Can’t say enough bout the new stadium. Beyond the fact its nowhere near the water, or San Francisco for that matter, the place is pretty damn nice. Took a bunch of pics. Didn’t try the wi-fi or any of that shit, and apparently there were problems, as with the lines and shit, but we ate early, and didn’t have any problems getting food or beer. The bathrooms are huge, so there wasn’t any wait there, and getting out was easy. Thing is, it’s hard to know the true situation because by the 3rd quarter, the place was 3/4 empty. No prob getting out either.
It was hotter than any game at the Stick I’ve ever seen. And there’s very little shade in the stands. A little curious, but ain’t no thing. One thing they figured out was the sound. No annoying echoes like the Stick on the visitors side, and the big screens were nice. The place is gorgeous on the inside.
Other than that, this game was another exercise for the defense. They were on the field most of the game once again as the new-look offense (yes, more 2+ WR formations again) looked OK under Kappy and the ones (2 drives, 2 missed FGs) , while Blaine the Train (wreck) bumbled and stumbled into another dogshit performance worthy of banishment to the Arena League. JJ comported himself not-so-well by fumbling his first snap, and by then, we split.
The defense appears to be a bit out of sorts as well. The first string guys played a little, and held Manning to a FG early. The run D was fine, but when playing Manning, that isn’t a big concern. My concern was the total lack of a pass rush. We didn’t get close to Manning, although I will say we didn’t blitz at all. For all that, we still couldn’t cover with a standard 4 man rush. The linebackers are really doing terrible in underneath coverage as once again, they gave up 8-15 yard plays to the various TEs and RBs out there with impunity. The couple times Manning (and Ostweiler for God’s sake) went deep, the LBs were again slow and late and burned for easy scores.
In other words, the offense needs to make up for the defense, which will be without the services of Aldon Smith soon, as well as NaVorro Bowman. I’m not THAT worried about things, but after game 3 of the preseason, I’d hope we would have scored some points on offense, and stopped someone on defense.
Forty Niners Forever 
You may not have noticed, but the Niners ran 5 wide on one play with Kappy in. Unfortunately I forget the result of the play, incomplete? First time I remember them doing that.
Kappy’s obviously not running now, so once the season starts that will be a great weapon. I have hope.
Yeah, there was some empty backfield plays which were good to see. I know they did it with Kappy once, and Gabbert few times.
Thing I just don’t get was everything was a checkdown short of the near-TD to Lloyd.
I’m sort of thinking they just wanted Kappy to look and check down, just to get used to it, but I don’t really know. He wasn’t under very much pressure, but Denver was giving up the short shots to the WRs so they took advantage of it while it was there.
The play I saw had no TEs. I didn’t see the receiving personnel.
Kappy looked to me to be treating the game as practice, which it is. Practice staying in the pocket, practice scanning the field for multiple receivers, practice hitting his checkdowns instead of running.
It was partially successful, partially not, but it wasn’t nearly the debacle that the final score would indicate. I’m not overly concerned with the offense at this point. Now, the D…
First, it was great to meet Chuck at the game. glad there were empty seats for his son and him to use. A lot cooler where I was. Next is the Niners. It seems that the Niners coaching staff does not care about winning in the preseason. It appears they want to see how everyone is performing individually rather than as a team. I don’t know how else to explain the poor execution on both sides of the ball. Some people not playing so it is really hrd to evaluate this team. I guess we all will see what goes down on opening day. Lets hope it goes well.
I’m jealous as hell. All those decades of living and working in Santa Clara Valley and they put the stadium in now, after I’m gone. Harummmph!
Looked great on TV. That’s about as close as I’ll ever get to it. Public transportation is the way to go if one can use it. Traffic is going to be interesting when the full stadium leaves after a REAL game. Holy Shit!
Yeah, our plan was to park nearby and ride bikes to the free bike valet. Unfortunately my bike had a flat, but we ended up parking close to a VTA stop, so we took the light rail. Saved $40-$50 bucks there . . . Train was a bit of a cluster as we had to wait for 3 other trains to leave our station so we sat there for 15 minutes gathering heat.
And yes, thanks for the use of the seats, Kevin! Pretty damn hot in there yesterday.
I’ll post the pics in a little while.
Alex Boone apparently turned down an offer that would have put him in the top 12 pay grade of guards in the league.
Oh well. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
it’s weird. Dude seems like the coolest dude ever and now he’s pulling this shit. Must be easily swayed by advisors.
It’s reported elsewhere the offer isn’t even top 25
Yeah, the biggest problem is he got Darelle Revis’s agents earlier this year.
The holdout kings.
Revis is a shutdown corner. Boone is a guard. Not quite the same demand . . .
What a second? Trent Baalke’s negotiating with a holdout? How stupid is that? Micheal Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Mike Iupati, Aldon Smith … even Jim Harbaugh and Vic Fangio? This team is about to have several players and coaches with new contracts needing to be negotiated, and Baalke appears to be giving everyone future leverage negotiating with a holdout now? I know coaches can’t really holdout, but it looks like players can and be recognized. That’s a stupid mistake by Baalke. Nevermind that Baalke’s a liar (the 49ers don’t negotiate with holdouts). It’s one thing for a head coach to lie to the media because they’ve got microphones in their face 24/7 with people looking for drama to twist and turn into major stories (see Mike Singletary’s tenure). But a front office guy doesn’t need to lie. It just destroys credibility with the front office, where credibility is needed most. The head coach needs to practice and master deception. The GM needs to be integrity and honesty. But now Baalke’s lying AND not getting anywhere with Boone? Baalke’s an idiot.
A GM can’t lie? You serious?
It’s most likely Paraag and Boone’s Agents doing business as usual Spit.
They own his rights for 2 more years.
You yourself made quite the stink about leverage when all this nonsense started.
By exercising their leverage, the FO will continue to seek common ground via his representatives.
It’s all about Cap Mgt.
Boone is worth the discussions, he just isn’t worth breaking protocol over, in terms of holdouts getting things done at the expense of the teams’ other priorities.
Blah, blah, blah….
12th –
Name a time when a GM’s lied that you’re aware of.
every GM, every single draft for starters.
I wouldn’t call draft ideas or thoughts lying. Guarded, yes. Lying, no. Got another example?
Define disinformation. Is it lying?
Every GM does it.
You never broadcast your intentions in this business.
As with Alex, you tell everyone who’s willing to listen, that your players are held in the highest regard, until you get some value back in a Trade.
Float a little noise to the media about making an offer to Boone and smear his position a little perhaps?
Scare away the suitors who might think we’re forced into a fire sale?
Not gonna happen.
They OWN him.
For 2 more years.
You know the word.
Leverage.
REPORT:Boone turns down lucrative offer.
Translation-
His asking price is too high?
Then you find out who’s hurting the most for a starting OG with OT ability and start milking that cow.
Win/Win for SF.
Lose/Lose for The Mevis Agency and Boone.
Squawks GM was steadfast that beast mode wont get paid, then paid him. This stuff goes on all the time. Ordinary business.
Baalke could possibly turn an UDFA into a 2nd RD pick if the right suitor comes into the fray.
If they chose to let him sit, he get fined into oblivion.
He won’t sit any great amount of time. The business of football is vastly different to the days of Al Davis/Marcus Allen spite. If they can’t reach agreement they do a deal for him, create value, since something is better than nothing.
My best guess is they reach agreement.
Agreed 12th.
At his present contract level, the fines could devour it pretty quickly.
He’s getting some bad advice IMO.
He’s got NO leverage in this battle.
Johnny Manziel’s a total bust. Only reason he just scored is because he was given three different penalties on 3rd downs that helped sustain drives. Wait ’til the refs don’t give him those penalties anymore. Best qb in the stadium tonight? My boy: Captain Kirk Cousins.
The thing that stinks the most about the Boone holdout is, what he’s doing to the rest of his OLine mates.
At least I can give a little credence to Vernon for coming in for the good of the team.
Boone is just looking more and more like a selfish bastard at this point.
Boone is underpaid. I presume a deal gets done next week or two. Not a big fan of the hold out tactic but what other leverage does he have? I’m guessing Paraag has been playing hardball so Boone’s agents up the ante.
He absolutely is 12th.
Baalke took a gamble on him and it paid off, because Boone turned it around.
From the perspective that he was a loose cannon, with a drinking problem, he cost himself a ton of money coming into the league and, now feels it’s time to recoup it.
The Mevis Agency doesn’t know any other methods unfortunately.
Paraag holds all the markers in this game.
All the markers except Boone refusing to play. If that comes to pass the markers are worthless. If Paraag won’t pay Boone an acceptable amount (from Boone’s perspective) then Baalke will cut a deal with another team and Boone get’s paid either way. It’s not a bad strategy if getting paid is the goal.
My preference is they all cut the crap and pay the guy his worth. Yeah he was a risk etc, Baalke took a flier on him and it’s paid off. Sure he has 2 years of contract left but his wanting to get paid more commensurate with his level of play isn’t crazy. He is a very good RG and a better LT. He could be a starting LT elsewhere and get paid a ton more.
Cut the crap and pay him already.
From what I’ve picked up, relative to OG salaries, Logan Mankins in NE is the highest paid OG.
Somewhere in the $8M range.
Obviously, we haven’t got a clue what the Mevis Agency is looking for but, yeh, I agree.
It’s semantics at this point.
He won’t report, team wants to avoid setting a bad precedent for guys holding out to attain new deals.
The CBA more or less was restructured to avoid this chaos.
I’m all for giving him a better deal, however, they can’t pay him crazy-level wages if they have any chance at re-signing Iupati next year.
It would be nice for all concerned if they did find some common ground.
Clock is ticking, and he’s missed a lot of conditioning time thus far.
All they need is a face saving mechanism, shouldn’t be too hard for them to devise one. They need Boone and paying him more is reasonable at the end of the day. Drawing lines in the sand and all that is for PR purposes. Bet your ass there are negotiations ongoing to figure a way to resolve it.
No doubt.
They stood firm with Frank and all was amicable in the end.
It’s all about the hold out process that’s shaping this into a huge ball of dung.
Bottom line is, once (if) they reach a satisfactory number with the Mevis Agency, they’ll instruct Boone to show up before the deal gets signed.
That solves the PR dilema.
I’m just starting to have my doubts about how crazy the asking price is.
Didn’t Frank hold out too? I might be wrong there but I believe he did and they did end up paying him.
I’m not suggesting Logan Mankins money, $8m as you say, but for my money Boone is playing close to Iupati standard with the very large upside of being a very capable LT. Not trying to debate who has more value just illustrating how fans can get emotional about the player hurting the team etc without considering all the variables. It could even be that Boone is forcing his way off the team so he can play LT elsewhere and get a boatload more money, I have no idea if that’s true, just speculating.
Yes Frank tried it and did report before he got the extension.
Same scenario we have now with Boone.
As you said, it’s the PR thing involving the holdout in a nutshell.
Team says come in, we’ll work it out.
Agents appear to be putting the cabbosh on it.
Cat and mouse, who blinks first nonsense.
Petty drama IMO.
Thought i remembered correctly. So the likely scenario was they worked out a deal as long as Frank returned to the team first, then they announce it and everybody wins, especially frank! Holding out is just a tool.
That’s the other side of this sword too 12th.
How high are they shooting?
If he goes into Mankins-level demands he’s as good as Traded IMO.
Yes, he’s a converted OT, like Anthony so he could very well be looking to go that route of forcing a deal.
That’s why I think Paraag has been successful at managing the Cap as he has, he doesn’t blow the budget needlessly.
Some team might come calling as I eluded to in earlier posts.
If he’s asking for the moon, you float fluff to taint their position and quietly look for the right suitor.
It does play into how much Boone wants to stay certainly.
We just don’t know NJ. It was reported they offered top 12 RG money but later it came out as a tag on to the existing contract diluting it to below top 25 RG money. I read somewhere he is getting 36th RG money. I would guess he see’s himself as better than mid pack RG.
He is not only a converted LT he plays LT for the Niners when Staley is out and is outstanding at the position. No question he could start LT for other teams. That is where the money really is but Staley isn’t going anywhere which is why I floated the idea that just maybe he is trying to force his way out.
Could very well be 12th?
Maybe he’s more about the money than the Ring?
We’ll see where this goes.
I’ve got no problems with anyone seeking better compensation.
Just play fair. He’s not a FA at this point.
So what’s a contract worth? Why even sign one if all you have to do is refuse to play when you want a better one? Does he get your sympathy when he wants a five year security blanket at the end of his career instead of a yearly high-bidder deal?
Baalke caving now and trashing his position of not negotiating with holdouts is the worst thing he could do. And who says if he does, that Boone doesn’t get IR’d with a broken leg before he plays a game?
In general I agree with that, contracts should be honored as far as possible although teams very regularly don’t hold up their end of the bargain. But there has to be exceptions to the rule where the situation has changed sufficiently to alter the terms. I think this is one of those times. I would also guess the idea of getting injured and getting his current level of compensation without the ability to build his case for a substantial pay increase is factoring into his request.
Bottom line is he is underpaid and justifiably deserving of a decent contract. Not crazy about the method but it’s business in todays NFL and the team won’t hesitate to not honor the full length of his contract if his play were decline for instance.
That’s what I’m saying too NoFear49er.
The current CBA was targeting these tactics specifically, because of what Revis was doing to the NYJ, at just about any time they felt like it.
No one disagrees with the Boone Contract being well under market levels but, as you say, this is what he agreed to.
Paraag and Baalke have been pretty steady in their approach to offering extensions to guys they’ve wanted to retain.
With Iupati/Crabtree on the horizon, Boone is impacting those plans by stepping out of rotation. Muddles up the Cap Mgt process and could impact how they treat the price they may have in mind for Iupati directly.
I’d prefer to keep Boone of course but, they’ve likely got to rework their projectons for the Cap 2 years earlier than they might have otherwise intended to do so.
Again, I put all of this on The Mevis Agency.
A few seasons ago Carlos Rogers was asked to take a substantial pay cut ($2m IIRC) in his contract pay or risk being cut. He refused, and lucky for him an injury or 2 at the position gave him sufficient leverage to get his contracted pay in full. How does that square with the notion of what a contract is worth? This is a game both sides play and it comes down to our fav word: Leverage
The team can’t cut a guy with a no-cut contract without paying him for it. They can cut a guy whenever they want as long as they pay him his guaranteed money. IOW, they do have to stick to the contract terms.
Military men in the middle of a battle say eff my teammates I’m paid too little for all shit coming at me and all the bad guys I’m taking out. Firemen walk off a fire because they think they need more money if they’re this good at fighting fires and saving people lives.
I’m reminded of all the right words they all have when they need the job. After they get it, $2M+ a year to play football was their dream coming true, and now isn’t enough for the ingrates to honor the contract they desperately needed.
The most I’d do is agree to renegotiate after this year’s over if he plays up to par.
Yes and no. Almost no contracts are fully guaranteed by the team and there is always the threat of starting another player in front of them unless they agree to reduce pay. It happens.
They’re still entitled to their guaranteed money. It’s a legal contract. The player, the player’s agent and the NFLPA will hold the team to it. Why does a player get fan support when he disregards it at the expense of the team, only to enrich himself? I don’t mind the guy asking for more money. He did, and so did Davis. The team said no, get back to work. When you’re able to do so, go get more money somewhere else if need be.
Guaranteed money very rarely goes beyond 3 years if that so a 5 year contract has no guaranteed money in the back 2 years where most of these disputes occur, Carlos Rogers was in that position and Boone probably will be next year.
In Davis’ case he has been paid a lot of money, twice and comes off as a greedy ass. I don’t equate Boone with Davis. Boone has been paid very little up till now so I have a lot more sympathy for him than Davis.
That was my point 12th man. He got what was guaranteed in his contract. The future years’ salaries were always an optional feature.
The money is relative. $2M+ for a year of football sounds pretty good to me. I think Boone comes off as a greedier ass since he’s willing to forfeit the team’s winning games to get his money and Davis went back to work. That’s a guy trying to get all he can but not at the expense of the team that got him where he’s at.
When the team has the ability to squeeze the player they do it without compunction if it has no repercussions. When the player signs his contract it is a reflection of his worth at that time. I have no problem with that, most players sign to their respective value. In a few instances the player far exceeds his contract value. It is good business to extend those players early so the future costs are lower in exchange for player contract security.
For whatever reason in Boone’s case no extension has yet been forthcoming and the team has extended several players with 2+ years of contract left, they just did it again with Staley. I have no insight into why they haven’t with Boone but the inference is they are taking advantage of a player who has far exceeded his contract. We learned the team has now made some kind of offer but it is thought to be a low ball offer so clearly the team does accept the position that he is underpaid and should get more. Now it’s down to values.
Sometimes it takes extraordinary actions to get sufficient attention. Maybe that is the deal with Boone. As I said, I expect they will hammer out a deal in the next week, maybe two and all this blather goes away.
I think I read he gets $1.5 mil this year, his 3rd of a 5 year contract. Reasonable to assume next 2 years contain zero guaranteed money, possibly even for injury. That’s a huge risk for a guy who is being paid very low end RG money. A career ending injury now and he never gets paid.
Leverage.
Crazy business NoFear49er.
Teams always have the upper hand it seems, since to them, the players are replaceable.
I’m with you however, honor your commitments.
I think the team is just trying to remove all the distractions of the hold out process itself.
True enough NJ49er. They’re the ones that have been writing those contracts for many players for many years. It’s hard to get one over on them. But there are still Albert Haynesworth deals being signed every year. No one is crying over the team losing tens of millions.
Stupid is as stupid does NoFear49er.
Snyder got hosed by Haynesworth.
Poor judgement on his part in the first place.
You know my feelings about Paraag and Baalke.
I think they’re very good at what they do.
Have a budget, stick to it.
Agree completely about being a team player too.
I appreciate guys that restructure to keep a Team competitive too.
Those are the kind of guys I’d want on my team too.
The guys that want to win.
Perhaps, as 12th has suggested, this could be a power play to go elsewhere for a more lucrative deal?
Especially if you look at the guys waiting in the wings to play OG on much more Cap friendly Contracts.
Maybe Boone feels like he’s going to get overlooked and wants out?
This is why Lloyds of London is around too.
If a player was smart, he’d take some of his pesos and insure his own post-football future, instead of partying it away.
I believe Kaep has something written into his extension to protect himself in that regard.
As with any Contract, the advertised value is only as good as the guaranteed portion of the deal.
Yes, and the team made him buy a policy to protect them, too. Why wouldn’t he just have bought a policy to protect himself in the first place?
Team demanded it of him. They gave him $60m guaranteed was the headline IIRC. In reality it was $60m guaranteed for injury only and then they recoup $20m from the insurance policy they made him take out on their behalf. SO it’s $40 mil guaranteed, for injury only. What is actually guaranteed other than for injury is 1 year $13 mil
Yeh Kaeps’ deal was done with smoke and mirrors I think?
I actually feel like he got hosed, disguised as helping the team.
I thought I’d read something involving Lloyds but, his deal is still very confusing to me.
These NFL Contracts need their own legal team to decipher them it seems.
I think he got hosed too. My fear is he becomes bitter about it if Crabs isn’t signed.
Truthfully 12th, I’m not sure Crabtree would even consider Kaep’s gesture.
He’ll want what he wants regardless.
We’ll see?
I’m of the belief that it’s going to come down to Iupati being the more desirable retention effort.
Just don’t know what the market will offer until he gets there.
Can’t see them keeping both guys.
Quite the challenge this NFL maze.
Kap has a $20 mil insurance policy for career ending injury, only thing is it pays the team not him.
Again, he signed it. He certainly didn’t need to give in to demands he didn’t agree with.
As you say, he signed it. Its a head shaker to me.
This game is still a business afterall, with LOTS of zeroes attached.
Players are expendible, their careers are all about risk management and production.
OL-men typically avoid serious injuries in comparison to RBs certainly.
Boone has definitely outperformed his current deal but, he’s got no one to blame for signing his current Contract but himself.
I would love to retain him, simply because of continuity but, the business side of the game can’t be ignored.
Everyone deserves a pay day, just realize that there’s only so much $$$ available in a given year.
12th man, I don’t understand how they’re taking advantage of Boone by paying him what they both agreed was fair for the length of time written. It’s only a fair deal if the player plays up to mediocre or below? He plays better, he asks for more on his next deal. That’s usually the way it works.
I have no sympathy for Boone’s “low” pay. $2M+ for the next two years from what I’ve seen. By your reasoning Kaepernick would have been justified sitting out as soon as we parted ways with Alex and holding the fortunes of the team hostage doing it.
When Boone signed his contract he was 3rd string RG I believe. He now has 2 years as a starter and a good one keeping Snyder on the bench. It was also a “prove it” contract because of his poor history. I would say it deserves revamping.
Who gets what they deserve? Kaepernick’s contract certainly “deserved” revamping, too. He didn’t quit on the team to get his.
If I were Baalke I wouldn’t want to be the hard-nosed asshole that kept us from having any right side to our o-line but I wouldn’t tell everyone else that we won’t negotiate with holdouts and then do so with Boone.
If Baalke plays it out it could cost Boone all his money and a question mark for other GMs in the league. Get back to work soonest.
I’m out, pleasure jawing with you boys.
Take care 12th, ditto.
I’m out, too. Evenin’/Mornin’ gents.
Lets hope the Niners show up for the next practice game at least for the first half. Practice, it’s just practice! Everyone is worried about injuries despite the denials. Guys going down in a meaningless game is not the way to go.
The graveyard shift was well represented last night . . . Good stuff.
The thing about Boone is, for all intents and purposes, he was very thankful that the Niners gave him the shot they did, even after his college drinking/fighting issues, his not being drafted, and his early problems with the 49ers. He has proven to be a valuable player who has, with the help of the 49ers, turned his life around and gotten his shit together. They gave him a deal that fit with where he was on the depth chart at the time.
He appears to be well-liked by his teammates, and he’s a fan favorite, so I don’t get the hard line he’s taking. As he’s proving, he’s only hurting himself in all this. Spitting on $2+ million is a bit ludicrous to those of us on the outside, but for a guy of his ability, it’s obvious he’s underpaid. He deserves a raise for flying to the top of the league as far as offensive linemen go, but there are better ways to solve this problem than holding out and demanding they do something about him.
He’s hurting this team, but selfishness isn’t a trait that is really frowned upon in the NFL. Either way, he’ll get paid by someone. Now or later.