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PoLLo LoC831

PoLLo LoC831

NINER EMPIRE
#481
Mar 20, 2005
4,709
236
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#481
Bruce is certain 49ers offense will be much improved

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/ci_8459512

After officially putting his name to the 49ers' dotted line Tuesday, receiver Isaac Bruce acknowledged that he has no idea which quarterback will be throwing him the ball in 2008.

He didn't seem to mind that the candidates - Alex Smith and Shaun Hill - have a mere 24 career touchdown passes between them, nor did he seem fazed that the 49ers are coming off a wretched offensive season.

Bruce, the longtime St. Louis Rams star who signed a two-year deal worth $6 million, recalled the similar uncertainty surrounding Kurt Warner (before he won two MVP awards) and Marc Bulger (before he made two Pro Bowls).

Such is Bruce's faith in his old coach Mike Martz, the 49ers' new offensive coordinator and the man whose presence played no small role in his decision to sign with San Francisco.

"There are no ifs, ands or buts when it comes to this offense and the guy that is coaching it," Bruce said during his introductory conference call with Bay Area reporters. "He expects a lot out of you. He is going to expect you to raise your level and from that level go to the next level and maintain that."

Bruce said he is eager to help the 49ers' offensive players acclimate to Martz's system, a playbook he understands so well that he no longer considers it complex.

Certainly, the system worked for him during their previous partnership. Bruce racked up four Pro Bowl appearances in 14 seasons with the Rams and comes to the 49ers ranked third all-time on the receiving-yardage list, behind Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.

Rice's name is significant to Bruce. For one thing, Rice wore jersey No. 80 in San Francisco, and Bruce left the door open for doing the same. The team has not officially retired No. 80; as per a recent change in team policy, the 49ers have discussed "honoring" the jersey rather than rule out it being worn again.

(Several other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, also engage in the policy of "honoring" jerseys rather than "retiring" them.)

Bruce, when asked if he wants to continue to wear No. 80 with his new team, said: "I will give you an answer to that in a couple of weeks."

In the least, Bruce, 35, would like to share another bond with Rice by continuing to play productively into his late 30s.

"I have a lot left. If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't be here in San Francisco," Bruce said.

The Rams, clearly, thought Bruce was on the downside. The team tried unsuccessfully to restructure Bruce's contract last month but ultimately released the last link to the 1994 team that moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis.

Bruce concluded his Rams career with 14,109 receiving yards, 942 receptions and 84 touchdown catches.

He has eight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

The 49ers would settle for a fraction of that production, having ranked last in most offensive categories last season. Bruce expressed faith that things are on the verge of turning around.

"I'm here to win a championship, and it's a great plus to be with coach Mike Martz," he said. "He has one of the brightest minds in the NFL and he has a lot of creativity. We will go into every game with confidence."
 
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hella_numb

Sicc OG
#488
Aug 7, 2003
6,046
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#488
players should be remembered, not numbers.

eventually in like the next 100 years or so they wont be retiring numbers because they will be running out of numbers. what number will they retire for kobe? 8 or 24?
 
PoLLo LoC831

PoLLo LoC831

NINER EMPIRE
#492
Mar 20, 2005
4,709
236
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#492
49ers Free Agency, More than Hoped For

http://www.49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=4071&section=PR News

Chrissy Mauck
March 05, 2008

General Manager Scot McCloughan would have been happy with the signing of his three unrestricted free agents in defensive end Justin Smith, linebacker Dontarrious Thomas and quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, but then along came several other unexpected players who fell in his lap.

“From my standpoint we accomplished more than I thought we could in free agency,” said McCloughan. “From the standpoint of not just the unrestricted guys we signed, but there were great guys that got cut by teams that I’m very excited to get.”

The three players – Isaac Bruce, DeShaun Foster and Allen Rossum – all became available in the days leading into the start of the free agency period, and McCloughan made quick work of landing them in San Francisco.

Although McCloughan said the team is pretty much done with their browsing, he won’t hesitate to move if other players of that caliber do become available.

“If all of a sudden there is another DeShaun Foster or Allen Rossum or Isaac Bruce come across the line, we’re going to sign them in a heart beat for the price that we think is right because all we’re doing is making our team better,” said McCloughan. “It’s getting us depth, it’s getting us good football players. So hopefully we’re not done. If someone gets cut or there’s a good football player that we think can come help us out then we’re going to sign him in a heart beat.”

McCloughan indicated that both Bruce and Rossum are at the top of the depth chart right now at receiver and as a returner, while Foster gives the 49ers a proven backup behind Frank Gore at running back.

Of the three unrestricted free agents, Smith is the only one inked in starter although McCloughan expects Thomas to push both Jeff Ulbrich and Brandon Moore for the starting spot at the Ted linebacker position.

Said McCloughan, “he will come in fighting for a starting spot and if not, he’ll be a good backup at the Ted and outside linebacker spot and a really good special teams player.”

While the 49ers have made some strides in free agency, they’ve also lost some of their depth at the offensive line with Miami’s signing of guard Justin Smiley and the Raiders signing of tackle Kwame Harris.

Fortunately, McCloughan believes that the upcoming draft has more depth at the offensive line than any other position, and that there are also options currently on the street.

“I think we’ll sign a couple of guys in the next few days to few weeks,” said McCloughan. “I’m not worried about the offensive line whatsoever. There are some guys out on the street right now, not a high dollar thing, but you get a good football player.”

Dilfer’s Deal
A determination has yet to be made regarding the future of quarterback Trent Dilfer, who is owed a roster bonus on March 15. McCloughan said the organization would meet with veteran quarterback and make a decision prior to that date.

The 49ers re-signed Shaun Hill prior to free agency and then added O’Sullivan, bringing the current quarterback total to four. The club has also already announced they intend to execute a buy back clause on Alex Smith, also due on the 15th, that will extend his contract from four to six years.

What’s the Rush?
McCloughan was asked whether or not if he feels that Justin Smith, Dontarrious Thomas, Parys Haralson, Manny Lawson, Tully Banta-Cain, etc, give the team enough of an upgrade to become a pass rush threat in 2008.

He answered, “I think our people (coaches) feel good about it. I think it’s ‘keep the defense off the field.’ I think if you go back on our defense play for play, what we did this year and the amount they were on the field, we’re going to be twice as good this year on offense from the standpoint of keeping the ball in our hands and that’s going to make the defense that much better. I think we have good football players on defense, and we have enough to get the job done. Do we have superstars? No, with the exception of Patrick Willis, but we have enough guys who are good football players.”
 
PoLLo LoC831

PoLLo LoC831

NINER EMPIRE
#493
Mar 20, 2005
4,709
236
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39
#493
Despite big contract, 49ers' cap shape looks good for future

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=1042504

Just $3.083 million of defensive end Justin Smith's big free-agent contract will count against the salary cap this year. The 49ers still have a lot of cap space - a little less than $20 million. They clearly trying to set themselves up nicely for future years.

He receives an $11 million signing bonus, which for cap purposes is divided by six (the number of years of the contract) and counts in equal parts ($1.833 million) every season. Smith also received $5.75 million in roster bonuses, with a guaranteed $4.75 million coming next year and $1 million in 2010. The base salaries in 2008 and '09 are guaranteed, as well.

The most Smith will ever count against the salary cap is next year when he's on the books for $10.583 million.

* * *

Here is the year-by-year breakdown of Smith's contract:

2008: SB $1.833, base $750,000, workout $500,000. Cap value: $3.083 million.

2009: SB $1.833, base $3.5 mill., roster bonus $4.75 mill., workout $500,000. Cap value: $10.583 million.

2010: SB $1.833, base $2.625 mill., roster bonus $1 mill., workout $500,000. Cap value: $5.958 million.

2011: SB $1.833, base $5 mill., workout $500,000. Cap value: $7.333 million.

2012: SB $1.834, base $5.875 mill., workout $500,000. Cap value: $8.209 million.

2013: SB $1.834, base $7.5 mill., workout $500,000. Cap value: $9.834 million.

* * *

So why would the 49ers push a big chunk of the cap hit to next year? One guess is that clubs are reluctant to pay out big roster bonuses this year, such as the 49ers did a year ago with Nate Clements' ($10 million). After the Michael Vick ruling last year that teams are protected by default clauses on signing bonuses money but not roster bonuses, this is a way for clubs to protect their investments.

Also, the 49ers, like every team, can rollover cap money from one year to the next by inserting impossible-to-attain incentive clauses -- such as $1.5 million if Roderick Green blocks 15 punts. Thus, it creates additional cap room the following year. (Here's the link again to that cap story on SI.com.)

So although the 49ers have a lot of cap room, don't expect them to spend it just to spend it. They still have to sign their draft picks and practice-squaders for 2008, as well as hold a sizeable amount for contingencies and possible contract extensions.

And a lot of money they don't use can be pushed forward to 2009 to help soak up Justin Smith's $10.583 cap number.

The 49ers had $20.55 million in cap space before the Isaac Bruce signing on Tuesday.

* * *

T Kwame Harris is going to the Raiders, after all. With Harris' departure and the retirement of Bryant Young, the 49ers have none of their own first-round picks that pre-date the arrival of Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan in 2005.

* * *

Here's a look at the 2008 49ers' free agency scorecard:

PLAYERS ADDED: WR Isaac Bruce (cut by Rams); RB DeShaun Foster (cut by Panthers); QB J.T. O'Sullivan (UFA Lions); KR/PR Allen Rossum (cut by Steelers); DE Justin Smith (UFA Bengals); LB Dontarrious Thomas (UFA Vikings).

PLAYERS RETAINED: QB Shaun Hill (potential UFA); NT Isaac Sopoaga (potential UFA).

PLAYERS LOST: T Kwame Harris (UFA, Raiders); RB Maurice Hicks (UFA, Vikings); G Justin Smiley (UFA, Dolphins); LB Derek Smith (cut, Chargers), DL Bryant Young (expected retirement).

UNSIGNED: G Larry Allen (UFA), TE Billy Bajema (tendered RFA), DE Marques Douglas (UFA), WR Bryan Gilmore (UFA), PR Michael Lewis (UFA), DB Donald Strickland (UFA), CB B.J. Tucker (non-tendered RFA), QB Chris Weinke (UFA).

* * *

GOLD RUSH AUDITIONS: The 49ers asked me to run a note about open auditions for the 49ers Gold Rush. I told the pride of Willows, Katherine Madariaga, that it was difficult to write anything without also including a photo. Holy, cow, did she come through for us!

So, anyway, preliminary auditions will be held on Sunday, March 30 at the Maples Pavilion at Stanford University. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and auditions start promptly at 10. The audition will consist of learning a short dance combination taught by a professional choreographer. Applicants will be required to learn and perform the routine in a group in front of a panel of judges. They will be judged on dance ability, crowd appeal, showmanship and individual applications.

Finalists selected on March 30 must be available for an interview on Tuesday evening, April 1, and the final dance audition on Wednesday evening, April 2.

To prepare for these auditions, the Gold Rush will hold three, three-hour workshops in the upcoming weeks that will include a dance clinic, audition tips and an information packet. For detailed information about the workshops, visit the 49ers' official website.

Unfortunately, auditions are closed to the public.
 
PoLLo LoC831

PoLLo LoC831

NINER EMPIRE
#494
Mar 20, 2005
4,709
236
0
39
#494
Offensive-line depth the next priority for 49ers

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/ci_8472620

With several big-ticket items out of the way, the 49ers will search the landscape for depth along the offensive line.

General Manager Scot McCloughan said Wednesday that the team will land "a couple" of under-the-radar veterans within the next few weeks.

"A big-name free agent? Absolutely not," McCloughan said. "It's not a high-dollar thing, but you get a good football player. Especially on the interior with the guards and centers, there are guys out there that would be good football players for us who could help us out in a year, two or three."

The biggest name in this year's free-agent market - seven-time Pro Bowl selection Alan Faneca - went to the New York Jets for five years and $40 million, with $21 million in guarantees.

McCloughan is satisfied that there are still bargains to be had. He added that "the draft is heavy in the offensive line, so I'm not worried about the offensive line whatsoever.

"I'm excited about the fact that with our first, second, third and fourth picks, there will be good players sitting there on the offensive line."

Two 49ers linemen from last year's unit, Justin Smiley (Miami Dolphins) and Kwame Harris (Raiders), already have signed elsewhere. The fate of free agent Larry Allen is unknown.

• Regarding the draft, McCloughan said that the team's ability to address some needs through free agency put the 49ers "in position to take the best player on the board."

The 49ers draft 29th, and McCloughan said the team has no plans to move up.
• The 49ers have not officially parted ways with quarterback Trent Dilfer, although his return is a long shot after the J.T. O'Sullivan signing. McCloughan said the team will meet with Dilfer before the player is due a roster bonus March 15.

• McCloughan said that new linebacker Dontarrious Thomas will be in the mix for the starting spot at strong inside linebacker. The competition also will include Brandon Moore and Jeff Ulbrich.

• Joe Staley, a standout rookie tackle last year, will make the move from the right side of the line to the left.

• The 49ers still have interest in bringing back defensive lineman Marques Douglas, who has drawn interest from Tampa Bay and Tennessee.
 
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hella_numb

Sicc OG
#499
Aug 7, 2003
6,046
1
0
#499
its hard to eye someone at #29. i think they are either quentin groves, james hardy, pat sims or gosder cherilus. hopefully we get one of the 4. i think james hardy will be there for our 2nd round pick.
 
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