In what should have been a jubilant head coach answering questions about a gutty win by his tough team over an undefeated opponent yesterday, instead turned into a presser full of talk about a broken locker room and players supposedly bailing out on their head coach. Funny thing is, didn’t we all see this before? Wasn’t there talk of rats in the cupboard during the death-throes of the Singletary era? Talk of a broken locker room? Talk of players giving up on the antics of their wild-eyed head coach? No communication between the coach and the front office? Leaked reports of trouble inside the walls? Leaks, rats, fingers in dykes. There’s suddenly an eerily similar tone around the team.
Strange how all these reports are happening AFTER the front office kicked the tires on trading their head coach to Cleveland before backing away from it in a cloud of misinformation. Funny how this stuff is percolating around the headquarters AFTER the coach and front office decided to table the contract extension conversation until after the season.
So, the big question here is, who is engineering these rumors? Is the front office trying to undermine their head coach to hedge their bet for a contract extension? That sure seems like the strategy. Throw a little blood in the water like ‘locker room turmoil’ and the bloodsucking leeches come out of the mud to attach their name to a story of players tuning out their head coach. Deion Sanders, who is a good friend of one Michael Crabtree, has been running with this story for a few days now. As have a lot of national press guys. Of course, Deion’s response was “it isn’t Crabs” but his talk mirrored the words from Ian Rappaport of SI, Harbaugh’s an overbearing task master who treats players like children.
Local hack Tim Kawakami has been all over Harbaugh for the last few years, but his bone to pick is for the RayMac situation, and many others, but not a peep about this so-called dissatisfaction and tuning out. He, and all of the local media, have <strong>nothing</strong> to share regarding the locker room and the supposed tensions. Very curious to me. Trent Dilfer went on to use the word ‘toxic’ to describe the locker room, but after the Monday night game he was backpedalling faster than the French in WWII. He said (paraphrasing here), I know players in the organization , I know the owner, and the coaches as well, but I have no inside knowledge of what is really happening. I haven’t talked to anyone in the organization. I just think they are in disarray based on what I see on their sidelines. Lousy communication, dumb penalties, yadda yadda yadda. Right, Trent. Way to weenie out.
Harbaugh for his part called the talk ‘a load of crap’ and went on to get off a great line, saying “I haven’t seen Trent or Deion around here much.” Sanders went on to tweet this: “I never knew the Truth hurts that much. Sorry San Francisco 49ers fans but it is what it is. Ask yourself why would I lie!” <strong>To me, this is the biggest red flag in all of this.</strong> It sure feels like Deion has the mouth of someone in the 49ers front office whispering in his ear. Someone with direct knowledge of the situation willing to float the premise that the front office is undermining their head coach as the season unfolds. Deion’s never one to shy away from controversy, and as a member of the NFL through its TV station, it baffles me that he’s allowed to be such a shit disturber. But he wouldn’t be this adamant regarding the 49ers without someone feeding him this information.
The players, for their part, appear to be united in supporting Harbaugh. Newcomer Antoine Bethea, Alex Boone, I mean, who really knows what goes on on their flights? No cards? No music? The team has people monitoring players’ behavior on flights? Beyond the lunacy of treating grown men like that, it smacks of utter bullshit. Would these national reporters know this? No. The locals have never mentioned it, and they are the ones who travel with the team. Something like that would be patently obvious.
So, the national media, and glory whores like Deion (who WORKS for the NFL), and wannabe journalists like Trent Dilfer, glom onto innuendo from the front office, and report it as fact.
This is starting to look like Young Sir Jed is grinding the wheels under his head coach. He did it to Singletary with veiled leaks and unsubstantiated rumblings from unnamed people, and he’s cranking the propaganda machine again to discredit Harbaugh.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
In other words, we may have a Daniel Snyder Jr. on our hands here.
Jed York is an idiot. I don’t think enough fans or players remember how bad this team was pre Harbaugh. I’m actually rooting for Harbaugh to leave and go win some place else. Jim Harbaugh deserves better, and he’ll create a better situation else where with a more grateful owner. Harabugh’s coaching staff will eventually leave the 49ers as the ship falls apart, leaving it up to York and Baalke knowledge to build another coaching staff. And all I have to say to that is….. Yikes! Fans better enjoy the days of good 49er football right now because those days are numbered. Harbaugh built this team up and it’s now attractive for another head coach, but that head coach better be damn good because this ship of criminals, malcontents and ungratefuls isn’t an easy ship to steer. I think the 49ers are a 7-9 team the minute Jim Harbaugh steps out the door, and I don’t care who they hire. You heard it here first.
I don’t know if it’s Jed York who is undermining Harbaugh but I do know that Jed York isn’t coming out and supporting his owner in the media, and that’s where he should be. That much alone is telling.
49er fans should ask themselves this – who would you rather have – Jed York or Jim Harbaugh? One man is a complete fuckin’ idiot …. the other is Jim Harbaugh.
I tell ya, I got no clue how this shit turns out, but current indicators look like this is a disaster in the making.
The only good that can come out of this is the players rallying around Harbaugh amid the disinformation and bullshit flying around. They make the push and take it all the way.
For all the talk of a disjointed offense, this is a work in progress at the quarter pole. Look at Eli in NY. He struggled with the Bob McAdoo WCO his first couple games but appears to be hitting his stride as they’ve scored a shitload of points in the last 2 games.
Will the Niners right their offense? It’s possible. They showed balance last game, and still worked in some passing. Disjointed, but they did score. Too much bumbling in the red zone still, but there are signs this is better than the last couple seasons.
Deion Sanders is an Uncle Tom…. doing the bidding of the owners (all white boys). Crabtree refutes Sanders’ claim. Bethea and Boone come out in support of Harbaugh. Trust me, Jed York is going to be villified in SF after Harbaugh leaves. And rightly so.
I fuckin’ hate Jed York.
He takes his orders from his parents.
Lets Talk football, after last nights performance by A Smith. How will he do against the Niners? I know nothing about KC’s Defense so I am not sure how the Niner offense will do. Chuck, what do you know about KC’s D? anyone??
Niners destroy the Chiefs. Period.
They have 2 great pass rushing OLBs in Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Their front 7 is pretty damn good. They are 11th in yards given up, and 8th in points allowed. Their pass defense is pretty solid to boot. Run defense is good.
If you saw last night’s game, you saw a pretty efficient offense with Jamaal Charles and Alex Smith basically doing whatever they wanted against NE. Then again, NE is in trouble this year.
They key to stopping KC is stopping Charles. When he was out, they lost to Tennessee for God’s sake.
Fortunately for us, the Chiefs play a similar game to Philly. A lot of quick underneath plays and quick hitters, as they try to establish the run game. Philly had no chance with their banged up O line. KC looked pretty solid blocking. Again, though NE is a squad that is banged up and old.
Stop the run, force Smith to pass, and get pressure on him. Bingo. The game is ours.
If this team can get some kind of offensive flow going, we should beat them handily.
Harbaugh: “If they want to divide, then divide…. our response… Unite, unite, unite.”
I actually feel sorry for the Chiefs.
“KingCrab15: I don’t know what people are talking about with Mr Deion… But we good over here!”
More fuel for the front office disinformation crowd.
In the end, Jed York betrays William Wallace . . .
How in the world are we expecting this organization, this coaching staff, these players to win Super Bowls with a coward for an owner? It’s beyond me.
Historically, that is . . .
What isn’t known is what Harbaugh is asking for in a contract extension. If it’s more money, pay the man. If it’s more control over personnel, stick to your guns, young Jedi.
Jed isn’t the guy stirring this pot. Harbaugh’s the best thing that could have happened to him after his Singletary fiasco. The best thing for Jed is a happy Harbaugh under contract for five more years and a happy locker room.
In this case, as Singletary had it right then, there’s a rat in the house. Singletary wanted to call him out to kick its ass. Player mentality. Harbaugh has to be smarter than that and dismissing it and not making a big deal over it by having the owners comment on it is forcing the hand of the rat. A better strategy.
I thought the rat was LaMicheal James, but because the locker room is coming out in favor of Harbaugh, and Jed’s quiet, it’s Jed.
I think you’re wrong about Jed sticking to his guns if Harbaugh wants more say over personnel. Jim Harbaugh recruited really well at Stanford. There are more NFL Stanford players now than there ever have been – including the days of Walsh. I think that’s Jim Harbaugh. It’s not David Shaw.
Well, it’s hard to say that this isn’t coming from Jed as there is some sort of chicanery going on behind the scenes. Never mind the trade that was/not was. This kind of shit is exactly what the FO floated out of the building when Singletary was grasping for a lifeline.
Harbaugh has been a Godsend for the team. However, Jed is hedging his bet based on THIS season, not anything in the past. Jed’s giving himself the gold star for getting Harbaugh. That’s ancient history. Harbaugh is on the hook now for delivering a Super Bowl. In Jed’s mind this is all about the trophy. Otherwise, why all the waffling on a contract? He’s done more than enough. Except deliver the Lombardi down Lombard St.
And I don’t even think Harbaugh wants more control over personal decisions. He just wants a deal.
I think Jed’s dragging this shit out leads directly to any misgivings the players might be having about their head coach. If Harbaugh isn’t in it for the long haul, why should they be?
I think Jim Harbaugh wants Baalke gone and wants more control. I think that’s the sticking point of the negotiations – or was.
Look at Baalke busts.
LaMicheal James (2nd round pick)
AJ Jenkins (1st round pick)
Vance McDonald (2nd round pick)
The entire 2012 draft class
Cory Lemonier (3rd round pick)
Marcus Lattimore (4th round pick)
It’s still early in the Baalke years and he’s already got a lot of busts. Baalke’s trophy room is like the wax museum – a lot of busts.
If you’re expected to cook the dinner, you need to be able to do the grocery shopping.
Not in today’s NFL. Walsh was stripped of his GM duties, as were many other coaches including Mike Holmgren. Too much for one guy to deal with.
You’re response is overly-simplified. A GM and HC is a bad option, but an HC with final say and a scouting department working for him…. now that’s the right formula for Harbaugh, and one that works in other organizations.
There’s always busts. That’s the way it’s always been. Even Walsh era had duds.
Walsh definitely didn’t have that many ducks over a three year span. That’s a lot of ducks. Del might need to get stock in Sourdough Sam if Baalke’s gonna find us that many quackers.
LMJ just signed with the Dolphins. He’ll be the next Kory Sheets.
At least the 49ers are not the Raiders. What a bunch of crap.
Chuck the fact that Gore and Crabtree came out recently with the comments about this Offense lacking a killer instinct speaks for itself.
The problem is the Offense.
If I’m a Defensive player keeping this team in every game the past several years and, the Offense continually playing for FGs and losses on the Big Stage, I’d be looking squarely at who runs the Offense.
Therein lies the question.
Is Roman carrying out Harbaughs’ wishes?
Many people wanted Roman gone.
Harbaugh stepped up to suggest it was on him.
Promised changes to open things up.
We still have no clear cut improvements to the passing game IMO.
An entire TC, new receiving options, same scramble drills with an athletic QB making something out of the chaos.
I’m not ready to call for a mutiny but, some within the locker room may be getting a little frustrated after losing leads in the early going.
What does concern me is whether there’s enough creativity to get beyond the power running game?
So far I ain’t impressed.
Yeah, well, I guess they can’t install this shit overnight. I was baffled when they ran 51 of 61 plays 37 passes, 13 runs, and 1 sack) through Kaepernick in the AZ game. If they are trying to give him a different system to run, it seems pretty stupid to give him everything all at once.
Thing is, 75% of the passing plays come off Kappy breaking contain due to pressure. Usually up the middle. It’s nuts to me that they can’t pick up a simple stunt or 5 man blitz.
But then again, they’ve had some nice long drives among all the weirdness.
Frustrating to me Chuck.
Coaching hasn’t found a way to beat a blitz, yet guys like Stanton stood tall and beat ours.
Beating Philly was all about laying back and playing coverage, Dallas too.
We’re daring people to run on us when Fangio goes that route.
Philly couldn’t, Dallas got behind early and running was allowed to eat clock.
2 things concern me.
Lack of a quick hot read.
Kaep being asked to run instead of finding a quick hitter.
Teams just send the house to get Kaep moving, and so far, it’s working like a charm.
That’s on Coaching IMO.
OLine has it’s work cut out for them to date.
We can run but can’t find a consistent passing game when it’s needed.
Can Harbaugh/Roman find an answer?
Stay tuned I guess.
KC has a great couple of bookend pass rushers. That’s what concerns me. They didn’t blitz much, but didn’t need to. That actually gives me hope that we can pop them up the middle with Gore.
Play action is still a concept that they cannot to this day figure out how to make work effectively. It is ALWAYS ignored by the defenses we play. BEyond that, the slant we ran was the pick 6. The CB just gave up his guy aand waited for the pass to come right to him as Kappy telegraphed it alll the way. Bad pass, but that shit happens from time to time. Minimize that, and fix the goddamn red zone doldrums and this team will gain some confidence.
KC will give us fits, trust me.
Well balanced team and good speed.
Alex will eat the ball if we can take away his easy throws.
I want to see Kaep get rid of the ball quickly and on target.
He does telegraph many of his throws.
His mechanics get sloppy too, which I’d had hoped Harbaugh could have corrected by now.
Should be a good game if our D plays like they did vs Philly.
We’ll need a better showing from the Offense to pull this one out.
They let Dexter McCluster go to Tenn in FA. They lost their Sproleslike weapon.
Wow, I didn’t know Bill Belichick was also the GM in New England. Interesting…. he’s always in the playoffs.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11616389/bill-belichick-gm-blame-new-england-patriots-woes-nfl
Looks like Belichick’s a guy who can be a GM and head coach. How many years have the Patriots been in the playoffs? I’m betting Jim Harbaugh either wants to be a HC / GM or he wants a big, big part of the GM say. And I don’t blame him. Trent Baalke sucks.
Belichick has had 21 Draft choices as GM.
4 of them are starters.
Outstanding.
He’s ridden the talent of Tom Brady.
‘Nuf said.
Correction –
21 Offensive Draft selections of which 4 start.
The receivers New England has drafted over the past five years have combined to catch 52 passes for 727 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games with the Patriots. No team in the league has gotten fewer games or receptions from the receivers it has drafted since 2010. The Patriots have gotten the second-fewest yards (727) and second-fewest receiving touchdowns (four) from their drafted wideouts over that span.
And that production is tied to a future HOF QB.
Just goes to show that WRs are a shot in the dark via the Draft.
If Baalke sucks, Belichick swallows.
Those figures wouldn’t matter much if the Patriots were set at the position. But when 2009 seventh-rounder Julian Edelman is the most dynamic receiver on the team and the future Hall of Fame quarterback ranks 30th in Total QBR through four games, it’s no stretch to say the team could have done more to reinforce the position.
Four of the 21 offensive draft choices since 2010 are regular starters. That list includes Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Gronkowski and Stevan Ridley, but only Gronkowski is a building-block player, and only if he can regain top form following yet another injury.
What now? The Patriots will improve whether or not they win at home against Cincinnati in Week 5, but their personnel shortcomings at the skill positions and along the offensive line are threatening like never before during the Brady-Belichick era. The coach and quarterback can’t be too pleased with the GM these days.
And..
Let’s not forget who Drafted Aaron Hernandez.
Looks like he whiffed on that background check huh?
Beyond that, the Pats are in the weakest division in the NFL. M
Belichick was raised a pro scout by one of the best, his dad. He’s coached since forever. He’s the best in the business. Ask anybody.
There’s no doubt in my mind Harbaugh wants more front office control. I don’t think he care about the money.
BTW, do you think it bothered NJ when I suggested Harbaugh as our GM? LMAO. The guy was so flustered he busted out 8 posts trying to calm his inner storm. I love it.
Spit you’re clueless about the value of a good GM.
Just wanted to give you some perspective on how tough it is to be a HC and GM in this game.
Once again, waffle away Son.
You’re answer was to pay Harbaugh like he’s done something more than he has.
Give him whatever he wants right?
If I’m Jed I’m saying win the hardware and write your own check.
I think the handwriting is on the wall for Harbaugh.
He ain’t playing College ball anymore and I’m having my doubts that he can get beyond a power running game.
We’ll see how he fares vs Pete this year.
Much has been written about his record since he was busted for Video-Gate.
Not quite the same without a little inside ‘Scouting’ to get them by I guess?
Lol. He gets the Patriots into the playoffs pretty much every year with this GM / HC model. Looks like he’s doing just fine to me. And he picked up Tom Brady’s replacement, who looked sharp in mop-up time. Harbaugh proved he could recruit at Stanford. Harbaugh will do just fine as a GM / HC. He’s definitely got the chops for it.
C’mon NJ49er, everyone’s stealing everyone else’s signals whether they tape them or not. It wasn’t always forbidden. Do you really think the only way Belichick was a successful coach is by stealing the opposition’s signals?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/feature/index?page=greatestcoaches
Nothing against Bill as a HC NoFear49er.
He’s in top company and deservedly so.
Excellent Defensive Mind too.
I think he’s handicapped himself by taking on the GM duties primarily.
You could be right NJ49er. I’m against it as a rule but at least in Belichick’s case he knows the scouting part of the business, too.
I think Harbaugh has enough to handle as head coach. I wouldn’t want to see him as GM, too. Or even with more power on draft / FA decisions. His input as head coach should be given plenty of weight and I’d bet it is. J. Martin is proof of that. Baalke knows how the evaluating system works and how the money works, too. He’s doing a great job. Why mess that up with a guy who just this last game stopped doing spastic gymnastics on the sidelines when the zebras make a call.
Spastic Gymnastics – Perfect!
Spit the difference between Belichick getting into the Playoffs and Harbaugh is that Belichick has won SBs.
He hasn’t gotten back since taking over the GM role.
If you’d simply stop the finger pointing at Baalke, you might realize the bigger picture.
Drafting players is one piece of the GM role.
Finding FAs, managing the Scouting, balancing a Cap etc, also factor in.
A HC is expected to develop the talent and execute the plays.
College recruiting is amateur hour stuff compared to the NFL.
Harbaugh had Dick Sherman at Stanford.
How is it we didn’t Draft him?
Baalke right?
As Sando eluded to in that piece I snipped through, Belichick can’t maintain the roster that got them there in recent years.
Welker was allowed to bounce.
He wouldn’t pay Mankins.
The OLine is suffering as is the Offense in general right now.
Brady is 37. His time is coming to an end.
Mallet was a whiff.
Now they’re hoping Garapolo can develop.
Belichicks talents have always been on the Defensive side of the game.
Wilfork is aging and not the guy he once was.
GM duties are extremely tough.
I tip my hat to the guys that can do it consistently.
NFLN is running a piece called Finding Giants.
Inside look at the process involved with the Scouting and personnel searches the NYG go through to build an NFL roster.
Looks very interesting.
Spit put your Scouting goggles on for this kid from Baylor.
Transferred from Penn State.
DE Shawn Oakman – 6-9″ 280
Could be considered as a TE from what I’ve read. Seems he’s played some basketball.
At 6′-9″ that would make some sense.
Someone to keep an eye on for the Draft next Spring.
Here’s the reason he ended up at Baylor via Penn State –
http://tinyurl.com/nzv7h8z
And some additional reading –
http://tinyurl.com/knbgb36
Jed York undermines his own HC, early in the season in which his team has another legit opportunity to win the SB, just so he can appease the fan base when he lets Harbaugh leave at the end of the season…..Yeah that sounds right.
Some unknown number of players in the locker room dislike Harbaugh and sound off in Sanders direction.
Harbaugh is something of an asshole from what I can see so I have no doubt there is discontent at some level in a locker room full of ego’s. Losing the team? Nah. Not without losing a lot more games and going out of playoff contention. If that happens then the dogs of war will be loosed and Harbaugh will be bye, bye.
Harbaugh is a very good coach with shitty personal skills. Baalke is a very good GM also with shitty personal skills. Jed is something of a media coward when things are not going swimmingly.
Give Harbaugh more say in player choice? I think he gets plenty of say as it is. More power for an egomaniac? Not a chance.
Harbaugh has a history of wearing out his welcome because he is an asshole and that is what is unfolding now, nothing to do with Jed forcing him out or Baalke demanding he goes. Harbaugh wins enough for the players and organization to put up with his personality. When the winning stops so will the merry-go-round.
MHO.
Well, it IS Jed forcing him out. Or just muddying the waters enough to appease the suits around him. Letting the contract slide til the offseason is really an ultimatum.It’s win or you’re out for Harbaugh. It also drives uncertainty in the locker room when the players don’t know if the coach is going to stick around. Regardless of who’s driving the uncertainty. I do not see these guys reaching any kind of contract consensus after this year if Harbaugh doesn’t win it all. There’s been too much bullshit thrown around by the execs in the building.
The thing is 12th, this isn’t coming from the players. it is coming from HQ. Sanders admitted as much, saying he got the word from a ‘suit.’
As did Rappaport. Both of them are NFL employees (through their TV station), mind you.
Funny how these guys can stir up shit and fuck around with teams under the guise of journalism. Fuck Dilfer as well. He backpedaled madly after being called out after the MNF game. Chickenshit.
And, apropos of nothing, Skeebers put ‘buwwit’ on his list of banned words!!
Yikes.
BLEEP!
New Alex Smith thread is up