Much as I hate to admit it, and and good as the 49ers are before the upcoming draft, Seattle is doing a a lot to strengthen their own ship after their near-epic playoff comeback vs Atlanta last year. They’ve already added Percy Harvin, albeit at a heavy cost (Sea’s 1st pick, 25th overall, a 7th round pick, and a 3rd round pick next year) for a possible prima-donna and they added two of the more coveted pass rushers out there in Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. In other words, not nearly as much thrash around their roster as there is around the Niners, and they helped themselves out pretty well. The only hitch being the loss of draft picks GM John Schnieder loves so much. Seattle still has 8 picks in the draft, but may be looking to add some picks very sooon.
Word now out of Seattle is that they are looking at offers for Matt Flynn, the $20 million backup who was signed to be the starter, but was passed like a Pinto in the slow lane by Russell Wilson, the rookie phenom out of Wisconsin. The suitors for Matt’s fairly unproven services would likely be Jacksonville, Oakland, NYJ, and Buffalo. Jax must be the most enticing for Seattle as Jax has the 3rd overall pick in the upcoming draft, and has high picks in every round. Oakland can’t offer shit as they traded every pick in the foreseeable future for Carson Palmer and Terrelle whatshisface Pryor. Palmer doesn’t want to restructure his ludicrous deal, so the Raiders may just cut his ass. The Jets are in ‘anyone-but-Sanchez’ mode, so they could pull the trigger on a deal, salary cap hell notwithstanding. Buff? They recently jettisoned Ryan Fitzpatrick and need someone.
You have to wonder how desperate a team like Jacksonville would be to sign a QB. They are in a situation much like KC was with Alex. They saw a guy who they think is worthy, and took their shot. Whether Jax would give up a 1st round choice (too much, I’d think) to sign a guy who has a very small track record remains to be seen, but I’m sure Seattle wouldn’t mind getting something like the Niners got for Alex. A 2nd round pick and a 4th, or something for next year.
For what this is all worth, it at least extends the long-standing competition between Jim (what, me worry?) Harbaugh and Pistol Pete Carroll. These guys have been adversaries since their Pac-10 days, and this feud looks to be front and center in the NFL landscape for years to come. 2013 certainly should be an entertaining one from a football standpoint. The Niners and Seahawks looks to be the newest baddest rivalry going.
Forty Niners Forever 
The problem with your dissertation, spitty, is any team is close. Parity (suck it, V) is alive and well. ANY team is close. Wash gets rgiii and they hit the playoffs. The Niners get a new coach and they are the cream of the crop.
Foe all the suckiness of the Jets, maybe a new QB gets them over the top. They dealt with more than their share of injuries. The raiders.? Yeah, they need to burn it all down and start over. But they are in a much worse position than even the jets.
Wrong. The Jets, Raiders, Panthers, Jaguars and Bills aren’t five players away from winning the Super Bowl. Close, in my opinion, is five contributors away with simultaneous coaching and drafting magic. Those teams are more like 7-10 players away, and numerous front office and coaching acquisitions away. That’s the equivalent of five years easy, if they by chance get it right. Maybe is a couple key guys in free agency (risky), and three years to draft and develop, but I’ll give you long odds that the Jets, Raiders, Panthers, Jaguars and Bills aren’t winning the Super Bowl in the next four years. Wanna take my bet? You’re 100% wrong that ANY team is close.
* Chuck only. 100-1 odds on a dollar. I’ll gladly take your dollar. 4 years – Jets, Raiders, Panthers, Jaguars and Bills don’t win the Super Bowl by 2016.
It took the 49ers (at the start of their rebuilding process in 2005) 8 years, three different coaches, three GMs and six years of high draft choices to get to the Super Bowl, and they still haven’t won the Super Bowl. I’d start thinkin’ about re-evaluating your claim that “ANY” team is close. It’s a long road.
Flynns sitting on a $20 mill contract, TT. Why would his agent want him traded? He likely won’t get more money.
One year left on Flynn’s deal and only $6 million in 2014 which is not guaranteed.
If I was his agent Matt Flynn only enhances his value if he’s a starter and that is accomplished when a team trades some assets to obtain him..
If I’m looking for a job as a backup then I’ll get paid like Jason Campbell who signed for $1.5 million per season or Josh Johnson who just signed for only $715,000.
If Flynn sits on the Seattle bench and holds a clipboard these are the salaries he can look forward to. That is why his agent is marketing him.
Well, maybe not any team. The raiders aren’t winning in 50 years. But for all that shit you just posted, you said, as well as plenty of others, that the Niners were 3 years away from contending back on 1/1/11. The perception was the FO was a mess of too much middle management and shitty communication. I certainly had my concerns about the FO even when harbaugh got here.
I disagree with that point as well. Jim Harbaugh turned this team around quicker than anyone else could have – or thought possible – hence his Coach of the Year award.
Before Jim even got here, though, like I wrote earlier, the team started its rebuilding process six years prior.
There are a lot of teams out there that aren’t in contention right now and won’t be for years – Panthers, Jets, Bills, Jaguars, Raiders, Bears, Cowboys, Chargers, Steelers, and Titans aren’t winning the Super Bowl or even going to a Super Bowl in the next five years and it’s because they don’t do what I wrote about earlier – tear it down and rebuild from scratch. They don’t because they’re afraid they won’t sell out their stadiums. Gotta bite the bullet. So far I’m a fan of what McKenzie’s doing.
And I’ll say this…… The Raiders, because of what McKenzie is doing, would be my first choice to see return to contending out of all the teams I just listed – including the Steelers.
Sando comes up with some good stuff sometimes. My concern with too much read option is the practice time it takes away from “real plays” and how relatively simple it is to defend when the defense has had a chance to prepare for it.
What we really need to get the edge in close/tough games and post season battles are a handful of plays that we can run in our sleep and know that they will work. Like Grimm and Jacoby running the counter trey.
Well, that’s the point.RUnning something 5-6% of the time isn’t really taking away from anything else.
The rebuilding process all depends on the damage the previous Front Office put on your team.
Terry Donahue, Al Davis and Mike Tannenbaum sold the cow for the magic beans which turned out to be pebbles.
Spitblood makes his usual bullshit argument showing once again he knows nothing.
The Colts went from a 2 win team in 2011 to 11 wins and the playoffs in 2012.
Same with the Vikings who won 3 games in 2011 and were a playoff team in 2012 winning 10 games.
A couple of teams will surprise in this coming season.
I forgot to mention the Redskins who went from 5 wins in 2011 to 10 wins and a playoff berth in 2012. The pattern is there that a couple of teams surprise every season and you are deluded thinking this is not possible.
Right, Spitty. Nolan started the rebuilding process. Sure he did. But it stalled. Sing couldn’t right it as well. 6 years isn’t rebuilding. 6 years is fucking up wildly. Both those guys did a little with a lot. Nolan had a tougher task, sure, but his 3 year plan was on schedule until Smith got hurt, and Nolan couldn’t get out of his own way, and he lost the team. Sing followed suit. Lots of people knew the Niners were underachieving. I certainly did. My point was the front office was a mess during the Sing years. I also said (repeatedly) that the team was Sing’s. Not Baalke’s (or McLoughan’s). Same with Nolan. They ran off his mojo for good or bad. And bad it was.
Same thing with Harbaugh. His drive has made the entire team and front office look like genuises. Nothing really changed anywhere on the team but at the HC spot in 2011. I was on record saying they could win a playoff game in 2011. Not too many people outside the bay area felt that way. I didn’t think the change was going to be as dramatic as it was, but certainly the team had talent whan Harbaugh came. Spit, you wanted to blow it up back then. Where would we be? Well, starting year 3 of harbaugh’s rebuilding. The NFL model isn’t to rebuild. Unless you are in horrible shape. As the Jets and Raiders are. Look at the Chiefs. They are coming off a 2-14 season, but they are in pretty good shape. Good young players, new coach in Andy Reid, and new QB Alex Smith. They sucked ass last year, but they are poised to be a possible 10-6 playoff team.
Jesus H. Christ will make his triumphant return before Alex Smith leads the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and the playoffs.
Del Mar Dennis
You might be in for a rude awakening.
Kansas City sent 6 players to the Pro Bowl.
The number two rusher in the NFL Jamaal Charles was hurt in 2012.
Playoffs are a possibility.
Bullit, me going to bed with Kate Upton tonight is a “possibility.” It ain’t happening, but it’s a possibility. Same with Alex Smith leading the Chiefs to 10-6 and the playoffs this year. But it’s a possibility.
Del Mar Dennis
Aren’t you the fella that guaranteed a Super Bowl for the Denver Broncoswhen they signed Peyton Manning? So where was Denver? They sure weren’t at the Superdome.
Your track record on predictions frankly sucks.
Del – What’s the “H” stand for in Jesus H. Christ? Is it Howard?
chuck , at that point a trained monkey with a dart board on draft day could have started our rebuilding process ! the good news is that nolan/sing kept us picking in the top 10 – 15 with a team that could have gone 10-6 ! we got to add tons of talent and circumvent the system ! so thanks john york and mike nolan ! lol
In hindsight this is crystal clear but at the time it was crazy making insane as it unfolded! I cursed Nolan, Sing not to mention Donohugh with the best of us.
There’s a very good chance that the Raider’s top two QBs next year are Terrelle Pryor and Geno Smith. That thought alone is enough to make a Raider fan go crucify themselves on this Good Friday. Hell. They might as well bring in Barabbas to run the scout team. At least he’s demonstrated some escapability in the past.
Since 2000 the Oakland Raiders have had eight different coaches.
That’s a lot of changes meaning coaching staffs last less than 2 years.
With that much change no business or organization can hope to succeed because you are constantly plagued by losing and a culture of failure.
It takes time to put winning plans and procedures into motion.
I often wondered why the Raiders made their kicker and punter the highest paid in the NFL?
Losing seemed to cloud the judgement of the front office as did senility.
Spit- Ran out of reply spots so I’ll be a jerk and start a whole new thread for a response. Regarding the Raiduhs, their cleanup is going to be far more extensive than just the roster. From what I’ve heard the whole culture of the organization, down to the office staff and scouting, was/is riddled with incompetence and apathy from the Undead Al era of the last few years. MacKenzie needs to completely clean house, and Palmer is just a very small piece of that.
As for Sanchez, I thought the $17m wasn’t his salary this year but what the team would have had to absorb against the cap with penalties they’d incur for cutting him this offseason. His salary next year would be less, and I believe the cap hit after next season for cutting him would go down as his guaranteed money was more front-loaded.
I really don’t know about Sanchez’s contract. I thought I read that none of it’s guaranteed next year, but can’t remember.
Regarding the Raiders, I agree. Then need to completely clean house. But they are doing that. And that little kid who clearly partied too much with the bowl cut, I think his name is Mark Davis (?), he’s looking like he’s smart enough to listen to Madden and let McKenzie just do his thing. What’s cool so far about McKenzie is that he isn’t draconian with his changes, but he knows they have to be made. I’d be surprised if McKenzie thought he had the qb of the future on the roster, or if McKenzie drafted a qb this year. I think it’s a reduced Palmer with Pryor (who I’ve always been curious about) as the backup. But I don’t know if the Raiders have a good qb coach, or if they even have a good OC. Time will tell. But yeah, they need to completely change the culture of the entire organization from top to bottom.
Regarding my list above, the Steelers might be smart enough right now to dump and clean up and start fresh. They have dumped Harrison, Mendenhall and Casey Hampton. The Steelers are a smart organization so I might take them off my list as a team that won’t bite the bullet.
At least when you go to bed tonight you can thank fate or whatever you’re not an Oakland Raider.
Unca – The Chiefs are interesting. They are a team much like the 49ers a few years back when the found Jim Harbaugh. Look at their coaches: Herm Edwards, Todd Haley, Romeo Crennel. Reminds me of Nolan and Singletary with a team constantly drafting top ten. Say what you want about Carl Peterson and Scott Pioli, but they could draft. The Chiefs have talent, and they also have a weak division. The Raiders and Charges suck. So the Chiefs could make a bounce and be close, and I’m sure you would point the “worst to first,” as evidence any team, any given year can win it all. But you have to consider that the Chiefs have had bad coaches with good talent evaluators. That together with a weak division and the Chiefs could make some noise. Problem is, Andy Reid isn’t the same coach he was in Philly. He’s making bad decisions lately and he’s trying to win now instead of taking a slower growth approach. The right move with the Chiefs organization would have been to keep Cassel and continue to build the team with a slower growth trend upwards until the team was truly ready to compete for Super Bowls. There were cheaper options out there as stepping stone qbs. Cassel and Alex Smith are stepping stone qbs who won’t win you a Super Bowl, but will manage the game for you. Smith is better than Cassel, but is Smith two 2nd round draft choices better? I say no. I say the Chiefs would have been better off sticking with Cassel (or picking up a guy like Kyle Orton or Matt Moore), accepting they won’t win it all this year, and looking to develop a Super Bowl qb when there was one in the draft. Anyway you cut it, though, Baalke made a smart move with the “other” compensation pick because the Chiefs have a lot of talent and the Chiefs could see a huge bounce from worst to wild card this year….. if they play that wild card right. Let’s hope they do because it means a higher pick for us. Let’s go, Chiefs!
Spitblood
Just noticed your dumbass daily comment this time involving the Carolina Panthers.
Not going to contend for a Super Bowl in the next 4 years?
Panthers finished tied for second in their division with 7 wins.
They have Cam Newton at quarterback and 2 decent running backs and talent at WR in Steve Smith.
Panthers have the NFL defensive rookie of the year in Luke Kuechly.
They need defensive backfield help with their secondary.
You have no clue how decent the Panthers can be, do you?
Makes sense the 49ers are looking to replace Frank Gore.
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/03/29/bell-cow-2-0-49ers-investigating-michigan-states-bell/
I sure hope they don’t use a third rounder or better on a running back again. This guy looks good, but he’s sure a more upright runner than the low-to-the-ground Gore we’re used to.
The 49ers should really consider spending a third on Lattimore. Let him recover for a ‘redshirt’ year, and you could have Frank’s successor ready to run in 2014. A gamble, but a reasonable one.
I agree, but what if Baalke is targeting a guy with the same skills who’s cheaper and not injured? Ya never know with Baalke.
The Raiders are looking to dump Carson Palmer and possibly trade for Matt Flynn. That’s another smart McZenian move – especially if he can trade Palmer to the Cards for picks! We all remember Flynn as the dude who threw bomb after bomb to Packer receivers against the Lions in Lambeau and made himself millions, but there’s more to Flynn. My only question about Flynn to the Raiders is who the hell is he going to throw the football to? The Raiders haven’t had a tight end since the ghost to the post. They always seemed to have a million different receivers who would have one big game then disappear forever. Chaz, DHB, Ford, Joan Jett…. now it’s Denarius Moore. They do also have Juron Criner. It would be interesting to see the Raiders get Flynn, then bring in a complete tight end for Flynn to throw to and for another additional guy to block for McFadden. Noble concept. The Raiders are doing it right.
Raiduhs trade for Matt Flynn? V’s head is going to explode.
I know…. there’s a lot of good V head explosion material going on right now. Chuck just doesn’t get it. Touchdown Tommy, however – he’s a brain sturgeon.
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right CHUCK seattle really helped themselves this offseason ! the other team that has really done a good job so far is atlanta ! they might be a bigger challenge than seattle ! the other contender to our throne , the rams , not so much ! losing their main man in game against us steven jackson will hurt them bigtime ! i predict we sweep the rams (and arizona) and split with seattle to win the division again ! atlanta might have just one achilles heal ! defensive coordinator ‘mr. conservative’ mike nolan ! i hope we can stay ahead of them ! home field advantage could be crucial this time !
I wouldn’t overlook the Rams. It was a smart move getting rid of an older veteran who’s always hurt. Steven Jackson is a beast…… when healthy. Trouble is the team can’t rely on him because he’s injured all the time. Jeff Fisher made the right move to dump him and go young to find some young, hungry “play hurt” consistency at the position. This division will certainly be tougher next year. Ten years of NFC West easy street, five years of beat the holy living hell outta one another.
fisher is doing a good job and will be hard to beat no doubt ! i just think we’re to far ahead of them right now ! steven jackson used would pick them up on his shoulders and single handedly carry them in games against us o lot of times ! it will be extremely hard to replace that factor when they play us imo
I agree. Jackson was a beast, and he did single handedly carry them. But Fisher knows how win without super stars on offense. I think the loss of Danny Amendola hurts them more. I look for the Rams to draft a few running backs, and maybe a few late round receivers that Fisher and Bradford can turn into C list receivers like Fisher had in Tennessee. Kerry Collins, Vince Young and Steve McNair didn’t have much to work with under Fisher, but Fisher still made it work by playing smart football. Think of all the guys offensive guys Fisher has had over the years. Mason, Brit, Washington, Johnson, Bo Scaffe? I’m sure there’s more I can’t remember right now. That’s not a lot of offensive talent, and yet his teams always compete.
Spitblood
Fisher had no offensive weapons?
Derrick Mason had 8 1000 yard seasons and an equal amount of years catching more than 80 receptions and was an All Pro.
You forgot Eddie George and all his huge 1200 yard plus seasons dominating the AFC for almost a decade..
The rams are the least of the Niner worries. They,ll have some growing pains themselves. They look to struggle a bit without Amendola and Jackson. Maybe they get going by the end of the year, but they look to have another tough schedule like they did last year.
I’d say the Cardinals are the least of our worries, but don’t sleep on Bruce Arians either. Bruce was who I was advocating the Niners hire when the Singletary disaster was going full throttle. Ya, yes. The good ole’ days. The firing or movement of Dennis O’Donnell. Micheal Lewis, Glenn Coffee, Balmer….. just up and leaving. Takeo Spikes saying there’s a rat in the building, and then Singletary going off about Jimmy Raye’s “years in the league,” as the only evidence Raye knew what he was doing. Please, let me look at the tape and laugh once again. Remember when Singletary had the team march into Seattle, arms locked, military style and then Seattle kicked Singletary’s military mouse trap all over the state of Washington? Troy Smith starting in London? Looking back now, those we some good time. But I digress.
Bruce Arians: Before I knew Harbaugh wanted to move to the NFL, I was advocating Bruce Arians as our head coach. He did wonders with the Colts last year, and the Steelers (his team before) weren’t the same last year without him. Arians can coach. Unfortunately for Bruce, he’s walking right into the middle of an NFC West Armageddon, and Bruce is holding a shovel. Jeff Fisher has a loaded drone and he’s up in the hills waiting to ambush us like he did last year. And he’s smart. Carroll and Harbaugh have the nukes. And “what’s your deal,” could escalate into Charleton Heston on the beach crying, “You animals! You blew it up!”
And Chuck – I didn’t forget about Eddie George and Derick Mason. Both guys were B list stars in my mind. Some could argue they were more, but Fisher has never won with an amazingly potent offense. He almost beat the “Greatest Show on Turf” in the Super Bowl playing good, sound football.
Fisher, Arians, Harbaugh and Carroll vs Mora, Singletary, Whizzerhurts and Linderhanderhanderman. “Toto: We’re not in Kansas anymore.”
In the past when playing the Rams Iit was a whole lot easier when Stephen Jackson and Danny Amendola didn’t play
You are deluding yourself to think that Isaiah Pead and Chris Givens are upgrades because they’re younger. Jackson and Amendola was 60% of the Ram offense.
But Spitblood thought 2013 was time to trade Frank Gore and Justin Smith for Revis and Spitblood thought the New York Jets would be where Alex Smith would wind up.
I had this truly astonishing and unforgettable experience this morning. I thought I’d share it with you…
I was driving up the street to the liquor store to get a 12-pack of Bud when the Easter Bunny came hopping across the middle of the road. I swerved to avoid hitting the Bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of my car and was unavoidably hit. His basket of eggs and candy went flying all over the place.
Being the sensitive man as well as the big animal lover that I am, I pulled over to the side of the road, got out of my car to see what had become of the Bunny carrying the basket. But much to my dismay, the colorful Bunny was dead. I felt guilty and began to cry.
A woman driving down the same street saw me crying on the side of the road and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked me what was wrong. I feel terrible, I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed it. There may not be an Easter because of me. What should I do?
The woman told me not to worry. She knew exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk, and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp, dead Bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little furry animal.
Miraculously the Easter Bunny came to back life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two of us and hopped on down the road. 25 yards later the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, and waved at us again. The Bunny hopped on down the road another 50 yards, turned, and waved some more. The Bunny continued to hop and wave on down the road.
I was completely astonished. I asked the woman what in heaven’s name is in your spray can? What was it that you sprayed on the Easter Bunny? The woman turned the can around so that I could read the label. It said: “Hair spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave.”
Happy Easter
Gawd, Spitty. Don’t you get tired of typing drivel? At least Dennis is humorous at times.
Don’t you ever get tired of …… being you? I would. Happy Easter.