Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
It`s offical. 49ers sign Bly to a 1 yr contract to replace Harris.
In his post signing interview, Bly was quoted as saying he`s more motivated after being cut by the Broncos. That it was a wake up call for him, since he had never been cut before, or told "no" in his football career.
He better hope so, or he just might find himself being run by a 3rd yr player and cut again.
In his post signing interview, Bly was quoted as saying he`s more motivated after being cut by the Broncos. That it was a wake up call for him, since he had never been cut before, or told "no" in his football career.
He better hope so, or he just might find himself being run by a 3rd yr player and cut again.
49ers Team Report
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=teamreports-2009-nfl-sfo&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report
Inside Slant
In all likelihood, the San Francisco 49ers lost a starter for the season in what is supposed to be a non-contact drill during organized team activities.
Cornerback Walt Harris(notes), who started 46 games in three seasons with the 49ers, tangled with receiver Dominique Zeigler(notes) and sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Harris, a 13-year NFL veteran, is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the ligament “in the coming weeks,” the team announced Wednesday.
The 49ers immediately began the search to find a replacement for Harris, who turns 35 in August, and signed Dre’ Bly(notes) one day after he visited the team.
The 49ers were already in the market for a veteran cornerback after losing Donald Strickland(notes) to the New York Jets as a free agent in the offseason. The club had visits in March with free-agents Eric Green(notes) and Karl Paymah(notes) before they signed with Miami and Minnesota, respectively.
Tarell Brown(notes), a fifth-round pick in the 2007 draft, will compete with Bly, among others, for a chance to earn a starting job opposite veteran Nate Clements(notes). Brown recorded two interceptions in 15 games last season, mostly as a nickel back.
“I’m coming into my third year,” Brown said. “I know the scheme like the back of my hand. I’m comfortable in this stuff. I can make plays. I feel
like I’m one of the most athletic players on the football field every time I step onto the field.
“I have no doubt in my mind that I have the confidence to go out there and make plays.”
Former starter Shawntae Spencer(notes) could find his way into the mix if he can fully recover from a season-ending ACL injury he sustained in the second game of last season. Spencer has yet to return to on-field work with the 49ers.
Spencer, a second-round draft pick in 2004, started 39 games in his first three seasons before losing his starting job when the club signed Clements as a free agent in 2007.
Notes, Quotes
• The 49ers have declined to publicly close the door on the possibility of acquiring quarterback Michael Vick(notes), whose status within the NFL is still uncertain after being released from prison last week.
“Obviously, I feel that everybody deserves a second chance,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. “Hopefully, he gets that chance somewhere.”
When asked if it might be with the 49ers, Singletary was noncommittal.
“(I) don’t know right now,” he said. “That’s something going forward … you just never know. I don’t want to say ‘absolutely not,’ because I’m not there. I’m certainly not going to say ‘yes.’”
Singletary said he has not discussed the situation with general manager Scot McCloughan. Currently, Shaun Hill(notes) and Alex Smith are competing for the starting quarterback job.
• Veteran Mark Roman(notes) has not participated in any of the 49ers’ offseason programs after the club gave him permission to seek a trade. Roman lost his starting job this offseason to youngster Dashon Goldson(notes), but he still fits into the 49ers’ plans.
“There has always been room for Mark Roman on the roster,” Singletary said. “We’ve talked to Mark and let him know he’s important to what we’re trying to do. There was never a time that we said, ‘We don’t want Mark. He doesn’t matter to us.’ We want him and we’re very interested in keeping him. And, that’s not something that’s a secret to him.”
• Singletary said he liked the way his team progressed through its first week of organized team activities.
“Monday: not very good,” Singletary said. “Tuesday: a little better. Wednesday: a lot better. It was good. I was hoping (Thursday) would be great. It wasn’t great. It was OK. But, the most important thing is the guys ha
ve a feeling and an understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish. And it’s about getting better, taking advantage of every opportunity that we have to come out here to get better.
Quote To Note: “They’re going to tell us when that decision needs to be made. I don’t think, you just, ‘OK, it’s that guy.’ They’re going to come out here and they’re going to compete, and at the end of the day, we’ll know when that decision needs to be made. And that’s when we’ll do it. Hopefully sooner than later”—49ers coach Mike Singletary on the quarterback competition between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith.
Strategy And Personnel
There is a lot going on at the 49ers’ safety positions. The team wants veteran Mark Roman back on the team this season after giving him permission to seek an offseason trade. The club has moved Reggie Smith(notes) from cornerback, where he played as a rookie, to safety. And the 49ers signed draft pick Curtis Taylor(notes) on the same day that they waived Jimmy Williams, a former second-round draft pick who was out of the league last season.
“Right now, we just felt it was the best thing to do. It is a numbers game. We feel good about the guys that we have and wanted to give it a look and see how it would work out,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said of the team’s decision to release Williams.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
• RB DeShaun Foster(notes).
• DE Roderick Green.
• QB Jamie Martin(notes).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOCIES SIGNED
• LB Scott McKillop(notes) (5/146): $1.942M/4 yrs, $192,250 SB; 2009 cap: $358,063.
• S Curtis Taylor (7/219): $1.1810M/4 yrs, $59,880 SB; 2009 cap: $324,970.
• DE Ricky Jean-Francois (7/244): $1.793M/4 yrs, $43,000 SB; 2009 cap: $320,750.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
• FB Zak Keasey(notes): ERFA; terms unknown.
• KR/PR Allen Rossum(notes): UFA; terms unknown.
• LB Takeo Spikes(notes): UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
• CB Dre’ Bly: FA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• DE Demetric Evans(notes): UFA Redskins; $3.8M/2 yrs, guarantees.
• LB Marques Harris(notes): UFA Chargers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• QB Damon Huard(notes): FA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• WR Brandon Jones(notes): UFA Titans; $16.6M/5 yrs, $5.4M guaranteed.
• FB Moran Norris(notes): UFA Lions; $5M/3 yrs, $1.5M SB.
• OT Marvel Smith(notes): UFA Steelers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
• TE Billy Bajema(notes): UFA Rams; terms unknown.
• LB Tully Banta-Cain(notes) (released).
• OT Damane Duckett(notes): UFA Patriots; terms unknown.
• DT Ronald Fields(notes): UFA Broncos; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
• OT Jonas Jennings(notes) (released).
• WR Bryant Johnson(notes): UFA Lions; $9M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
• S Keith Lewis(notes) (released).
• TE Sean Ryan(notes): UFA Chiefs; terms unknown.
• QB J.T. O’Sullivan(notes): UFA Bengals; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
• CB Donald Strickland: UFA Jets; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=teamreports-2009-nfl-sfo&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report
Inside Slant
In all likelihood, the San Francisco 49ers lost a starter for the season in what is supposed to be a non-contact drill during organized team activities.
Cornerback Walt Harris(notes), who started 46 games in three seasons with the 49ers, tangled with receiver Dominique Zeigler(notes) and sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Harris, a 13-year NFL veteran, is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the ligament “in the coming weeks,” the team announced Wednesday.
The 49ers immediately began the search to find a replacement for Harris, who turns 35 in August, and signed Dre’ Bly(notes) one day after he visited the team.
The 49ers were already in the market for a veteran cornerback after losing Donald Strickland(notes) to the New York Jets as a free agent in the offseason. The club had visits in March with free-agents Eric Green(notes) and Karl Paymah(notes) before they signed with Miami and Minnesota, respectively.
Tarell Brown(notes), a fifth-round pick in the 2007 draft, will compete with Bly, among others, for a chance to earn a starting job opposite veteran Nate Clements(notes). Brown recorded two interceptions in 15 games last season, mostly as a nickel back.
“I’m coming into my third year,” Brown said. “I know the scheme like the back of my hand. I’m comfortable in this stuff. I can make plays. I feel
like I’m one of the most athletic players on the football field every time I step onto the field.
“I have no doubt in my mind that I have the confidence to go out there and make plays.”
Former starter Shawntae Spencer(notes) could find his way into the mix if he can fully recover from a season-ending ACL injury he sustained in the second game of last season. Spencer has yet to return to on-field work with the 49ers.
Spencer, a second-round draft pick in 2004, started 39 games in his first three seasons before losing his starting job when the club signed Clements as a free agent in 2007.
Notes, Quotes
• The 49ers have declined to publicly close the door on the possibility of acquiring quarterback Michael Vick(notes), whose status within the NFL is still uncertain after being released from prison last week.
“Obviously, I feel that everybody deserves a second chance,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. “Hopefully, he gets that chance somewhere.”
When asked if it might be with the 49ers, Singletary was noncommittal.
“(I) don’t know right now,” he said. “That’s something going forward … you just never know. I don’t want to say ‘absolutely not,’ because I’m not there. I’m certainly not going to say ‘yes.’”
Singletary said he has not discussed the situation with general manager Scot McCloughan. Currently, Shaun Hill(notes) and Alex Smith are competing for the starting quarterback job.
• Veteran Mark Roman(notes) has not participated in any of the 49ers’ offseason programs after the club gave him permission to seek a trade. Roman lost his starting job this offseason to youngster Dashon Goldson(notes), but he still fits into the 49ers’ plans.
“There has always been room for Mark Roman on the roster,” Singletary said. “We’ve talked to Mark and let him know he’s important to what we’re trying to do. There was never a time that we said, ‘We don’t want Mark. He doesn’t matter to us.’ We want him and we’re very interested in keeping him. And, that’s not something that’s a secret to him.”
• Singletary said he liked the way his team progressed through its first week of organized team activities.
“Monday: not very good,” Singletary said. “Tuesday: a little better. Wednesday: a lot better. It was good. I was hoping (Thursday) would be great. It wasn’t great. It was OK. But, the most important thing is the guys ha
ve a feeling and an understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish. And it’s about getting better, taking advantage of every opportunity that we have to come out here to get better.
Quote To Note: “They’re going to tell us when that decision needs to be made. I don’t think, you just, ‘OK, it’s that guy.’ They’re going to come out here and they’re going to compete, and at the end of the day, we’ll know when that decision needs to be made. And that’s when we’ll do it. Hopefully sooner than later”—49ers coach Mike Singletary on the quarterback competition between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith.
Strategy And Personnel
There is a lot going on at the 49ers’ safety positions. The team wants veteran Mark Roman back on the team this season after giving him permission to seek an offseason trade. The club has moved Reggie Smith(notes) from cornerback, where he played as a rookie, to safety. And the 49ers signed draft pick Curtis Taylor(notes) on the same day that they waived Jimmy Williams, a former second-round draft pick who was out of the league last season.
“Right now, we just felt it was the best thing to do. It is a numbers game. We feel good about the guys that we have and wanted to give it a look and see how it would work out,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said of the team’s decision to release Williams.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
• RB DeShaun Foster(notes).
• DE Roderick Green.
• QB Jamie Martin(notes).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOCIES SIGNED
• LB Scott McKillop(notes) (5/146): $1.942M/4 yrs, $192,250 SB; 2009 cap: $358,063.
• S Curtis Taylor (7/219): $1.1810M/4 yrs, $59,880 SB; 2009 cap: $324,970.
• DE Ricky Jean-Francois (7/244): $1.793M/4 yrs, $43,000 SB; 2009 cap: $320,750.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
• FB Zak Keasey(notes): ERFA; terms unknown.
• KR/PR Allen Rossum(notes): UFA; terms unknown.
• LB Takeo Spikes(notes): UFA; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
• CB Dre’ Bly: FA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• DE Demetric Evans(notes): UFA Redskins; $3.8M/2 yrs, guarantees.
• LB Marques Harris(notes): UFA Chargers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• QB Damon Huard(notes): FA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.
• WR Brandon Jones(notes): UFA Titans; $16.6M/5 yrs, $5.4M guaranteed.
• FB Moran Norris(notes): UFA Lions; $5M/3 yrs, $1.5M SB.
• OT Marvel Smith(notes): UFA Steelers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
• TE Billy Bajema(notes): UFA Rams; terms unknown.
• LB Tully Banta-Cain(notes) (released).
• OT Damane Duckett(notes): UFA Patriots; terms unknown.
• DT Ronald Fields(notes): UFA Broncos; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
• OT Jonas Jennings(notes) (released).
• WR Bryant Johnson(notes): UFA Lions; $9M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
• S Keith Lewis(notes) (released).
• TE Sean Ryan(notes): UFA Chiefs; terms unknown.
• QB J.T. O’Sullivan(notes): UFA Bengals; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
• CB Donald Strickland: UFA Jets; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
49ers will turn Lawson loose and stop tinkering
BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
Posted: 05/23/2009 10:37:03 PM PDT
SANTA CLARA
BECAUSE HIS SIZE intrigued them, his speed shocked their senses and his athleticism boggled their minds, the 49ers drafted Manny Lawson not for a specific role but to explore the possibilities.
So they tinkered.
They tried Lawson, the second of their two No. 1 picks in 2006, at linebacker, asking him to drop his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame into coverage and match strides with running backs.
They tried him at defensive end, asking him chase the quarterback.
They asked him to maintain his weight so he could stay with receivers.
They suggested he add weight to increase his strength at the line of scrimmage.
Even as he learned the ways of the NFL, Lawson was practically a Tinkertoy.
And his performance suffered. He wasn't productive enough, some moaned. What's his position, others wondered. He's terrific was one week but invisible the next.
A month ago, on the eve of the 2009 draft, Niners fans ready to give up on Lawson — and defensive end Parys Haralson — flooded the Internet, urging San Francisco to get a pass rusher.
"I knew it was out there," Lawson said. "Me and Parys talked about it. We followed the draft. You never want the team to draft the position you play. But if they did, it would make me strive harder to be that guy. It would just give me incentive to push harder."
The 49ers didn't draft a pass rusher because they evaluated Lawson and Haralson and concluded they were not the problem. The lack of pressure on quarterbacks, they felt, was largely because the defense couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
"That showed they have confidence in me,'' Lawson said of the team's not drafting a possible replacement. "They're really going to give me a chance, really put me in there and let me go to work."
Though the 49ers still plan to utilize Lawson's versatility, coach Mike Singletary's decision to simplify the defense should benefit nobody more than Lawson, 24, who says he is fully recovered from the torn ACL he sustained before the third game of the 2007 season. Singletary also believes Lawson's recovery is complete, saying he's confident that Lawson can handle the challenge.
Put another way, the 49ers have decided to let Lawson be the guy he could have been when he was the 22nd overall selection from North Carolina State. They even hired an assistant coach, Al Harris, to specifically to improve the pass rush.
"They just said, 'Manny, we're going with a true 3-4 (defense). You're not always going to (drop into coverage). And when it comes to our third-down package, we're going to take the handcuffs off and let you go.'"‰" he said. "That's a good thing. That's a very good thing. For me to have an opportunity to get back into it, get my technique back and get my defensive-end mentality back and become a pass rusher ... I want to run away with this."
Looking back, the temptation to tinker with Lawson was irresistible. He was a sprinter/hurdler in college and the ACC long jump champ in 2004. Having entered college at about 210 pounds, his physique was not unlike that of Olympic sensation Usain Bolt. What of this man who played linebacker, then end at N.C. State?
Though Lawson added about 30 pounds in college, the suggestion to make a similar gain in the NFL — to become a stronger pass rusher — was rooted in a flawed concept. Most edge rushers rely on speed, quickness and technique. And nearly all play between 235 and 265. Charles Haley — San Francisco's last great pass rusher — was 6-5 and about 255. Fred Dean was maybe 6-3 and 240 — after a 10-biscuit meal.
"I just want to be as mobile as I can, keep my speed, keep my agility and keep my acceleration. I want to stay loose, not be so bulky," Lawson said.
His weight is in the low 250s, probably where it should be for a size/strength balance and for determining whether he can be a premier rush end. Now that the tinkering is over, 2009 is the year to find out.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12440229?source=most_viewed
BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
Posted: 05/23/2009 10:37:03 PM PDT
SANTA CLARA
BECAUSE HIS SIZE intrigued them, his speed shocked their senses and his athleticism boggled their minds, the 49ers drafted Manny Lawson not for a specific role but to explore the possibilities.
So they tinkered.
They tried Lawson, the second of their two No. 1 picks in 2006, at linebacker, asking him to drop his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame into coverage and match strides with running backs.
They tried him at defensive end, asking him chase the quarterback.
They asked him to maintain his weight so he could stay with receivers.
They suggested he add weight to increase his strength at the line of scrimmage.
Even as he learned the ways of the NFL, Lawson was practically a Tinkertoy.
And his performance suffered. He wasn't productive enough, some moaned. What's his position, others wondered. He's terrific was one week but invisible the next.
A month ago, on the eve of the 2009 draft, Niners fans ready to give up on Lawson — and defensive end Parys Haralson — flooded the Internet, urging San Francisco to get a pass rusher.
"I knew it was out there," Lawson said. "Me and Parys talked about it. We followed the draft. You never want the team to draft the position you play. But if they did, it would make me strive harder to be that guy. It would just give me incentive to push harder."
The 49ers didn't draft a pass rusher because they evaluated Lawson and Haralson and concluded they were not the problem. The lack of pressure on quarterbacks, they felt, was largely because the defense couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
"That showed they have confidence in me,'' Lawson said of the team's not drafting a possible replacement. "They're really going to give me a chance, really put me in there and let me go to work."
Though the 49ers still plan to utilize Lawson's versatility, coach Mike Singletary's decision to simplify the defense should benefit nobody more than Lawson, 24, who says he is fully recovered from the torn ACL he sustained before the third game of the 2007 season. Singletary also believes Lawson's recovery is complete, saying he's confident that Lawson can handle the challenge.
Put another way, the 49ers have decided to let Lawson be the guy he could have been when he was the 22nd overall selection from North Carolina State. They even hired an assistant coach, Al Harris, to specifically to improve the pass rush.
"They just said, 'Manny, we're going with a true 3-4 (defense). You're not always going to (drop into coverage). And when it comes to our third-down package, we're going to take the handcuffs off and let you go.'"‰" he said. "That's a good thing. That's a very good thing. For me to have an opportunity to get back into it, get my technique back and get my defensive-end mentality back and become a pass rusher ... I want to run away with this."
Looking back, the temptation to tinker with Lawson was irresistible. He was a sprinter/hurdler in college and the ACC long jump champ in 2004. Having entered college at about 210 pounds, his physique was not unlike that of Olympic sensation Usain Bolt. What of this man who played linebacker, then end at N.C. State?
Though Lawson added about 30 pounds in college, the suggestion to make a similar gain in the NFL — to become a stronger pass rusher — was rooted in a flawed concept. Most edge rushers rely on speed, quickness and technique. And nearly all play between 235 and 265. Charles Haley — San Francisco's last great pass rusher — was 6-5 and about 255. Fred Dean was maybe 6-3 and 240 — after a 10-biscuit meal.
"I just want to be as mobile as I can, keep my speed, keep my agility and keep my acceleration. I want to stay loose, not be so bulky," Lawson said.
His weight is in the low 250s, probably where it should be for a size/strength balance and for determining whether he can be a premier rush end. Now that the tinkering is over, 2009 is the year to find out.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12440229?source=most_viewed