. . . and the pieces are flying off faster than a 1972 Pinto. Trust me. A buddy of mine had a Pinto Wagon that was the slowest car in the world. Well, down there with those old mini-Blazers that Chevy used to put out. The Pinto would shift feverishly between 2nd, drive, and passing gear trying to get to Tahoe. mmmmm-Mmmmm-MMMMMMMMMM-mmm-MMMMMM-Mmmmmm, all in like 3 seconds. Volkswagen Microbuses would be passing us. Motorized wheelchairs as well.

But I digress. Harbaugh has started this free agency period putting back the pieces that made this defense a stout one. And, in response to the fact the Niners play Brady, Brees, E Manning, Rodgers, and possibly P Manning (maybe even 2x), among the usual Bradfords and Skeltons, he felt the need to bring back Rogers, and sign Perrish Cox, a CB with a bit of a history, but is also a good KR. So, the starting defense is intact, and they’ve beefed up the CB spot with Cox and the return of Holcomb.

Offensively? Well, we signed Randy Moss from the reclamation pile/unemployment line. He had a fairly miserable 2010 and promptly retired. He didn’t work last year. Is he coming back hungry? Or merely greedy? Hard to say. The guy is pretty much an enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a mystery. Some guys swear by him, others call him a self-serving malingerer. Since he’s on a one-year deal, there’s little risk to the signing. He’s this year’s version of Braylon Edwards. In other words, expendable. That being said, they ARE looking for more help at WR. Chaz Schillens, one of the decent Raiders, will be in today for a look-see. At 6’4″ and 220, he’s the big WR that Harbaugh seems to favor.

As for Alex? I really figured they’d get this done by now. 4 years/$45 mill is what I said a week ago, and it still sounds right. I suppose they’ll go after JJ if Smith signs elsewhere. If he DOES sign somewhere else, it’ll be a little hard to fathom. I don;t think Cappy is ready, and to start him now would be pretty much caloig the season a trial-and-error period, and the al;ternative at best would be JJ. At worst? Well, there are a shitload of crappy FA QBs, and Matt Flynn. Donovan McNabb? Kyle Orton? Jason Campbell? Kyle Boller? Gross Rexman?

Bleeeech. In other words, there isn’t a compelling reason not to sign Smith, unless he’s really pushing for elite QB money. If so? Oh well. I don’t think anyone else goes to the moon for him. But, hey. Seattle is the team that could pull the trigger on him. If Smith is hell-bent on testing the market, he may be disappointed. And come back.