Trent Baalke seems to be back in familiar territory. The blogospheres are erupting with “Aaaak, the Niners are losing players and replacing them with stick figures!!” Yeah, they’ve lost Goldson, Soap, RJF, and replaced them with Craig Dahlly Dagger, perennial underachiever Glenn (don;t call me Tommy) Dorsey, and Dan (Reputa the beauta) Skuta, but this smacks of a couple years ago when the Niners watched as teams like Philly blew their collective wads signing can’t miss guys like Nnamdi Asomuaga, Mike Vick, and countless others. Baalke quietly signed guys like Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, Jonathan Goodwin, and David (used to be green) Akers as the feeding frenzy slowed down. They did trade for Anquan Bouldin as well. At this point I think the Niners sign one more semi-big name FA safety before heading off to the draft in April.
Baalke also nailed that 2011 draft to the tune of 5 starters and a bunch of contributors, including Aldon Smith, Kendall Hunter, Bruce Miller, and Chris (Mr. Diversity) Culliver. Not to mention our starting QB. The 2012 draft was a little less impactful, but the Niners did get solid backup LMJ, line depth in Joe Looney, and the big ??? that is AJ Jenkins. Free agent wise last year, the Niners netted Mario Manningham, and erstwhile semi-malcontent Rany Moss. Nothing spectacular, but the team was (*sob*) 6 yards from winning it all.
Faast forward to today, and the team is poised for a huge haul in the draft. They currently have 14 picks. 3 compensatory ones that they must use, and 11 to burn any way they see fit. Only one (a sixth rounder) went to Baltimore for Bouldin, and it appears that the Niners are already working to extend his deal to minimize the cap impact. Good move for a very tough WR.
We all know the needs going into the draft. A couple of big bodies up front, a safety or two who can replace Goldson and Whitner, speed at the WR spot, a TE with decent hands, and kicker. I think the Niners could very easily sign a FA safety and a FA TE. A kicker is possible as well. If they do that, then they can heavily target their holes with their multiple choices. Bundle them to trade up and position some draft spots for next year.
Forty Niners Forever 
Snarkk, this is another rule that will slow the game down. A little, anyway. These types of pays don’t happen a lot, but at least they aren’t going after RBs who lower their heads to hit the hole. This is outside the tackle box . . . RBs have been getting low in the hole since, oh, about 1920 . . .
NJ, there was early talk of the Niners working on an extension for Bouldin when he signed, but I haven’t heard anything since.
Interesting piece from NFL.com:
Well, I said this when they signed him, I hope they use him more than they did Moss. It appeared that they brought in Moss strictly as a decoy. What a waste. So yeah, when I see Boldin getting 8-10 passes per game thrown his way then I will be a little bit more excited. I have to admit I am really looking forward to a full camp with Kaep behind center. I am more excited about that than seeing Boldin.
Moss was limited in his playing time, and was usually used in 1-2 WR formations, IIRC. Plus, last yearI’s offense was a work in progress due to the shift in QBs. [m sure they are planning on using Bouldin more than they used Moss
Boldin is going to be utilized because he is making triple what they were paying Moss and he is the clear starter opposite Michael Crabtree.
Last season it wasn’t clear if Moss or Manningham would start, and usually it was Manningham.
Ginn to the Panthers. Grumpy just got a little less Grumpy. Paves the way for the 49ers to draft Ace. Ace is the place for ass rockets.
How fickle is the Forty Niner fan?
You forget that Ted Ginn returned a punt 31 yards to the Baltimore Raven 20 to set up Frank Gore 6 yard run to make the score 28-20 which was crucial in the comeback.
Against the Atlanta Falcons Ted Ginn returned a punt 20 yards in the NFC Championship Game.
Ted Ginn contributed when it counted in the playoffs.
I was happy with Ted Ginn as long as he hung onto the ball and broke a return once in a while.
Sure Ginn didnt return that punt when the lights were out.
But seriously Ginn and his old man value his ability more then the league does.If he thinks he’s a #1 reciever he may want to seek out a shrink.(Dennis is your’s available? )
And as far as PR…he can run as fast as anybody EAST and WEST,and then to the sidelines out of bounds.Unfortunately the game is still played NORTH and SOUTH.
One less washed up player for the Niners to have on the roster.
In 2012 Ginn signed for one year at $1.375 mil which is close to league minimum for a veteran and a bargain. As a return man I still think he has more in the tank.
I agree his old man was in no position to demand more playing time at receiver which ultimately cost him his spot on the team.
okay, so baseball is now first in line for things to read up on. so I am just now finding out that the Niners replaced a 37 yr old kicker with a 38 yr old kicker!! the heighth of stupidity. well maybe not as bad as the Raiders paying Jamarcus Russell, but close, very close
The Forty Niners replaced a kicker with no confidence with an All Pro kicker who took a pay cut to come here in Phil Dawson.
To use a baseball analogy Nolan Ryan threw his 6th no-hitter when he was 43 and his 7th when he was 44. At the age of 38 Mike Schmidt hit 37 homeruns, 119 RBI and and was the National League MVP.
Baalke got a better kicker so who gives a shit how old he is as long as he does his job.
Please, that is two, yes two athletes that made it past their prime. More than likely this clown will go the way of Ackers. He will be missing from 35 yards or more!! He might even start out strong, but by mid season he will be done!! IMO
Damm right….Don’t the be fucking with my boy Phil Dawson.He is crazy good.7-7 over 50 last year.Missed 2 all year 93%.Niners definitely made the right move.
If you can kick em in Cleveland you can kick em anywhere including our shithole Candlestick.
What is good about Dawson is he is a Pro. He wants to get out to Candlestick when it’s raining and windy to gauge the conditions and prepare for anything.
He might be SOL for the rain but just show up around 4pm for the wind.
New thread is up . . .