SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers hasn’t practiced for most of the Niners’ offseason program. Today, Jim Harbaugh said Rogers has been “working through something,” which means he’s injured. Rogers spoke after Harbaugh about that injury and about the offseason in general. Here’s what he said. Q: Are you working through an injury right now? ROGERS: Just strained my right calf a little bit in the workouts, toward the beginning of…
Nothing’s going on at Niners headquarters this week, we’ve broken down the offense, now let’s talk about the defense. It’s the best defense in the league – we know that. It has no weak links. Last year I wrote that Dashon Goldson was the weak link, and that was pretty silly, I admit. The entire starting lineup is strong. We know there are two great players – Justin Smith and…
The 49ers just franchise-tagged Dashon Goldson, a move that will cost the team about $6.2 million in 2012. Will the Niners re-sign any more of their free agents before free agency starts? It seems pretty clear at this point that Carlos Rogers will “test the waters” and see what other teams can offer him. Same with Ted Ginn Jr., and Adam Snyder, and maybe even Joshua Morgan, too. If there’s…
According to Matt Maiocco, Ahmad Brooks will count $2.85 million against the 49ers’ salary cap in 2012. For all the figures of Brooks’ deal, read Matty’s article here. Just know that Brooks’ cap figures significantly increase in upcoming seasons, but in 2012 he’ll be a relative bargain. Here’s how this affects free agency: Currently the Niners have about $23 million in cap space. If they cut Shawntae Spencer, then they’ll…
The Niners just announced that they re-signed outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks to a six-year contract extension. The contract is worth $44.5 million, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson. Now, the Niners have every member of their elite defensive front-seven signed for multiple seasons. They’ve solidified the strength of their team, which is always a good strategy. It’s interesting that the Niners gave Brooks the first long-term contract of the offseason, and…
Yesterday, I wrote that free agent free safety Dashon Goldson had a strong negotiating position with the Niners because they have no replacement for him. Well, maybe Trent Baalke disagrees. He gave C.J. Spillman, backup safety and top-special teamer, a three year, $6 million contract (1.8 million guaranteed), according to Matt Maiocco. Spillman is the first 49er Baalke has re-signed this off season. Considering the Niners will not re-sign last season’s…
Trent Baalke reiterated this morning at the NFL Combine that the 49ers want to keep their guys in place, as in re-sign their free agents. Baalke said there’s no priority list for who he wants to re-sign, which is baloney, probably. Let’s try to guess that priority list. Which of the 49ers free agents are most important to resign? And in what order? Keep in mind, no free agent is…
Trent Baalke is having a monster year. On Friday, the 49ers extended his contract through the 2016 season, this coming a few weeks after he won the NFL’s Executive of the Year award. Almost every move he made in 2011 worked out. It was like he was on a heater at a craps table in Vegas and he was hitting ten the hard way over and over again. Here are…
Don’t be surprised if the Niners don’t resign free agents Carlos Rogers or Ahmad Brooks. The Niners have roughly $33.8 million in cap space. They’re most likely going to franchise tag Dashon Goldson, so $6.2 of that would go to him. Another $7 or $8 million will go to Alex Smith, probably. Then there are the guys who will probably come back on cheap contracts – Joshua Morgan, Adam Snyder,…
This is a blog about Stanford tight end Coby Fleener, but first, some context. According to Matt Maiocco, Dashon Goldson is the Niners’ top candidate for the franchise tag. Franchising Goldson would cost the Niners $6.2 million in 2012, while it would cost them $10.6 million to franchise their other top free agent, Carlos Rogers. So, Goldson most likely will be a Niner next season. But, will Rogers? He wants…
Here’s the article I wrote for the Tuesday’s Santa Rosa Press Democrat. It’s about the Niners free agency situation. They believe they’re a Super Bowl team, so what they want to do is keep what they have and resign their core players. Pro Bowlers Carlos Rogers and Dashon Goldson are two of their most key guys, and they’re going to want a lot of money. The Niners may be able…
SANTA CLARA — I have a proposition for you. Let’s pause the never-ending Alex Smith debate and temporarily over-analyze something else. We can always come back to Smith. If you’re not in the mood for an intermission though, who am I to boss you around? Do what makes you happy. For those of you who are still with me – here’s my question: Who’s the weakest link on the Niners…
SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner talks slow and low like he’s your grandfather. But on the football field he’s a completely different person. Whitner explained this phenomenon to me today in the 49ers locker room. GC: Do you have two different personalities? WHITNER: You have to. If you take your aggressive personality home to your wife and your kids there’s going to be some trouble in the household. Your kids…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the complete transcript of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference in the media tent, courtesy of the 49ers. Do you know or expect what the status of DT Isaac Sopoaga will be on Sunday? Do you expect to have him ready for the game? “I think right now it would be highly unlikely that he’ll play this Sunday.” What have you seen from his replacement…
Here’s the transcript of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris’ conference call from this morning. Q: How are you doing? MORRIS: I’m doing awesome, man. Q: What’s your biggest challenge coming in for this week? MORRIS: Going to play San Fran, obviously you’re going to have a challenge with your travel, getting your team there, getting them acclimated to the time zone. After that it’s your team. You…
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers just sent out their depth chart for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Houston Texans, and there are some changes in the secondary. Dashon Goldson is officially the starting free safety while Reggie Smith is injured. Madieu Williams is officially second-string. Shawntae Spencer is still the starting right cornerback even though he’s injured. Tarell Brown is his backup, and Tramaine Brock is third-string. Chris Culliver is…
SANTA CLARA – Dashon Goldon spoke to reporters after a post-practice weight-lifting session. Here’s the complete transcript of that interview. He spoke candidly about free agency, his opportunity in New England, and his reasons for returning to the Niners. Q: Why did you come back? GOLDSON: I got a lot of advice but I knew all along I wanted to be here. This is home for me. This is where…
According to Matt Barrows, Reggie Smith tore the meniscus in one of his knees and he will miss a couple of weeks, but it shouldn’t be a serious, long-term injury. Clearly, this is a big reason the Niners resigned Dashon Goldson. Here are my two questions for you: Question 1: If Smith hadn’t hurt his knee, would Baalke have resigned Goldson anyway? I say yes. Baalke got him for cheap,…
According to Pro Football Talk, The 49ers will resign Safety Dashon Goldson to a one-year contract. This is a good thing for three reasons. You can never have enough good players on a football team, and now the Niners have four good safeties – Goldson, Donte Whitner, Madieu Williams, and Reggie Smith. It protects the team from injury. On Saturday Reggie Smith removed himself from practice – coach Harbaugh said…
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports this morning that the 49ers have over $30 million in cap space. Some of you asked whether the 49ers have to spend a minimum amount of that cap room this year, but they don’t. Individual teams don’t have to spend a minimum amount until 2013. This year, the league as a whole must spend 99% of $3.184 billion. In related news, Manny Lawson…
