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The San Francisco 49ers signed tackle Joe Staley to a six-year contract extension through 2017, the team announced Thursday.
Staley received $42 million for the six additional years and the new money could grow to $45 million depending on how he plays, a source told ESPN.com. Staley is expected to receive $18 million in guarantees.
The unusual part of this deal is that the team did it after Staley's first two seasons. Normally, a team wants the draft choice to play out most of his rookie contract. The 49ers felt so good about Staley's future that they decided to do the deal now and lock him up for the future.
"Joe Staley is the type of player we want to continue to add to this football team," general manager Scot McCloughan said. "He's a tough, versatile, no-nonsense type of guy who wants to do whatever it takes to help his team win football games. Joe is a consummate team player and has been completely unselfish in the way he has approached his role on this team. We know what he means to the success of the 49ers and getting this extension done puts us in a very nice position for the future."
Staley was the 28th pick in the 2007 draft. He has started 32 games.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
ESPN.com
Archive
The San Francisco 49ers signed tackle Joe Staley to a six-year contract extension through 2017, the team announced Thursday.
Staley received $42 million for the six additional years and the new money could grow to $45 million depending on how he plays, a source told ESPN.com. Staley is expected to receive $18 million in guarantees.
The unusual part of this deal is that the team did it after Staley's first two seasons. Normally, a team wants the draft choice to play out most of his rookie contract. The 49ers felt so good about Staley's future that they decided to do the deal now and lock him up for the future.
"Joe Staley is the type of player we want to continue to add to this football team," general manager Scot McCloughan said. "He's a tough, versatile, no-nonsense type of guy who wants to do whatever it takes to help his team win football games. Joe is a consummate team player and has been completely unselfish in the way he has approached his role on this team. We know what he means to the success of the 49ers and getting this extension done puts us in a very nice position for the future."
Staley was the 28th pick in the 2007 draft. He has started 32 games.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
^^^
49ers GM Scot McCloughan ruled out pursuing suspended QB Michael Vick in a radio interview Monday.
"We had an off-week...and we discussed about Michael Vick and we're not going to go that route," McCloughan said. "We will not do it." McCloughan acknowledged that Mike Singletary "has no problem giving guys second chances," but it appears he'd rather roll with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith
On a side note, i thought this was kinda weird.
Chad Ochocinco revealed that he spoke to Carson Palmer for 40-45 minutes in a phone conversation Monday.
"We're good," Chad said. "We're like Brokeback Mountain." After the Bengals' June 18-20 mandatory minicamp, Ochocinco plans to work at passing camp with Palmer in July. It appears the two are genuinely back on good terms.
49ers GM Scot McCloughan ruled out pursuing suspended QB Michael Vick in a radio interview Monday.
"We had an off-week...and we discussed about Michael Vick and we're not going to go that route," McCloughan said. "We will not do it." McCloughan acknowledged that Mike Singletary "has no problem giving guys second chances," but it appears he'd rather roll with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith
On a side note, i thought this was kinda weird.
Chad Ochocinco revealed that he spoke to Carson Palmer for 40-45 minutes in a phone conversation Monday.
"We're good," Chad said. "We're like Brokeback Mountain." After the Bengals' June 18-20 mandatory minicamp, Ochocinco plans to work at passing camp with Palmer in July. It appears the two are genuinely back on good terms.
The 49ers "might" show interest in free agent DE/OLB Greg Ellis if he drops his asking price, according to beat reporter Matt Maiocco.
Ellis is known to prefer playing in a 4-3 scheme and San Francisco runs a 3-4, but it isn't like any teams are beating down the door to sign him. The 49ers could use a proven rusher behind Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson.
49ers GM Scot McCloughan said Monday that he's never seen Alex Smith look better than he has of late.
Not surprising coming from Smith's biggest booster, though all accounts have him outplaying Shaun Hill in practice. Hill remains the odds-on favorite to start in Week 1, but he'll have to succeed early in the season to keep the job.
Of course Alex Smith looks better, Hill has reportedly has never been a practice player.
Ellis is known to prefer playing in a 4-3 scheme and San Francisco runs a 3-4, but it isn't like any teams are beating down the door to sign him. The 49ers could use a proven rusher behind Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson.
49ers GM Scot McCloughan said Monday that he's never seen Alex Smith look better than he has of late.
Not surprising coming from Smith's biggest booster, though all accounts have him outplaying Shaun Hill in practice. Hill remains the odds-on favorite to start in Week 1, but he'll have to succeed early in the season to keep the job.
Of course Alex Smith looks better, Hill has reportedly has never been a practice player.
Surprised no one made a thread about Vick getting released. it was expected though. heres some news.
49ers coach Mike Singletary almost made first-round pick Michael Crabtree cry by ordering him to quit running routes on the side of practice while the rookie was recovering from foot surgery.
Crabtree had not been cleared at the time. He since has been. "'I'm not angry or anything. I just want you to know, you have to do everything the doctors want you to do so that you can get better,'" Singletary said. "I'm not worried about what you can do. We drafted you at No. 10. We know what you can do."
49ers coach Mike Singletary threw cold water on GM Scot McCloughan's rave review of Alex Smith's progress this offseason.
"Nothing means anything until (Smith is) out there facing some live bullets," Singletary said. "All of a sudden, all form and technique and everything else goes when you've got guys coming at you." Singletary is right, of course. We still believe this is Shaun Hill's job to lose.
49ers coach Mike Singletary almost made first-round pick Michael Crabtree cry by ordering him to quit running routes on the side of practice while the rookie was recovering from foot surgery.
Crabtree had not been cleared at the time. He since has been. "'I'm not angry or anything. I just want you to know, you have to do everything the doctors want you to do so that you can get better,'" Singletary said. "I'm not worried about what you can do. We drafted you at No. 10. We know what you can do."
49ers coach Mike Singletary threw cold water on GM Scot McCloughan's rave review of Alex Smith's progress this offseason.
"Nothing means anything until (Smith is) out there facing some live bullets," Singletary said. "All of a sudden, all form and technique and everything else goes when you've got guys coming at you." Singletary is right, of course. We still believe this is Shaun Hill's job to lose.
The 49ers have concluded their offseason practices.
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers...ort-with-six-weeks-until-49ers-open-camp.html
The next time I'll watch these men run around in Santa Clara will be July 30 - the first day of training camp.
At that point, the pads can go on. Their first exhibition game will be 15 days away, and a few questions will begin to get answered.
Here are some thoughts after viewing the vast majority of the team's offseason work:
--Because those offseason practices are non-padded and, mostly, non-contact, it is almost impossible to evaluate players at certain positions, especially when position coaches have been ruled off-limits for media interviews. The media no longer has access to position coaches to find out which players have been standouts in the classroom. On the field, in non-contact work, it's really difficult to tell much about offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers, in particular.
--Also, every running back is going to look good because I haven't seen one of them get tackled, yet. That said, it looks look as if Glen Coffee runs with power. I think you'll see a bruising style in action during the exhibition season. Also, Kory Sheets and Thomas Clayton have the quickness and burst, but will they come down easily on first contact?
--Most folks who spend time around NFL teams have an affinity for offensive linemen. This is a sweeping generalization, but that unit often produces some pretty good dudes. I've spoken twice with rookie Alex Boone, and he appears to fit that mold. I truly wish him the best. Hopefully, he can conquer his demons and lead a productive and enjoyable life. The 49ers want him to remain close to the team leading up to training camp, so they can closely monitor his life choices, as well as get him up to speed on conditioning and learning the playbook.
--Another undrafted rookie, Sheets, checks in today on Twitter to write (in 140 characters or less), "Back to workouts. Hill here i come." Looks as if Mike's Peak is going to be getting some use in the next six weeks.
--I really can't wait to see Alex Smith in a game situation. (Correction: I just re-read that last sentence I wrote. Honestly, I can wait. Maybe I should have written, "I'm looking forward to seeing . . . ") The last time I saw him play when his arm was right was a 2007 Week 3 game in Pittsburgh. What I remember most about Smith's first three games of '07 - and last three healthy games - was how little help he received from his teammates. In games against the Cardinals and Rams, wideout Darrell Jackson dropped beautifully thrown deep passes. Against the Steelers, Taylor Jacobs ran the wrong route, resulting in a Bryant McFadden 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The 49ers' supporting cast now is much better than it has been at any point since Smith came to the team in 2005.
--Yes, Smith looked better than ever in practice. But, in the past two weeks, I have not seen Shaun Hill look any better on the practice field, either. Hill was completely miscast in Mike Martz's offense. There seems to be enough flexibility in Jimmy Raye's scheme to easily adapt to a quarterback's strengths.
--And, yes, the 49ers will have an audible system in place for a QB to change the play at the line of scrimmage this season.
--I have no idea how Raye will fare as a play-caller. But it does not look as if the offense will be as stodgy as everybody has assumed. While there will certainly be a meat-and-potatoes approach, the 49ers exhibited as many gadget plays this summer as I've seen the team practice in the past.
--Prediction: Tight end Vernon Davis will have a notable season. He'll catch far more passes than a year ago. He will flash his extraordinary talent, but he will also have his occasional flub that will leave everybody scratching their heads.
--Obviously, the key position for the 49ers on offense is the quarterback - whomever wins that job. Defensively, the key man is Manny Lawson. He added some weight to help with the power that's needed to rush the passer. The plan on third down is for Lawson and Parys Haralson to line up at the defensive-end spots and get after the quarterback. The impact of their success - or lack thereof - will be felt throughout the defense and throughout the entire team.
--As I scour the roster, here are some quick thoughts . . .
There are 42 players I fully expect to be on this team: Alex Smith, Shaun Hill, Frank Gore, Michael Robinson, Glen Coffee, Moran Norris, Michael Crabtree, Brandon Jones, Josh Morgan, Isaac Bruce, Delanie Walker, Bear Pascoe, Vernon Davis, Chilo Rachal, David Baas, Eric Heitmann, Adam Snyder, Tony Wragge, Marvel Smith, Joe Staley, Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, Demetric Evans, Justin Smith, Kentwan Balmer, Takeo Spikes, Patrick Willis, Jeff Ulbrich, Scott McKillop, Parys Haralson, Manny Lawson, Nate Clements, Tarell Brown, Mark Roman, Dre' Bly, Reggie Smith, Michael Lewis, Dashon Goldson, Andy Lee, Joe Nedney, Allen Rossum and Brian Jennings.
There are eight others who I believe have strong chances to make the team (if healthy): Damon Huard, Jason Hill, Cody Wallace, Ray McDonald, Ricky Jean-Francois, Marques Harris, Jay Moore and Shawntae Spencer.
And there are 11 others who, right now, stand at the top of the group competing for the remaining roster spots: Nate Davis, Kory Sheets, Thomas Clayton, Arnaz Battle, Dominique Zeigler, Barry Sims, Alex Boone, Jacob Bender, Ahmad Brooks, Marcus Hudson and Curtis Taylor.
I'm not ruling out anybody and squashing dreams. But the other 19 players who will go to camp with the 49ers must perform very well when the pads go on and have a little luck along the way to stick on the season-opening 53-man roster.
--Nate Davis will be an interesting case. We'll see what happens in training camp, but I know the 49ers want to keep Huard on the team. Then, what would they do with Davis? Last year, there were 13 quarterbacks drafted. Ten of those rookie QBs finished the season on the roster of the team that selected them. Only one of those teams (Buccaneers) kept four QBs in order to retain a rookie draft pick. Two drafted QBs (Giants' Andre' Woodson and the Texans' Alex Brink) made it through waivers to the practice squad, and one was placed on injured reserve.
--Battle will be in a, well, battle to earn a roster spot because of the crowded field of receivers. He needs to get healthy and leave no doubt he is one of the team's top wideouts and special-teams players. He enters the final year of his contract, which calls for him to make $1.47 million. That's a pretty good price tag, so he must leave no doubt. Also, Jason Hill must show an ability to remain healthy. Hill's durability might be the only thing preventing him from being a lock to be on the team.
--The 49ers have done a strong job of getting their rookies under contract. I'd fully expect everyone to be signed for the opening of camp. Michael Crabtree, Glen Coffee and Nate Davis are the only rooks who have yet to sign their deals.
--In conclusion, I was generally impressed with what I saw during these offseason workouts. Of course, after the quality of football I've watched the past six years, maybe my standards are a little skewed. I do believe the 49ers have the potential to be a good team. The success of the 49ers will be determined, mostly, by the performances of their offensive coordinator, quarterback and pass rush. And, frankly, there are big questions about each of those spots.
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers...ort-with-six-weeks-until-49ers-open-camp.html
The next time I'll watch these men run around in Santa Clara will be July 30 - the first day of training camp.
At that point, the pads can go on. Their first exhibition game will be 15 days away, and a few questions will begin to get answered.
Here are some thoughts after viewing the vast majority of the team's offseason work:
--Because those offseason practices are non-padded and, mostly, non-contact, it is almost impossible to evaluate players at certain positions, especially when position coaches have been ruled off-limits for media interviews. The media no longer has access to position coaches to find out which players have been standouts in the classroom. On the field, in non-contact work, it's really difficult to tell much about offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers, in particular.
--Also, every running back is going to look good because I haven't seen one of them get tackled, yet. That said, it looks look as if Glen Coffee runs with power. I think you'll see a bruising style in action during the exhibition season. Also, Kory Sheets and Thomas Clayton have the quickness and burst, but will they come down easily on first contact?
--Most folks who spend time around NFL teams have an affinity for offensive linemen. This is a sweeping generalization, but that unit often produces some pretty good dudes. I've spoken twice with rookie Alex Boone, and he appears to fit that mold. I truly wish him the best. Hopefully, he can conquer his demons and lead a productive and enjoyable life. The 49ers want him to remain close to the team leading up to training camp, so they can closely monitor his life choices, as well as get him up to speed on conditioning and learning the playbook.
--Another undrafted rookie, Sheets, checks in today on Twitter to write (in 140 characters or less), "Back to workouts. Hill here i come." Looks as if Mike's Peak is going to be getting some use in the next six weeks.
--I really can't wait to see Alex Smith in a game situation. (Correction: I just re-read that last sentence I wrote. Honestly, I can wait. Maybe I should have written, "I'm looking forward to seeing . . . ") The last time I saw him play when his arm was right was a 2007 Week 3 game in Pittsburgh. What I remember most about Smith's first three games of '07 - and last three healthy games - was how little help he received from his teammates. In games against the Cardinals and Rams, wideout Darrell Jackson dropped beautifully thrown deep passes. Against the Steelers, Taylor Jacobs ran the wrong route, resulting in a Bryant McFadden 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The 49ers' supporting cast now is much better than it has been at any point since Smith came to the team in 2005.
--Yes, Smith looked better than ever in practice. But, in the past two weeks, I have not seen Shaun Hill look any better on the practice field, either. Hill was completely miscast in Mike Martz's offense. There seems to be enough flexibility in Jimmy Raye's scheme to easily adapt to a quarterback's strengths.
--And, yes, the 49ers will have an audible system in place for a QB to change the play at the line of scrimmage this season.
--I have no idea how Raye will fare as a play-caller. But it does not look as if the offense will be as stodgy as everybody has assumed. While there will certainly be a meat-and-potatoes approach, the 49ers exhibited as many gadget plays this summer as I've seen the team practice in the past.
--Prediction: Tight end Vernon Davis will have a notable season. He'll catch far more passes than a year ago. He will flash his extraordinary talent, but he will also have his occasional flub that will leave everybody scratching their heads.
--Obviously, the key position for the 49ers on offense is the quarterback - whomever wins that job. Defensively, the key man is Manny Lawson. He added some weight to help with the power that's needed to rush the passer. The plan on third down is for Lawson and Parys Haralson to line up at the defensive-end spots and get after the quarterback. The impact of their success - or lack thereof - will be felt throughout the defense and throughout the entire team.
--As I scour the roster, here are some quick thoughts . . .
There are 42 players I fully expect to be on this team: Alex Smith, Shaun Hill, Frank Gore, Michael Robinson, Glen Coffee, Moran Norris, Michael Crabtree, Brandon Jones, Josh Morgan, Isaac Bruce, Delanie Walker, Bear Pascoe, Vernon Davis, Chilo Rachal, David Baas, Eric Heitmann, Adam Snyder, Tony Wragge, Marvel Smith, Joe Staley, Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, Demetric Evans, Justin Smith, Kentwan Balmer, Takeo Spikes, Patrick Willis, Jeff Ulbrich, Scott McKillop, Parys Haralson, Manny Lawson, Nate Clements, Tarell Brown, Mark Roman, Dre' Bly, Reggie Smith, Michael Lewis, Dashon Goldson, Andy Lee, Joe Nedney, Allen Rossum and Brian Jennings.
There are eight others who I believe have strong chances to make the team (if healthy): Damon Huard, Jason Hill, Cody Wallace, Ray McDonald, Ricky Jean-Francois, Marques Harris, Jay Moore and Shawntae Spencer.
And there are 11 others who, right now, stand at the top of the group competing for the remaining roster spots: Nate Davis, Kory Sheets, Thomas Clayton, Arnaz Battle, Dominique Zeigler, Barry Sims, Alex Boone, Jacob Bender, Ahmad Brooks, Marcus Hudson and Curtis Taylor.
I'm not ruling out anybody and squashing dreams. But the other 19 players who will go to camp with the 49ers must perform very well when the pads go on and have a little luck along the way to stick on the season-opening 53-man roster.
--Nate Davis will be an interesting case. We'll see what happens in training camp, but I know the 49ers want to keep Huard on the team. Then, what would they do with Davis? Last year, there were 13 quarterbacks drafted. Ten of those rookie QBs finished the season on the roster of the team that selected them. Only one of those teams (Buccaneers) kept four QBs in order to retain a rookie draft pick. Two drafted QBs (Giants' Andre' Woodson and the Texans' Alex Brink) made it through waivers to the practice squad, and one was placed on injured reserve.
--Battle will be in a, well, battle to earn a roster spot because of the crowded field of receivers. He needs to get healthy and leave no doubt he is one of the team's top wideouts and special-teams players. He enters the final year of his contract, which calls for him to make $1.47 million. That's a pretty good price tag, so he must leave no doubt. Also, Jason Hill must show an ability to remain healthy. Hill's durability might be the only thing preventing him from being a lock to be on the team.
--The 49ers have done a strong job of getting their rookies under contract. I'd fully expect everyone to be signed for the opening of camp. Michael Crabtree, Glen Coffee and Nate Davis are the only rooks who have yet to sign their deals.
--In conclusion, I was generally impressed with what I saw during these offseason workouts. Of course, after the quality of football I've watched the past six years, maybe my standards are a little skewed. I do believe the 49ers have the potential to be a good team. The success of the 49ers will be determined, mostly, by the performances of their offensive coordinator, quarterback and pass rush. And, frankly, there are big questions about each of those spots.
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2009/06/o-line-must-make-big-leap-in-production.html
The 49ers' offensive line is a promising group. But promise and productivity are two different things.
Question: While everyone is fixated on the quarterback competition, I don't think it matters who plays QB if the offensive line is as bad as it was last season. What's your take on the offensive line.
Answer: Like a few positions on this team, it takes a leap of faith to view the 49ers' offensive line as a group that can lead the way to the playoffs. With the possible exception of quarterback, no position group is more important to the success of the team this season.
If the unit stays together for a few years, the line could become a strength of the 49ers. But it's probably not going to happen as quickly as this season. Still, the 49ers can win the NFC West if the offensive line shows a reasonable improvement from the end of last season.
After all, this position group was not nearly as bad as the 55-sacks-allowed statistic might suggest. The line's pass protection was only part of the problem.
Mike Martz's offense put a lot of stress on a line because of the long-developing pass routes and abundance of seven-step drops. It also did not help matters that J.T. O'Sullivan was notorious for taking sacks even when he had ample time to get the ball out of his hands.
New offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye promises to play more to the talent on the offensive line with an inside power running game, and play-action passes. The prediction here is that 49ers will see a huge improvement in sacks allowed.
But, of course, the 49ers' line is a largely unproven unit.
The only established player on the offensive line is center Eric Heitmann, who was the team's best man up front last season. He handles the center's main responsibility with aplomb. The center's job is to be a student of the game and an extension of the coaching staff. He must make the line calls and adjustments. But Heitmann also has the size and strength to more than hold his own at the point of attack.
Left tackle Joe Staley, left guard David Baas and right guard Chilo Rachal are projections. None of those individuals played at a championship level last season. But they are all young, so the club is confident they will continue to progress this season - especially Staley and Rachal. If that happens, the 49ers' offensive line could look strong for years and years to come. (Baas is a scheduled free agent at the end of the season, and the 49ers have demonstrated a reluctance to pay big money to attract or retain guards.)
The 49ers' biggest weakness on the line throughout last season was right tackle. Injury-prone Jonas Jennings is gone. The team signed veteran tackle Marvel Smith, who has gone on injured reserve the past two seasons with back difficulties.
Adam Snyder is a valuable utility lineman, capable of playing each of the guard and tackle spots. He lined up with the first-team offense throughout the offseason program because the 49ers were cautious with Smith. When training camp begins, Snyder and Smith will compete for the starting job.
The 49ers would be ecstatic if Smith remains healthy and holds onto the starting job. That way, Snyder and Tony Wragge could give the 49ers great versatility as the only backup linemen to suit up on game days.
The 49ers' offensive line is a promising group. But promise and productivity are two different things.
Question: While everyone is fixated on the quarterback competition, I don't think it matters who plays QB if the offensive line is as bad as it was last season. What's your take on the offensive line.
Answer: Like a few positions on this team, it takes a leap of faith to view the 49ers' offensive line as a group that can lead the way to the playoffs. With the possible exception of quarterback, no position group is more important to the success of the team this season.
If the unit stays together for a few years, the line could become a strength of the 49ers. But it's probably not going to happen as quickly as this season. Still, the 49ers can win the NFC West if the offensive line shows a reasonable improvement from the end of last season.
After all, this position group was not nearly as bad as the 55-sacks-allowed statistic might suggest. The line's pass protection was only part of the problem.
Mike Martz's offense put a lot of stress on a line because of the long-developing pass routes and abundance of seven-step drops. It also did not help matters that J.T. O'Sullivan was notorious for taking sacks even when he had ample time to get the ball out of his hands.
New offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye promises to play more to the talent on the offensive line with an inside power running game, and play-action passes. The prediction here is that 49ers will see a huge improvement in sacks allowed.
But, of course, the 49ers' line is a largely unproven unit.
The only established player on the offensive line is center Eric Heitmann, who was the team's best man up front last season. He handles the center's main responsibility with aplomb. The center's job is to be a student of the game and an extension of the coaching staff. He must make the line calls and adjustments. But Heitmann also has the size and strength to more than hold his own at the point of attack.
Left tackle Joe Staley, left guard David Baas and right guard Chilo Rachal are projections. None of those individuals played at a championship level last season. But they are all young, so the club is confident they will continue to progress this season - especially Staley and Rachal. If that happens, the 49ers' offensive line could look strong for years and years to come. (Baas is a scheduled free agent at the end of the season, and the 49ers have demonstrated a reluctance to pay big money to attract or retain guards.)
The 49ers' biggest weakness on the line throughout last season was right tackle. Injury-prone Jonas Jennings is gone. The team signed veteran tackle Marvel Smith, who has gone on injured reserve the past two seasons with back difficulties.
Adam Snyder is a valuable utility lineman, capable of playing each of the guard and tackle spots. He lined up with the first-team offense throughout the offseason program because the 49ers were cautious with Smith. When training camp begins, Snyder and Smith will compete for the starting job.
The 49ers would be ecstatic if Smith remains healthy and holds onto the starting job. That way, Snyder and Tony Wragge could give the 49ers great versatility as the only backup linemen to suit up on game days.
Vernon Davis is a homo. He needs to worry more about catching the ball and less about the clothes he's wearing.
http://www.honeymag.com/message/story/view.castle?g=679901&m=5870262
http://www.honeymag.com/message/story/view.castle?g=679901&m=5870262
