Well, wee needed a GM, so naturally, Jed picks the guy standing next to him at the urinal during the Pro Bowl. One John Lynch. Say what you will about Lynch, and I did really like him as a no-nonsense hard-hitting strong safety, but really, this is yet another shot in the dark by a team that is making a habit of being passed over by head coaching and GM candidates these past few years. The list of GMs is fairly long this year by guys that didn’t even bother to come over to the building, so this leads to someone like John Lynch. A guy with no experience in any aspect of being a GM, a talent evaluator, or anything related to football operations. He has spent his retirement from football being the color guy for Fox’s B team announcers since retiring in 2008. Yippee. He gets to learn on the job. Which leads to . . .
Kyle Shanahan salivating over his shot. He has said from day one that he’s balls-to-0the-wall excited to coach this team, mainly because he is the man. Everything goes through him now. Like his father, he’s a control freak. Which in this day and age is a good thing I’d imagine, from a football operations point of view. His GM has no experience, and the 49er front office is a clown-car of suits and bean-counters. I’d imagine at some point Shanahan pulling something akin to Harbaugh’s infamous “the men are in here” line to denote where the real power lies, because at this point there is nothing the suits can do. Not with 4 HCs in 4 years, and a revolving door/trap door policy regarding the assistant coaches and staff.
The thing about Shanahan is that as far as we can see, he is a very good offensive coach. And he KNOWS he has the power, so there’s the fact that if he turns it around he’ll be hailed a hero. And he has a couple years to play with. As with Singletary and Harbaugh before him, the TEAM is not as bad as the collective players are, and there ARE some good points to this misbegotten franchise.
The team is young.
The team is flush with cash.
The team has a great head start in the trenches.
The needs for the team are many, but We have a nucleus of good young players on both sides of the line. Enough to be optimistic? At this point, no. There are too many holes to fill before camp even starts, so we get to wait and see how both these guys, neither with ANY experience at their new positions, will do with the draft, free agency, and trades. The good news is the suits are pretty much in a position that they CANNOT meddle in any of the team affairs as there will be massive revolt if there’s even an inkling of meddling from the Yorks or our infamous red flag bearer, Paraag Marathe.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
chuck- I am not so optimistic about our win-loss record this year but I am very optimistic about the culture change and our new GM and HC. I for one couldn’t be happier about Lynch. I think he will fool a lot of people about the knowledge he actually possesses. He was a monster on the field and not just for a few years, he was a monster his whole career. We have no clue as to his connections and knowledge about the GM duties. But, we will surely find out soon.
When I think of tough safeties Ronnie Lott, Jack Tatum always come to mind. John Lynch was pretty close to those guys. There won’t be one player that could ever say our GM doesn’t know what football is about. Contrast that to Baalky.
Say what you will about Baalke but he’s been a scout since ’98 and has worked under Parcells and Joe Gibbs to name a few. That being said, he sucked. Mike Nolan is a ‘football guy.’ In and of itself, it doesn’t mean jack.
Winder, there have been a couple hires like this:
Matt Millen – Utter disaster that was given 10 miles of rope and failed spectacularly over and over and over.
John Elway – Horse-toothed fuckhead that annoyed the shit out of me, but he has brought a sustained winning atmosphere to Denver, and a Super Bowl to boot.
Lind of a +100 or -100 thing. Time will tell. As I said, without a coaching staff under them, or a draft behind them, it’s hard to know where we are. We don’t even have a QB on the roster.
The reason we don’t have a QB on the roster is because of Baalky and his pedigree as a scout. Lynch might turn out to be like Millen, at this point who knows. All I know is we now have a GM that I respect and that to me means a lot. There is probably a reason we didn’t go after the guy from Minn and the Az guy, it they were so good why didn’t some other team pick them up. I am pretty sure Jed couldn’t draw the top ‘proven’ talent because he is an idiot, but we did get some people that seem to know the game and we will just have to see what happens.
I think Shanny the Younger was the top candidate to be HC of the Niners, better than McDaniels who was the other top name, so I don’t get why some are saying the Niners can’t attract top talent, which candidate was better than Shanny?
As for the GM. I have to say its a swing for the fences. Lynch was a tremendous player and brings that tough winners vibe, but what he knows about being a GM I have no idea. They do have a very competent guy in Gamble, so maybe the thinking is that he provides whatever Lynch doesn’t have at this point.
I’m not down on the Lynch hire and will be intrigued to see things unfold. One thing is for sure, they shook up the depressing (oppressive) Baalke culture in the building and that I’m all for.
12th- I think it’s obvious that Jed is the reason why so many pulled away from interviewing with the Niners. We have had a very dysfunctional FO for awhile now. I also think Shanny jr is a better choice that McDaniels. But, none of the experienced GM candidates wanted to be here and there is a reason for that.
Yeah, there is that 12th (and WInder). And I’m with you on the Shanahan hire. I did NOT want McDaniels. I think Shanahan is a very good offensive coach who brings a lot to the table.
As well I didn’t want McDonough from AZ for GM. They were shoving him out the door while singing his praises. The knock on Paton was Minnesota’s recent poor drafts as well.
I’m not dissing the Lynch hire, but I’m not singing its praises yet either. It’s yet another leap of faith from a group that has been more miss than hit by a long shot. Lynch certainly won’t take any heat from the suits.
I do dig Lynch as a player and a presence in the building though. As I’m sure a lot of people in Detroit thought about Millen.
So, there you have it. The great unknown.
Law of Averages are bound to kick in sometime……..perhaps Jed has stumbled into a good decision and his image will swing upward. Who knows? This world is crazy.
Just think if Crazy Crab bumped into Jed instead. Imagine that outcome.
Lynch must be for the public face of the franchise along with Shanny. Gamble works in the background doing the “real” work. Perhaps that’s going to take place. These things get worked out away from the public and media and the results will eventually be evident.
I wish they would bring back the ‘crazy crab’ to help lou seal out. Maybe they could dance all around the park.
A few years ago at the Stick I asked about the whereabouts of Crazy Crab to Lou. He blasted me in my seat with his water gun. Lucky for me I was sitting in a lower box seat and the sun was on me at the time.
lol. yeah it could really get cold if you are wet. Kinda like spilling a beer all over youself.
I think Lynch is gonna surprise a lot of people. He really doesn’t seem like a Yes man to me. But we are talking major bucks so who knows.
It’s just odd that he got a 6 year deal. He’s getting a major deal on pretty much a whim. I think Shanahan also is getting a 6 year deal, so they ride the wave together, success or failure.
Smacks of pure desperation. Which it is. He’s a Stanford guy (hey, I went to Stanford . . . football games) just like Elway, so the possibility exists that he’s smarter than the average bear.
But they are obviously throwing a bone to these guys to come here. they both used their leverage to bilk the Yorks, which makes me happy.
All they need to do now is find a QB, a couple WRs, a couple pass rushers, a safety and a CB or 2 and everything will be fine.
This ride should at least be a lot more fun than the last two. It might be desperation but I think they had Shanny locked up awhile ago, so unless we hear different we don’t actually know how long Lynch has been on the radar. I would rather believe that his name was brought into the mix by shanny and not some random conversation at a bowl game.
Well, according to what’s out there, Lynch wasn’t in the mix till very recently. He talked to Shanahan last week and that was the first time he was considered.
Thing is, Lynch may bring in Mark Dominik, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager when Lynch played there.
I’d get a little fuzzier feeling should that come to pass.
Oh Chuck go ahead and get all warm and fuzzy on us. Take a pic of your joy and put it on the blog for fun.
And 12th, Shanahan is a control freak like his father. he KNEW he had a massive amount of leverage as HC candidates fell by the wayside.
Yeah it’s all about leverage and Shanahan is in the driver’s seat right now.
i think this is going to be fantastic. really. we have the best organization. it’s true. the seahawks lost to atlanta. they’re fake. it’s true, they’re a fake organization. we have the best uniforms in the nfl. we’re going to be great. we already have an offense and defensive wall. they’re fantastic. they’ll make anyone pay. believe me. niners first, everyone else second. it’ll be great.
It’ll be yuuge. Bigly even.
For what it’s worth . . .
http://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-GM-Lynch-says-he-ll-attack-new-role-like-10895477.php
Lynch worked with Elway and is using Elway as his guide post.
Well yes, I totally agree. We have the best uniforms in the NFL. Front office, not so much.
John Lynch? Really? I am stumped. How is he even remotely qualified at this point in his career to be an NFL GM? Boggles the mind. Maybe he’ll be great. But how Jedster has arrived at that assessment is just unfathomable.
I do hope that we truly hire Shanahan. But SB6 does not feel exactly just round the corner. Several city blocks away at this point.
Did you open your brew house in Grass Valley? If so, what’s the name of the pace. I’d like to come by a buy a beer from you when the weather gets warmer.
The simplest answer to a rookie GM/HC tandem is additional support in the football Ops Group.
Remove Paraag and see what happens.
Someone with Draft experience would be a great place to start, as the Combines will be getting under way in just a few more weeks.
The only way Jed changes the culture is to get the eff out of the way.
Let the football guys do what needs to be done.
Lock Paraag in his office. Unlock the door when there’s a Contract to negotiate.
The meddling and media leaks HAVE to stop dividing the Organization.
Read a piece tonight that suggested Lynch will report directly to Jed.
Anything that circumvents Paraag is a GOOD start.
Lynch has final say in the draft and the 90, Shannyn has final say over the 53.
I like it.
So long as they work together I’m good with it as well 12th.
Leave the football guys to handle football 😀
KISS – Keep it Simple S….
Any chance Lynch gives his buddy Sapp a Coaching offer? DBrooks?
Gotta see how those long time ties play out in the coming weeks as things get assembled.
Sapp is a major character risk but, he’s always been tight with Lynch.
Tony Dungy? DCo perhaps?
At least that Mark Davis Raiders move blew up. That would be funny if Davis is forced to move to Levi’s and pay rent to the Niners at least for a few years. Perhaps Davis will relocate to San Diego and play in Qualcom or better yet the Zoo to avoid playing in Santa Clara. One thing for certain he wants out of Oakland at all costs.
The Las Vegas deal is giving 750 million to build a stadium and open a new market for the NFL. I doubt this deal will fall apart. It could get delayed but Goldman Sachs has been said to take the place of the private investor.
The NFL is killing itself with these moves. LA didn’t want the Chargers. They’ll barely support one team. Vegas? Don’t see it being a prime destination. Sleazy? Sure. I think all the games will be attended by away fans. I mean really. Who’s FROM Vegas?
Big fat no to Warren Sapp. Donimik sure.
Vegas is a perfect place for the Raiders. It couldn’t happen to a finer team.
Sheldon Adelson is out of the Vegas deal. The state of Nevada approved the $750 million deal from their end with the understanding that Adelson was in. Since he’s out, their piece of the action is likely out. So, $1.4 billion is now off the table. Not as sure as one would think, Bergs. They’ll likely have to revote on all this with a different set of investors, if they can even find them.
Hey, with reundead Al gone, I don’t hate the Raiders nearly as much as I used to. But I respect the players and what they have had to put up with. Along with their fans. Prince Not-so-Valiant moving them to Vegas is yet another slap in the face to the players and their fans.
they’ll never get another team, and they’ll abandon yet another place that has a rabid fan base all at the cost of a greedy fuck who wants a shiny new toy. Spanos falls into that category as well. His father said he’d never move the team. Tough shit San Diego.
…
Unca- My Joe Montana picture did not take. Can you please delete.
Tom won another SB since this meme came out when Petey boneheaded the play call but the point is still valid.
Tom Brady Sr. thinks otherwise. And you could say Fat Ray was the MVP of Super Bowl 16 . . .
Joe runs for a TD, throws for a TD and controls the clock all game while setting up Ray for FGs 40, 26, 23 and 22 yards. One FG did come as the result of a fumbled KO return. I can’t see arguing that Ray was the MVP. Personally, I take Joe and don’t even think about the kicker. You are allowed to have your own opinion but I can’t see this one from any angle.
Settle down. Just a different point of view. You give Brady shit for relying on Vinateri and Fat Ray got 4 FGs in XVI. His last 2 FGs decided the game.
14-22 for 157 is no domination.
The 2 FGs in the 2nd half were a result of Walsh’s conservative play calling. Joe got them close enough for chip shots. I thought Bill was going to blow the game with his play calling but Joe managed enough first downs. That was the only thing about Bill’s play calling that drove me nuts, IMO he sat on leads too early some times.
The Peter’s hire is a great start to the Lynch Era. Peter’s is respected league wide as a talent evaluator which the Niners sorely need for the upcoming draft.
I like it.
On another note Teflon Mike Nolan was hired by the Saints as LB coach.
This is the approach Jed needs to take as well 12th.
Get ALL the experienced guys he can find, to give Lynch and Shanny the best support possible.
Can’t beat that drum enough. Football guys for football Ops.
After that? Leave them alone. Minimum, 3yrs, no interference.
Shanny runs a very complicated Offense.
No rookie QB is going to come through the door from this Draft and handle it either.
Make a pitch for Schaub who’s already working with Shanny in ATL right now too perhaps? He’s slated for FA in March.
Get a year or 2 from him, while getting the rookie up to speed IMO.
Ponder might have the chops to handle it, who knows?
I just hope they don’t take Pick 2 and spend it on a QB in April.
Plenty of better talent available on the Defensive side that could warrant that Pick.
I’m not ever worried about the draft anymore. My guess is by that time we will some of the best football minds at work and we will get some real players. I think there will be a plan in place and I feel in my gut that it will be a good one. I couldn’t be happier right now.
even
I know what your point is NJ but I think you are over doing it. To me it’s been clear that Baalke has been in charge of this franchise since 2011 and Jen has gone along with his decisions. Parang has certainly involved himself outside his defined area but that is not the overriding concern for me, Baalke was.
Lynch is clearly in charge and Shanny holds the 53. Para age will likely revert to contracts, Lynch referred to “elephants in the room” and I figure that was one of them.
Lighten up and let’s see what happens, Lynch has brought in a top talent evaluator and that’s a great start in my book.
Huh. Peters is actually a very solid hire. Lynch brought some gravitas with him.
yeah, the guy has some creds.
Happy happy joy, joy Winder.
Let’s hope Jed has learned a lesson after all this dysfunction in recent years.
Can’t squander this Draft position either.
Very important to our success, or failure, to get the pieces in place for the near future.
Heard that NE might be willing to part with Garoppolo for our 2nd RD Pick.
If so, sliding back from Pick 2 for an extra Pick, might make that a decent option to getting a starting QB all the more palatable.
Problem there is Cleveland, who is holding a ton of Picks to offer up.
They have no QB worth a sh!t either.
Wait out Belichick. This season may be a wash regardless so I wouldn’t throw picks at Garoppolo. I’d throw money at Cousins. Point being, we can’t give up picks at this point in our development. We need all the high picks we have for players.
Cousins is likely to get ERFA-Tagged Chuck.
DC knows full well that Shanny and Cousins are tied at the hip.
All DC has to do is apply the tag. After that, it’s not about $$$. 2 1st RD Picks are also attached.
I wouldn’t touch that deal with the proverbial 10′ pole.
Agree that our Picks are extremely important as well.
If Garoppolo can be had for a 2ND, that is reasonable IMO.
Schaub is already in the Shanny System and won’t cost anything by comparison to Kaep or Cousins.
By the same token, DC will be committing a Brinks truck worth of $$$ to keep Cousins on their payroll as well.
See how they play it…
Super Bore week is when some of the former players come out of the background and end up on these sports programs. Apparently even an lady astronaut was parading around in her space suit down in Houston getting attention for the space people. She of course knew nothing about football and could care less. That’s about right for Super Bore week.
I am getting kinda jazzed about the SB. My brain tells me not to bet against the Pats but my intuition says ATL is gonna pull it off. It all comes down to whichever D stands out. Defense wins championships and it has always has. Atl 34-27
.
NJ- Lol, “happy happy joy joy.” I am definitely not giddy about the events that have transpired but I am very pleased and ‘happy’ at he direction things seem to be heading(the draft). This organization has been shooting itself in the feet for so long now that until I actually see some change I will remain guarded. But, what I have seen so far makes me somewhat optimistic I would really like to finalize the Shanny hire and hear what he has to say. I am also waiting for Jed’s next presser and that should give us an idea of how things are with the FO (meddling) situation.
For me Winder it’s really simple.
Football guys for football.
Business guys for business.
Neither side cross that line, except to offer help to improve the football team.
Yeah, I don’t think it’s that close, Winder. 35-21 or something like that.
The hope is that Jed falls on his sword and says “I need to distance myself from the day to day and let the football guys run the show . . .”
yep
Jed can go back to feuding with his neighbors over the cabana.
And skkkeebers is still whining. . . .
How is the Asylum of Niner Nuts?
Well, Phil is still waiting for approval from anyone, skeebs is whining, Buwwit/bakken are notably absent. As is NoFear. Funny how they come and go together.
Oh wait. Buwwitt has Kaepernick following our old WR coach Johnnie Morton to the Jets.
There’s some meaningless conjecture. Seeing as Kappy was talking to the Jets last year and he bought a place in NY. I guess he was waiting for Morton (!). What a maroon.
Do they get any drugs at the Asylum? Skeebers probably insists his patients “bend over, boys…”
This from Lynch today regarding Paraag:
Without prompting, Lynch went on to discuss football analytics, which has been one of Marathe’s areas of expertise. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels noted 49ers director of football administration and analytics Brian Hampton was part of his interview with the team.
Today, Lynch said he was open to using analytics, but didn’t anticipate they would play a major role. The takeaway from what he said: Lynch – not Marathe – would determine how much analytics would be used.
“People talk a lot about analytics and what role they play in football,” Lynch said. “I want to explore that. I don’t think it’s going to be a big part of what we do, but I think to ignore it would be foolish. Anything that help us get better, I’m going to embrace. That’s where we are. I can tell you that thus far (Marathe has) been a tremendous resource.”
The article:
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Lynch-addresses-Marathe-s-role-in-49ers-10900694.php
Lynch on Jed York and the issue of leaks:
“If I was going to engage in these conversations (with the 49ers), we can’t beat around the bush,” said Lynch. “We got to get right to, do I want to work for these people? I can tell you what I found, my interactions with Jed York is he’s a guy who all he wants to do is win.
“He’s tired of some strife and contention in the building. He wants harmony. He wants to give us the resources, he wants to be a support mechanism, but he wants to get out of the way and let us work. To me, that’s an awesome deal.”
The article:
http://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2017/02/01/john-lynch-takes-49ers-history-of-leaking-information-head-on/
12th I’ve beat the drum for football guys from the start. Baalke had his warts, no question.
What NEVER sat comfortably with me was the relationship between Paraag and Baalke.
To what extent either held power was never my concern, it was the fact that they could not have been more diametrically opposed in their roles.
It seemed all along that Paraag had the inside track with Jed too.
Clean slate now.
I’m ALL for football guys doing what needs to be done, to get 9er football respectable again.
All I ask is that business doesn’t get piled on top of football. No interference. Provide all the resources money can buy to the football Ops side of the ledger and leave it alone.
Interesting take from Brent Jones too, which seems very much in line with that topic.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/brent-jones-takes-jabs-baalke-issues-optimistic-message-49ers-fans
We agree on football guys NJ, but competent ones is my preference.
I’ve read a lot of statements by various people and to a man they are negative on Baalke now he left.
My take is he was prickly and abrasive and “IN CHARGE” of the franchiss.I think the larger issues were between Baalke and coaches over the 53. You attribute more to Paraag poking his nose in and that’s likely a problem too, but not THE problem IMO.
Steve Young supports Lynch too.
It’s way early to judge, but his first hire was impressive and there is an air of excitement again, missing since Harbaugh came.
I liked his first 2 interviews, very open to take the awkward questions head on.
So far so good in my book.
Gotta wonder what the ‘strife’ was in the building that Jed was tired of?
Could it have had anything to do with Paraag and Baalke I wonder?
Oil and Vinegar perhaps?
Jed may be an idiot but I don’t think do, and will think that was Marathe. He’s the constant thorn in the side of all the bullshit conjecture.
The thing is now we have outsiders that aren’t beholden to the machinations of the front office. Baalke was an insider. Whatever his problems were with the brass, or whatever’s they held over him, he sucked as a draft guy.
Lynch certainly isn’t going to take the whisper campaign bullshit laying down. Regardless of his inexperience as a GM.
The Draft is about building a roster with pieces that the GM/HC can agree on as necessary components Chuck.
Shared vision kinda stuff.
I never saw a place in that equation for ‘The Money Man’.
He has to be removed IMO.
Work the Contracts as needed, to keep the proper balance, for team chemistry purposes.
I’m hopeful that Lynch has already identified that component.
Listen to analytics as an option. But, in the end, it’s about guys playing the game and, what makes them tick.
Now, it’s up to Jed, to provide the support to the football Ops piece of this puzzle.
Lynch is as green as green can be from being a ‘Draft Guy’.
Give him experienced help. Lots of it.
You can’t continue to change HCs on a yearly basis, and expect anything to stabilize.
It’s the sheer definition of dysfunction.
Here’s another kid to keep an eye on as we get into the Combine/Draft phase of evals –
Jerry even commented on this kid in Mobile last week.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000780174/article/watch-zay-jones-makes-two-spectacular-catches-at-senior-bowl
NJ, my son is very high on Zay. We saw him in the senior bowl and he looked legit.
Okay the Niners have an untested GM with a good personality that had a TV job. He’s a former player. Now if we can all get past that. The expected HC is the main guy and he’s still coaching in Houston. We all wait for the draft. Niners need a QB in the worse way. Until they get a decent one, they’re screwed for next season. Next season is already a wasted one unless key moves are made mostly on offense. No one wants Kap back. He wants to move to New York.
Oh Nip. Things are looking up for the first time in 4 years. Peters is a very respected guy.
New bread is up