SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about Alex Smith at today’s press conference. Harbaugh starts with praise, and at the end he makes it very clear he wants Alex Smith to return to the Niners next year. What Harbaugh didn’t say was whether he wants Smith back on a one-year deal or a multi-year one. The way he said it makes it seem like the Niners will offer…
Yesterday our longtime reader Max had a vision while watching the Niners game in Townsend, Montana. He wrote a story about his vision in the comment section, but it’s so important I’m making it its own blog. Here it is. Enjoy. Max’s Story — I had a very nice New Year’s surprise, one that is 49ers football and 49ers blog related, so I feel compelled to share it here. Hope…
Here are my Week 17 grades for the 13-3 49ers. Alex Smith: B+. He made one very nice play in this game – the eight yard touchdown scramble on third and goal in the first quarter. He slipped in the pocket and when he bounced back up it seemed like he wanted to throw the ball away, but he didn’t. Instead he plowed his way into the end zone. He’s…
Here’s the live blog for the Niners Week 17 game in St. Louis against the Rams. I’ll be updating this throughout the game from home. 9:30 Patrick Willis is active and starting ahead of Larry Grant at inside linebacker for the first time in four weeks. Two Minute Warning Ted Ginn Jr (ankle), Kyle Williams (concussion) and Delanie Walker (jaw) are not active. Neither are Scott Tolzien, Shawntae Spencer, Mike…
Here are my Week 17 picks. Oh and by the way, the Niners officially promoted WR Joe Hastings to the 53 man roster this morning. Good thing I waited until Saturday to make my picks – this changes everything. 49ers @ Rams: 49ers, 16-3. The Rams scored zero points against the Niners last time they played, so with the home field advantage they’ll score a field goal in this one….
Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said today at his Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Have you guys made a decision yet (on who will fill the open roster spot)? “No, we haven’t made an announcement yet. We won’t until tomorrow, most likely.” What’s the purpose of waiting until Saturday for that move? “Until we know exactly how we want to do it. [WR] Ted [Ginn] had a good workout…
SANTA CLARA – In today’s press conference Greg Roman explained many things, including his decision to call three straight run plays in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks after the deep pass to Michael Crabtree. Here’s what he said. Opening Statement: “I’m in at past noon, so good afternoon. We’ve got the Rams this week. Really well-coached team. We’ve got a lot of respect for [Head Coach] Steve Spagnuolo and…
Eric Byrnes asked Steve Young Wednesday on KNBR if Alex Smith should be a Pro Bowl quarterback. Here’s what Young said. Q: Should Alex Smith have been a Pro Bowl quarterback? Or if someone fell out – Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees or Eli Manning – should Alex Smith take his place? YOUNG: “Emotionally I’m attached to Alex and what he’s done this year. The story is so great. If…
SANTA CLARA – As you know, the Niners cut Braylon Edwards yesterday. As you may not know, they’re most likely going to promote practice squad WR Joe Hastings to the 53-man roster to fill Edwards’ spot. Alex Smith answered questions this afternoon Edwards and Hastings. He also answered questions about conservative play calling. Here you go. Q: What were your thoughts when you heard Braylon Edwards had been cut? ALEX…
This falls under the “For What it’s Worth” category. Donte Whitner, who played for the Buffalo Bills with Terrell Owens in 2009, lobbied for the Niners to sign the once-great wide receiver this morning on twitter. T.O. started the correspondence by tweeting this to Whitner: “Let em know if they need me I’m ready homie!! I’m ready 2 take em deep!!” Whitner then responded with this tweet: “I know u…
Here’s the 49ers media availability schedule for Week 16. Jim Harbaugh speaks today at 11:55, and Alex Smith speaks after him. Tomorrow, Vic Fangio speaks first in the media tent and Greg Roman will speak second. The locker room is open both today and tomorrow. Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo talks on a conference call this morning at 9:05 and Rams inside linebacker James Laurinitis talks at noon. Are there any questions…
It turns out Jim Harbaugh overshot his Pro Bowl prediction. Eight Niners made the NFC Pro Bowl team – one or two or three short of his prediction. Six Niners ended up making the team as starters, and two made it as reserves. The starters are Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Carlos Rogers, David Akers and Andy Lee and the reserves are are Frank Gore and Dashon Goldson. Not one…
The 49ers cut Braylon Edwards, according to multiple reports. Edwards made this statement on his website: “I was released today by the 49ers due to my injury that required more time to rehab and hasn’t allowed me to re-sync with the offense. I wish the 49ers organization the best of luck during the Playoffs. “I will be working hard this off season to strengthen my knee and prepare for the 2012…
Today my dad wrote his column about why Trent Baalke has to be the NFL executive of the year, and about his dead-mackerel stare. He points out how Baalke’s key additions to the defense have elevated it from good to great, and he also points out how his dead-mackerel stare can sometimes look more like a halibut on ice. To read the column, click here.
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the rest of what Jim Harbaugh said this afternoon at his press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Hello. Good to see everybody. Great win for us. Extremely proud of our football team on a lot of different levels in this ball game. Probably the biggest factor is they didn’t flinch. It reminded me a lot of ways of games we played at Detroit, at…
SANTA CLARA – The NFL announces the Pro Bowl selections tomorrow at 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Today in his afternoon press conference, Harbaugh lobbied for nearly a dozen Niners to be named to the squad. Here’s what he said about it. Q: Tomorrow the Pro Bowl selections are announced. Would you expect a pretty big haul? HARBAUGH: I would, yes. I think it’s legitimate to say there’s probably going to…
SANTA CLARA – Ted Ginn Jr., who sprained his left ankle on a second-half kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers, spoke at his locker this morning. Here’s what he said. Q: Do you think you’re going to play this Sunday against the Rams? GINN JR.: I don’t know right now. I’ll leave it up to the players and the coaches. Q: When you were warming up in Seattle did you think…
Phil Barber here, back for one final Jim Harbaugh post. This one is with J.T. Rogan, who set several major career records at the University of San Diego – including rushing yardage and touchdowns – while playing for Harbaugh there.
SANTA CLARA – A smiling Frank Gore held court at his locker this morning. Here’s what he said. Q: It seems like in previous seasons if this team had had a blocked punt like that, things would have snowballed and gone downhill. GORE: Yeah, everything would have turned around. Q: Yeah, what does that about the character of this team? GORE: We just know that we’re a good team. We…
Before I get into my Week 16 grades for the 12-3 Niners, I want to put this win in perspective. It was the best one of the year for Jim Harbaugh’s team. It was a short week, they didn’t have Patrick Willis, they only had one wide receiver (Crabtree) they trusted, and they had to come from behind to win. They gave themselves a great chance to get the No….
