of Smith and O'Sullivan and noticed a surprising discrepancy in the playcalling. As far as I can tell, during Smith's 38 pass attempts (and one scramble), the team has run the ball only 16 times. However, during O'Sullivan's 33 passes (four scrambles and a sack as well), the team has run 37 times. Clearly the team has gone one-dimensional when Smith enters the game. Excepting the third drive this week when Clayton had several big gains, Smith's ground game has averaged 2.8 YPC. In light of Nolan's comment, I can't help but think that perhaps Smith was set up to fail by the playcalling. O'Sullivan won the job, but did Smith ever really have a fair shot?

Posted By: Nick (25/08/2008 11:43:26 AM)
Comment: For a grown man, Nolan sure acts like a child a lot. He can't seem to put the past behind him and continues to takes swipes at Smith. Nolan is a classless piece of trash and the organization will be better when he is gone. Fire Nolan! Hire Martz!!!

Posted By: Fred Douglas (25/08/2008 11:41:37 AM)
Comment: The Mike Nolan Amateur Motivational Hour continues! Way to go, coach.

Posted By: goldstar (25/08/2008 11:40:48 AM)
Comment: we need to do a better job from a team standpoint. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHoJbh08n3c

Posted By: Jake (25/08/2008 11:39:49 AM)
Comment: BUST in the dictionary has a picture of Mike Nolan right next to Alex Smith and Ryan Leaf.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (25/08/2008 11:38:58 AM)
Comment: I can't believe that he said that, but I know why. He is tryin gto save his job by blaming the team's troubles on poor qb play. He is absolutely right in this regard. If AS had played better, the 9ers would be a better team. There are mitigating circumstances, but the bottom line is that Smith has not produced. However, Nolan does not take the responsibility for drafting him or his poor development. Very unprofessional. If I were Alex, I would ask to be released and be done with this organization. Remember what Martz said in Matt's interview..."I would never comment publically about how I grade the QB's"

Posted By: Jake (25/08/2008 11:38:48 AM)
Comment: Seeing Mike Martz coach against the Bears last Thursday was the Best Coaching the 49ers have seen since Steve Mariucci left. Why don't the Yorks fire Nolan and replace him right now instead of waiting until the seasons over. The 49ers could win the Super Bowl this year and he will still get fired because Martz is the guy who is really coaching this team right now. Nolan is just a face with a suit on.

Posted By: MARCO from New York (25/08/2008 11:32:46 AM)
Comment: Nolan is a vindictive little slug. Only the stupidity of John and Jed York could not have seen through the smoke and mirrors that is Nolan. Our beloved 49ers are totally lacking in LEADERSHIP from the top down.

Posted By: NinerInTexas (25/08/2008 11:26:41 AM)
Comment: MC, personally I don't ever think there is a bad time for the truth. To this point JT has looked better than anything we have had (that's not exactly much but hey). That includes overall command of the offense and the ability to stay in the pocket and make an ACCURATE pass. And JTO didn't earn the starting spot based purely on "1" quarter against the Bears. He has been the most consistent QB throughout camp and that game against the Bears as well as his performance in the 2nd quarter against the Packers was just the culmination of his progress in the offense. He was finally able to translate his practice performances to the game. Nolan has given Alex Smith every opportunity to be the starting QB here. He staked his career on Alex by taking him #1. Why should he treat Alex like he has "baby ears" now? Naming JT the starter pretty much said it all anyway.

Posted By: mike in MD (25/08/2008 11:26:37 AM)
Comment: We were all set ready to tie up the remaining knots by finishing practice this week & the last pre-season game w/San Diego, finish the roster, then head full steam into AZ & now we have this crap filtering into the locker room?? What is Nolan thinking?? Now we have more drama that has to be played out.

Posted By: Rich, DE (25/08/2008 11:22:57 AM)
Comment: In my opinion, Nolan's comments have much less to do with Alex than they do with JTO. Nolan stated that the 49ers would support their new QB 100%. His comments reflect that support and are a vote of confidence for the new starter.

Posted By: Random (25/08/2008 11:17:31 AM)
Comment: If you look up "bust" in the dictionary, there is a picture of Alex next to the definition. Oh, and Alex Smiff fans, if you are looking for sympathy, you can find it between shit and syphillis in the dictionary.

Posted By: Marco from Stockton (25/08/2008 11:17:27 AM)
Comment: What we should discuss is how bad this situation is for the 49ers. Alex Smith is the Number one overall Draft Choice and not being successful is a serious blow to the franchise. One doesn't recover easily from this if you study other NFL franchises. I do blame Nolan for his failure to put the pieces in place for Alex Smith and I also blame Alex for his performance. I suspect any relation with Smith & Nolan is damaged from Nolan throwing Alex under the bus last year when he was clearly injured and Nolan lied to the press. One of them will have to leave eventually. . I believe the basic strategy for Nolan was flawed as we saw his building up of the Defense over the Offense. The O Line was the poorest for pass protection over the last three years in the NFL combined. No NFL QB could have succeeded witness Ratay, Dorsey, Pickett, Smith et al. If JTO, who has never started an NFL game does well we should also thank an improved O Line. Let's wait and see what happens this year before we release or trade Smith. This is all so premature as we haven't even played a regular season game. Our two wins have come in pre-season and we all know how worthless that is to judge a team. There is no doubt that JTO did play better. But JTO will be entering his 7th season in the NFL and has been with 7 teams. He never was a starting QB in the NFL. One should be skeptical that 6 others teams passed on him. Perhaps it will be a miracle, but let's see it happens on a regular basis in regular games. However one doesn't build an offense around what is essentially a 7 th year rookie and we must look to find a young QB to groom. Nolan has some done good and no doubt he was given a bad team to start with. But the real test will be his won loss record this year. If the season is a bust Nolan must be fired and the Yorks must finally come to the realization they have made serious mistakes and can't run the Football Operations. Personally I would like Mike Holmgren to take over the Team as President of Operations over Scott and for them to find a good young Offense coach, not Martz, to run the team. The defense will be better, but the NFL is an offensive league and we need a bright young Offensive mind. We must think about the future. With all that said I hope for a better year and much enjoyment for all Niners fans

Posted By: ChrisB (25/08/2008 11:16:14 AM)
Comment: WOW...way to go Nolan, lets kick your number 1 pick while he is down...again. I would have thought that Nolan learned to keep comments like this, taking cheap shots at his personnel, to himself after the media fiasco that happened last year. After this, I do not see a reason for Smith to stay with Nolan. I think Smith should asked to be release, asap.

Posted By: SF (25/08/2008 11:16:00 AM)
Comment: Who is the next Alex Smith (ie "bust")? [a] Matt Leinart [b] Vince Young [c] Matt Ryan I go with [a].

Posted By: Voice of Reason (25/08/2008 11:12:02 AM)
Comment: What makes you Smith supports think that if given the chance during the regular season he'll do better then he did in pre-season? Will his passes all of a sudden be on-time and on the mark?

Posted By: Martin Junior (25/08/2008 11:03:31 AM)
Comment: POSTING LIKE AN ADULT: "Alex Smith's performances have been extremely unacceptable." lol MC Shut it Bro! Im telling it how it is! How many alex smith jersey's and autographs do you have? Sucks that its not going to be worth a penny right? right. =)

Posted By: Ricky (25/08/2008 11:02:49 AM)
Comment: OK, I've held back but some, if not a majority, of the comments are ridiculous! I think both Smith and O'Sullivan are below average at best, neither could start for many teams right now besides the 49ers (Tell me which teams right now either of these guys could start for?). But to hear things like "O'Sullivan had the wind at his back" or "O'Sullivan only looked good because of Josh Morgan" or my new favorite "O'Sullivan was only good because of blown coverage" are stupid. Alex Smith supporters need to back off and accept the fact that Smith under performed for any number of reason including those that he had no control over (multiple offensive coordinators, injury, bad WRs) to those he did have control over (missing wide open WRs, very poor accuracy, poor body language). For Smith bashers you have to concede that this guy had an uphill battle from day 1. Your voices have been heard, and as evidence many of you have no problems re-posting your comments from weeks, if not months ago. The excuses need to stop, the games are about to become live, and regardless the play of the team will ultimately determine the quality of the team.

Posted By: MC (25/08/2008 10:59:52 AM)
Comment: NinerinTexas, My question to you is this? Why would Nolan say that NOW (when JTO hasn't even played a real game yet and has only looked GOOD for 1 quarter against the Bears) and what good comes of it? It's just an amateurish thing to say and he said it at a terrible time.

Posted By: Gene (25/08/2008 10:59:29 AM)
Comment: Mike Nolan needs to go. That is incredibly unprofessional and unnecessary. Saying that JTO is an excellent QB who has played great in the offense and gives us the best chance to win games would've done just as well. There was no need to throw Smith and any other qb to have played since 05 under the bus. Makes me sick as a fan to have a coach who cares so little about his team. The guys must be expecting him to turn on them when the times comes. Just pathetic.

Posted By: TT (25/08/2008 10:58:43 AM)
Comment: Nolan is an idiot. It may be true that JTO has had a better pre-season than Smith has ever had but who cares? Nolan pisses off Smith and reduces his trade value in one sentence. Genius. Has it occured to Nolan that he may need Smith to help save his job at some point this year? This comment doesn't really help JTO either. He still has to play well this year. Wow!

Posted By: art e. sanchez (25/08/2008 10:58:00 AM)
Comment: The biggest backlash in Nolan's stinging remarks will be felt in his own teams locker room. When the several players were being asked by reporters who they felt would be the starting q.b. they showed great professional restraint and respect in protecting each of their team members. Now they have to wonder if their own coach will have their backs!

Posted By: The Marc (25/08/2008 10:56:52 AM)
Comment: Matt, you got a nice shoutout and link on the ESPN SportsNation Chat this morning from Chris Harris. Chad (Omaha): Morgan over Bryant, really? SportsNation Christopher Harris: Hi, Chad. Yeah, really. Check out this article from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat: http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2254988 . It really sounds like Bryant's chances to start have slipped away, and Morgan has been the star of Niners camp. Isaac Bruce will catch more balls, but he can't get open deep like he used to. I guess you could say I'm very high on Josh Morgan.

Posted By: MC (25/08/2008 10:56:49 AM)
Comment: Martin Junior, Comments like that are why comments were disabled last week. Try and post like an adult instead of a junior high student.

Posted By: NinerInTexas (25/08/2008 10:55:19 AM)
Comment: So during camp when Nolan was expected of not being forthcoming about the QB battle he was an idiot. Now he is actually honest about his opinions on the QB's and he's still an idiot? Would you rather have Nolan treat Alex like a Little Leaguer and tell him he has played well, even when he hasn't? If this comment keeps Alex Smith from playing well if called upon to replace JTO, then he isn't cut out to be a NFL QB anyway. Alex Smith has no trade value. No one will trade for that bloated contract when he has a roster bonus coming up and hasn't proven he is worthy of even a 3rd round pick let alone #1. He will have to be released after the season just like David Carr. It's time to face reality on Smith and stop blaming Nolan for Smith not playing well. We can blame Nolan for picking him in the first place though.

Posted By: MC (25/08/2008 10:53:37 AM)
Comment: Some advise for Coach Suit: Better to be quiet and thought a fool/idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Well, Nolan has removed all doubt probably 15 times in this preseason alone...

Posted By: Martin Junior (25/08/2008 10:52:35 AM)
Comment: "I AM SO GLAD THAT THE ALEX SMITH LOVERS ARE LOOKING SO STUPID! CRYING LIKE GIRLS" Look GIRLS, you all have to give up your ALEX-MAN CRUSH and finally realize that ALEX is a "BUST" A total complete "BUST" and the 49ers organization is willing to realize and accept it. If you GIRLS had any sense at all, you would understand that not only Nolan realizes that ALEX-ANDRA will never be a successful NFL QB, but Mike Martz already knew from the beginning that ALEXA didnt have the skills and ability to successfully run Martz' offense. ENOUGH with the excuses, Shaun Hill played with the same wide receivers, the same line, the same offensive play calls as ALEXANDRA and made the offense work. And I recall that Hill didnt even have practice with the first team until he was notified to start. ALEXA, throws behind receivers, inaccurate, throws punts for deep balls, she's not confident and scared in the pocket, he just doesnt cut it in the NFL, some people can play in the NFL, SHE CANT. It is obvious by his lack luster performances, inability to move the chains, and the KING of three and outs, with a 49er career filled with LOWLIGHTS (not highlights). And can you ladies stop talking about his flashes of greatness? It is incredible how sad you all sound. In two preseason games, JTO has brought more excitement and highlight plays than ALEXANDRA has in his whole career playing for us! You girls want to cry and blame Nolan, but how about PLACING THE BLAME ON ALEXA for being the football version of Barry Zito, in not performing anywhere near the value of his contract. This is why the critics are coming down on him so hard, because of his contract, because she was the 1st OVERALL PICK! Too bad Matt Ryan wasnt there for the picking ey? lol We as 49er fans have been dealt a bad hand in selecting ALEXANDRA, so lets accept it, cut him, release him, because everyone knows no one is going to trade for him. So, LADIES, wipe your eyes, shut your mouths, look at the alex smith jersey you bought (probably not authentic anyways) and tune in to your tv's on sundays to see the 49ers being led by JTO, someone who is actually capable to get two first downs in one single game!! Sweet right?!! Aye, and lay off JTO as well, the dude is from tha BAY! IDIOTS! martinJunior =)

Posted By: Bryan from Mt View (25/08/2008 10:52:32 AM)
Comment: Quote to S.I. from a 49er fan "Dennis Erickson is the best coaching we have had around here in 5 years".

Posted By: darth kai (25/08/2008 10:51:15 AM)
Comment: Matt, What do you think of Nolan's ability to judge a quaterback? Tell us. Come on. Rip Nolan for being a moron. I read those comments at SI this morning too and I thought "Nolan is the biggest idiot ever." Nolan should have been fired last year, and now the 49ers must go through another wasted year.

Posted By: Kevin (25/08/2008 10:48:47 AM)
Comment: Weak. Nolan's decision making has seemed like a train coming off the tracks for the past couple of years and he is apparently not getting any wiser. Smith looked good plenty of times with Norv Turner and was then set up to fail last year with an incompetent O-coordinator and head coach, not to mention the shoulder injury. And haven't the Niners brass said again and again that Alex is the most physically talented of their quarterbacks? I figured they were starting JTO now while Alex continues to learn the offense and then who knows who'll be starting in October or November. What are Holmgren's and Jeff Fisher's contract situations like??

Posted By: georgia froteira (25/08/2008 10:45:01 AM)
Comment: the Rams have a sb win, after they were thought to have the worst owner. The "mighty" 49ers however are currently the laughing stock of the league. The 49ers have a horrible petty owner , who hired a angry foolish incompetent HC ( how do you trade smith or use him this year) who drafted a a qb not suited for NFL as the first pick. She who laughs last laughs best...............

Posted By: Idiot is Nolan (25/08/2008 10:44:27 AM)
Comment: JTO had 2 good series against the Bears. Nolan and Martz pulled him quick. They sure didn't want Alex's stats to be better than JTO. Maiocco, are you ever going to get an interview with Bruce. Is he still being a world class jerk?*h**e?

Posted By: mike in MD (25/08/2008 10:35:11 AM)
Comment: If Nolan slipped in saying that he is truly an idiot. But he had to have planned that & has something up his sleeve. To force Smith out doesn't make any sense. I guess Hill could be a serviceable #2. But like many said JTO's only showed up in PRESEASON. There are no guarantees here. What 3rd QB could he bring in? It makes absolutely no sense because it's too risky that JTO can get hurt with this schedule. OLine is not all THAT established YET. And yeah, where's McCloughan in all this? It's only him & Jed that can try & control this moron. Just unbelievable.

Posted By: Dirk (25/08/2008 10:33:21 AM)
Comment: Our current QB play is better than it was at any time over the past three years. So I expect us to perform better than our 7-9 record from 2006.

Posted By: Matt (25/08/2008 10:29:55 AM)
Comment: Nolan gets somewhat of a pass in this department because of smith's salary, but how many times has the guy lessened the value of a player for potentia; future deals? Jamie Winborn was shipped off for a draft pick that ended up being a round lower than it probably could have been because Nolan couldn't shut up. Ahmed Plummer had some trade value before Nolan was through with him. the fact that Plummer is out of football doesn't vindicate Nolan-- there was a time when many people thought he was a good corner worth building a secondary around, and if Nolan had a hint of tact, the 49ers might have been able to get something for him, too. Nolan seems to suffer from a Napoleon complex. I hate to think that Kevan Barlow was right...

Posted By: John (25/08/2008 10:29:15 AM)
Comment: The comment last year about Trent Dilfer was a flat out lie and if he thought that Dilfer played better than Smith at any point then it goes to show how devoid of brains Nolan is. JTO has looked better, but still it is PREseason and there was no reason for that comment. Nolan is a vile person who hold pathetic grudges. I can't wait for him to be gone. I know Alex is probably out, but I hope that he picks up with someone else and that everytime he goes up against Nolan, no matter who he is coaching for(hopefully the Niners fire him) that Alex destroys him and then talks about what a fool he is in the media. I hope Alex goes on to great success and airs out everything crappy about this organization and Nolan afterward. This is beyond pathetic and the Yorks should be ashamed to show their faces in the Bay Area.

Posted By: sd_ninersfan (25/08/2008 10:22:35 AM)
Comment: Secondly, I wish someone, anyone, would take him to task on all his "nolan" moments, but it appears nobody, nationally or locally, has the set to do so. But I'm willing to bet they'll be lining up to take shots at him once he leaves. I dont know what's worse, his inability to keep his inadequacies from rearing their ugly head or the fact nobody takes him to task on these moments.

Posted By: Triple Play (25/08/2008 10:21:06 AM)
Comment: Rarely does a head coach speak off the cuff on the record. I don't think Nolan did in this case either!

Posted By: Rich, DE (25/08/2008 10:20:59 AM)
Comment: Well, I would hope that JTO has been better than anything Nolan has seen in the last 3 years; he was named the starter for a reason. And, as far as how should Alex feel? He should feel like a backup.

Posted By: Moses (25/08/2008 10:19:06 AM)
Comment: And with his punking of Alex Smith, Nolan shows a complete lack of class. This is just not the way a coach with a very shaky record should be talking. Especially as his "great" QB has the stench of being a one-hit wonder who benefited from Morgan's great WR play, getting more than a fair shake, and blown coverages by the Bears to cement his "one good game." Personally, I believed Nolan panicked sometime in 2007 and has been running scared with his decisions since. Smith's first three games last year, but for the 13 drops, were rock solid. He got the ball on target, on time to open WRs, only to be sabotaged by drop-after-drop. Still, with no pass blocking, no running game and no help from his WRs or OC, he got us to 2-1. Way to take the piss, Nolan. I hope you've dusted of your resume and are looking forward to your next job. Because unless there's a magical transformation, JTO doesn't have what it takes.

Posted By: sd_ninersfan (25/08/2008 10:18:20 AM)
Comment: No wonder the last 3 years has been hard to be a Niner Fan. This tool is the worst coach in NFL History! Makes me yearn for the Dennis Erickson days.

Posted By: j-jack (25/08/2008 10:17:50 AM)
Comment: Prosolution; you are a "Nolan"... In case you haven't figured that out it means idiot! Alex is 10,000 times better than Shaun Hill so if you think it's wise to get rid of your #2 by playing emotional games; then you are a "Nolan"!

Posted By: jkj (25/08/2008 10:14:51 AM)
Comment: Alex's time with SF is over. He should be happy. I think he has a chance to be a good, not great, QB in the league for a long time. The organization did nothing to develop him. Incompetent coaching year after year with last year being the worst. The split will be better for both parties.....hopefully we will jettison the real problem....Nolan

Posted By: Mark (25/08/2008 10:12:45 AM)
Comment: I think the reality of this is that the 49ers dont believe Smith will ever be a starter. There is noway any team would hold on to a backup with that kind of salary. If the hold him on the roster in 2009 his cap hit will equate to 9million (ballpark) If he is released it will be roughly 5million. These figures are from memoery so they might not be exact. Main oint is the 49 will lose ALOT more money by keeping a backup on the roster in 2009

Posted By: Will's Dad (25/08/2008 10:09:22 AM)
Comment: Up until now I have been 100% Rollin with Nolan. I am a 49er fan and want whoever will give us the best opportunity to win. If we went on preseason stats or ability, Brandon Doman would have been a starting QB a fews years back. Alex may not be a 49er next year, but he will be remembered a a classy young man. Nolan will be remembered a conceited, arrogant, fake tan absorbing jerk.

Posted By: knife in the Back! (25/08/2008 10:06:14 AM)
Comment: Bye Bye Alex, what a bummer 4 diff OC's 4 different kinds of O. Ton's of Talent. Nolan never played it to this kids talent. Maybe Nolan should have hired Urban Myer as the OC after they drafted Smith. To bad. Matt, I hope I don't get banned for letting other Niner junkies know about a site they can go to right after this one. www.hookedontheniners.com

Posted By: Roger (25/08/2008 10:05:04 AM)
Comment: Matt, Funny that Nolan would say that when not talking to the local beat writers. He is so fake and continually proves that much of what he says is nothing more than verbal diarrhea. I one of the local guys will come with a strong follow up at the next press conference (especially since Nolan just said Friday that he did not think Alex was a bust). I mean, did I miss something? Hasn't JT only had ONE good game in his three preseason starts? Best quarterback play than he's seen at any point in his last three year? This just proves how clueless Nolan is on offense. How can he not be fired this season?

Posted By: DMC (25/08/2008 9:59:29 AM)
Comment: I figured it out. Duh.

Posted By: DMC (25/08/2008 9:58:32 AM)
Comment: Matt where can I read this Peter King interview with Nolan ?

Posted By: Razoreater (25/08/2008 9:57:43 AM)
Comment: When opening ones' mouth it is merely confirmation of the fool that lies within.

Posted By: pete in vt (25/08/2008 9:54:22 AM)
Comment: Sigh, just sigh. Can NFL head coaches be sued for malpractice?

Posted By: 16280 (25/08/2008 9:54:21 AM)
Comment: One more thing, aren't coaches and team mates supposed to have each others backs publicly and air out their differences in private? Isn't that the code of the road? What say you guys...Is Nolan just a jerk or just dumber than a bag of rocks?

Posted By: StonerLab (25/08/2008 9:52:09 AM)
Comment: Wow! Can Nolan ruin any relationship with Alex any faster? I mean HE does know that at some point this season he's going to need the guy he's throwing under the bus right? And what's the point of making that statement about JT? What possible good can come from that? Once again Nolan talking on the both sides of his mouth. On the left side he recently said that "all 3 QB's can win games for us" then from the right side of his mouth he says this? Unbelievable!

Posted By: Bryan from Mt View (25/08/2008 9:50:31 AM)
Comment: If Nolan is intelligent he certainly hides it well when he talkes to the media.

Posted By: 16280 (25/08/2008 9:44:20 AM)
Comment: I've stayed out of the QB argument as in the end I believe both Nolan and Martz want to win to further their careers and they need decent QB play to make Mad Mikes offense work. Based on the pre-season scores so far you'd have to say thing are looking better on that side of the ball and when the receivers that are hurt come back and the line gels we can actually have an O that gives us a few scores and gives the D a breather. Our weaknesses have been QB, O-line, WR, and D-line and they are all looking better so far. The real test starts with AZ then Seattle to see how we perform when it counts. Having said that, Nolan is either a total jerk or a retard. Statements like that have no positive result unless you are trying to force Alex to ask out so you don't look bad for bungling the whole top pick in the draft deal. Make Alex look like the bad guy. It just demonstrates once again what a poor leader he is. Why would any player trust him if he publicly screws his top guy. No class Nolan will never be a winner because of his character flaws. See ya Mike, you won't be missed.

Posted By: Houston 9er (25/08/2008 9:41:02 AM)
Comment: Nolan may have spoken the truth from what he's seen in practice. JTO hasn't started a regular season game. JTO has made extremely poor decisions in at least 2 of his preseason games. I also remember Tim Rattay looking serviceable in the preseason and look how that turned out. Just like his game day management this public stab in the back is extremely poor strategy by Nolan. I thought he handled the media fairly well during the preseason until now. What an idiot!!! If McCloughan has a pair, he will call Nolan to the carpet for his stupidity.

Posted By: MC (25/08/2008 9:37:39 AM)
Comment: Sorry for double posting... Anyways, at this point I'm sure Smith can't wait to GTFO out of SF. While he won't ever be as good as a #1 pick is expected to be, I still think he can be a decent QB in the league. The level of stupidity exhibited by Nolan on a reg basis is just astounding.

Posted By: MC (25/08/2008 9:35:31 AM)
Comment: Yea, JTO has really been stellar in the PRESEASON. That 2/2 TD/INT ratio is Brady-esque and his work against 1st team defenses (other than Chi) has been nothing short of STELLAR! Comments like these make me incredulous as to how Nolan still has a job.

Posted By: Andrew from Rishikesh (25/08/2008 9:34:42 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt, What's Nolans' point? He seems to shoot himself in the foot all the time. Nolan is in a lose-lose situation. The offense does well - it's because of Martz. The team does poorly it's his fault. The better the team performs the more insecure Nolan will be because Martz turned the team around in one season and put the right pieces together rather than rag on a guy you made number 1 and knock down when he was injured.

Posted By: MC (25/08/2008 9:33:27 AM)
Comment: Yea, JTO has really lit things up in PREseason. I mean, that 3/2 TD/INT ratio is Brady-esque....and his work against 1st team defenses (other than the Bears) has been STELLAR. Comments like this make me incredulous as to how Nolan still has a job.

Posted By: D in Portland (25/08/2008 9:30:13 AM)
Comment: Prosolution - OTAs, TC, and preseason are one thing. Has JTO ever won an NFL game? Ever?.... He looked better. yes. He should start. But if I studied a contractors textbook and apprenticed for 9 months, I'm guessing I'd get my license quicker and easier than someone who had 3 months.

Posted By: darius (25/08/2008 9:29:59 AM)
Comment: Typical Mike Nolan. There's nothing like laying the blame on Alex for NOLAN'S shortcomings. Has Nolan ever played QB or football at anypoint in his lifetime?Sheesh!

Posted By: D in Portland (25/08/2008 9:24:31 AM)
Comment: Just another in a long list of "Nolanics"...... It will no longer be "he threw so and so under the bus" it will now be "He Nolaned it" or "He pulled a Nolan"..... Matt, with all the professionalism you can muster, can you ask Nolan what's the point in saying this especially when we are one missed blocking assignment from Smith being our starter. I'm sure "he meant no disrespect to Alex", tho.

Posted By: prosolution (25/08/2008 9:22:35 AM)
Comment: Don't get mad at Nolan for speaking the truth... JT did look better in the preseason than Smith ever did... And he's probably talking about all of JT's performances including OTAs, and training camp.... Alex sucks and who would care if he was released?

Posted By: Cody Pickett (25/08/2008 9:19:33 AM)
Comment: The Yorks have got to put an end to this Nolan-Smith feud. Either Nolan has gotta go, or Smith has gotta go. The time has arrived - Get on with it, Yorks!

Posted By: johnP (25/08/2008 9:18:42 AM)
Comment: Is there anyone on this board that thinks Nolan is *not* an idiot?

Posted By: mike in MD (25/08/2008 9:17:55 AM)
Comment: Unbelievable. You can't tell me that just slipped out of Nolan's mouth. I don't know what he's thinking but h*** yes that should provoke Smith to ask for a release. Get ready for the circus 'cause it's coming. There goes your #2 option. Nolan's an idiot.

Posted By: wsmith (25/08/2008 9:16:03 AM)
Comment: Nolan is classless, and always will be. I have never seen someone throw so many assistant coaches and players under the bus. Take a look in the mirror for once in your life Nolan you jerk.

Posted By: Nate (25/08/2008 9:10:03 AM)
Comment: I'm a big Alex Smith fan - I sincerely like the guy. I just hope for his sake he can get a fair shake with a new organization after 2008 - that is, a consistent playbook year-to-year, a supportive coach, etc. Best QB play since 2005? Has Nolan forgot about the 4th quarter in Seattle in 2006? Really? Maybe he didn't enjoy that win because it wasn't a 6-3 score won with a field goal. If Nolan is still coach, and Alex Smith comes into Candlestick starting for another team, I'll probably root against the 49ers for a day.

Posted By: PAt B (25/08/2008 9:02:27 AM)
Comment: What an idiot nolan is, that's a low blow and like Matt says, he hasn't played a meaningful snap yet. I hope Alex goes and starts for someone in our division so he can show the world how retarded our organization is...and I'm a 9er fan...uggghhh its going to be another long one folks