Thanks for the pic, Kevin. I love it.
Are we tired of Ray Lewis yet? How about the fact it is Lewis’ last game (really?)? How about the comparisons of Ray Lewis to Patrick Willis? The Har-blather? Kaepernicking? Deer antler spray? Alex Smith and his fate? His loss of job? Bah.
At least the players seem to be having fun with it. Joe Staley put on a tattoo sleeve and Kaepernicked for the media. Kaepernick was talked into Kaepernicking for the assembled media. A reporter asked Flacco how he felt about his own father calling him dull. Flacco responded by saying I think he meant that as a compliment, and Flacco pretty much said yeah, I am dull. It means I’m not a distraction. Riveting stuff. Randy Moss decided to declare himself the best WR to ever play the game, saying it isn’t all numbers, but really, they do come in to play. Moss took a few seasons off in his head, so he’s a little off, but his rambling answers were fun. It appeared the reporters were trying to get the old Randy to emerge. The volatile Randy who would go off into crazyland. I like Rice’s response (which isn’t really correct) but he said it’s all about this as he pointed to one of his Super Bowl rings. Plenty of great players didn’t get the shot at a Super Bowl, but whatever Rice is was and probably always will be the #1 WR ever. Rice was fairly cool about it, saying he’d let the fans decide it, but it sure was better than listening to Ray Lewis talk during the media breakfast about the secret society that football is, and how dare that SWATS guy try to penetrate that shroud of secrecy. That’s part of the PROBLEM, Ray Ray. You guys doing your secret shit in the locker room and castigating anyone that dare question what you are doing.
Anyhow, we’re getting closer to the real thing, and I can’t wait.
Forty Niners Forever 
The NFL was set to interview the deer that Lewis allegedly received the antler extract from, but the deer was found dead in the woods outside of Atlanta of multiple stab wounds.
If I was Alex Smith, I’d want to go to the Cleveland Browns. Here are pretty much all the logical choices for Alex Smith after Smith is released – The Bills, Jets, Chiefs, Raiders, Browns, Bucs, Jaguars and Eagles. Mike Vick and Matt Flynn are available. Matt Cassell and Fitzpatrick might slide into backup roles. And let’s not forget J Russell (sweet mother of Christmas). Despite the lackluster qb draft, there might be some gems in there as well. One never knows.
John Clayton recently said, “What will Alex Smith be without the benefit of Jim Harbaugh?” Alex Smith has to be looking hard at that too. If it was me, my first pick would be the Browns, not the Chiefs. The Cleveland Browns made two interesting hires this off season. They got Norv Turner who seems to live in the grey area between OC and HC. They have Richardson, and they also just hired Horton Heat. In my opinion, that’s the right formula for Smith: A system with Turner that Smith knows, a powerful running back who’s young, and a great defensive coordinator. Isn’t that the formula Smith improved under in SF? But will Norv want Smith? I can remember Lynch reportedly hearing Norv yell from the press box at Smith, “Throw the damn ball.”
Who knows if Chud has an interest in Smith? The Browns have Weeden and could draft another qb. Yesterday Alex Smith blamed his receivers for all his years of futility in SF. The Browns don’t have offensive receiver weapons, unless you consider Cribbs and Gordon explosive. But the framework for success is already in place in Cleveland. If I was Smith, and I had my choice, I’d chose the Browns.
One could argue that the best landing place for Smith would be with the Chiefs who have Reed, maybe Bowe and Charles, and the Chiefs have good defensive players. But the Chiefs also have the first overall draft choice, and I could see Andy Reed picking his own project qb much like Jim Harbaugh did recently.
The Smith debate will continue on blogs like these, but for Smith to be a success, he needs a lot of talent (coaching and players) around him.
You lost me after “If I was Alex Smith…”
Spit the marketing plan will be initiated via Baalke.
There’s value for Alex.
Weak Draft Class at the QB position too.
No way Andy Reid spends Pick 1 on a QB.
I’d be all in for getting a 2 from anyone seeking Alex’s services and, all the QB needy Teams happen to Draft in the Top 10.
What would be a great scenario is to have Buffalo getting into the fray and perhaps motivating Idzik in NY to keep him from going there.
Woody Johnson has no clue what the NFL game is about, as it relates to the Cap.
He simply has all the money in the world and figures you buy what you want.
Problem is, Tannenbaum guaranteed Sanchez’s Contract.
I agree Cleveland makes the most sense because of Norv but, Cleveland already burned this years’ 2nd Pick in the Supplemental Draft.
If they offered a 2 next year and a 3 this year, I’d be all over it.
Now, if Sanchize could be persuaded to restructure, (which is highly unlikely, and probably ill advised), they could easily get Alex on a 2 year deal while Mornhinweg implements the new scheme over there.
Baalke is no dunce, he and Harbaugh have made Alex a viable option at the right time.
Demand is high, supply is low.
Word is circulating that Chip Kelly is going to pluck Dennis Dixon from the Ravens’ PS
following the SB.
Makes total sense, since Dixon played in Oregon.
That puts Vick on the street which gives Reid a free shot, with no Contract to contend with or, Draft Picks to forfeit.
Be great to have Cleveland ante up.
We won’t deal with AZ and I’d suspect that we don’t want Alex taking knowledge of the System to a Division rival.
Hence, make the best possible deal you can to put him on an AFC Roster.
The front runners have to be KC, Cleve, and Buffalo. Maybe even Chip Kelly and the Iggles getting Smith back into a spread system. Reid’s good with QBs, I could see him drafting a QB but also using Smith as the guy for a couple years.
I think that’s who Smith is….. the guy “for a couple of years.” Smith is a solid human with a solid work ethic, but he’s not the guy to get you to the Super Bowl. I could see the Browns bringing in Smith on a two year contract while looking for a franchise qb. I don’t think Smith is athletic enough for a Chip Kelly offense, and I think Andy Reed will go with a rookie he develops. I forgot to put Arizona on the list. Bruce Arians could do the same thing with Smith – hire Smith for two years while looking for the next Colin Kaepernick.
I’m talking trade, skippy. If Smith is released, he’ll go straight to AZ.
I don’t think there’s a market for a trade. Irsay couldn’t trade Manning.
If Smith is released it would behoove Smith to find numerous potential suitors. I don’t know that he’ll find that, but I could see the Jets being interested because the Jets are a wreck and are always needing to sell a new, shinny toy. Remember when the 49ers were a joke and everyone used us for leverage but in the end nobody wanted to play here unless we really overpaid? That’s the Jets. Woody needs to make a splash. If I’m Alex Smith, the first place I visit is New York. Sure, the fans would have a field day with Smith, Sanchez and Tebow, but in the end, I want New York on my nuts. I court New York and Rex Ryan with everything I’ve got hoping to get an offer. Then I visit both Arizona and Cleveland with an offer in hand looking to find something real with a guy who knows offense.
The funniest thing about Moss was ‘Stats don’t matter’ – I think that’s fucking hilarious! Like a local sports radio show host said today, ‘if stats don’t matter than I’m the best Indy car racer ever’ The guys reasoning cracks me up.
I’m the most dominant pitcher of my era.
Nate Silver says that the Niners will win the Super Bowl.. I’m already celebrating!
Chris Culliver just created a media buzz.. Dumbass.
York has his way Smith won’t be going ANYWHERE: “York says Niners hope to keep Kaepernick and Smith”
“We had Steve and Joe for a long time so why not? We have the cap room”
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d9z6F?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=san-francisco-49ers
This super boring week will soon pale before the wisdom of the never ending Smith vs Kap drama. Just watch.
That’s a terrible idea. I hope JH slaps Jed straight in a hurry.
We did NOT keep Montana after Young became the starter and Montana was again healthy. Well, we did for ONE game, and look at the media cluster fuck that was – I REMEMBER the poisoned locker room and the bickering fans – NO Thank You! At this point, you have to move on, to avoid doing the dysfunctional two-step when something goes wrong.
Alex is a good guy but he needs to leave. For his sake, and the team’s sake.
And for my sake….
All about the Marketing Ploy uhhh, Plan Phil.
Have to make Teams believe that there’s a price to be paid and create competition for Alex.
All you need is 2 Teams that are desperate enough to ante up.
While it would handcuff us on the Cap to keep Alex on the payroll on April 1, it wouldn’t be the dumbest thing we could do to have him in our control.
I feel it would be dumber to let him walk for nothing and potentially join AZ and dilute our Offensive terminology/tendencies within the Division.
Less blah, blah, blah and more action. I hate media types. They are so full of themselves and they know it.
Stupid comment of the Super Bowl for Chris Culliver. What the fuck is he doing getting interviewed by Artie Lange anyway?
Phil, there is NONE CHANCE that Smith stays on the team after 3/31/13
Culliver made a dumb remark on a show that’s full of dumb remarks. I doubt it gets any play. But I can also see the 49ers talking to Culliver about his remarks.
This is the Super Bowl, Spitty.
A known shock-jock to boot.. Facepalm.
Yeah, one of Howard Stern’s proteges . . .
It got some play on ESPN, but that was on PTI . . .
The Culliver quote is going to go viral. Everything that comes out of this week goes viral. Who knew what deer antler spray was before yesterday?
I’ve heard CUlliver interviewed on KNBR a couple of times and he was engaging. Really disappointed to hear his comments today. And I’m guessing the vets in the clubhouse, who are now going to have to answer this same question tomorrow over and over again, aren’t too happy with him either. Total dumbfuck thing to say in an interview at this point in the season….
Exactly. EVERYTHING gets blown up big time during SB week. When I read it I cringed. 1) Stupid ass thing to say and 2) stupid ass time to say it
Culliver needs to be thinking about assignments, technique, tackling and going up BIG for the ball against Boldin. That’s it, fuckwad.
just read a good blog post by Kawakami about the Culliver distraction
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2013/01/30/chris-culliver-wanted-super-bowl-attention-he-has-it-now-not-at-all-in-a-good-way/
Culliver has already sent out his retraction:
Culliver will probably issue a contrite apology tomorrow morning at tomorrow’s frenzy, and he will likely be surrounded by nearly every media member in New Orleans.
Dennis imbibing today? What pearls of wisdom will spring forth?
Dingleberries?
It’s on the front page of the Huffington Post which gets CRAZY traffic both domestic and international. Fucking idiot.
Plus his agent and the team have released statements:
Agent Theodore Palmer.
The 49ers issued a statement before Culliver’s apology, condemning his comments one day after Lange played the audio recording of his interview with the cornerback during his radio show.
Welcome to the glare of the spotlight, Chris.
At least it’s near the end of the week. They’ll be hunkering down after tomorrow.
hunker….hunker…hunker down!
Damage control time.
I’m expecting big things from the game plan this week. We have more weapons than BAL, flat out. But it matters not if you can’t figure out how to use them. Speed kills. Power ain’t too shabby either. Me want both.
Here’s a good little snippet on JH’s opinion of CK prior to the 2011 draft, as related from his Dad.
http://tinyurl.com/absakl7
Feel the force, young Kaepernicker.