The Niners played the ‘family values’ card in their desire to hold on to wayward Niner, Aldon Smith. Casting all the extemporaneous bullshit aside, the Niners would have come out on the short end of the stick had they not held on to him for that 5th year. Perceptually, and from purely a business and team standpoint as well. I mean, barring the complete unravelling of Aldon.
Leave him hanging, and you pretty much tell him he was a waste of a pick, and the team disregards his stellar play for the past few seasons. It would write his ticket out of San Francisco and thus on to somewhere else. Most likely Seattle, as they would sign him in a New York minute. It would also look pretty cold to imply that they don’t want him around anymore. To his teammates and the fans as well.
The reality is, for all his foibles, he’s a very rare commodity. A fast, strong, relentless pass rusher who would command a hell of lot more than the $9.75 mill they just put themselves on the hook for for 2015. As much as I’d love to see him turn his life around, and I’m sure he can, the shit he’s done isn’t terribly bad, but he’s definitely heading down a rocky path. He’s young, and he has to realize he’s his own best chance for success, and also the agent of his own doom.
So, the team can look good, they put his needs ahead of theirs, and can deal with his situations as they come up. They are also availed of his talent for the next 2 years, minus the 4 game suspension for weird behavior. Good move all around.
Forty Niners Forever 
I dont know that much about Roby but all I have heard is that he has potential bust written all over him.
Del – Just watched your boy, Joel Bitonio, on Youtube. He’s a beast. Watched him against Florida State and thought he played too high, but still recovered and didn’t get beat. If he goes somewhere good, his pro coaches will get him playing lower. He’s projected as a second round guard. I’d never use a second round pick on a guard. You can find gems just by studying and drafting guards in the later rounds. Hell, Alex Boone wasn’t even drafted. Larry Allen was a second round pick. If you get a guard in the second, you better at least think he’s a HOFer. The third round is as early as I pickup a guard in the draft. If he fell to the third, grab him!
Chuck, for what it’s worth, I’m having enough doubts about CB Bradley Roby that I’m pulling him off my Wish List.
Red flags are too obvious to ignore –
Going to elevate CB Walt Aikens from Liberty as a guy with potential later on down the Board.
Going with this and, assuming we won’t make a splash Trade up for Gilbert or Dennard –
Bradley Roby (CB) – OH State (Wish but miss unless we deal up) REMOVED From consideration.
Kyle Fuller (CB) – VA Tech (Trade up option Only)
Jaylen Watkins (CB) – UF
Jason Verrett (CB) – TCU (Good speed but small)
EJ Gaines (CB) – MO
Phillip Gaines (CB) – Rice
Shaquille Richardson (CB) – AZ
Pierre Desir (CB) – Lindenwood
Walt Aikens (CB) – Liberty
Take a chance?
Aaron Colvin (CB) – OK (Injury Redshirt ala Tank/Marcus/Dial)
Can’t wait for the festivities to start already.
New thread is up
Yay . . .