Turn out the lights.
Well, the music is your special friend.
Dance on fire as it intends.
Music is your only friend.
Until the end.
__________________________________________
Yet another speculative article by Mike Florio apparently points to the Niners resigned to letting Harbaugh walk after 2015.
Florio sez:
The San Francisco 49ers are prepared to let coach Jim Harbaugh walk away after his contract expires at the end of 2015.
The distance between Harbaugh and the team’s front office seems to be growing by the day and if Harbaugh had wanted to go to Cleveland, the club would not have blocked him.
The 49ers are in a good position because offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who was a candidate for several head coaching jobs in 2013, could easily slide into Harbaugh’s seat and keep the continuity of the offense intact.
Florio writes:
‘We first developed a clear sense that the Niners wouldn’t compel Harbaugh to stick around after his name emerged as a candidate for the University of Texas job last season. If Harbaugh had wanted to leave for Austin, the 49ers would have wished him well. As a result, things can get very interesting as 2014 unfolds. Barring a long-term, big-money deal that binds the Niners and Harbaugh together beyond the next two season, other teams will inevitably call the 49ers after the season ends, if not sooner.’
____________________________________________________
I give this one a big whatever as well, with a big But. If things are as fucked up as currently being reported, this catastrophe won’t last until June, let alone the conclusion of the 2015 season. The part that makes me want to puke my guts out is the line where Florio says that they can simply install Greg Roman in Harbaugh’s place and continue on their merry way. If this comes to pass, well, I’ll be lead pitchfork calling for Jed York’s head on a silver platter.
Frankly, I find it hard to believe that the players in this Sysyphusian Greek tragedy are so willing to blow this shit up when they are so close to pushing the rock to the top of the hill. If they reach the promised land and win the Super Bowl this year, will these guys still be at each others’ throats? Will they still be willing to chuck this all away?
What if they don’t reach the playoffs this year?
Forty Niners Forever 
Change of pace:
Hey Chuck about your icon/gravatar I gotta say just one thing:
Your dog’s got balls!
Here’s why Trent Baalke is totally replaceable. AJ Jenkins over this guy? Please. Next thing you know NJ will be telling us Jenkins was a Harbaugh pick. Double Please. Trent Baalke must go just because he selected Jenkins over Jeffrey. How could Baalke miss this one? Honestly. Jeffrey was a slam dunk.
I liked Alshon too SPit.
Hindsight is always 20/20.
I’ve heard Baldwin was a Harbaugh Pick.
What’s he doing these days besides taking a pay reduction?
Bullshit it’s hindsight. Go read my thoughts on this blog and Skeebers before the draft. Baalke’s a pretender. People just aren’t onto him yet. Have seen his 2012 draft? Lol.
It’s maddening watching this video. Baalke sucks.
No one is a slam dunk if they aren’t put in the right system to succeed.
Bullshit again. The great ones are slam dunks on any team. And Alshon Jeffrey will be known as one of the greats as long as he can stay health. And Baalke picked Jenkins? Who?
Did Joe make Jerry or did Jerry make Joe Spit?
Al Toon got Drafted ahead of Jerry because Bill Walsh saw potential for his system.
What would have been if Jerry went to the NYJ huh?
The question is who is better suited to build the 9er O- JH or Balky? AJ Jenkins? Ronald Johnson? Going forward I gotta believe Jimi gets the nod over Balky for player acquisition and getting some coaching help for the O
How about this fer sports reporter blather? Repeat the same bullshit over and over doesn’t make it true Kevin:
“Now Harbaugh wants to possibly get paid more than his brother John, and his nemesis Pete Carroll, even though his team has yet to win a Super Bowl. How is such a case of raging NFL-itis going to look in the eyes of his veteran players?”
Case Lynch presents is pure hearsay minus facts but we should all wonder about Jimi’s ego now?
Fucking Puleeeze……. “raging NFL-itis”? Give it a break Kev
Jed left the door open to this bullshit. Incompetent front office. First Alshon Jeffrey, now Browns gate with Jed in way over his head.
Naw Spit there’s no way he can control all this shit. I’m guessing he’s letting them (baalkebaugh) fight it out and see who wins. I have no probs with that or the way this is playing out as long as The Irreplaceable One sticks around to rebuild the O and keeps taking us to playoffs. No problem. Let ’em duke it out. Jed’s a Jedi and don’t you minimize those DeBartolo bloodlines son
Phil we’ve heard the axiom from Jim –
The team, the team, the team.
How is Jim selling that message when he’s reportedly asking for his raise, his control, his demands?
He’s a restless individual.
He’s perceived as a ME guy.
ME guys don’t sell me on The team, the team, the team with those actions.
Harbaugh’s not asking for more control. He wants a raise because he’s underpaid. When his players are underpaid or on the short list to be cut, he fights for them. That’s how Harbaugh can justify asking for a raise and it’s not hyporcritical. Baalke sucks as a talent evaluator, btw.
I just looked at the 2012 draft. Baalke sucks. In 2012, Baalke selected AJ Jenkins at 30, and then Doug Martin was selected 31st. It was widely suggested that AJ Jenkins was a second rounder. Then, in the second round, Baalke selected LaMicheal James at 61 but Ruben Randle went to the Giants at 63. So ask yourself this, forgetting all about the biggest mistake in not drafting Alshon Jeffrey, would you rather have Doug Martin and Ruben Randle, or would you rather have AJ Jenkins and LaMicheal James? And you guys want Baalke over Harbaugh? That’s laugable.
And then in last year’s draft Baalke drafted Vance McDonald in the second round and Aaron Dobson went to the Patriots a few selections after. NJ loves to muddy the water saying things like “Hindsight is 20/20,” and “Development depends upon the team.” That’s all crap. Fact is, Baalke’s missing on a lot of picks and he’s jeopardizing the franchise by selecting players who are injured, getting too cute thinking he’s getting them at a discount when really he’s wasting cap and roster space on guys who are huge questions marks (like Lattimore) when Baalke could have drafted Doug Martin who’d have really helped this offense this year instead of ……… wait for it……… AJ Jenkins! And you guys want Baalke over Harbaugh? My stars….
Spit the hidsight is 20/20 cliche applies to anything in life.
It’s not about muddying the water.
It’s saying that decisions were made on personnel that were targeted in a given Draft class.
Again, I had Doug Martin on my wish list as well.
Frank was obviously the feature back with Kendall already on the roster.
I still ask the question about LMJ being a Harbaugh guy or not.
Based on his comments about facing him while at Stanford.
I get it, you don’t like Baalke.
I say, our roster is stronger then most so, Baalke hit on more than he missed.
Still haven’t heard why other WRs aren’t producing in our system however.
Is that on Baalke too?
Vance was a highly productive guy at Rice.
I had him as my top TE too.
Sure, I suck too, but I’m not being paid to develop the talent either.
A guy Drafted for the Offense should ideally be developed by the Offensive Coordinator.
We like to run. So I guess his blocking development was more important?
It’s not necessarily Baalke over Harbaugh either.
It’s about Baalke and Harbaugh working to improve this team, in all phases.
Do you honestly think Jim doesn’t have any say on personnel?
Would Trent expect to succeed by forcing square pegs into round holes?
There’s something more divisive going on here.
Money and control is the report, I’d like to hear the truth or, at least a BS statement to clear the air.
If Harbaugh believes in his heart of hearts that he should be paid more then either his brother or Pete Carroll without having won a SB himself? Well, in my heart of hearts I hope both he and his mother die of slow eye cancer.
Jim Harbaugh his the goddamn devil. And when I see him in hell I’m going to punch him in the goddamn throat like no other. Fuck him.
Good night.
No, pay attention Dennis. Lynch claims such w/o any evidence and to build Balky/Maiocco/Killions myth that it is so. Same shit disturbers who want their boy Balky (clever no?) to keep drafting lame ducks.
Be careful what you wish for on others- you may wind up with it instead.
Well I’m of the opinion that while Jimi (that’s like calling the tall guy ‘shorty’ or the fat guy ‘slim’) Hendrix does not want the total GM duties he does want the “trigger” on whom we actually acquire/draft for the reasons we have discussed = we have too many misses on our O drafting. Jimi does not want to be responsible for. He wants to make the calls on O period.
That’s my best guess what this conflict is about.
Run.
Run left, run up the middle, run right.
He’s doing well there Phil.
Now, about the passing game…….
Already answered re: 2011, 2012 drafts. See above. I also think we need more than Mangina helping the O, game planning, play calling and developing players. Jimi seems to believe he can do a better job if he gets his guys in there
Wouldn’t expect anything else Phil.
Parcells thought the same thing, as he made his way through Dallas and Miami.
But Parcells had some hardware to show for it before he turned into the Mad Tuna.
Some guys work well with others.
The debate is whether Jim is one of those guys I guess?
The debate seems to me to be “Is Harbs better than Balky at building an O?” Not as you would keep trying to have it “IS Jim a team guy?”
Not about Jimi. Not really about Balky per se but “Who can rebuild the Niner O best?” They wanna squabble and fight? So what. I could care less. Bloggers and pro writers want to throw in their stories, opinions and manipulations? Have at it. So what, pure speculation is all.
I think it’s pretty clear where we stand on this one NJ. The question is what will ownership do? Let the irreplaceable coach go on strike or whatever? Trade him to Tampa, lol. Good one.
Parcells didn’t Draft LT but, he made his mark while having LT is the difference maker in NY.
LT was a coke addict.
He skirted the system for drug testing for quite awhile in NY, due to lax controls on drug testing during that time.
He also relied heavily on former players like Curtis Martin as he jumped from job to job.
His accumen for Drafting talent was nothing stellar.
Our situation with Harbaugh is looking very similar to that of the Tuna.
A guy who thought highly of his abilities, yet, couldn’t stand being told what to do or, how to do it.
Tony Romo was a Parcells pick in Dallas.
Cruel joke perhaps?
Romo isn’t anything but an average QB.
Parcells benefitted from strong Defense and a running game too.
I see similarities to Harbaugh.
Parcells didn’t fare well in the Cap era either.
For all the mud-slinging in Baalke’s direction, he’s built a pretty formidable roster.
One that Harbaugh is winning with now.
If Kaep doesn’t develop into the elite QB many of us expect him to become, there’s plenty of ammunition to wage this debate for Baalke not being the problem, as some here would suggest.
Our Oline was rebuilt, Defense constructed with guys like Willis, Bowman, Goldson and Aldon.
Kendall Hunter, Colin Kaepernick and Chris Culliver were also acquired while Baalke was either the Head Scout or the GM.
What Baalke constructed in SF speaks for itself.
I’ve got a very hard time accepting Baalke as the reason this team has not won it all.
Jim was hired to get it across the finish line.
Now, it seems like it’s more about squabbling over personnel instead of working with Trent to work out the wrinkles.
My suggestion was to have him go to JAX Phil.
A team in need of a total makeover.
An owner flush with cash too.
I’m all for Jim and Trent continuing to build on their recent successes.
If they can’t, a divorce is imminent.
Get something before you get nothing is all I’m suggesting.
Hope it doesn’t come to that.
We’re doing things that took years to accomplish.
I just hope the finger pointing that’s being reported isn’t a reality.
I’m choosing a side here because it’s looking like a power struggle regarding personnel and on field shortcomings.
GMs evaluate and acquire talent, HCs develop and organize them.
Each guy should compliment the other.
Kaep has a new off-season workout buddy this year, QPatton.
Last year he had Riccardo Lockette.
Let’s assume for the time being, Patton was a guy Harbaugh approved of.
Can we at least give Kaep and QPatton the benefit of the time together?
We’ll see whether this improves anything when the games come around.
Sure didn’t do squat for Lockette.
Jerruh couldn’t get along with Jimmy, stop me if you heard this one before.
Owner ego clashes with HC ego.
Owner figures ‘Anyone can Draft football players’.
Jimmy built that roster in the 4 years he was there.
Takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong.
Jerruh isn’t very big I’d say.
Stubborn men, who think they can do it all, eventually realize, they aren’t as smart as they think they are.
This is a team game.
Each piece should compliment the other.
The rope should be pulled from the same end if you have any expectations about success.
Patton was the first productive WR to make the squad since the 2010 draft. That was Kyle Williams in 6th, Nate Bynum in 6th as TE. Then they both got hurt. 2009 it was no-brainer Crabtree. So since Crab we have only Patton to show for our drafts. Injuries have played a toll but major miss on AJJ- and Ronald Johnson -have hurt us. You miss that badly on a 1st rounder it’s going to hurt; this is indisputable.
Our history with drafting -few- and misses- 2-3 since Crabtree is poor. Jimi thinks he can do better in rejuvenating the O than TB has done. We are going to see the last of Frank G this year and that adds to the urgency of getting the O retooled. Jimi’s seen enough of Balkys efforts in this area.
Sure he wants a raise and he should have asked for Pete Carroll money when he signed = $6 mi but he and his agent didn’t. But suggest he wants “top Dollar” now is a bunch of sports writers spewing pure shit. Or show me otherwise.
IMHO
BLEEP!
Florio sez Jimi wants $6.5 M / year and Kap wants $18 m in this article:
Top dollar my butt fer Hendrix, it’s Kap looking fer the moon
Phil it flat out sucks having to take a side in this situation.
We’ve all been on the same side forever.
Like having parents divorce.
How can you choose one over the other?
All I’m hoping for is a reconciliation.
Professionals acting professionally would be a nice way to end this squabble.
A stacked team, with a good Coaching staff that needs to find a way to fix the passing game.
Doesn’t seem insurmountable to me.
Yeah not insurmountable if people involved act like adults and find a way to share the responsibility to fix their relationships and produce the squad needed- mainly on O since this has lagged the D since forever. They have done pretty darn well as a team (HC/GM) so the ability is there. I don’t see a split as inevitable or imminent but my worry is that by not resolving their conflicts (wish we knew what those are) the offense will not get upgraded as it needs to. QB is on track to keep improving. WR we have discussed and this will continue to need attention. Maybe JH does not like Balky cutting/dropping so many on O as mentioned, possible. We knew going into last year we would be thin at WR, then Crabs got injured. We were shorthanded and have not been deep at receiver forever.
Maybe part of the problem is the mix of O & D players drafted: more D than O players drafted or our drafting injured players on O?
Well Phil, if there’s evera chance to get healthy in the WR area, it’s this Class.
For me, the Draft process is all about the Scouting vs the slotting.
Every team likely rates the same guys with similar grades.
It always comes down to having blocks of guys at need positions of course.
Every team wants a starting QB, a shut-down CB etc.
As Spit and I were knuckling each other earlier, a WR may be our top priority but, if your first option is gone, you may look toward the next highest ranked guy, even if it’s not a WR.
That’s the basis of BPA.
You may NEED the WR but, why reach?
Seek your next highest ranked WR in the next RD.
Sh!t, if I could slot these guys, I’d apply for a paying job myself. 😀
I love the stats, the evaluation processes etc.
Very addicting.
My feelings about Harbaugh and Offensive input are simply this, what is he seeking from this Offense?
He’s not a wide-open, spread it out kind of guy.
I’ve played devil’s advocate with the debates between Berger and others calling for 4 wides etc.
I truly don’t know what Jim is seeking from the passing game.
I suspect Trent prefers a faster more unpredictable approach.
Perhaps this is the crux of the discord?
Conservative Jim vs unconventional Trent?
Jim (Roman) can’t fit them into their plans?
Call me perplexed.
Wish we knew what these two are wrangling over- that would clarify things but true we do not. I will say the 3rd, 4th hand opinions of sports writers has led me to appreciate the dynamics and (office) politics of how we get our info. There are various agendas of the main players and the whole gets manipulated left and right. While you are focusing in on specifics of individual players I’m trying to look at the global situation and figure out what is this about from a relationship POV.
If you had to write a script for entertaining the masses during off season this would be it. Over two months to Draft Day? Lord have mercy
I’ve learned fromfollowing the Baalke Drafts, he likes guys with longer arms.
Interesting evaluation criteria.
Seemed to me every Scout/GM wanted the speed or height factor.
From what I’ve gathered, arm length is the difference between getting blocked or having the separation advantage as well as the ability to get off the ground more quickly.
Makes sense now.
Vance and Aldon fit that criteria, along with Patrick and NaVorro.
How often have we confused Patrick and NaVorro from a stature stanpoint?
Very similarly built guys.
Now, I too look for the arm length measurable, when I build my ‘Wish List’.
I still look for the speed factor at certain positions as well.
Hard to know where Jim sees the prospects.
Sure would be interesting to hear his input come Draft Weekend.
Hard to think Harbaugh isn’t involved enough in building the draft board. Probably doesn’t like not having the final say on draft day. If I had to guess, his biggest disagreement would be who gets re-upped. I don’t think he’d be any good at it and neither would I.
As someone in the FO said, (Marathe?) they didn’t give up all the control to get him here, why would they give it up now?
Whatever arrangement they have is working, quite well, thank you. If Baalke would leave I still wouldn’t want Harbaugh to replace him. It seems to me head coaching is more than enough to do and he’s not lacking in talent to win. Some receivers didn’t work out? Well, he’s had some that he ignored, too.
A good HC/GM pairing is the way to sustained successes. So says, NFL history. Quit your pissing and moaning and continue the mission.
The Draft process is a crap shoot NoFear49er.
No one knows for sure who the next hot-shot will be when dealing with College athletes.
Game changes too drastically between those levels.
Heck, Rice was a fish out of water early on too.
I agree with you, completely, that it’s a committee approach.
Each guy sharing the vision of what it takes to win on a player-by-player basis.
We can only react to the media musings, since none of us are privy to the daily exchanges.
It’s worked in getting us to this point so, why upset the order of things?
Kawakami suggests that Jim is a guy who enjoys making chaos and, often does an about-face on personnel.
Call me not surprised, especially when we witness the sideline outbursts when he’s exposed to the cameras.
In Kawakamis’ opinion, Jim seeks a ‘yes Man’. Someone who shares his vision.
Sure.
The GM thought the same thing I’m sure.
If it’s a division of philosophies, it’s up to the ranking officer to carry out the plan.
Piss and moan, throw a tantrum, whatever, it’s still about building the team.
If that doesn’t float the boat, someone has to take a swim.
Again, Jim can Coach.
But, Trent put this thing together over a period of 10+ years.
Not something I’d feel comfortable changing course on now.
Know your role, do it with every ounce of your ability or, find a greener pasture.
Plenty of teams will pay.
It’s a risk tolerance principle.
You can get all the control someone is willing to part with.
If Jim came to win the Lombardi, he’s uniquely positioned to do so.
He’s also the guy calling the shots on the field.
No one is interfering with his authority in that regard.
It’s all on him. No holds on his authority so?
Why gum it up in the areas others are paid to organize and manage?
This end of the rope Jim.
Lead, follow or, get out of the way.
It still comes down to developing a passing game.
Is it possible, even a little bit, that Jim doesn’t have much to offer in that regard?
Nix the players as a reason not to succeed in that segment?
Fault the GM’s player selections?
We run. Very well.
Is it also possible he’s too conservative?
Singletary was accused of being too pig-headed with his rushing approach.
Some people avoid change, others refuse to, opting instead to adhere to their own beliefs.
Compromise doesn’t factor with some folks.
Naw Jimi’s doing fine, great record. But Niners need to rebuild the O. He seems to believe he, not Balky, is the one to do it. Evidence shows TB has had little success with major aspects of O building. Time for another man to take a shot.
Florio chirps in with some salary numbers on Jimi & Kap. Top dollar ain’t Jimi:
Kevin Lynch dead wrongo on Hendrix wanting “top dollar”. Like I said yesterday. Just more sports writers trying to kiss Balky’s butt I suspect.
Wearing thin list:
Kevin Lynch
Ann Killion
Matt Maiocco
So we are to believe these writers are an adequate answer to John Madden’s comment: “Suits are easier to find than great coaches”? Sad day when sports scribes style themselves more important than great HCs. Current or former
Tim Kawakami extolls Killions hack job on Jimi so that earns him an honored place on the Wearing Thin List. I don’t even include Grant Cohn because that’s a given.
Phil you seem to be running out of beat writers to put on your list. Is that because what they are writing goes against your opinions?
No doubt the writers would be happy to give Harbaugh some payback for his treatment of them. Also no doubt those same “thin ice” reporters have seen some shit for themselves as well has having whispers from inside the building, far better placed than any of us to assess what is happening.
Take it with a pinch of salt? Of course, complete fabrication? Of course not.
The beauty of Tim and Killion is, they can both point to each other a a source of something. Bullshit. But something.
New thread is up.