Nothingsville. This is the least favorite time for sports fans. Baseball is on the horizon, basketball’s meaningless 1st season is in full swing. Yay. Not. Hockey got a late start and no one noticed. The Sharks won 7 in a row and now can’t buy a win. ZZZzzz… The Dubs are mired in a 5 game losing streak. Will they make the playoffs? Well, if they do, they are toast anyway. They are a decent young team that lives and dies by the 3. Bogut? Curry? If they could stay healthy, they might make noise, but both are a twisted ankle from missing 3 months.
The Niners? Well, we already discussed the departure of Tom Gamble to the Iggles. Apparently Tom’s dad was in the Iggle employ for 30 years or some shit. Bully. Adios, Tom. Not too too big a worry, as Baalke seems to have a pretty good handle on draft/personnel moves. I don’t think it was all Gamble behind the scenes.
Other than that, what? Talk draft for 2 months? More Alex Smith? Gaaaaaaaaaaaaak. Shoot me now.
Forty Niners Forever 
We could talk about your header all the way down Lincoln run i guess.
Shit, i haven’t even gotten there yet . . . .
You’d be well advised not to plan my funeral ‘fore the body dies . . .
Let’s talk politics while my ex girlfriend tells me via text what an asshole I am on Valentine’s Day. Poor girl.
The Republicans are pretty much wrong all the time. They’ve been exposed. Let’s make a list of Republican agendas they’ve been wrong about over the last decade. Global warming…… if any of you have the stomach for it, watch NOVA’s Earth from Space about NASA satellites. It could be the most amazing show I’ve watched on television in years. Global warming? It’s here, no doubt. Remember when Karl Rove tried to tell us there was no global warming because he wanted to sell more oil? Still buying that Republican agenda? If Karl Rove tells Walmart Republicans the earth is flat, they’re all for it.
What about gay marriage and the Republican’s desire to “protect the sanctity of marriage?” Wasn’t Newt championing the “sanctity of marriage,” while leaving his terminally ill wife on her death bed as he remarried? How’d that work out for you, Republicans?
And what about this past economic disaster? George Bush turned his back on Wall Street without regulation, which to be fair started under Clinton, but Bush was either asleep at the wheel or he honestly thought no regulation was a good thing. Whoops!
And now the Democrats own the Hispanic vote and are championing fair immigration reform while Republicans look on is dismay as Canton, Ryan and Boehner try desperately to the get the Tea Party in line so they aren’t so fractionalized in Congress.
The Fiscal Cliff? Boehner got played, and played again. Amazing he hasn’t been crying daily since the election. Obama got his revenue, is seeing his approval rating rise, Obamacare (which Romney and Kennedy actually created) is actually lowering costs already, and Wall Street can no longer leverage the President.
For the last ten years it’s been class war in America – and because of Bush, the upper class laid waste to the middle class. Can I ask you something? Honestly? If you don’t make $400k per year, why in the world would you vote Republican? Global warming? Gay marriage? The economy? Wall Street? The Housing Market? Republicans are fools if they make less than $400k a year. Sarah Palin? Michelle Bochman? Now this Rubio clown? Who’s going to run in 2016 against Biden or Hillary? Ryan? Jeb Bush? Rubio? Please. Obama is fighting for the middle class now, and winning.
I’ll tell you this, and the President touched on it in his State of the Union speech. Just trying to cut everything like the Tea Party does isn’t an agenda with sustainability. That’s for sure. If the Tea Party wants to stick, they need to do more than just say no. And America is with me on this one…. trust me. If the Tea Party, Cantor and Ryan want to let the future debt ceiling be their leverage, it’ll destroy the Tea Party….. and the President knows it. With the Republican’s past track record, they can’t afford to use the debt ceiling as leverage. If they do, it’ll destroy the Tea Party. Better play ball, Cantor…. you fuck.
I’m Spitblood, and I approve this message.
I can’t help but picture you wearing your Obama mask and shaking the hell out of your red, white and blue pom poms trying to hide the hammer and sickle tattoo on your forehead as I read that. The MSM has scored another dupe. Too bad, that’s a non-win.
Karl Rove just called…. he wants the 1990’s back.
I can’t believe some of the chat show stuff where people say the Niners should keep Alex. And, I guess Jed actually said something like that — maybe to up the trade price? They just both need to let the divorce happen, however it happens, and move on. His selection by Nolan in the draft was a star-crossed deal, that’s just the reality of it. It never worked out, and we all can recite the various reasons. But, it’s more than past the time to cut ties. Sheezus, get the divorce done, and let’s all get on with our lives…
Yeah, i think that Jed talk is trictly to (hopefully) raise his value. There is no way it rains in indianapolis in the summer time, and there’s no way in this damned cursed universe that Alex Smith stays.
I’ve said for years that the Niners and Alex seem to be trapped in some kind of malevolent vortex neither can escape from. If Kappy’s emergence as the chosen one doesn’t cause his departure, then it really is some kind of Faustian deal to keep the two parties joined together for all eternity.
Wow… malevolent and Faustian? Did you and Tommy exchange meds again?
When trapped in the malevolent vortex, all you can do is say “fuck it”, and knock back the psychotic venom.
stay grumpy!
Maybe not Faustian, but where Smith is concerned I’d go with something more like a black hole evidenced by the extreme suck.
Psychotic venom is definintely better on the rocks . . .
Shit, even Smith’s most ardent supporters have to think it’s time for him to move on. There’s no way I see him staying in a backup role. If so, he’s banking on a catastrophic injury to Kappy. And that’s weak sauce.
Chuck right again!
Anyone like cruises? That ship they pulled in to Mobile was sure a winner for the cruise industry.
If one of you homos suggests we bring in Charles Woodson, I’ll bitch slap you. The dude’s 38. He’s not better than Culliver or Cox…… or Trenton.
The Chiefs are going after my boy, Bowe. Too bad. We need a big bodied receiver who can catch the ball with this hands above his body. That’s Bowe….
Really liking this Fresno State safety Phillip Thomas. Kid can play.
The voices in your head chattering again? How about you stick to what is said, and not what you think we’ll say.
Gawd. What a maroon.
Reid ainl;t nobody’s fool. Of course he wants Bowe. All he needs now is a QB. Hello, Alex Smith.
Heard someone suggest that if Smith stays he’ll be too classy to complain. There’s classy and then there’s weak. If Smith takes his role as backup without trying to start else-where that’s what Smith will always be – a backup. Smith has to fight to stay a starter in the eyes of the NFL. I don’t know if I can see him doing that. Think about it. Do you see Smith doing an interview where he says, “I want to be released!” Reports came out that he said that, but he later denied he said that. If the 49ers want Smith as an 8 million dollar backup (which I hope they don’t) then Smith needs to fight his way out of that arrangement. My guess is the 49ers have already told Smith they’re playing a game and will do the right thing by Smith if they can’t get compensation for him. People are throwing around a 1st or 2nd for Smith. I think the 49ers would be lucky to get a 5th. Lucky to get compensation at all…..
Like I said, Who the fuck knows anymore?
If Smith wants to stay as a backup, he’s a fool. Not only yhat, he’s a wimp. The dude has put up with a world of shit, but really. Stay? Why? THIS is about the best possible scenatrio to BE a decent to good QB. There’s nothing in the draft. There’s nothing in FA. Little in trade.
If the Niners WERE hopeful about his return, then they won’t cut him. If that’s their play, then they are hoping for a trading partner. Which may or may not happen. Either way, the second week of March will be Alex’s last with the Niners.
I think that’s the fundamental difference between you and I, Chuck, regarding this entire Smith deal. I think the other NFL teams that need a qb have a lot more options than you do. I believe there’s qb talent in this year’s draft (not as much as the previous two, but talent none-the-less), and I believe there are free agent options who will be cheaper than Alex Smith, with a higher potential ceiling. In my opinion, that means Smith will be released or compensation will be a lot less than hoped for.
Who? Bulger? Jason Campbell? Gradkowski? Gross Rexman? Good luck, skippy. Yeah, they’ll be cheaper, but they will suck balls hard. There ain’t shit out there.
The difference between you and me is I see Smith for what he is. A good QB who can do well for a team with some talent. Like KC or Cleve. He’s not going to carry a team on his back, but he isn’t going to Romo (or Cutler) his way out of winning games. Teams like KC or Cleve would be HAPPY to sniff the playoffs. Smith could get them there.
Nick Foles, Matt Flynn, Matt Moore, Matt Hasselbeck, Chad Henne …… some of these guys will become free agents by being released or others could be traded for. I believe in Matt Moore. His numbers weren’t much different last year than Alex Smith’s, and Smith had Harbaugh. Moore had…. In the draft there’s potential first rounders like Geno Smith and Barkley…. and there will be gems like Matt Scott out of Arizona. You wait… options will dry up for Smith if he’s not released quick.
By “last year,” I mean 2011.
Hasselhof? Tales from the Crypt? Foles? Joke and joker. Flynn ain’t going anywhere. Henne as well. They are solid backups until proven otherwise. And their teams will not let them go for now. Barkley is the 2nd coming of Hot-tub Matt Leinart. G-Smith could be something. But he is more than likely a work in progress. At best.
Eagles have already said they are keeping Nick Foles and he and Mike Vick will have an open QB competition. Hasslebeck was actually the QB was talking about using a walking frame and his is so old it’s rusty. Flynn has no game history worth speaking about. Matt Moore is the back up in Miami and I haven’t heard anything about him leaving the team. Chad Henne is still under contract with Jacksonville and unless they trade for Smith I would think he will stay there as Gabbert has yet to do much.
None of these guys has anything close to Smith’s recent record. Smith is without doubt the pick of the bunch if he is available.
Apropos nothing, good it’s off season as we busy busy with important work shit over here.
Glad this is happening after da season. Wake me up when there is some Niner news not regarding Sir Alex.
Hope you don’t turn into Rip Van Winkle waiting for that Non Alex Smith news
Hope Dennis is sober.
To hope Dennis is sober would require hope.
Just had my first drink since you know when. I’ve been too depressed to drink. If you can’t believe that. Just ask the ducks.
I believe it, I’ve been in mourning myself.
So, if it hasn’t been brought up yet, I’ll be the first to say it: What has happened to Dennis? I don’t read the blog every day but I can’t remember seeing a post from him since the Super Bowl. Dead? Still in mourning? I’ve sent him a couple of emails that he didn’t respond to.
Berger, if you’re out there, can you shed any light on the whereabouts of The Greatest Peyton Manning Lover to Have Ever Lived?
I’ve been spending the majority of my time down at the creek feeding the ducks. I did a lot of thinking. Did quite a bit of no thinking as well. Just stood there. On the bridge. Tossing out bread. But when I walked down tonight, bread in hand, there was nary a Mallard to be seen. Male or female. So I came back here.
Would anyone like some bread?
Its for the birds.
Flav, if you don’t already know by now, BLACK CAVIAR returns tonight in her native Australia in a race that is now aptly named after herself. How bout that. Probable post is 9:30 PT. LIVE on TVG.
It should be a walk in the park. She could feed the ducks along the way…
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/park-avenue/film.html
The American Dream isn’t dead, but the Republican Party has a pillow over its mouth and is smoothing that dream to death. We believe that in America upward mobility is possible, but the reality is that upward mobility is less likely in America NOW than in many other countries.
Today, lobbiests write the bills. If you watch the link I provided above, the redistribution of wealth exponentially grew in favor of the wealthiest American in 2006. I wonder who resided in the White House then?
Upward mobility is so distant you have to know someone to get rich. The barriers to entry are enormous. To get rich the wealthiest have to like you. The Tea Party creates a “good ole’ boy” network. Why? Because the rich have access now to America’s debt and to writing bills. Our 17 trillion dollar national debt is simply the debt our richest Americans carry. If we default, the richest Americans no longer can just write blank checks that our future generations will inherit. So enter the Tea Party. All they’re about is lowering the debt, poor programs be damned – they don’t care. Slash and burn because if we don’t the rich will no longer be able access the national debt.
Right now we’re about to go off an extended “fiscal cliff.” Obama got his revenue, but we’re about to have massive speeding cuts on programs for the poor. Cantor, Ryan, McConnel, Boehner and Democrat Chuck Schumer have you all duped. All they care about is lowering the national debt, poor and middle class be damned. It’s class warfare in America, and I guarantee there are others who see this and there will be a backlash. The pendulum will swing. It began with a cluttered, ill advised “Occupy” movement, but the timing wasn’t right, and the message wasn’t clear. There will be another uprising, and that uprising will be more credible, more focused, and more effective. Especially if the upcoming spending fight is lost by the poor once again. I think Obama sees all of this and is fighting for the middle class. I think the good ole boy mentality that is connected to a lack of upward mobility is what makes the blind hate Obama. I, for one, think Obama could go down as one of the best presidents in American history – because of the huge spike in the redistribution of wealth, and how he’s fighting the battle for the middle class. If you don’t make $250k per year, you’re a flat out moron for voting Republican.
Seek help. Immediately if not sooner.
Free speech is a great thing, but crazy talk is still just crazy talk.
It’s okay if you buy into the game, hoping to get ahead with like-minded thinking of your older friends. It’s okay to attack me also, because I’m gonna attack you. You need to take a long, long look in the mirror, No Fear. Tell me….. are you getting richer? Is life getting easier with your talk of constitution and Atlas Shrugged? No? I wonder why….
It’s no game. There are too many riding in the cart and too few pulling it. The only direction we can go like that is downhill. Special interests and so-called protected classes are running the country into the ground, not the people paying 95% of the freight. They aren’t the problem.
Don’t worry about me. I’ve had successful careers and businesses. I’m doing fine and want to keep it that way. The only way this experiment continues to work is small government laced up by the restrictions set up in the Constitution. Taking money from the folks that create the wealth to effectively buy the votes of those who refuse to support themselves is a dead-end street and a disaster for the country.
Are you riding or pulling? Do you think everyone should pay taxes or just those doing better than you? Should folks just taking money out of the system year after year be able to vote themselves more benefits?
Yes, but who owns the special interests? It’s class warfare in America. The special interests actually write the bills and they hand them to congressmen with all the legalities considered, and our congressmen and women pass those bills in the interest of the wealthiest Americans. This creates a poor and even lower middle class without much hope because the guy working for $45,000 a year with three kids is now up against it in America. He’s lost his house, lost his pension, lost his retirement and all his savings. That dude now has mental health issues, and he’s struggling to look his wife in the eye when he comes home. And now Eric Canton and Paul Ryan want to cut all the programs that could help that guy recover? Is that a coincidence?
I completely agree we have too many people going for a ride, but I don’t agree that cutting their programs is the answer. NoFear – even you know people, at their core, are good. They want to live in dignity, with self respect and pride. But if you take away his retirement, his union, this dream of upward mobility – then take away his home and stress his life to the Nth degree, he’s going to end up on some government program. And preaching that he’s weak and you’re strong doesn’t say much about you.
Look at the correlation between the redistribution of wealth in America and all the people now on food stamps. It’s not a coincidence. You can’t ship jobs overseas, successfully attack the unions, have a housing bubble, turn America into a service industry, and cut all the social programs and expect people to still rise up just because. People who do are commendable, but people who do are definitely in the minority right now.
You write, “Taking money from the folks that create the wealth to effectively buy the votes of those who refuse to support themselves is a dead-end street and a disaster for the country.” This isn’t what’s happening in America. The poor’s vote isn’t being bought. Our congressmen are being bought by the wealthiest to circumnavigate the poor’s vote.
I’m tellin’ you, NoFear. People in general want to work, want live with pride and dignity and want to see their lives progress and their families succeed. But right now, that’s impossible. Fortunately it’s starting to change…. slowly the pendulum will swing and you’ll start to see fewer and fewer people taking handouts.
You ask about me? I’ve never taken a dime from our US government. No handouts, no free rides. I pay my taxes, and even do volunteer work from time to time. I’ve educated myself thoroughly – putting myself through college and completing masters work. I too have had successful businesses. But unlike you, I’m not retired, and I’m not sitting on a nest egg hoping to Jesus that they don’t come and take it away, all the while trying to play the good soldier. I have to reinvent myself, and will, but the game is rigged right now. The American Dream isn’t dead, but the rich have a strangle hold on it. That’s not what America is all about. I think you’d agree with some of this….
Here’s a good example, NoFear, of what I’m talking about. Still, even four years after Bush, we still don’t have good bank regulation. Watch the link in its entirety. This is an elected official asking Federal regulators if they’ve taken any banks to court. Amazing response.
http://www.upworthy.com/elizabeth-warren-asks-the-most-obvious-question-ever-and-stumps-a-bunch-of-bank?c=ufb1
America is afraid to disrupt Wall Street for fear of another collapse. As America gets stronger, Wall Street will have more regulation. But we aren’t there yet. It’s a fine line. The rich in America don’t care about our economy collapsing.
I honestly believe, and most experts would say the same thing, if the Tea Party cuts entitlements and social programs next month, we’ll see the start of another recession. But I believe the truly rich in America want another recession. Look at how the redistribution of wealth from 2008 until now has benefited the wealthiest Americans. Why do they want a strong economy? It’s class warfare.
No NoFear, The question is should the wealthy have all the loophole advantages (tax and otherwise) that the middle class and poor don’t. As in Romney paying 15% and his underlings 29%. The game is was and will be rigged to favor the wealthy. I have no problem with moving on up, but the wealthy get access to entitlement programs, deferments, and breaks that the middle class and lower don’t.
As usual, you fall into the bullshit theory of poor=lazy.
Spit I can’t see Baalke spending to acquire Lotulelei but, I’d be in favor for moving up for either Richardson or Floyd.
They could be in the Mid Rd area by early forecasts.
If we stand pat at 31, I’m also leaning toward Jesse Williams (assuming he’s there), if not, perhaps the better option between a DB or DE?
NJ – Do you ever look at those draft pick trade value charts? I used to. I don’t think they’re accurate anymore. For instance, to move to the number one pick, the 49ers would have to give up all 14 of their picks and there’s absolutely no way any one player is worth that.
I remember back in the day when Mike Shanahan and the 49ers made a trade and it was perfect as far as the charts go. The value was spot on. It made me realize back then that teams do use those draft pick trade value charts. But I don’t think they apply anymore.
If I was Baalke, I’d offer our first, third, fourth, two sixths and a seventh…. something like that, for number one. That’s six picks to move up to number one. I believe a guy like Andy Reed would consider that.
I agree Spit, the value chart has got to be off kilter now due to the Rookie Cap.
Not sure I’d forfeit all those picks for a DT though.
31 to 15 perhaps could work if a partner could be had.
I’ve seen some suggestions that Lotulelei hasn’t seen the type of competition guys like Richardson and Floyd have seen in the SEC.
Good argument I suppose.
I’d just hate to gamble too many Picks unless we’re sure the value is there.
That’s why Baalke makes the big bucks and we just speculate.
I happen to think that Baalke will consider dealing up, since we hold so many Picks.
Question will obviously be when and where.
The Rookie Cap will promote more deals since there won’t be a boatload of money attached to the slots like there has been in the past.
At least we heard from Dennis. That’s a positive.
Spitblood, so your biggest problem is the government isn’t big enough to take care of every citizen, legal and illegal, in the style and comfort of the most wealthy of its citizens? You’re in the wrong country, like Obama. He seizes on the wedge issues to fuel class warfare and pretends that he’s fighting for you. How’s that working out by the way?
The government doesn’t produce any money and doesn’t have any of its own. It can’t give something to someone unless it takes it from someone else first. Therein lies the rub. People don’t agree on where to draw the lines.
The fictitious guy in your example is in the same boat as the guy who risked everything in a business. The business guy may have scraped by for years on less than the salaries he paid his employees to keep his dream alive (many do). And then after risking everything and getting by on nothing he makes it work and you want to take all his profits for the guy who just threw up his hands and quit trying, to live in comfort without paying his own mortgage or paying for his own food and medical insurance. How’s his car? New and expensive? How about his TV? 60″ best quality? Please.
The sequestration is looming because of the deal Obama made to get his tax increases. You blame it on the Tea Party and George Bush because you’ve fallen victim to the propaganda machine that paints Obama as the good guy. If you can’t recognize that you’ll fall in line with the rest of the sheep and bleat when you’re told to bleat and don’t stir up trouble by asking questions.
Who’s fallen victim to the propaganda machine? You’re the one claiming my answer is big government. That’s propaganda. That’s spin and smear tactics. Republicans love to hid behind this. I’m all for smaller government. I believe we should do away with our post office entirely and turn over the job to the private sector like UPS and Fed Ex. The post office loses billions each year. I believe our schools should go private. Lost jobs be damned. I also believe our tax code should be completely revamped. Again, lost jobs be damned. I believe in stream lining government and not worrying about job loss because in the end, if the government is stronger (not weaker), we’re all stronger in issues like foreign affairs and we don’t lose billions each year in lost interest because of our national debt.
But bigger government is just a tactic Republicans use to muddy the water. Nobody really wants a huge government. Again, it’s fear tactics.
And I totally disagree that the guy who lost everything made risky decisions. That’s a joke. Besides putting your money in a coffee can in 2006, you tell me where the safe investment was in America? Please. Educate us all, Fear. The stock market? Real estate? The bond market? And don’t tell me gold because that only took off after everything crashed.
Millions of Americans didn’t behave poorly – weren’t greedy, and they still lost everything because those who invested their money leveraged the shit out of it. And you blame the hard working American? Honestly, No Fear. Are you an American?