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Bill Walsh, a legend, has passed away

The former San Francisco 49ers HC Bill Walsh has died at the age of 75 after battling leukemia the past few years. Walsh was a legend, a master of using short, precisely timed passes to control the ball in what became known as the West Coast offense. Walsh, the 49ers head coach from 1979 to 1988, guided the 49ers to three Super Bowl championships and six NFC West division titles in his 10 years as head coach.  However Walsh means so much more to the NFL than simply the 'West Coast Offense' or titles. 

GORE BREAKS HAND! OUT 4-6 WEEKS!

Frank Gore has broken a bone in his right hand during today's practice. He is rumored to be out of the entire pre-season and possible longer.

John Clayton's Top 5 Surprise Teams for 2007

ESPN's John Clayton published his top 5 sleeper teams for 2007.  They were selected for their progress in the off-season and their respective schedules. 

NFL QB Team by Team Analysis

NFL.com's Michael Fabiano analyzed all 32 NFL team's Quarterback position for fantasy production.  He didn't go into as much detail as some may like but for the majority (AKA no keeper leagues) of fantasy leaguers it'll be a good overview by team. 

SF 49'ers race for #2 RB spot...

The Press Democrat published a positional analysis of the San Francisco 49'ers running backs.  They report SF 49'ers RB Michael Robinson is currently a slight favorite ahead of RB Maurice Hicks and rookie RB Thomas Clayton to win the team's No. 2 running back job.

WR Jason Hill, #76 Overall Pick, San Francisco 49'ers

San Francisco 49'ers selected Washington State WR Jason Hill with the #76 overall selection (#12 in the 3rd round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Hill, surprised folks at the combine with a 4.3 40 time after a productive career in the Pac-10 with 32 career TD receptions.  Hill joins a suddenly deep 49'ers receiving core but don't be surprised if he's starting by mid-season and in a few years is one of the better third round selections from this draft. 

San Francisco 49'ers selected Washington State WR Jason Hill with the #76 overall selection (#12 in the 3rd round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Hill, surprised folks at the combine with a 4.3 40 time after a productive career in the Pac-10 with 32 career TD receptions.  Hill joins a suddenly deep 49'ers receiving core but don't be surprised if he's starting by mid-season and in a few years is one of the better third round selections from this draft. 

San Francisco 49'ers selected Washington State WR Jason Hill with the #76 overall selection (#12 in the 3rd round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Hill, surprised folks at the combine with a 4.3 40 time after a productive career in the Pac-10 with 32 career TD receptions.  Hill joins a suddenly deep 49'ers receiving core but don't be surprised if he's starting by mid-season and in a few years is one of the better third round selections from this draft. 

San Francisco 49'ers selected Washington State WR Jason Hill with the #76 overall selection (#12 in the 3rd round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Hill, surprised folks at the combine with a 4.3 40 time after a productive career in the Pac-10 with 32 career TD receptions.  Hill joins a suddenly deep 49'ers receiving core but don't be surprised if he's starting by mid-season and in a few years is one of the better third round selections from this draft. 

San Francisco 49'ers selected Washington State WR Jason Hill with the #76 overall selection (#12 in the 3rd round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Hill, surprised folks at the combine with a 4.3 40 time after a productive career in the Pac-10 with 32 career TD receptions.  Hill joins a suddenly deep 49'ers receiving core but don't be surprised if he's starting by mid-season and in a few years is one of the better third round selections from this draft. 

Darrell Jackson traded to the SF 49'ers

ESPN is reporting that Seattle Seahawks WR Darrell Jackson boarded a plane from Florida to San Francisco early this morning to take a physical to complete a trade with the San Francisco 49'ers for a 4th round selection in this year's draft.  the trade has been completed, providing the 49'ers with an experienced featured receiver. 

Frank Gore gets big extension from 49'ers

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli reports the San Francisco 49ers reached agreement with RB Frank Gore on a four-year contract extension through 2011, with the deal averaging just shy of $7 million in terms of so-called "new money." Gore will receive an initial signing bonus of $6.5 million and total guarantees of nearly $14 million. The contract will pay Gore $13.862 million in its first two seasons and $18.212 million in the first three years. Because Gore had one season remaining on his original rookie contract, the four-year extension creates a five-year deal, and the total value over the course of the five seasons is $28.012 million. Base salaries are $450,000 (for 2007), $2.5 million (2008), $2.5 million (2009), $2.85 million (2010) and $2.9 million (2011). The contract includes a $4.165 million option bonus and roster bonuses of $1.75 million (2009), $1.85 million (2010) and $2 million (2011). Gore's full base salary of $2.5 million in 2009 is guaranteed.

49'ers add WR Ashley Lelie

NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting free-agent WR Ashley Lelie signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers for $4.3 million, including a $2 million signing bonus. Lelie is a favorite to start opposite Arnaz Battle and fill their need for a vertical threat. 

49'ers sign CB Nate Clements to Largest Defensive Contract in NFL history

The San Francisco 49ers official website and ESPN are reporting the 49ers moved quickly in free agency, signing unrestricted free agents CB Nate Clements from Buffalo and SS Michael Lewis from Philadelphia on Friday.  “I am excited to add two defensive starters to our team,” said HC Mike Nolan. “Free agency is about adding good players with character to our team. I am confident that Nate and Michael will help make us better. Players have a choice in free agency. It is a compliment to our players and fans that Nate and Michael wanted to be with the 49ers.”

49'ers Rookies Showing Promise...

The SF Chronicle posted an article evaluating the promise of the San Francisco 49'ers 2006 draft class.  Though its still very early, it appears they've found at least 3 starters (Vernon Davis TE, Manny Lawson LB & Melvin Oliver DT) and 2 quality role players (Michael Robinson RB & Delanie Walker TE).  Plus the class has a couple of guys who have shown promise but injuries have limited them this season.  Coupled with QB Alex Smith, RB Frank Gore, G David Baas & T Adam Snyder the 49'ers have assembled a nice core of players the past two drafts.  If they can continue that in 2007, they'll be ready to contend, in earnest, for the playoffs next season.

Frank Gore a stud?

The SF 49'ers starting RB Frank Gore is certainly developing into a franchise type back w/ 160+ yards last week and 212 yards on the ground in week ten.  The two week run has lifted his season total to 1043 and a cool 104 yards per week average.  However Gore is not the goalline back and has shown a propensity to fumble as evidenced by his six lost fumbles this year.  In short Gore has developed into a very good NFL back but he needs to work on his ball security and gain the confidence of his head coach for the goalline job.

Morning Game Observations

Observations from NFL Week 10 Morning games. 

Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-17 -

• QB B. Favre - he put up a strong effort against a tough defense with 2 td's & 330+ yards.
  
• WR D. Driver had (or was close to) a career day w/ 190+ yards receiving & a 82 yard TD
• RB A. Green didn't do much against the NFL's top run defense rushing for 55 yards on 22 carries
• QB B. Johnson had a better day coming off back to back poor performances, throwing for 257 yards & a 40 yard TD pass.  However he did throw a pick and lost a fumble continuing a trend that will likely result in Brad Childress making a switch in the next week or two.
• RB Chester Taylor had a workmanlike 75 yards on the ground and 20 yard receiving but didn't score. 
• Minnesota WR's again were inconsistent w/ newcomers Bethel Johnson w/ 75 yards & Billy McMullen surprising with 60 yards & a TD (40)

Bill Walsh has leukemia

For all those 49'ers, Stanford Cardinal and West Coast offense fans out there, I'm sad to report hall of fame coach Bill Walsh has leukemia, according to several media sources.  The innovative coach led the 49'ers to their twenty year dynasty and left a permanent mark on the NFL. 

49'ers maybe leaving the Bay Area?

In a move that shouldn't come as a surprise but isn't welcome for any longtime San Francisco 49'ers fans, the team's owner notified SF mayor Gavin Newsome that the team is looking at Santa Clara county and other areas in California to move to. 
Los Angeles is looking to acquire a NFL franchise and the 49'ers likely would be a natural fit.  The San Francisco Chronicle will write about this in tomorrow's paper.

Owens; "It Was God's Will"

The Philadelphia Daily News, citing the Dallas Morning News, reports Cowboys WR Terrell Owens was encouraged to do do the electric slide on the Texas Stadium star by a chaplain with the 49ers when the receiver was playing for San Francisco several years back. Former 49ers receiver coach George Stewart said team chaplain Earl Smith "began talking about Roger Staubach and how the Cowboys were God's Team and America's Team. Then he asked Terrell if he knew why there was a hole in the roof. He didn't, so the chaplain told him that it was so God could look down on the Cowboys." Stewart added "He said, 'If you score, go to the star and let God see you. Look up to the sky and praise God.' If you'll look at a replay, you'll see that he runs to the star, looks right up, praises God and then leaves the field." Owens received a ton of publicity after this stunt. Perhaps feeding off this publicity, he sought other ways to satisfy an insatiable, needy ego. Destructive or not, it sure has worked.

DeBartolo Throws a Reunion Party!

Former San Francisco 49'ers owner, Eddie DeBartolo, threw a reunion party for his five super bowl champion teams in Las Vegas. The party included over 300 invites that ranged from past players, coaches and administration. The list of attendees included Mike Shannahan (former Offensive Coordinator for the 49'ers), Bill Walsh, George Seifert and players such as Deion Sanders (played on the '94 super bowl team), Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and hundreds more. Also US Senator Diane Feinstein and former SF mayor Willie Brown attended and spoke at the function.

In typical DeBartolo fashion, he booked over 300 rooms at the Las Vegas Paris hotel, and upon check-in each guest received $500 in chips, a $300 gift card, a bottle of wine, shirts and snacks. The three day party cost DeBartolo more than $1 million but as his guests universally said, it was 'wonderful'.

Growing up as a 49'er fan, fortunate enough to be born into a family with season tickets, this story has special meaning. Say what you want about Eddie DeBartolo, one thing is for sure, he wanted to win and cared as much or more for his players than any other owner in professional sports. For a fan, all that mattered was that they were winning but as an owner DeBartolo created an atmosphere that expected excellence and rewarded it handsomely. Those teams played hard and won, because they wanted to but also because they didn't want to disappoint Eddie. Unfortunately the 49'ers are run by an ownership that is more interested in pulling annual profits and less concerned with the performance on the field. If only we could find a way to get Eddie back into the picture. He's an owner every sports fan can appreciate and should desire.

The San Jose Mercury News article on this
SF Chronicle Article

49'ers land Antonio Bryant...

Not everybody will agree but a sign that the 49'ers organization is moving in the right direction was the Brandon Lloyd for a 3rd round & 4th round selection, $10 million (in cap savings) and WR Antonio Bryant. Of course the 49'ers didn't actually receive that money, nor did they trade Brandon Lloyd for Antonio Bryant but in essence that's how you have to analyze what transpired the past forty-eight hours.

Let's compare Brandon Lloyd & Antonio Bryant.
Age - Bryant is four months older than Lloyd (both were born in 1981) but Bryant has one more year pro experience.
Production - Both are coming off their career highs, Lloyd 48 catches for 733 yards vs. Bryan'ts 69 for 1009 yards.
Size - Bryant is 2 inches taller (6'2" vs. 6 feet) but only 5 pounds heavier.
Potential - Bryant was one of the most heavily touted receivers to come out of the 2002 draft but fell to the 1st pick of the 2nd round due to some off the field concerns. Lloyd was a 4th round pick b/c scouts felt he lacked size & speed to ever be a #1 WR.
Cost - The 49'ers signed Bryant for a little less than $4 million a year (4 year term), w/ approximately $5 million guaranteed. The reports are that Washington will soon hand Lloyd a deal that pays him more than $5 million a year (6 year term) and $10 million+ in guarantees.

One could argue that the 49'ers are taking a risk with a player who has a questionable character, which is a good point. However Lloyd had caused waves in the 49'ers locker room this past year and had been a distraction (remember he wanted to launch a rap career).

So even if Bryant & Lloyd were of equal value, which in my estimation they are not, the 49'ers saved money and netted a 3rd & 4th round pick to help in their rebuilding efforts. This one move won't in itself get the 49'ers back to the playoffs but it shows the type of salary cap management, talent evaluation & execution against their plan that the perennial playoff teams demonstrate.

WR Brandon Lloyd Dealt to Redskins

The San Francisco 49'ers dealt restricted FA WR Brandon Lloyd to the Washington Redskins for two draft choices. The two selections, a 2006 3rd round and 2007 4th round, were less than the required 1st round selection compensation the 49'ers had tendered Lloyd. There were rumors, reported by ESPN's Len Pasquarelli, that the 49'ers were going to dish Lloyd for two 2nd round selections. So needless to say a third & a fourth doesn't seem very appealing but we have to keep this all in perspective. The 49'ers couldn't realistically expect