Here’s the news this morning:
1. Adam Snyder is visiting the Cardinals according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Matt Maiocco reports that the Niners offered Snyder an extension during the season but it was “low-ball.”
2. Ted Ginn Jr. is visiting the Lions today, according to Booth Newspapers.
Don’t be surprised if both Snyder and Ginn sign with those teams today. The Cardinals seem to value Snyder much higher than the Niners do, and Ginn would have a much better chance to actually play wide receiver on the Lions. Behind Calvin Johnson, the Lions secondary receivers (Titus Young and Nate Burleson) are nothings special.
In other news, the Niners called Laurent Robinson and told him they’re interested, according to a league source. Robinson is in Jacksonville talking to the Jaguars who are desperate for a receiver. But if you were Robinson, would you rather play for the Jaguars or the Niners? Stupid question, right?
If Trent Baalke really wants Robinson, he shouldn’t have too tough of a time convincing him to fly out to Santa Clara for a workout.
10:23 This just in: According to Maiocco, G Leonard Davis will workout with the Niners today. He’s on the verge of becoming the third Niners pickup who did not play last season. Baalke is unveiling new wrinkles this off season to his bargain-shopping philosophy.
Davis was the No. 2 pick in the 2001 draft and he was a three-time Pro Bowler. Now, he’s 33, 6-6 and 355 lbs. He’d probably be an upgrade over Snyder.
10:50 Further development on Alex Smith: No development.
11:24 The Niners are interested in Mario Manningham according to Adam Schefter. The Bills and Dolphins are also interested. He’d be a step down from Laurent Robinson, but a good flanker signing nonetheless.
12:02 Further development on Alex Smith: No development.
12:51 Free agent guard Ben Grubbs is taking a physical for the Saints in New Orleans.
1:08 It’s too bad that Blake Costanzo won’t be back next year. I’m not saying it was the wrong move to let him sign with the Bears -the Niners want special teams players who also play a position on offense or defense, and that’s not Costanzo. He’s a special-teams specialist.
With him gone, the locker room will be a lot different. He was one of the happiest guys on the team. He bounced around the locker room with the exuberance of an outsider, like, isn’t all of this just grand?
He was always available and happy to talk and articulate. I’ll miss Blake Costanzo.
BULLETIN: 1:39 Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham will workout with the Niners on Saturday. He’d be a better signing for Niners than Brandon Lloyd because he’s younger and he’s still improving. Manningham will be 26 years old next season. Lloyd will be 31.
BREAKING NEWS: 2:16 Further development on Alex Smith: No development.
2:47 The Cardinals are close to signing Adam Snyder, according to Adam Schefter. Daniel Kilgore is the next man up at right guard on the Niners depth chart. They are interested in signing Leonard Davis to compete for that spot.
3:00 The Cardinals officially sign Snyder to a five-year deal.
3:19 According to Josh Ellis, a Cowboys reporter for the Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine, the going rate for Laurent Robinson has gone up to $6 million per year. That’s probably too steep for Baalke and the Niners.
3:39 Robinson just signed a five-year $32.5 million contract with the Jaguars, according to Schefter. It’s looking doubtful that the Niners will sign another impact wide receiver in free agency.
3:52 Brandon Lloyd worked out today with the 49ers, but there is no word yet if he’ll sign. Manningham is still scheduled to come tomorrow. I’d be surprised if the Niners signed either one of these guys because they’re going to be expensive. Signing either guy at market value could make them the highest paid wide receiver on the team. I don’t think Baalke would want Manningham or Lloyd earning more than Crabtree or Moss.
The Niners best move probably is to wait until the draft to get their replacement for Joshua Morgan. They could draft Marvin Jones, a 6-2, 200 lbs. flanker from Cal, in the second round. He would be a good, cheap replacement for Morgan. This move would allow the Niners to draft Stanford tight end Coby Fleener in the first round. Adding Fleener and Jones would make the Niners offense much more dangerous for a bargain.
EXTRA: It’s been two hours since the last bulletin on Alex Smith, and here’s the latest: Further development: No development.
4:45 The 49ers are interested in Eddie Royal, according to Barrows. Royal is scheduled to meet with the Chargers this week, but if he doesn’t sign a contract with them, he might be interested in the Niners. He’s 25 years old, 5-10, 185 lbs. He’s a slot receiver, so if the Niners sign him it means they’re comfortable with Crabtree at flanker and Moss starting at split end, most likely.
6:24 The Seahawks just released Robert Gallery. Perhaps the Niners could sign him to a one-year contract to play right guard. Gallery is 31 years old, he’s 6-7 and he weighs 325 lbs. He played hurt last year.
6:25 John McClain speculates that Peyton Manning will sign with the Titans and run the team after he retires. In that scenario, Bud Adams is Willy Wonka and Manning is Charlie Bucket.
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