Jimmy Garoppolo will get 49ers’ franchise tag in offseason

SANTA CLARA — On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan made the biggest news since the 49ers traded for Jimmy Garoppolo.

Shanahan announced that he expects the 49ers will give Garoppolo the franchise tag during the offseason.

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This article has 195 Comments

  1. Gonna be hard to put Jimmy back in the bottle. Let’s see what he can do against one of the top defensive minds in the NFL.

  2. Michael David Smith

    @MichaelDavSmith

    Highest career passer rating, NFL history, minimum 90 career passes:
    110.1 Jimmy Garoppolo
    104.1 Aaron Rodgers
    103.0 Deshaun Watson
    4:22 PM – Nov 26, 2017

  3. Good $ move…….it was a no brainer…. good for puting it out there so everyone including Jimmy can focus on football…..no contract talk distractions…..

    Winning 1 game was the biggest news since the 49ers traded for Jimmy Garoppolo.

  4. This is easy to understand. They have had talks about an extension. Jimmy and his agent believe he is as good if not better then Carr and Stafford. He just hasn’t been given the opportunity for obvious reasons. So the Niners said we have no problem paying you but we want to see how you do and get to know you before we commit a mega contract to you. They want to see him with a good supporting cast first. Which can happen as soon as 2018… Nothing to see here makes a ton of sense.

  5. Obviously this is news, but also not at all surprising. I don’t think anyone expected any different.

    1. Well at least that went through.
      If you guys have a chance, go to the KNBR website and locate Kevin Lynch’s article about the QBs. I have been trying post the link on here, but apparently the blog is jacked up again.

      1. Matt Barrows wrote pretty much the same article. If Beathard can’t practice, Garoppolo starts next week.

  6. Niners need to lock him up so he does not walk, and the franchise tag will give them time to work out a long term deal after seeing him play.
    ,
    However, strategically, it might be better to help rebuild the team by getting 2 first round picks for him, and then having the Niners out bid Washington for Cousins, another good QB. JG may want to go to a team of his choice, that has a good team poised for the playoffs. The Niners are rebuilding, so his chances of playing in the playoffs are remote.

    1. Considering the patriots couldn’t a single first for him in a trade that also provided the partner with the option to franchise tag him, I find it hard to believe a team would give up 2 firsts for him.
      If they did it would make the patriots look like fools.

    2. Seb, I’m disappointed that an erudite man like yourself used a comma instead of a period.
      I hope it was a mere pedestrian slip of the finger you were holding up while typing.

      1. Caught me, I stand corrected, and will try harder to be more precise in my diction next time. Guess I was excited about the possibilities.
        .
        Maybe you should comment on Shoup’s use of the English language, in his subsequent post.

  7. I don’t think this excludes his signing for 2018 either. This is so typical of Shan/Lynch to always keep their options open. To say they will franchise him might actually work in their favor if he shows enough to them during this season. It might make JG more eager to sign this season. It puts them on record of being ok with the franchise tag, thus taking that leverage away from the player.

    1. Agreed Will,
      If he shows well in the first 4 games or so I could easily see the 9ers teaching out to his agent and getting a deal done mid season.
      In theory they could put performance escalators that would raise his base salary and guaranteed amount for the next year.
      In any case if they see what they need to they should reach out before the season ends.

  8. Et cetera – Shanahan said the 49ers are sending two more players – running back Raheem Mostert (knee) and offensive lineman Erik Magnuson (foot) – to injured reserve. Magnuson, who started at right tackle and blocked Bennett most of the game, suffered a severe foot sprain in the first quarter but toughed it out the rest of the game.

    Ah yes, and to think that the players, according to Grant, quit on Shanahan a long-time ago. The evidence, ‘they (according to Grant) wouldn’t play when hurt.’ Yet week after week players not only play their hearts out, they play hurt and keep playing hurt unless the coach pulls them out…

    They’re just, mostly, not good enough. Too many rookies, too many starting second-stringers, too many career back-up types.

    Which is the basic reality. And not all the phoney sturm und drang we see out of Grant, and plenty of others, to explain why things aren’t working.

    1. Magnusson (who incidentally played for Harbaugh at Michigan) may well have a future with the Niners the as a guard.

  9. So now the team will give a guy with two starts and half a game the kind of money that elite QBs make. Makes total economic, strategic and common sense. What happens if the guy isn’t that good?

    1. What happens if the guy isn’t that good?

      I get the feeling that everybody’s so busy swooning that this possibility hasn’t even entered their minds.

      1. but…JG is the probably the most valuable player on the team, the coaches have enough film and books on him for that so they’ll probably tag him, no shock. It’s also a gamble to draft a QB and pay big bucks or a 30 yo Cousins next season for a massive contract. He’s started for 3 years and over 50 games and the Skins still won’t make him a contract, maybe they finally do, but they won’t tag him again for $36M. CJ is a 2nd stringer, they now have JG for a 2nd rd pick so tag him and so how he does in ’18 but not with this OL this year. There’s always a cost and gamble involved. Nothing ventured nothing gained is about right. I have a positive feeling it works out for JG but they need to fix the OL. Hopefully trade down, pick up Nelson and get another pick.

        1. Mark most valuable player? C’mon he has only played 2.5 games. He is an unknown.

          If you have read my posts before, I consistently say fix the OL fix the pass rush and then the other problems will not seem so large. Going for the QB right away is a risky strategy. Granted it is a decent one with JG, but still highly risky. Cousins is proven elite, though he may not have success here because no OL, not good defense, no WRs etc. To say this is less risky is difficult. What this situation is is a bird in hand so it means Cousins and drafting QBs is no longer as risky. Nevertheless, it is still puzzling that no long term contract was in place.

          1. I’d suggest:
            1) fix/revamp/upgrade OL for competent pass & run ops
            2) get run game going per KS’ system, see # 1
            3) D needs coverage help and outside speed rush help (see RW)…get off field within 3-6 downs
            4) keep CJ on life support while #’s 1-3 are attended to….
            5) bring Mullens up for emergency QB duty
            6) need new OL coaching in 2018

          2. Not a complete unknown. It’s ALL kinda risky, JG’s less risky than a draft pick QB. I’ve also been saying fix the OL, maybe trading down getting Nelson and drafting an OT for Staley or a solid exp. FA. Maybe the first 2 picks for OL, ect. The foundation or the OL will make the passing, QB, WR’s, RB, running the clock, resting the D and scoring all better. Getting JG for a 2nd now before any other team was good, going for JG right now when they’re always losing, with only rookie QB and Hoyer no good, wasn’t too risky. Now CB is hurt like I knew he would, and Hoyer’s gone. Cousins will probably be signed by Wash. or he’ll sign w/a contender needing a QB.

            Can’t really think of a more valuable FA right now on this 1-10 team than JG …14 FA’s..there’s Hyde, 3 OL they suck, 11 on D including Tank, Reid, Coyle, Lynch, that’s it. Plenty of cap room. Almost have to Tag a FA QB, value is up there no matter how many games JG played in. We shall see, it’d only be one year at $23M, not a huge risk, then sign him or whatever. It may be enough to tag him with his film, logs, practices, the few games he’s played, last Sunday and if he continues to excel in the last 5 games, hopefully he doesn’t play much with this OL, bring Mullens up if need be. He’ll like the pay raise.

            1. Didn’t say completely unknown. Just unknown. Shanahan said he was a rookie kind of like CJB so….

              Yes, you are right they all carry risks but some risks are higher or lower than others. Not all risk is the same. Taking a car to the airport is a risk. Taking the plane is a risk. The two do not carry the same risk.

              1. He’s not an unknown… like a drafted qb fresh out of college..It’s his 4th year in the NFL on one of the best teams..He has about 100 passes now, 7 TD’s plus a 69% comp rate now, no int’s, qb rating of about 115…3.5 years behind one of the best QB’s and coach in NFL history…not an unknown. Don’t confuse that for a lot of exp. now, not saying that!

                In H.S. his qb coach would even have him watch film of Brady to copy his footwork and release. I said it’s all kinda risky, didn’t say all risk is “the same”…Like getting JG for a 2nd rd pick wasn’t a huge risk when they had a slow rookie starting. It’s also a Low risk one year tag,…but if they see enough of him now they might offer him a contract, we’ll see or tag him. You know not every word out of a coaches mouth is believable.

    2. So sign him to a ‘long term multi year’ contract for a boat load of money??.. or for $25M or so for a year to see what he does first….hmm!!..He does have elite written all over him and from learning from the best like what A. Rogers did and from his brief solid starts and play. So they roll the dice going down the smart road first.

    3. I guess there is many ways to view this situation. You could go the Cousin’s route and pay the big bucks and that could possibly fail. You could draft a QB with no experience for the big bucks and that could also fail. Or one can flip your scenario around and say what if he plays lights out, then that contract would be huge after the transition tag ends. Or you can stay with CJ and see what happens. I have noted in a prior post that none of Brady’s understudies have a winning record after leaving the Patriots, take it for what that’s worth. Its a crap shoot no matter how they play it out. Regardless the path that is chosen there is a high chance of failure but as the old adage goes nothing ventured nothing gained. There is not a sure fire answer to the QB problem and regardless of the avenue of choice its going to cost and failure always looms till it doesn’t.

      1. UC,

        Or one can flip your scenario around and say what if he plays lights out, then that contract would be huge after the transition tag ends

        You make a secondary good point here. I have to wonder, why no long term contract for a guy “everyone” says is the franchise QB. In fact, Shanahan contradicts himself a bit when he says he is a rookie but is willing to pay top tier money for someone with little NFL experience.

        The team has already given up valuable capital for JG. I have the suspicion they would prefer not to play him but may be forced to given that, as Brit9er states CJB is made of iron but even that breaks under enough pressure. AES points out the poor history of NE QBs. JG may be different. I hope he is, but it won’t matter unless we did a lot of the issues with the team right now (OL, pass rush, WRs etc….).

        I know that we have tons of money to throw away, but poor investments will make one poor fast. The team has a poor track record last few years. I hope that this is not a move we will look back and say it was a big mistake!

    4. This argument is completely flawed. Lets say the 49ers hadn’t traded for JG. We know they really like him – what would they have needed to commit to him to sign him in an open market? How much guaranteed money? I guarantee it would be a lot more than the franchise tag, which also provides an easy out the following year if JG is no good.

      Then you take the knowledge they have traded for him. The 49ers clearly like him. Clearly think he is a guy that could be their future franchise QB. It is indeed completely logical they franchise him. The 49ers have little leverage to get him to sign a team friendly deal. He is a FA. As outlined above, the money they would need to commit to sign him long term would be very high. FT makes perfect sense, to avoid losing their investment or having to commit to him long term when he has little game experience. And the team has heaps of cap space to afford it for a year.

      1. Moot point given it’s a done deal and he is playing but giving a guy elite money sets up a situation where you may need to overpay later too. Secondly, just because a long term deal may include guaranteed money that approaches the tag doesn’t mean you may have to give him that same money down the road which erodes cap space to spend on other players.

  10. This likely was the agreement with JG and Yee from day one. No real surprises here. I have said from the beginning that the FO will over pay for JG’ services and they certainly seem to be on track.

    Elsewhere: How about the league handing down 2 game suspension on Crabtree and Talib. These boneheads have no inkling how much their personal vendettas have hurt their teams and their own legacy. I swear, some of these fights on the field are starting to take on the look of street gang fights.
    I also hold Del Rio and Mark Davis responsible for their players/employees actions.
    I hope that the punishment of such actions sends a message throughout the NFL that this will no longer be tolerated.

    1. Couldn’t agree more about the suspensions. This may be the NFL’s best (only?) way of sending the accountability message to the coaches as well.

      Regarding the Franchise Tag, Yep. The only news here is a verbal confirmation of exactly what everyone on the planet expected from the moment we knew that there was no long term contract discussion prior to the trade.

    2. I am no fan of Crabtree but it looks like Talib instigated the entire mess. Maybe Talib should have received a longer suspension?

  11. ok great. They have a long(ish) term plan. Always good to hear that they are thinking 2 steps ahead. Great work.

    But back to the reality of the here and now….what next?

    They better hope Beathard recovers by next week. Starting JG really is not an option.

    1. why not?

      he already played …….why shouldn’t he continue playing?

      if he had come in and just handed off the ball or took a knee I can understand not playing but he threw passes……

      1. In terms of risk vs reward.

        If it was worth the risk coaches would play their anticipated starting QBs throughout all preseason games but that doesn’t happen. Same situation here except even less reward available as most of the current starters won’t be playing next season so it’s not a fair evaluation.

        1. I would argue that it is not as unfair of a situation as it seems. Given all the injuries there’s almost no chance that the starting five OL make it through a season. Every time I watch a game any more, the announcers mention how a team’s OL is banged up and that there are new OL in the lineup. Dallas loses their LT and they look terrible (Elliott being out doesn’t help either). Gruden mentioned last night that the Ravens OL was banged up. In early November, Washington signed three OL off the street to start the next game.

          Because of this situation it seems to me that you do need an elite or near-elite QB just to be competitive through the season. Getting the ball out quickly helps to protect the QB even if that means throwing it away and living to fight another day.

        2. in terms of risk……again this has been answered……if they thought playing jimmy was risky they would have instructed him to take a knee or hand off to the rb to finish up the last game

          but they instructed him to play…….they can’t go back to the “o-line is bad excuse”…..

          ” I think Jimmy wants his best opportunity to prove that to us. I’d like to give that to him. If that happens over a five-game span, a three-game span, then great, let’s do it. If it doesn’t, no big deal. We can franchise you. Let’s go to work. Our goals will be to get you that next year. If that does happen for you, that means it happens for us. I think we’ll all be happy about that.””

          1. this has been answered……if they thought playing jimmy was risky they would have instructed him to take a knee or hand off to the rb to finish up the last game

            I’m not sure that really does answer it though. I could equally argue that if that moment during the game was the moment when Jimmy became the de facto starting QB, then why has KS subsequently stated that he’s not sure who will start this sunday Beathard vs Garoppolo. It clearly isn’t that cut and dried. And KS didn’t have much choice then, as others have said there is no other QB on the team, so JG had to play. That could change between now and next weekend.

            I agree that they could’ve asked Jimmy to simply hand the ball off – the fact that they didn’t does suggest they want to see what he can do. But what Kyle is doing and what he should be doing are two different things. Clearly its his decision. I can see why its tempting to let the guy loose, and part of me really wants to watch him play too. But I still think its more important to secure the long-term future of the team than risk it all for what would be scant benefit this year in terms of evaluating a team that is made up largely of back-ups and back-ups to back-ups.

            1. “that he’s not sure who will start this sunday Beathard vs Garoppolo” ……..
              – that a normal tactic used by NFL coaches – the idea to keep the Bears guessing……..no advantage for us to mention our QB before wed….

              “they didn’t does suggest they want to see what he can do.”……

              …if they wanted to see what he can do with less than 1 minute in lost game…….why won’t they want to see him play a whole game?……..again they could have taken a knee if they were so concerned about Jimmy getting injured

              “but what Kyle is doing and what he should be doing are two different things.”…..
              …that is a confusing comment – he is doing what he should be doing…….. not telling the public everything is part of what he should be doing….

              “for what would be scant benefit this year in terms of evaluating a team that is made up largely of back-ups” …….

              …….how much change is coming next year?…………we are looking at maximum 3 new players added to the current offensive roster….

    2. Brit why isn’t playing JG an option? In fact it’s their only option. They need to see if he’s for real before slapping a $22-25 million franchise tag on him.

      1. Because Beathard managed barely a third of a season before getting injured, and he seems to be made of iron.

        So if JG genuinely is ‘the guy’ then they need to wait until he has a half decent supporting cast around him and some offensive linemen who can provide more than a nanosecond of protection.

        1. As some of us have been saying, some of the hits are Beathard’s fault. We all like the kid but he’s a rookie and a beat or two too slow. With all the injuries these days, it’s foolish to think you’ll have a starting five on the OL that will make it through the season. That’s why I was asking the question last week if it wouldn’t be better to build a roster with better quality depth and less elite players. A QB who has better command of the game and gets rid of the ball quicker is going to take less hits, but that doesn’t mean he won’t take some hits. It’s a rough game and injuries happen.

          With the hits that CJB has been taking, it’s actually more surprising that he hasn’t been injured earlier. As has been said many times already, if KS was really intent on bubble-wrapping JG, JG wouldn’t be the backup QB.

        2. I don’t know that I buy the bubble wrap strategy. Its risky to franchise tag a guy who has only played 2 full games. Lynch and Shannahan have no one to blame but themselves for the OL situation. I am not sure they’re going to get better on the OL. They have failed to secure quality players at Center and Guard.

          1. I agree it’s risky either way. Devil and the deep blue sea, and largely of Shanahans own making. So I think he has a difficult decision to make and he needs to lie in the bed he’s made for himself.

            But he does need to make a decision at some point and he needs ( I hope) to consider the long term. I appreciate that these guys are all tough. And they want to play. But machismo doesn’t impress me. This isn’t a bar brawl. There is nothing to play for in the short term. I wouldn’t want to lose my star player for the sake of a p*ssing contest of no consequence. He can still be evaluating Jimmy on the training field.

            Somewhere at the back of my mind I have a future Grant Cohn article “Kyle Makes Costliest Mistake Of His Head Coaching Career So Far Playing Garoppolo In Meaningless Game”…. you know Grant is just itching to write those words…!!

            1. He can still be evaluating Jimmy on the training field.

              Practice isn’t the same as evaluating game play. Either way if JG can’t stand up to the NFL and not get injured he’s not a great longterm fit. Is that worse than spending $25 million on a guy who you don’t know if they’re a star player? You’re presuming JG is a star, he hasn’t shown that yet.

              Kyle’s already made that mistake you speak of having only JG as a backup. He also had the opportunity and the cash to build an OL and he didn’t. Who are they going to play? There are no other QB’s to play.

              1. Either way if JG can’t stand up to the NFL and not get injured he’s not a great longterm fit.

                This isn’t a hypothetical argument/generalisation. This is real-life choice. KS has two options. He can play Jimmy now, with the current O line. Or he can protect him until next season when (hopefully) the O line has been somewhat rebuilt. He needs to make that decision through the lens of a long-term rebuild, and based on the risk/rewards of what he can genuinely get – in terms of proper, productive evaluation – from playing Jimmy now vs what he risks in potential injuries. There is nothing else to gain (oh, I suppose he keeps the fans happy by playing JG straight away, but thats academic to me).

                Who are they going to play?

                I dont know. I cant answer that question. I’m sure if they wanted to, they could find a way to play someone else. Hell, stick Joan from accounting in there under centre if they need to.

              2. “Hell, stick Joan from accounting in there under centre if they need to.”..

                …….lol…funny stuff…..really dude!!!

              3. BritishNiner,

                This isn’t a hypothetical argument/generalisation. This is real-life choice. KS has two options. He can play Jimmy now, with the current O line. Or he can protect him until next season when (hopefully) the O line has been somewhat rebuilt. He needs to make that decision through the lens of a long-term rebuild, and based on the risk/rewards of what he can genuinely get – in terms of proper, productive evaluation – from playing Jimmy now vs what he risks in potential injuries. There is nothing else to gain (oh, I suppose he keeps the fans happy by playing JG straight away, but thats academic to me).

                When have you ever seen a NFL team keep a healthy player on the bench for fear of him getting hurt unless it’s a team getting ready for the playoffs? It doesn’t happen. This idea that KS is purposely holding JG out because the Oline isn’t very good is ludicrous. This is a Grant Cohn fabrication being bought by some of you for whatever reason and you need to give it a rest and start using your common sense.

                If he didn’t want to play JG he wouldn’t have him active on game day… period. No HC holds out a QB he feels can help win a game because he’s worried about him getting hurt. It doesn’t happen. You play your best players regardless of what is around them. KS wants JG to be as comfortable as possible in the system before playing him, but as he has said numerous times now, that will take until next season at the earliest. JG is not going to get better by sitting. He has to play, take some lumps and get acclimated to the system so he is not starting from scratch next season. There are no meaningless games when you are trying to prepare a team for the future. These games are extremely important for the development of not only JG, but others who have come in to replace injured players. He’s had a game and a half of NFL regular season experience. The guy has to play.

                Just stop with this protecting JG and waiting until the OL gets better crap. They could suffer multiple injuries to the Oline next season and be in a worse position than they are right now and he would have to play regardless. There is no viable reason not to play Garoppolo as soon as possible. He’s been here more than a month and should have enough of a grasp of the offense to play in a game.

              4. Brit, you are proposing a hypothetical though, you’re saying its too risky for him to play because he might get hurt behind this OL and endanger the rebuild. You’re also hypothetically thinking they’ll upgrade the OL next year as well. There’s no guarantee. You’re also missing one major point I keep making, There’s no way for Kyle to know if JG is the future of the franchise by waiting till next year. You don’t slap a franchise tag on a guy you haven’t seen play yet.

                Brian Hoyer was injury prone and survived behind this OL. Again this is null and void because Kyle has to play JG now. CJ won’t come back unless JG is injured. The JG era has started already.

              5. When have you ever seen a NFL team keep a healthy player on the bench for fear of him getting hurt unless it’s a team getting ready for the playoffs? It doesn’t happen.

                Maybe you’re right NinerRealist…

                I just kinda think that Shanahan has to look at the pieces he has on the table in front of him and make a decision based on these very specific set of circumstances, rather than a more general, hypothetical decision.

                Just because teams dont usually do it, or haven’t done it in the past, isn’t a reason to dismiss it unilaterally. I think this is a fairly unique situation to be in. How many other teams acquire their future franchise QB (apparently – so everyone says) with only a few games left in the season, and with a record of 1-10, and with the amount of injuries this team has, and in year 1 of a rebuild, with a brand new set of coaches and GM?

                End of the day… Jimmy is going to get the same treatment as Beathard. Maybe not quite as bad – I get that he has a quicker release, and better footwork – but he is still going to get pounded. A lot. No doubt in my mind about that one.

                I hope its worth it.

              6. Brian Hoyer was injury prone and survived behind this OL.

                Did he? Really?

                Physically, perhaps. But mentally? Hoyer was a freakin’ mess by the end of it. They’d snap the ball and he’d just fall over in a heap, curled up in the foetal position, jibbering softly to himself. He was a wreck. Do you want the same to happen to Jimmy?

              7. Brit, Hoyer was a mess before he played for this team. Seven other teams figured that out before Kyle did. Again with they hypothetical whimpering in the corner non-sense. The good NFL QB’s overcome that stuff. People keep talking about this line as if its the worst in the history of football. We were much worse the previous two seasons, but we hated our QB’s so we blamed them instead. This line is better than both of those.

                Read where the 49er’s OL was ranked after week 5. Yes its been downhill from there but better than last year by far.

                19. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
                Average offensive lineman grade: 58.2
                The 49ers’ offensive line has taken a big step forward from last season as they went from having the 29th-best pass-blocking efficiency rating in 2016 to ranking sixth this year with 48 pressures allowed on 211 pass-blocking snaps. The unit is anchored by its two tackles, Joe Staley and Trent Brown, who both are among the top 17 offensive tackles this season. Furthermore, San Francisco is one of only three teams that averages more than 2.0 yards before contact on inside zone runs and actually lead the league with 3.10 yards before contact on these runs. The 49ers’ weak spot is the interior offensive line where left guard Laken Tomlinson and center Dan Kilgore rank 63rd and 32nd at their respective positions.

      2. ” They need to see if he’s for real before slapping a $22-25 million franchise tag on him.”

        Wilson, they are slapping the tag on him regardless. The idea there will be an evaluation done one way or the other this season is complete fantasy. They didn’t spend a high 2nd round pick to get him for half a year. The evaluation happens next year.

        1. You’re right they are going to franchise him yet I think its risky. I like JG. Let’s hope he makes them look like geniuses.

    3. I find it funny when people say its not fair to play JG with this supporting cast, or the risk is too great. What message does this say to Beathard and the rest of the team? “Sorry CJ, we don’t care if you take a pounding and look terrible, you’re a nobody and always will be. JG however deserves the luxury package and we’ll only play him when we know he’ll be in a great position to succeed.”

      JG is part of the team. Let him rise or fall with his teammates. They will respect him if he is allowed to toil through tough times with them, and even more if he can find a way to lead them to some success in these times.

      1. you’re a nobody and always will be

        Hyperbole, and you know it.

        Fact is, Shanahan has 2 QBs right now. In an ideal world, i’m sure he would love to keep both of them safe and happy. But the team cant play without a QB. One of them needs to play. Beathard was a number 2 QB at the start of the season, circumstance gave him his chance, but now he’s back to being number 2 again. Thats a shame, I genuinely like Beathard. But it is what it is.

        Jimmy had to play second fiddle to Brady for years, i’m sure he felt like a “nobody” at times. But now its his turn in the limelight (rightly or wrongly). Beathard will almost certainly get his turn at some point in the future, he has a long and I think succesful career ahead of him, whether with the Niners or elsewhere.

        play him when we know he’ll be in a great position to succeed

        Yes, that.

        1. So its ok for Beathard to play when he isn’t in a great position to succeed?

          The argument for playing Beathard over JG is purely and solely about readiness. Beathard knows the system better, clearly. KS obviously wants to go with the guy that allows him to run more of the system he wants to implement. It is the only reason to be playing him.

          Concocting arguments like its unfair to JG to play him because of the supporting cast, risk of injury, etc, is just massive slap in the face to CJ and the rest of the team.

          1. I hope KS doesn’t risk the long term rebuild and potential future franchise QB of the team just so that Beathard isn’t offended Scooter.

            There are lots of good reasons why he might start Jimmy (though I still dont agree that the risk-reward is worth it) but ensuring Beathard doesn’t feel slapped in the face isn’t one of them. I like Beathard but he is a rookie QB he will hopefully see it as an opportunity rather than just being made into cannon fodder.

  12. For Razoreater: I’m starting the San Francisco 49ers defense in my fantasy this week against Trubisky and the Bears. I thought you might be happy about that!

          1. I’m still not happy about the Solo pick but ready to move on.
            I officially apologize for all the insults to you.
            Truce?

              1. See what the prospect of having a franchise QB, one that everyone loves (well most everyone) , on the team can do?

            1. Call a meeting, my friend, so there are no debts or grudges; we will make the peace, you and I.

              1. For the record, this is just between Razor and myself, not Sebnnoying!
                That is all, thank you.

              2. Truce is good. Lasting peace is better. If you guys pull it off we can have you mentor Crabs and Talib.
                : -)
                If Seb can stay out of it, pigs WILL fly.

              3. U are all filled with hate. When the great Kap in the sky comes down to me-along with the Great Pumpkin-u shall all rue the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Franchise tag makes sense. They should shelve him now, take Seb’s advise and sign Kaep. Also, since their tight ends aren’t producing, they should sign Bigfoot. Either of those is about as likely as the other. ;-)

    1. Juan, Kaep would be the least expensive. He would expect a 14-16 mil contract. JG, with his franchise tag, would command 23 mil. Cousins may have a bidding war, and the Niners, with 100 mil projected cap room, can out bid most other teams. Cousins may take less to re-unite with KS, but the cost may range from 30-35 mil.

  14. I want to see Jimmy play the rest of the way for two reasons.
    1. QB is the leader of the team. The other players need to see him as somebody who will go to war with them. I think the rest of the team will lose respect for Garoppolo if they perceive him as someone who wants to stay on the sidelines until the team assembles a pro bowl O line. A good QB with quick feet, a clock in his head which makes him sense pressure, and a quick release can make a mediocre O line look good. It is the ultimate team game after all.

    2. Watching Jimmy’s release on the TD throw made my jaw drop. I see now what Prime has been saying about Kap’s windup throwing motion. I want to see more of Garoppolo throwing the ball. I don’t think I have seen a Niner QB with such a quick release since….pretty much ever.

  15. “It’s no surprise the 49ers have punted a lot this season (5.6 times per game), but their punt coverage has been phenomenal. They’re allowing 2.54 yards per punt return, which is not only best in the NFL this season, it’s the best in the NFL since the 2008 Falcons (2.45).”

  16. Reading Shanny’s response about Beathard’s condition he’s either playing the liars game for the sake of keeping the Bears in the dark or it sounds like JG is likely to be the starter.

    I also think that despite their confidence in their choice $24+ million dollars is an awful lot for a guy with his experience. I expected to see JG starting before the end of the year anyway but this injury I think seals the deal.

    1. I remember an injury to a Niner QB a few years ago and his replacement also started against the Bears.

    2. “He said Beathard doesn’t have any long-term damage but is dealing with a left knee contusion and hip strain stemming from the late fourth-quarter hit he received from Bennett. Shanahan said Beathard is “pretty banged up” and that the team should be able to figure out how much he can handle from a physical standpoint on Tuesday.”

      If this is the response you meant, Coffee, the “pretty banged up” comment, and his mention of not splitting reps may be a good indicator that the dial is tilted toward Jimmy.

  17. People keep posting that franchise tagging JG is risky but its only a one year risk. If he works out great if not his contract goes away. I also have read that some want to sign Cousins, I would bet good money he will sign with a playoff team who is looking for a QB. Lastly I would take JG over any of the QB’s in this years draft. Lets trade back and rebuild our O line through FA and the draft.

    1. IMO Cousins was the best option for this team moving forward. Granted we don’t know if he was going to be tagged a 3rd time by Washington or not, but if he was available he was the best option. Mutual admiration between he and KS and a knowledge of the system would have made it a foregone conclusion he would have signed here imo. Garoppolo has potential but he’s a question mark due to his lack of playing time and the fact the history of NE QB’s in other places is not very good. That’s why he needs to play this season. I agree with you on rebuilding the OL. That is a must for any long term success.

      1. just enjoyed your comment above……you should add this your new cousins comment to the “ludicrous” category also……

        1. What is ludicrous about signing Cousins? He’s the best QB potentially on the market by far.

          1. ha ha ha…….wrong – he is not the best QB FA

            Sam Bradford
            Drew Brees
            Teddy Bridgewater
            AJ McCarron,

            Cousins is mediocre……….

            1. None of the QB’s you listed will be as coveted as Cousins including Brees due to his age and the likelihood he will just stay in NO. Cousins is a top 5 ranked QB right now and was last year as well. Bradford is injury prone and hasn’t played as good as Cousins has anyway. Bridgewater is coming off a major knee surgery and didn’t perform anywhere near the level Cousins has when he was healthy. McCarron? Are you seriously trying to pass off a suggestion that somebody who has barely played in the league is somehow a better option than a QB who is putting up top 5 numbers and has been consistently at that level for 3 straight seasons? You probably need to be a little more objective when looking at this because right now you aren’t.

              1. You can find all the numbers here:

                http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/yardsPerPassAttempt/year/2015

                Top 5 in yards and YPA the past two years, 7th in QB rating the past two years, 7th in completion percentage which is even more impressive considering he throws the ball down the field more than most of the QB’s on the list. I’m not sure what you have against Cousins, but you are out to lunch Dude. He is way better than the QB’s you listed sans Brees, and he’ll be the most sought after QB in FA if the Redskins don’t tag him a 3rd time.

                I won’t tell you to SU because that kind of defeats the purpose of this place, but you might want to actually know what it is you are talking about before spouting off so you don’t look as bad as you do right now.

    2. OldCoach

      I am in total agreement with you…We now have two young, potentially good Qbs… take off the wraps and let’s start looking at the ’18 draft and FA…it’s still called football, and it’s rough out there…bubblewrap won’t help….

  18. No big surprise. 49ers mgmt had to know they would either sign JG long term or franchise him before they made the deal. I’m not as enamored with Garoppolo as some others are so I think failing to sign him to a long term deal and having him play 1 year under the Franchise Tag wouldn’t be all that bad. If he turns out to be a mediocre starting QB like every other highly touted Patriot backup QB then you’ve wasted 1 year on him. If you sign him to a long term deal with huge guaranteed money and he turns about to be another Brian Hoyer then the impact to your organization will be felt for at least 5-7 years.

    Now playing him this season behind this o-line is a different story. If JG really is the franchise guy, Playing him right now behind this line would be like buying a brand new Ferrari 812 Superfast and then parking it overnight on the street in Bayview. Nothing good can come out of that move. Just park Garoppolo in a nice safe garage until you can surround him with protection.

    1. what if they revamp the oline and 3 of them get injured before the 2nd game next year…….do you now bench him?

      if No……then why not play him now…..

      From ninerrealist “Just stop with this protecting JG and waiting until the OL gets better crap. They could suffer multiple injuries to the Oline next season and be in a worse position than they are right now and he would have to play regardless. “

      1. JG has been on the team for 3 weeks. His reaction and processing time right now will not be as fast as it is when he has an entire offseason to prepare and learn the offense. Throwing him into a game when he still gets lost on his way to the stadium because he’s new to the city is an unnecessary risk. Given an entire offseason to learn and prepare will put him in a much better position to protect himself if 3 o-lineman get injured next year.

        1. No he’s actually been on the team for more than a month and they felt good enough about his knowledge of the system to make him the backup from the moment he was acquired. Sitting him out this season makes no sense on any level.

          1. Oh yeah? Wow, a month. Jeez, he should know the entire offense backwards and forwards by now with all those backup reps he gets in practice.

            Sitting him out this season makes all the sense in the world. When you bring a QB in during the middle of the season there is no way in hell that player will be able to be as effective as he will be if he has an entire offseason of training and learning. Putting a player into the starting lineup this year who will undoubtedly be indecisive simply because he doesn’t have experience behind the current 49er line is absolutely asinine. The point about injuries next year is moot. Once JG is ready then he will be the starter and able to react quickly if o-lineman get injured next year.

            Do you know how I’m right and you’re wrong? Kyle Shanahan said so:

            “Jimmy gets more and more ready each week. Is Jimmy going to be the best he can? To me, that’s impossible. He just hasn’t been here long enough and I think he’ll get an opportunity to be better each week. I don’t think we’re going to see Jimmy’s best football, to be fair to him, until next year.”

            1. I don’t think anyone is saying or suggesting otherwise with regards to him being comfortable with the entire playbook or showing his absolute best. However if Shanahan can’t get him comfortable with about 60 plays to go out and get reps and improve that says more about him as a coach.

              1. If Beathard is active for game day he should play. His knowledge of the offense is superior to Garoppolo’s and he is not the future franchise QB. Feeding Beathard to the lions behind those sheep on the o-line doesn’t cost you a potential future franchise QB.

              2. If the intent is to protect JG, then why have him as the backup; particularly in light of the beating that CJB has been taking. Frankly, I’m surprised he lasted this long before getting injured.

              3. 100% agree with you Cubus. Strategy seemed extremely odd. Shanahan obviously did not want to play Garoppolo in the last game. Not sure why the 49ers didn’t have an additional QB on the roster. Not sure why Shanny kept calling run plays for Beathard. Not sure why Shanny kept calling deep drop backs. The strategy to keep Garoppolo on the sideline was incongruous with the play calling. Didn’t make any sense to me.

              4. Exactly, Jack. Nobody should expect JG to know the entire offense. But KS should be able to get him ready to execute a game plan with a more limited selection of plays by now.

              5. 100% agree with you Cubus. Strategy seemed extremely odd. Shanahan obviously did not want to play Garoppolo in the last game. Not sure why the 49ers didn’t have an additional QB on the roster.

                You answered your own question. He obviously was ok with Garoppolo having to play or he wouldn’t have made him active. He then proceeded to call passing plays which blows up the idea that he was worried about Garoppolo taking a hit behind the poor OL. The reason you don’t understand the strategy is because your theory is wrong to begin with. There is no plan to protect him and he was ready to go in and play if necessary a long time ago.

              6. Did you even watch the Seahawks game? It was 100% obvious Shanahan did not want to play Garoppolo. I think the broadcast guys even said that during the 4th qtr. Why doesn’t Shanny want to play Garoppolo? There can really only be 2 reasons…

                1. Garoppolo isn’t ready so Beathard is a better option. Thus, if Beathard is active next week he should be the starter.
                2. Shanahan doesn’t want to put his future franchise QB in peril behind a patchwork offensive line thats giving up QB pressure on nearly every pass play.

                So which one is it? Either way both prove my point. The only puzzling thing to me is the play calling doesn’t match the obvious need to keep Beathard in the games.

                Let’s just say you are right. Shanny should be able to put a game plan together to use Garropolo and there is no plan to protect Garoppolo. Why hasn’t Garoppolo started a game? Why did Shanny continue to go with Beathard until he couldn’t go with Beathard any longer? The answer is pretty obvious. You are wrong or Shanny would have started JG against the Giants and then again against the Seahawks.

              7. Did you even watch the Seahawks game? It was 100% obvious Shanahan did not want to play Garoppolo. I think the broadcast guys even said that during the 4th qtr. Why doesn’t Shanny want to play Garoppolo? There can really only be 2 reasons…
                1. Garoppolo isn’t ready so Beathard is a better option. Thus, if Beathard is active next week he should be the starter.
                2. Shanahan doesn’t want to put his future franchise QB in peril behind a patchwork offensive line thats giving up QB pressure on nearly every pass play.
                So which one is it? Either way both prove my point. The only puzzling thing to me is the play calling doesn’t match the obvious need to keep Beathard in the games.
                Let’s just say you are right. Shanny should be able to put a game plan together to use Garropolo and there is no plan to protect Garoppolo. Why hasn’t Garoppolo started a game? Why did Shanny continue to go with Beathard until he couldn’t go with Beathard any longer? The answer is pretty obvious. You are wrong or Shanny would have started JG against the Giants and then again against the Seahawks.

                You really can’t grasp common sense. If Shanahan didn’t want Garoppolo playing at all, HE WOULDN’T MAKE HIM ACTIVE!!! Seriously, why is this so hard for some of you to understand? If he truly didn’t want to put Garoppolo on the field this season all he had to do was promote Mullens and make Garoppolo inactive every week. He didn’t do that and the reason is obvious to anyone with half a brain: HE IS OK WITH GAROPPOLO PLAYING!!!

                The fact he didn’t start him against Seattle could be any number of things:

                He doesn’t feel Garoppolo is ready yet
                He felt like he wanted to give Beathard another game because of how he played against NY
                He wants to start Garoppolo against a defense that has a lesser front than Seattle has

                We don’t know, but we do know that he was willing to play JG because he had him dressed for the damn games.

              8. Dude, you really have a problem with logic. Shanahan wants Garoppolo to play but he doesn’t start him against one of the worst defenses in the league? Shanahan is ok with playing Garoppolo but he doesn’t put him in against the Seahawks even though the offense was pathetic thru 3 qtrs? Making Garoppolo Active says nothing about whether Shanny is protecting him or wants him to play. It may only mean Shanny wants to keep Good Will with JG and his agent to help with contract negotiations. If Shanny isn’t protecting JG then why would Seattle defensive front matter in the least

              9. There’s a couple of things to remember:

                Coaches may desire not to play a player (forget Garoppolo think Jay Jay), may be resigned to having to suit him up because of modern football dynamics and the reality of a limited pool of available players prepared. Additionally, he may still not want to insert said player onto the field but may be forced because of circumstances which the coach couldn’t anticipate. In a perfect world he might have 6 players ready to go, but economics and rules limit what he can do, and so therefore, the coach had no choice but to suit a player he doesn’t want on the field and furthermore play a player when circumstances dictate even though he did not want or intend for that to happen. He may have prepared just in case but it isn’t the same…

              10. Dude, you really have a problem with logic. Shanahan wants Garoppolo to play but he doesn’t start him against one of the worst defenses in the league? Shanahan is ok with playing Garoppolo but he doesn’t put him in against the Seahawks even though the offense was pathetic thru 3 qtrs? Making Garoppolo Active says nothing about whether Shanny is protecting him or wants him to play. It may only mean Shanny wants to keep Good Will with JG and his agent to help with contract negotiations. If Shanny isn’t protecting JG then why would Seattle defensive front matter in the least

                There is zero logic in your opinions. As I pointed out, if you don’t want a player to play you don’t activate him. That is not a hard concept to grasp for most, but for you it seems to be. You are just throwing darts at a board now. Why didn’t he start against the Giants? Well considering that was 3 weeks ago he probably didn’t have enough of an understanding of the playbook for KS to feel comfortable starting him. The scenario most believed would take place was him starting after the bye against Seattle, but it’s happening a week later. You and logic are not on speaking terms it seems.

              11. Coaches may desire not to play a player (forget Garoppolo think Jay Jay), may be resigned to having to suit him up because of modern football dynamics and the reality of a limited pool of available players prepared. Additionally, he may still not want to insert said player onto the field but may be forced because of circumstances which the coach couldn’t anticipate. In a perfect world he might have 6 players ready to go, but economics and rules limit what he can do, and so therefore, the coach had no choice but to suit a player he doesn’t want on the field and furthermore play a player when circumstances dictate even though he did not want or intend for that to happen. He may have prepared just in case but it isn’t the same…

                It’s not that difficult. All he had to do if he truly didn’t want JG on the field this season was to keep him inactive. It’s one roster spot that isn’t going to upset the apple cart especially in a season where they have numerous players suiting up that shouldn’t be. There is a big difference between not wanting somebody to play and making them a backup. As soon as you activate a player he may have to play. That is especially true when you are the backup QB on a team where the starter is getting his butt kicked week after week. Shanahan knew Garoppolo was one play away from having to take the field and he’s had him in that position since the day he was acquired. All this junk about wanting to bubble wrap and protect him is a Grant Cohn creation bought by some on here like Houston9er who obviously have little common sense. There is no logical reason not to play Garoppolo unless you truly want to lose the rest of your games for the better draft pick and don’t care about getting Garoppolo prepared to play at a higher level going into next season. Neither are scenarios a HC would even consider which is why Garoppolo is going to play the rest of the season.

            2. “you bring a QB in during the middle of the season there is no way in hell that player will be able to be as effective”

              see – Colts Jacoby Brissett

          2. Houston,

            Nobody said he would have a complete grasp of the offense. That is a straw man you are making up because you don’t really have anything to back up your opinion. There is no example of a team not playing a player they traded for, or not playing somebody because you’re afraid they’ll get hurt due to the OL not being very good. Teams don’t acquire players so they can put them up in the press box. That is asinine. You acquire the player so you can get him acclimated to your team and system which doesn’t happen if he doesn’t play. He’s not going to be ready to step in and run the team next season based on practice. A player needs game reps at live speed to truly get better.

            Your quote from KS doesn’t back you up either. What he’s saying is obvious in that Garoppolo isn’t going to truly be comfortable until he’s been in the system for a long period of time. That doesn’t mean he’s saying Garoppolo shouldn’t play now. If anything he’s preparing the fanbase for the possibility that Garoppolo does struggle a bit both because of having to learn the system and not having played much football in the last 4 years.

            Garoppolo is going to play this season and he should. He’s been in the building long enough to be able to play in a game and there is little to gain by babying him and waiting until next season to get him any game action. It just guarantees he’s likely going to start slowly next year instead of taking the lumps and getting the game experience he could have gotten this season.

            1. “If anything he’s preparing the fanbase for the possibility that Garoppolo does struggle a bit “…..

              that is what i think also…….” If that happens over a five-game span, a three-game span, then great, let’s do it. If it doesn’t, no big deal. We can franchise you. Let’s go to work.”

              he already admitted he was going to play him 5 or 3 games ……fail or pass its no big deal…..

            2. “That doesn’t mean he’s saying Garoppolo shouldn’t play now.”

              Jeez, really? If Shanahan isn’t saying Garoppolo shouldn’t play now then why has Beathard been the starter?

              Oh and practice does prepare players for games or teams wouldn’t practice. Do you even read what you type? Giving a guy game reps behind an o-line and receivers who most likely won’t even be on the team next year gives you absolutely nothing except injuries.

            3. “That doesn’t mean he’s saying Garoppolo shouldn’t play now.”
              Jeez, really? If Shanahan isn’t saying Garoppolo shouldn’t play now then why has Beathard been the starter?
              Oh and practice does prepare players for games or teams wouldn’t practice. Do you even read what you type? Giving a guy game reps behind an o-line and receivers who most likely won’t even be on the team next year gives you absolutely nothing except injuries.

              I answered the first part above but as to the second part, practice doesn’t prepare you for game speed. JG has played a game and a half of football in his pro career so far. He’s learning a completely new system and teammates while getting backup snaps. He’s gaining nothing by being a part time practice player and not playing in games. The Oline he’s playing behind is irrelevant. We don’t know who will be playing OL for this team next year and you never know how they are going to perform when they do. All you can do is put out the best team you have and let them play. You don’t sit a QB you feel can become your franchise QB because you’re afraid he’s going to get hurt. That’s just moronic and doesn’t exist in pro football where players are thrown out there with less preparation time than Garoppolo has had and less than 100% healthy every week.

        2. “JG has been on the team for 3 weeks.”

          This is his 5th week, longer than a preseason.

          “If you sign him to a long term deal with huge guaranteed money and he turns about to be another Brian Hoyer then the impact to your organization will be felt for at least 5-7 years.”

          All depends on how that’s structured and the 49ers have done pretty good in that regard.

          If they are as uncertain as you suggest or they seem to be as well they better be in the QB market this draft.

          1. Jack:

            What’s your take on the complex wording and phrasing of Shanahan’s system. I don’t understand why he can’t simplify it. How would simplifying it take away from the supposed “genius” of the system. Isn’t making the right play calls and also setting up future play calls most of the true “genius” of an offensive coordinator (add in unique play calls as well).

            The only answer I can think of is that there must be a large amount of potential variations. So if there are four or five “phrased” words, then you can change any of the phrases for a play call. That could result in a very large number of plays once you understand the phrasing system and maybe that’s the advantage.

            1. So as an example. Here’s a play from Lynch’s article (I’ve added the numbers in front of each word phrase).

              1) Alert Jazz
              2) Y short to gun
              3) Bunch right plus 17 stanley
              4) Can 4 jet spread 2 basic
              5) Alert H3 cobra

              So these five phrases makeup this particular play. But I’m thinking that virtually any of them could be replaced building a new play. So you learn pieces and then combine them to form a new play. Probably most offensive systems do something similar, but KS might be taking it to a new level.

              Does this sound reasonable or am I off base?

              1. Cubus,

                It’s hard to say how he can shorten it up without knowing what each section of that represents.

                And to be honest, that doesn’t seem like all that much.

                A play call will typically have:

                Formation
                Motion
                Play Call(s)
                Count
                And sometimes the protection scheme thrown in there somewhere depending on the scheme.

                In my experience I know we shortened some calls up to single words, but that was mostly for when we wanted to go no huddle. So 336 Z, which was playaction with the Z side being primary became Yellow Z. Just a little quicker and easier to get out quick. Plus the signal from the sideline was only 2 motions instead of 4.

              2. Thanks, Jack. The Lynch article said that last year Ryan could finish a play call after he heard the first part or so, so that would tend to invalidate my hypothesis.

  19. Right tackle Erik Magnuson, starting place of Trent Brown, suffered a foot sprain and will go on injured reserve………

    1. Do you honestly see any other way forward for next year? It will be very difficult to come up with a longer term deal that will satisfy both parties.

      1. “Do you honestly see any other way forward for next year?”

        At this point no. This whole thing seems like the 49ers were unprepared for the opportunity to get Garoppolo. That’s the biggest red flag for me in this whole deal.

        And having the QB position unsettled like that makes it kind of tough to build around.

    2. It could be a slippery slope because if he does play well, not great just competently enough that you want to see more, you are then in a position where you are likely franchising him for a second year and then you run into the Cousins situation where the QB will likely prefer going that route to max out the tag and then becoming a FA while still in his prime. Not saying that will happen, but it’s a possibility.

    1. I wouldn’t mind Richburg , but the others are likely to be too pricey or simply not needed.

      1. Several weeks back I brought up Jensen, the young center for the Ravens. Hopefully, they’ll let him test free agency.

      2. I’m with Cubus. Go hard or go home after Jensen. If for some reason you can’t get him, Richburg would be the next best option….

  20. I agree with Juanhunglo, but for a different reason.

    Been noticing an uptick in mysterious game changing flag throw vs. the Niners anyone ?

    I have…Soloution ?….Sign Kap and stop the flags.

    Everyone knows Jerry Jones, Trump and conservative owners hated what Kap turned the league into.

    The real blackballed entitiy wasn’t Kap, it was the 49er organization, and they’re paying for Kap’s protesting because of it.

    So do the NFL a solid…Hire Kap and kill his collusion lawsuit against the NFl.

    This has a twofold effect…(1) Heading into 2018 the NFL will hold its annual officiating meetings allowing owners and officials a back to normalcy factor and thanking the 49ers for ending the suit. (2) The 49ers franchise QB benefits by not being backed up to his own goal line by a 1st and 20 suspicious call in 2018, so doesn’t have to continually face the oppositions 3rd down pass rush specialist because the NFL’s getting even for Kaepernick

  21. 2018 NFL Draft order following Week 12: 49ers remain at No. 2 spot
    8 hours ago • By David Bonilla

    TomD’s Take: No need to play Garoppolo now. Hire somebody else to be the pinata and maintain your # 2 slot—something other teams trade multiple picks for !

    Winning just two games would drop the 49ers to the 7th pick, YIKES !

    Team W-L SOS
    1 Cleveland Browns 0-11 .537
    2 San Francisco 49ers 1-10 .537
    3 New York Giants 2-9 .496
    4 Indianapolis Colts 3-8 .496
    5 Denver Broncos 3-8 .521
    6 Chicago Bears 3-8 .636
    7 New York Jets

  22. Potential free agent additions

    Ryan Jensen – C: He is the 6th ranked Center on PFF and somehow dropped from #4 during his bye week. We all know the success Shanahan had after bringing in Alex Mack. He might be pricey but we’re operating from a position of strength in that we dont have to chase a LT/RT in free agency.

    Cameron Brate – TE: While others may go after Jimmy Graham and consider him to be the top TE, Brate will likely also be available given that OJ Howard is likely the TE of the future in TB and they are due for a big extension to Mike Evans. Brate may be compelled to come here given that he had a front row view into Shanny’s offense as a division rival and his former Harvard teammate, Kyle Jusczyk, may recruit him over.

    Source: SB Nation

  23. The only way Niners lose by starting Jimmy is if he wins a few games (2 or 3) and knocks us out of the top 3 or 4 picks. There are some good trade bates coming out this draft, so that would be a missed opportunity for sure. But on the other hand if we start winning we help build our resume to draw some talent during the offseason. So it’s not all bad.

    1. Good one, #80. I’m excited to see him play, but also have mixed emotions about ruining our draft position.

      Jimmy looked smooth and seem to understand the chaos all around him in those few plays. And for those who say it was the end of the game and it was just a garbage or gimme TD, you don’t know the Seahawks. They never want to give up a TD and played as hard as they could at the end.

      Michael Bennett: I’m glad they didn’t put him in earlier.”

      1. Although I’d like to have the option of trading back and getting multiple picks, winning always feels so good.
        Let’s be honest, it’s still gonna be a top 5 pick.

      2. The #2 pick is certainly better than pick #4 or 5, but getting a few wins will get the team behind the new leader. Continuing to start CJ could have lead to a locker room split between CJ, the tough as nails QB and JG, the coddled pretty boy.

        Agree on the JG TD pass.

  24. I’m happy to hear this. I’m usually a don’t ruin the draft position guy, but in this case I think it’s more important to get Garoppolo playing and meshing with his teammates. If they win a couple of games so be it, but this will prepare them better going into next season. Looking forward to seeing Jimmy play.

  25. Well its Jimmy G time and we will get to see what the guy has. I sure hope he proves to be what some are saying he is. I am not expecting anything and hoping for everything.

  26. http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/article186978828.html

    “However, just before the ball arrives and any substantial contact is made, 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson turns his head in an attempt to find the ball. That pretty much takes him off the hook, especially when Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin has his arm wrapped around the back of Johnson and might be pulling him into the contact.”

    Agreed.

  27. Nice to see the truce! How about franchise tagging JG AND signing Cousins? Then we’ll have a true QB competition next year. Let the best man win. CJ will be the third guy. Just a thought from an old man. On a side note, I heard JG likes to work out with javelins in the off season. Maybe the team can hire Kaep to be the retriever. ;>}

    1. With all the attrition, Kaep will get a chance. They are running out of mediocre QBs, and are having to scrape the bottom of the barrel. Texans had to go back to Savage, and he threw 2 more picks. Denver had Lynch go down, and Siemian actually did OK, but still lost. Looks like some teams are content to see the season spiral down the drain due to poor QB play.
      .
      Well, this could evolve in many different ways.
      .
      JG could do what he did in 60 seconds, for all 60 minutes. He could be a field general, and lead drives that end up in the end zone, rather than settling for field goals. He should hand off in a variety of ways, to be unpredictable while establishing a running game. He should make quick drop backs and not allow the pass rushers to get to him before he gets rid of the ball. He should continue to have that quick release, and deliver accurate strikes. He should use his speed and mobility to scramble, and buy time for his receivers get open.
      .
      JG could pull a Hoyer, but I doubt that.
      .
      JG could be like Watson. Do well, then become injured in practice. Anything is possible.
      .
      JG could also start, and the turnstile O line could allow another Deondre Francois incident in his first game. If that happens, I will remind the blog of my trepidation over allowing JG to play behind such a poor line.
      .
      Since they announced JG will start, I guess that means that CJB is more injured than a minor bruise and strain. All 274 lbs crashed into that leg, and he laid on the field for a while. Hope he can recover fully, but it might mean they need more backup at QB. Wonder if they will elevate Mullens.
      .
      Now that Mostert is on IR, I wonder if they will promote Jeremy McNichols. He and D’ontae Foreman were the 2 RBs I mocked many times, because they were available in the mid rounds.

  28. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-john-lynch-ryan-pace-mitch-trubisky-20171128-story.html

    “Meanwhile, Lynch landed two of the top players on his draft board, pass rusher Soloman Thomas at No. 3 and linebacker Reuben Foster in a trade up to No. 31. Thomas, a native Chicagoan, who moved to Australia at age 2 and then to Texas at 7, is the player Lynch thought the Bears wanted to move up to draft.”

    “The 49ers were extremely lucky to get a potential franchise quarterback to go with a couple of defensive studs. Not bad in the first year of the Lynch/Shanahan partnership that came with matching six-year deals.”

  29. Now that they decided to let JG start, I certainly hope they do not force him to pass 57 times.
    .
    I hope they improve the pass protection, and Trent Brown can play.
    .
    JG with his quick release and BB training, will not incur as many sacks as CJB.
    .
    If JG can lead the Niners to at least 3 victories in the last 5 games, they should offer him a long term deal.
    .
    Fangio is as competent as Pete Carroll, so the Niners should expect them to stack the box to stop the run, and dare the Niners to pass. Fangio does not like to send more than 4 pass rushers like Pete, but he may want to rattle the new QB. Niners should not let the Bears shape them. If confronted with 8 in the box, they should spread them 4 wide, and attack the edges with bubble screens. Then when the defense moves to cover the 4 receivers, the Niners should gash them up the middle.

  30. I expected that JG would play Sunday. The fan base was behind him and CJB’s injury gave enough cover. Given that they are franchising him, and announced it, the most logical outcome would be play him. If he gets hurt, then maybe the franchise tag goes away, same if he plays mediocre. If he plays really well though…

    I expect he will shine at first and then get hammered, just like the last few guys to line up behind the guy who kills and gores you and his henchmen!

    To expect wins is premature. This team isn’t good.

  31. I don’t think so Seb. There are many reasons why. He hasn’t won any games of any significance in over 4 years. He compiled a 1-10 record last year including a 9 game losing streak. He’s 11-24 in his last 35 starts. To even achieve mediocrity, his forte, he has to play in the read/option offense, rarely used by any of the NFL teams anymore, which would mean the team would have to install a completely new offense, not just for him, but for all the other offensive players. Maybe if it was the beginning of the year. Maybe. Now. Forget it. Why would a team sign another mediocre QB, which I agree is all that is available? Because they won’t bring with them a circus. The media frenzy, subsequent fan backlash and distraction is the last thing a team competing for a playoff spot is looking for. Divisiveness in the locker room is not another situation teams are looking for. If you think players and fans would welcome him with open arms, that is really being naive. You too smart to believe that, aren’t you? Will some have no problem? Sure. Some isn’t good enough. As I have said time and time again, his talent NOW, not 5 years ago, does not overcome the negative fan backlash and media circus that would arise from his arrival. Top that off with the fact that most if not all the owners are rich conservative people who out of principle, right or wrong, will NEVER allow him on their team, especially with no CURRENT proof that he would make the team any better than any of the other mediocre QB’s out there. That’s my case. Your case is he was good 4-5 years ago and somehow he is going to step on the field and return to that player you want to talk about, but not the player he has been the last 3 years. With all due respect, that’s a rather flimsy case if you ask me.

    1. Juan, you keep forgetting that the team last season was built by Baalke, who blithely stated he saw no need to draft an ILB. The Niners ended up with Bellore, who not only jumped out of the gap he let the RB run through, he blocked his own players. No QB, even Joe, could have won with that defense that gave up 200 yards to third string RBs. The season before, he was injured, so I will not diss him for that.
      .
      The Read Option myth is destroyed by pointing out that Cousins used the Read Option to beat the Niners. Wilson used the Read Option to stroll into the end zone, so there is more proof that the Read Option, when utilized properly, can be devastatingly effective.
      .
      The divisive screed against Kaep is unwarranted, because he won the Len Eshmont Award. That prestigious award was voted on by his team mates for inspirational and courageous leadership. A divisive cancer would never win that award.
      .
      Kaep is talented enough NOW, because even with a turnstile O line and the 32nd ranked receivers, he posted a 90.7 QBR, which is better than half the QBs in the league who are playing NOW.
      .
      Kaep, even with no TC or preseason, could easily come in and lead a team, because it has been done many times before. The fan backlash and media circus has not stopped Reid from making interceptions and tackles, even though he is still kneeling.
      .
      Gabbert is proving that he could improve, with the proper support. Kaep could do the same thing, because this team is much improved, and Baalke is no longer able to stab him in the back.
      .
      I have seen CJB getting bludgeoned too many times. He was hit 13 times, and his head slammed to the turf so much, I personally think he must have suffered cranial trauma. His play slowed down, and he waited too long to throw the ball. His decision making skills seemed impaired, and it is no wonder he struggled with the cumulative impacts. Sure, he is tough, but the body can only take so much, before it breaks down.
      .
      It would be prudent to sit CJB, and sign Kaep as the back up. You may think Mullens is superior to Kaep, but Kaep is way more accomplished than a green rookie who was an UDFA. Mullens is only 6′ 1″ 187 lbs. Kaep is 6’4″, 228 lbs, so he could take the beating QBs have to endure.
      .
      If the Niner’s worst nightmare occurs, and JG goes down due to injury, I hope they are not caught flat footed. I hope they think things through, and have contingency plans.
      .
      With all due respect, there have been many instances, where QBs can resurrect their careers. Kaep took the league by storm, once.
      .
      I think he can do it again.

  32. I see the matter of JG playing as a way to determine if he is worthy of a “Show me the money contract” and to advertise his ability to other teams. The Niners have a lot of needs at other positions and could certainly use a couple more draft picks that JG could help justify and a team like Cleveland could actually afford giving up some draft picks. I’m not sure if the Ninerts need a franchise QB (at this point) if they are worrying about QB injuries to possible Franchise candidates.

  33. I see the matter of JG playing as a way to determine if he is worthy of a “Show me the money contract” and to advertise his ability to other teams. The Niners have a lot of needs at other positions and could certainly use a couple more draft picks that JG could help justify and a team like Cleveland could actually afford giving up some draft picks. I’m not sure if the Ninerts need a franchise QB (at this point) if they are worrying about QB injuries to possible Franchise candidates.

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