Posted By: 49er4Life (01/01/2008 8:17:52 PM)
Comment: Cmon you guys! Are you true 49er fans or fair weather fans? All we need is an experienced OC, a few good free agents and one more good draft and we will be a good team! Give Nolan a break...he did draft Willis, Gore, Lawson, Staley and Davis! Look at the hole Nolan inherited when he took on this job! There was NO talent on this team! We've come a long ways.

Posted By: mocha (26/03/2007 12:14:41 PM)
Comment: r u people stupid, blamin bryant for being the team cancer is just wrong. No problems would have ever occured if alex smith and his fuckin midget hands could hit a wide open target instead of 20 feet over the recievers head. bryant besides for gore was the best player on that team, and now you guys are fucked and will repeat back to ur 4-12 pathetic seasons. oh yeah mike nolan sucked andy reids dick last night

Posted By: oneniner (02/03/2007 7:10:39 AM)
Comment: Why do i keep hearing bennett/stallworth/curtis names...what games or teams are you people looking at...those receivers cant help us....we need receivers that can block....this receivers cant block..they are long ball catchers, except maybe for bennett who can be a possesion receiver....please stop this idiocrazy.....bennett is not a number one receiver and stallworth is always injured.....please if you dont know anything bout what the niners really need spare us the comments.....bennett is never going to be a niner....he his not the type of receiver that can help us....as for bryant ...it is a huge loss for us....i really think they should have kept for one more season...but i am ok because i know for sure the combination of Smith/Gore/Davis is enough to get us to the promise land.....again stop this nonsense about bennett.....you just dont pick up players because they FA's , you pick up players that complement your team....non of the recivers out there fit our system.....you guys would be suprised to see williams step up this yr.

Posted By: British9er (01/03/2007 10:54:11 PM)
Comment: Why is it that I have this strong feeling that there is more about Antonio Bryant that we don't know - the league suspended him for four games ( 2nd offence punishment) for something not related to his alleged digression from several laws along the 101 ! Next time he fouled up he would be suspended for an entire season - surely that was not a risk Nolan and the 49ers were willing to take when all said and done considering his history. I am sorry for him and the 49ers that it didn't work out and I hope he gets his life and career sorted out. I keep coming back to the thought though that there is alot more behind this than we are (rightly) being told.

Posted By: six_parnassus (01/03/2007 10:02:11 PM)
Comment: Yeah. Saw that. At 35 and the right price, Horn could still help some teams as a no. 3 or 4. || Meanwhile, in the spirit of AB, PIT confirming sometimes-difference-maker, sometimes-headcase Joey Porter was released (though unlike AB, reportedly for cap purposes). The best and worse of Porter according to the Trib Review [ http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_495739.html ]. And the Post-Gazette [ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07061/766304-66.stm ]. Will someone show him the money? Let's see. 3-4. All-Pro. Super Bowl. But--wants BIG money (apparently much more than the $5m due his last contract year). Has BIG mouth. Often BIG headache (including holdouts, gunshot vic, ref taunting). Ergo BIG risk for a guy just hitting 30 (this month). Even if AT falls through, I'd just say no. Porter seems the type who may not live out -- or outlive -- his next contract.

Posted By: Dustin (01/03/2007 9:40:41 PM)
Comment: I realize he's lost a step, but I think for the right price Joe Horn would be a great addition to the niners. He's the type of savvy veteran that Alex Smith has needed but not had throughout his career. He's also turned into a solid citizen on and off the field since the cell phone debacle. I think if we could add him and say a speed demon like Ted Ginn Jr. or through free-agency ala Kevin Curtis or Stallworth our recieving core would all of the sudden look pretty damn good.

Posted By: six_parnassus (01/03/2007 9:11:58 PM)
Comment: Kevin Curtis was 1 of 3 lesser names (Curtis, Furrey, Welker) we liked recently [ http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=418479 ] and still like despite his size (5-11). Why? Curtis strikes us as a "Nolan player." Tough, consistent, opportunistic, productive. How tough? Curtis is a burner who *doesn't* miss games or flinch over the middle (unlike Bennett); is equally productive on grass or turf, indoor v. outdoor -- a bigger hangup than you'd imagine. For a deep speed guy, Curtis also maintains excellent catch-percentage (70%+), much higher than, say, Stallworth's(49%), which would definitely help Smith. When Bruce went down in 2005, Curtis stepped in with 60 rec, 800 yds, 6 TDS. [ http://shsdemo.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=6410&team=14 ]. Curtis would be a *value* target for any number of teams since he doesn't carry the "name", size or price of guys like Stallworth, Bennett. If size is how you measure up on the field, Curtis is more than "big" enough. cf. [ http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650218269,00.html ]. Furrey was re-signed earlier (Lions) and the Pats tendered Welker at midnight. Which leaves ...

Posted By: Sean Matteson (01/03/2007 8:26:00 PM)
Comment: I'm surprised it turned out the way it did based on the endorsement from Trent Dilfer. I thought AB was going to be a good player for us for a while. I wonder if he would have gotten cut if not for the DUI.

Posted By: Jim in Walnut Creek (01/03/2007 7:23:26 PM)
Comment: Any thought being given to move Delanie Walker back to WR? He could be the Niners' version of Colston. He won't see much PT at TE/H-back. Seems like a waste to park him there. I could see a FA WR signing plus the Walker move as a viable alternative to burning a high pick on a green WR.

Posted By: Tim, Modesto (01/03/2007 7:13:29 PM)
Comment: Stallworth has to be the choice now! You need a receiver who can stretch the field and Stallworth definitely fits the bill. I just hope they don't waste their round pick on a receiver.

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (01/03/2007 6:48:18 PM)
Comment: Arnez Battle does not scare defenses away from stacking the box. Nor is it a good year for FA WR's (is Bennett or Stallworth really a #1?), and rookie WR's that are productive are the exception that proves the rule. I can only assume that Nolan thought AB was a REALLY BIG mistake.

Posted By: Robert (01/03/2007 6:39:18 PM)
Comment: With Bryant now gone, the search for a new WR has to start with Stallworth, my question is have you heard anything on what Rosenhaus is commanding for him with such a weak WR market? Thanks for all your great info!

Posted By: Devon (01/03/2007 6:22:08 PM)
Comment: Nolan is a respectable coach, who understand what it takes to win. AB was a cancer to the team. Nolan treated him, but he would not go into remission. It's not acceptable to go to combat with soldiers that wont pull the trigger.

Posted By: Kenny (01/03/2007 5:47:13 PM)
Comment: AB would be a value if he didn't have his looming suspension and the associated risk of being suspended a full year if he does it one more time. To Nolan he's not worth risk of maybe losing him after paying him all that dough if he's screws up just once. He is pretty volatile. It's a stark contrast to the Bengals and how they treat they're problem players.

Posted By: Chaz (01/03/2007 5:35:18 PM)
Comment: Matt, Was there no market out there for Bryant? With the WR crop in free agency not being too great, I'm inclined to believe that we could've gotten something for him. I understand that he has the suspension, but teams would definitely still be interested in my opinion. I guess the simple question is, why didn't Nolan try to trade him?

Response: Who would've taken him? And, also, then the 49ers would've been on the hook for all of the signing bonus, and they wouldn't have another $1.5 million in cap room. --Matt M.

Posted By: Pete (01/03/2007 5:23:45 PM)
Comment: Releasing Bryant will open the door for Stallworth, a sacramento Native. Matt do you have any indication which way we're leaning with the 11th overall pick? I know trading down is always an option too. Hypothetically do you think the Niners would use #11 on a DB like Laundry out of LSU or better suited for a DE/OLB?

Response: http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=508978

Posted By: wsmith (01/03/2007 5:21:55 PM)
Comment: See ya Bryant, enjoy your next half-life in and out of prison. Sign Drew Bennett, then draft either Dwayne Bowe, Robert Meachem, or Jason Hill in Rd. 2 in April!

Posted By: Slim (01/03/2007 5:15:18 PM)
Comment: AB sealed his fate when he jumped up, shouted at Alex Smith, and threw a 3 year-old type tantrum on the sidelines. You don't see players from Super Bowl Champions (see: Colts, Pats, Steelers, SeaChickens, etc) have players do those types of things. Nolan won't stand for it, and I appreciate that. My assumption is that the timing was out of necessity. We had to cut him before Free Agency begins, or else he would count more against the cap. The timing is also nice because it dilutes the receiver pool in free agency. Hopefully a competing team will sign AB, and we can get Bennett and/or Stallworth for less or at least not get into a bidding war. I can see us drafting a receiver in rounds 2,3, or 4, and adding one in free agency. We can get to the playoffs with Battle at the second receiver next season. Next off-season, we can decide whether we can get to the Super Bowl with Battle at the 2. Our defense and Gore's health will make or break us this season, not Bennett, Stallworth, Meachem, Calvin Johnson, Moss, or Wayne Chrebet for that matter!

Posted By: Steve-o (01/03/2007 5:04:24 PM)
Comment: oops I had a typo. I meant to say is that Bennett/Stallworth will be more pricier than AB. Bottom line, character issues aside, is that value-wise, AB was the best of those 3. Still rollin'

Posted By: Steve-o (01/03/2007 4:44:31 PM)
Comment: I don't question the move, but I question the timing. This would have been a logical move if Nolan waited till FA and successfully signed Bennett or Stallworth. However, we still don't know how much those guys will command. In fact they probably will be cheaper than what AB signed for. It just doesnt make sense to me to waive him when you don't have someone to take his place. Oh well. Still Rolin'

Posted By: Rob Daly (01/03/2007 4:35:05 PM)
Comment: With the release of Bryant who do you see us targeting? I mean there has been the Stallworth and Bennett rumors. But do you see us trying to attract both, or do you feel we already have some sort of trade line up ect? Or do you see Nolan trading up in the draft or settling for a WR at 11?

Response: http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=508978

Posted By: Ben (01/03/2007 4:30:58 PM)
Comment: I hope they have some kind of plan. I understand Nolan's perspective. He cleaned house when he first got here. Didn't tolerate any disruptions in the locker room. But Bryant was cheap and fairly talented. He was the number one receiver by default. I already thought they needed to add a starting caliber WR, now it seems they need to add two.

Posted By: Bryon (01/03/2007 4:29:48 PM)
Comment: Cya Lets get a call into Joe Horns agent.

Posted By: Greg (01/03/2007 4:25:02 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, what's the read on this? Was Bryant being disruptive to the team? Seems to me we're leaving ourselves in an awfully tight situation with a young QB, and our only established receiver better-suited to be a 3rd option than anything. Do you think the staff has a FA lined up?

Response: Yes, there is no question Bryant was a distraction. He was somebody the team realized could not be relied upon. I'm sure they'll go hard to improve this position in FA and the draft. --Matt M.

Posted By: David (01/03/2007 4:24:54 PM)
Comment: Matt, could this mean that the 49ers already have a deal pretty much ready to go for one of the receivers available in free agency? If so, who do you think it will be?

Response: I think this moves stands alone. They were going to be in the market for WRs regardless. --Matt M>

Posted By: John Smith (01/03/2007 4:18:24 PM)
Comment: Not sure how I feel about this. Yes, Bryant's a handful, but he showed some flashes of potential last season. Didn't irk me as much as Brandon Lloyd did.

Posted By: Jesus (01/03/2007 4:15:44 PM)
Comment: well i hope we replace him with Stallworth or Bennett.