Good.

the Rams SHOULD win at 8-8. That's how it should go. The team with a real coach and a real quarterback should win the division. a 7-9 team should not. Good.

They're not just losing

they're going to be completely embarrassed tomorrow. Does anyone really doubt this? Really? There's no way they're winning this game, or even keeping it competitive. For gods sake- they're in a "playoff hunt" and don't even know WHO THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK SHOULD BE!! Are we sure we're against just throwing out the NFC west this year and letting Tampa in? Because that would be better for football as an institution.

Just let in tampa, and let New Orleans host that first round playoff game. Because a 7-9 team who doesn't know who their starting quarterback is in WEEK SIXTEEN OF THE SEASON should not be hosting a playoff game. Please let the Rams win tomorrow and the next game to go 8-8 so the NFC west doesn't have the stain of a sub .500 team hosting a playoff game. Please! Dear god!

There's just no way the 49ers can possibly win this game. The stakes are too high, in that there are actual stakes in this game. It means something. So that means they're not just going to lose, but they're going to be humiliated in an important game. Prove me wrong, you bunch of spineless cowardly pussies. Prove me wrong. Win one "important" game. God knows you haven't in 8 years, so why should I expect you to now?

And even if you win this "important" game, you'll probably lose to John Skelton at home next week anyways when you decide at the last minute that Chris Weinke gives you the best chance to win because he went to school at florida state where they were good that one time 10 years ago. That makes about as much sense as anything else you've been saying lately, you clueless bunch of hacks.

No, you can't even win a fake "important" game. Because you are spineless and clueless and soft and cowardly and afraid of your own success. You are not a real NFL organization, and tomorrow you will be embarrassed by a rookie quarterback who's already hit the wall and a team that FUCKING SUCKS and has 1/10th of your talent. Because you are clueless and soft, and do not deserve a spot in the playoffs.

I hope you die in a fire, you worthless cowardly pieces of dog feces. I hate you and want you to fail so you might actually get it through your goddamn head that what you're doing isn't working and that it's time to maybe get somebody in charge of the team who KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM. WHAT A SWELL IDEA THAT WOULD BE.

God I hate what you've become. Just go die peacefully in a field so I don't ever have to worry about you again, at least not for 9 more months.

So we should just not play anymore, right?

That seems to be the recipe for things going well for the 49ers. It certainly doesn't happen while they're playing on the field. Still alive!

And I have to say, they are probably the favorites right now. If they've shown that they can do anything recently, it's beat the NFC west in at least somewhat convincing fashion. They suck, but dear lord those other teams are even worse. The only challenge is beating the Rams next week, since that's a road game. Even this team will not lose that Cards game at home. That's not happening.

So basically, they're losing next week. Because if they win that, they're in the playoffs for the first time in 8 years. And that's not happening. But I will admit, it would be fun to see, even if it came with a 7-9 record, and even though it would mean they'd be picking 21st in the draft.

Biggest game in 8 years

The 49ers don't win big games. They're not a real team. They don't know how to properly prepare for teams like the Chargers (read: GOOD teams). They are not a good NFL team. They have no real coaches and don't have a real quarterback. They haven't won an important game in 8 years. I've already stated my desire for them to lose games for their long-term well being. They had even less time than normal to prepare for their vastly more talented opponent. They don't have their best offensive player. 2 of their key defenders have broken hands. They are 10 point underdogs. They are going to get destroyed.

BUT I'M STILL A NERVOUS WRECK BEFORE THIS GODDAMN GAME. WHAT THE HELL.

If they somehow find a way to pull this game off....god dammit. How many times have I said that over the years? AND THEY NEVER FIND A WAY TO PULL THE FUCKING GAMES OFF. EVER. WHY CAN'T YOU JUST WIN ONE IMPORTANT GAME?! ONE! Just give me that! 8 years! JUST GIVE ME ONE PLEASE!!!

It would be nicer to not care.

Might not have seen THIS coming,

but everyone saw this coming. They'll probably sit on this lead in the 2nd half, win like 33-20 or something, make everyone think they're back in it, then they'll lose @ SD and then lose at St louis and kill any chances they might have had. Vintage.

The 49ers are heroine

I'm excited for the game tomorrow. I know they should lose. I know it's better for them if they lose. They most likely WILL lose. Yet I'm excited and want them to win. Totally hopeless.

Well, this is maybe sort of interesting

Hmmmm:

There’s a growing belief that former Raiders and Bucs coach Jon Gruden will return to the NFL in 2011. As his son, Deuce (really?), tells it, Gruden may be targeting 2012.

Via The Big Lead, Deuce Gruden appeared on the Sporting Rave podcast, and Deuce said that the family could be heading for San Fran or Cleveland.

I'm still stuck on the Harbaugh bandwagon, but Gruden wouldn't exactly be a bad choice either. There's always the chance that it's PR posturing, but it's mildly exciting nonetheless.

Officially a Rams fan

The NFC west needs a team to finish over .500. Please God, do not let a 7-9 team host a playoff game. Please. Let it be the Rams, too. Because fuck pete carroll, that's why. The Rams are (kind of..ok not really) fun to watch and are winning for a good reason- they have a really really good quarterback. That's why teams SHOULD win. They shouldn't skate by on luck or special teams or whatever- they need a great quarterback. And they have one. PLEASE let them go 9-7 or better. Please.

As for the 49ers? Well everyone saw this coming. Not at all a surprise, though that play to Vernon at the end of the half probably put me in the playoffs in a FF league, so that was awesome.

But I'm not just a Rams fan because I want the NFC west to be represented by a not-terrible record. It's because I value the long-term future of my own team. And for this season, every win my own team gets harms their long-term future. Each win serves only to take them farther from a draft pick, and each win solidifies (if however shakily) their coaching staff's employment.

Dear god, can you imagine if they'd lucked into a win today? There would have been talk about Singletary maybe saving his job. Maybe they run the table and go 9-7! Sing has turned the corner! We can win with this guy!

Thank. God. A beatdown. EXACTLY what was needed. I want one further, though. I want them to lose out. I've gotten to the point where I will be disappointed after every win and ecstatic after every loss. I'm not a bad fan- it's the exact opposite. The only thing the 49ers can accomplish by winning is to harm their team even further.

Every loss brings us closer to a real quarterback and a real coaching staff. After the expectations this team had, if they finish 3-13, there will HAVE to be WHOLESALE changes throughout the front office. They could not possibly keep anyone. And they could not possibly justify making a minor tweak. If they spend the cash on a QB and a real offensive coach, next year they could win 10 games with the talent they have. Losing is for the best. GO RAMS!

(PS, as I write this I'm sitting at a starbucks in downtown portland with my man purse sitting next to me. I've never felt more at home)

(PPS, I want to thank my uncle for choosing this weekend to get married, so I didn't end up spending 200 bucks to go to this game, which was my original plan when the season began. I can't thank him enough)

The Ewing theory writ small

Frank Gore: the most important offensive player the 49ers have had this season, no question. We all saw the stat: all by his lonesome, Frank Gore has accounted for THIRTY SEVEN PERCENT of the 49ers' total offensive yardage from scrimmage.

Obviously, he is a great, great player. But is it possible that maybe they were leaning on him a little TOO much? I don't mean that the crazy high workload led to this injury (though I guess that's possible), but more that maybe they were using him as a little bit of a crutch. Maybe in a weird way their reliance on him was actually holding the offense back?

I'm sure you've all heard of the ewing theory, but in case you haven't: read this.

Basically, the theory states that when a team is written off following the loss of a star player, it usually has the exact opposite effect: the team actually plays BETTER without that player.

Do I think Brian Westbrook is a better player right now than Frank Gore? No, I don't. But that's not what this is about. I think the hidden advantage to this injury is that perhaps the offense will get opened up a little bit now. I really doubt there's anyone on the coaching staff stupid enough to give Anthony Dixon and Brian Westbrook the amount of work they were giving Frank Gore. (Though, to be fair, I've underestimated the stupidity of this coaching staff many times to my cost).

I think, when utilized properly, this offense is better with Gore on the field. But I'm not sure letting 1 guy account for nearly 40% of your yards gained is what I'd call being "utilized properly". They were leaning on Gore to the point of him being a crutch rather than a piece that helped the offense move along.

It's not like there's no talent at other postions- we saw what Vernon Davis can do last year, and we've seen my boy Crabtree make some out-STANDING catches this year. Maybe this injury opens the way for those guys to get more involved, and maybe Sing backs off on the "RUN AT ALL COSTS" mentality he obviously had (regardless of what he might say).

It will be interesting to see. I think Mike Johnson is a guy who has some innovative ideas, but who was maybe being hamstrung by his head coach's philosophy. Hopefully we'll maybe get to see some more imaginative offense now that they don't have Gore to use as a little bit of a whipping boy.

Oh, but the blitz pickup will probably be worse. Does that matter against the Packers? probably not, right?

Who didn't see this coming?

I'll believe it when A) They finish the game well (they won't), and B) they play well for 2 straight games (they won't). Whatever. It's been kind of fun tonight, but whatever.

Rams are winning the divsion

Sam Bradford is effing amazing. Shit. We have to deal with that guy for the next 15 years. We're screwed.

I'm jealous of Vikings fans

I remember how happy I was when Nolan got fired. The difference for them is they have a guy stepping in who, you know, will probably be a real NFL head coach. I really really long for the day when we get the announcement that Singletary is gone.

I have no idea why they would not cut ties right now- sure, the math says they have a chance, but give me a break. They just got shutout at home for the first time in 30 years and the coach COULDN'T REMEMBER THE MOST CRITICAL CALL HE MADE DURING THE ENTIRE GAME. He should have been fired as soon as he left that press room! You have to be kidding me that he didn't remember choosing to punt FROM THE 31 YARD LINE.

Does management enjoy being a laughingstock? Do they not realize that that is exactly what they are? The only way to salvage any kind of credibility is to cut ties with this charade, you have exactly nothing to lose. Maybe the team would at least be semi-watchable.

Niners We Know and Love

Somewhat important game? Check (Update: By this I mean, for the Niners it's do or die, but to fans of other NFL teams, who really gives a shit?)
Somewhat equal to lesser opponent? Check (Update: I realize this isn't accurate; the Bucs have been a far better team in 2010. I guess I was thinking about all the Niners "talent" on "paper").
Singletary coaching? Check
Niners choke job? Check

Color me shocked the special teams unit stopped the fake punt. That's usually a Singletary specialty: Complete and utter surprise the other team doesn't play straight ahead 1940s football.

This team hasn't looked like a functional NFL team since 2002

Even if they win today, it's still more of the same disjointed, unorganized and unprepared football we've seen for 8 straight years. How hard is it with this much talent to JUST LOOK LIKE A FUCKING FOOTBALL TEAM FOR GODS SAKE.

Mike Singletary won that game for the 49ers

Wait wait! Before you scoff, allow me to take you back. Specifically, to the season-opening game in Arizona last year. Remember? The one where, at halftime, a crazed Mike Singletary (hard to imagine, I know) pulled aside and berated rookie head referee Don Carey, brother of the much more famous Mike Carey.

As you may have read in that article, this season 'ol Don was re-assigned to Ed Hochuli's crew. The crew that worked Sunday's game. And who was it that made the game-deciding pass interference call in overtime?

Don. Carey.

BOOOOOOOOOOM ROASTED! Obviously, Don looked over at Mike's intimidating scowl, remembered that encounter, and got a little jumpy with the flag.

So clearly, Mike Singletary won this game for the 49ers. Take a long suck on THAT, haters.

Mike Singletary is allergic to straight answers

There's no other way to explain his almost pathological refusal to give a definite answer on anything ever since he took over as coach.

The most recent example, obviously, is his refusal to just tell everyone that Troy Smith is going to be the quarterback this Sunday. What is the harm in just being honest with your fans and with the players themselves? Per Maiocco, even the Smiths haven't been told who's starting this Sunday (which is funny to me, because all I ever heard about to start this year is how "honest" singletary is. Balmer, Lewis, and now both Smiths might have something to say about that), so it's not like Singletary is obfuscating in order to keep the Rams in the dark. I think it's obvious to all of us that this organization isn't nearly smart enough to pull that off anyways.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when he makes a definitive statement. Like, for instance, the time after the Chiefs game when he declared Jimmy Raye's job safe for the season, before firing him less than 24 hours later.

Mike Singletary: bad coach. I know I'm not breaking any new ground there, but I just wonder where exactly this STRICT REFUSAL to just come out and say things that are obvious to everyone else comes from. Maybe it's a football coach thing, and maybe if I followed any other NFL team as closely as I follow the niners I'd notice them doing it too. The problem is when most of them do it, they're successful.

It's really a shame that this team is saddled with such awful management. Why can't we be the chiefs? Or the Browns? Those are teams with a fraction of the talent the 49ers have, yet they are able to compete with (and beat) teams that are infinitely more talented. Why?

Because their coaches don't go out there, line up, and play a conventional, conservative game against teams that are better than them. They make those teams play on their terms. They don't do what 95% of the stadium is expecting them to do. They mix it up. The 49ers don't have that, and haven't for 8 years. If they played football like that, and maybe used the talent they have to the fullest, they would not be sitting at 2-6 and staring yet another non-winning season in the face.

There's no doubt in my mind that the talent on this team is good enough to win 6 out of the next 8 games. If you don't think they are, you need to watch the other nfc west teams play. Their teams are awful. If the 49ers had a coach who wasn't so stupid that he doesn't realize that a quarterback 2 weeks removed from a shoulder separation and who's sporting a 1-6 record isn't obviously going to be on the sidelines Sunday, then maybe they'd have a chance over these next 8 games.

It's really too bad. What a hopeless feeling to have half a season left, and know that you won't have the chance to watch a relevant football team until next September. And we'll be lucky if it's that soon.

Crazier things have happened

Just sayin'. This division is awful. Cardinals choke away a sure win, Seahawks are getting KILT at home. Niners will be 2 back next week with 5 of 8 remaining games IN the division, and with every other team falling apart on all sides of the ball.

Realistically, it's looking like the Rams' division. But, would it REALLY be that crazy if the 49ers made a "stunning" comeback behind a new starting quarterback? They still have more talent at most positions than any other team in the division. IF they beat the rams next week, they are the favorites to win it when you look at their talent and schedule. They'd be 1 game back with 7 remaining.

After that game their only difficult game is @ Green Bay. You pencil that in as a loss, and the Chargers game as a loss, and you have an 8-8 record. That would win the division.

But we know the more likely outcome is that they lose next week, and the Rams go on to win it. The Rams have a good QB, and in this division that's all you need. BUT, that also means that if T. Smith can be good, the niners have a very good chance.

Just sayin, crazier things have happened.

Singletary: not a smart coach

Mike Singletary told a 2-6 team to "get away from football" during its bye week. You know, the week that's supposed to be an advantage for a football team. Instead, they're going to be spending it doing anything other than preparing for their next opponent.

Maybe this is why the 49ers have been HISTORICALLY (and hysterically) awful after their bye weeks in recent years. Seriously, go look it up. It's amazing how terrible they've been.

Honestly, is it too much to ask to just get a freaking guy to run this team who knows what he's doing? Really? It must be, because we haven't had one for 7 years now.

But sports ARE kinda funny sometimes. I said these same things about the Giants and about Brian Sabean. Everyone agrees that Sabean is one of the worst GMs in baseball. But he just won a world series. Sports are weird.

Either way, telling your 2-6 team to "get away from football" during their bye week instead of taking that time to prepare for your next opponent? I'm sorry, but that's just stupid. The rams are going to kill us in 2 weeks.

I don't even care

Go 2-14 for all I care niners. Go 0-16 for the next 20 years if you want. The Giants just won a goddamn world series and I'm so numb to any possible future sports failure that I couldn't care less. Maybe that's what you need to start playing well- for me to not care.

WELL I DON'T CARE BABY!!! THE GIANTS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read that last sentence over and over. It's true. It's not a dream. The Giants are world champions.

I can watch Troy Smith talk at a press conference and not want to punch him in the face

that alone is reason to let him keep starting. Honestly, have you ever watched Alex Smith get interviewed and not been annoyed as crap? He is such an awful interview.

I know it's a stupid, meaningless thing, but it's nice to see the leader of your team actually, you know, semi-composed when he's speaking in public.

LOL THIS TEAM

Troy Smith: not terrible. Like I said, not great, but not awful. He made some plays when he had to. I'd be totally fine with letting him keep the job this year, at least the team might be kind of fun to watch once he's got some more practice time under his belt.

Jesus Christ. I'm glad I missed that. That was FUG-LY. Really don't care that we won, that wasn't a good football team. This still isn't a good football team because the coaching is still bad. But, as Nate said in the previous post, it won't matter now. There will be no change until the end of the season. So we might as well root for Mr T. Smith and the rest of this uninspiring group of cowards for the rest of the season.

Seriously defense. What the fuck. You are pathetic and need to be shot like a lame deer.

On Troy Smith and the quarterback position

Interesting. Though if you think about it, not really. This was the only choice for Singletary. If you play David Carr in a game where your future may well be on the line (if it isn't decided already), you're essentially waving the white flag on your coaching career. That's especially true when you factor in how horrible he looked last week. We know what David Carr is- not very good. I'm surprised more people didn't see this coming, to be honest.

Troy Smith is short, skinny, and looks like he probably belongs split out wide or in the backfield. Alex Smith is tall, big, and looks perfectly positioned under center. And no, it's not because one is black and one is white. Donovan McNabb looks perfect under center, too. You just don't see very many 6'0 guys running an offense.

But, to me, I think Troy Smith is an interesting case study of what makes a (potentially) good (or even decent) quarterback. It's not his size, or his arm strength (though he has that) necessarily. It's something about the way guys carry themselves. I usually hate it when sports writers go off on this BS about how the personality of a player can somehow lift his teammates and inspire them to perform better.

However, I think the position of quarterback is one of very few exceptions in sports, in that I think the personality of the person playing directly affects the success of the team as a whole. Think about it- how many of the best, most successful quarterbacks in the league are total stiffs?

What really was the difference between Manning and Leaf? Both were extremely talented throwers of the football. But Manning was an excellent leader and Leaf was a total effing headcase.

Here's the point: I think Alex Smith has all of the physical tools you need to be a good quarterback. That's why I was so sold on this team at the beginning of this year. Give him some weapons, some continuity and-BAM!- you have a good quarterback! BUT, what I forgot is that he doesn't have the personality of a good quarterback. He just simply doesn't understand what it takes to be the leader of an offense, and he doesn't understand how to do all of the things the position requires that aren't "throw the football" (though, really, he doesn't even do that very well ).

Enter Troy Smith. A guy who, at first glance, doesn't appear like he would be a good quarterback. But the thing is, he DOES understand all of those things. He's an excellent leader by all accounts. In college, when he would sprint out to his right, he would continue trying to make a play. He wouldn't run in a straight line and then fruitlessly throw the ball out of bounds; he understood how to keep a play alive and how to attack a defense and how to open up his receivers so that they could make a play down field.

Now, does this mean that the hopeless optimist of the bunch is at it again? Do I think that Smith is now going to become the MVP of the league because he's going to break every single-game record in the NFL on Sunday? No, I don't. I'm not even sure he's going to be any good, either this Sunday or in any of his starts.

But I AM interested to see how the offense responds to him. I want to see if suddenly plays are being made, and suddenly the offense has at least some semblance of a rhythm to it. Because that's what a good or even decent quarterback is able to do- make plays and keep the offense moving. And MAYBE the reason we haven't seen that yet this year is because Alex Smith just simply isn't even a decent quarterback, even though he might look like one.

Either way, they've once again succeeded in sucking me back in and making me interested in what they're going to do. So that's at least something!

(PS, there will be no giddy posting of youtube Troy Smith highlight videos, though a few of them are pretty impressive. We'll just have to wait and see what he does for real)

HOW A GENIUS WOULD FIX THE 49ERS

Sorry for not being around guys, I figured this site had probably died this season along with any hope we had of the 49ers actually being competent. It's awesome to see that it hasn't.

Anyways, obviously this season is over now. They're going to lose in London (or even if they win, it will not be a good performance), and Singletary is getting fired during the bye week. This is Nolan 2.0. So what's next? My proposal:

1. Make Manusky the interim HC, with the explicit caveat that no matter what he does short of winning a superbowl, he's not getting the full-time job next year. We don't need another Singletary disaster. You won a bunch of meaningless games against crappy teams at the end of the year? Good for you. Now we're gonna go hire somebody who knows what the hell they're doing.

2. Draft Andrew Luck. He's going to come out after the year he's had, and he not only looks like the best QB in the draft, he looks like he'd be a very very good pro. And let's be honest, we know the 49ers will most likely be picking in a position to be able to get him.

3. Hire Jim Harbaugh. "OH NO!" I can hear you say "WE NEED A PROVEN WINNER!!". There's something to be said for that, sure. Getting Gruden (who, I would remind you, won with another guys' players, and drove TB straight into the ground afterwards) or Cowher (who, I would remind you, WAS a very successful coach, but was succeeded by somebody who is enjoying the exact same success) would seem to make more sense, but I really doubt either of them would come to a situation with such flux at the QB position.

In fact, I'm pretty sure no established coach would come here right now. Unless they're able to swing a trade for a really good QB (Kolb? Vick? Really? I don't think that's happening. I'm not even sure Kolb is any good), a coach with a winning record isn't going to want to risk humiliation by coming here and failing.

When you think about it, a Luck/Harbaugh combo is beautiful. Harbaugh is an offensive-minded coach who has transformed Stanford in a manner of a couple of years from a doormat to a perennial pac 10 contender. He's hungry. He most likely wants to prove himself at the next level, now that he's proven he can do it in college. And if you bring along his current QB, I'm sure he would love to develop him at the next level as well. Oh yeah- and neither of them would have to move very far, always a plus.

Harbaugh has had success everywhere he's been in his coaching career to this point. I'm sure he'd be itching to prove that he have success in the pros too, and if you bring along a QB that he's already comfortable with, that would just sweeten the deal. I'm telling you, this would turn the team around almost over night. DISCUSS!

Brutal

I don't even know how this game will turn out, but I think 10 penalties will indicate to any fan even paying a little attention that the 49ers are a horribly coached team. I feel bad for London.

Um...yea

Just when I thought last week had to be the worst performance by the 49ers, they show up with their finest meltdown yet: the first half of yesterday's game against Oakland. That was hilariously awful. The 49ers are a bad, bad team.

Except Manny Lawson, with his Madden 11-ish instant acceleration to pick off that pass.

While that TD pass to Crabtree was the best of his career, Alex Smith will never play well for an entire game. Never has, never will. I was surprised when Carr didn't start the second. Smith was erratic and jumpy for most of the half, barely looking down field before throwing off-target checkdown passes.

Luckily for the 49ers, Jason Campbell is just as bad as #11.

And Singletary is clueless. He was shouting that the Intentional Grounding called on Smith was not a loss of down (at least from what I heard on TV).

Patrick Willis: good at football; rich.

Good for him, and good for the 9ers. The best player at his position BY FAR, and he deserves every penny.

LOL everyone who says the yorks are cheap.

Things that make you go "DAAAAAAMMMMNNNN!"

Totally called that it was a 5 BTW (like everyone didn't already know that)

Anyways, here's a video of what I hope we can expect:

Now that first one is pretty much just bad coverage- he gets outside and then runs away from everyone. The second one is what excites me. He had moves AND speed- it wasn't just "let me get to the edge and beat everyone", he actually MADE that return happen. If he can do that on kickoffs and punts...watch out. This should be fun.

TED GINNNNN

Say what you will about the 49ers' management, but they've never had to trade a top 10 drafted player just 2 years after he was chosen. For peanuts. When I heard about this deal 2 things came to mind:

• LOL cam cameron, and
• Wow, the 49ers are actually intelligent.

This post comes with the disclaimer that I have no idea what pick they gave up (all I've heard is "late round", which must be like a 5?), but I really really like this move. A lot. Remember, when you trade for Ted Ginn, you don't just get Ted Ginn, you get Ted Ginn's whole family. And for a 5th rounder (maybe) at that!

But seriously, a guy who's proven he can make an impact in the NFL by returning kicks. Imagine that. They don't need to spend a 1st rounder on him, and he won't be under any pressure to be a game-breaking number 1 (or even number FOUR) WR. He can be a return man and that's it, and they won't have any stupid ideas of trying to work him into the WR rotation, since they have 4 guys who have wayy more talent there.

He won't give the kind of threat on offense that a guy like Spiller would, but I think that if you used him in an innovative way (probably not going to happen), he could definitely give defenses something to think about. Also, he was wayyy cheaper than Spiller would be.

God damn, seriously- this was a great decision. It gives them a lot more flexibility with those 2 first round picks.

Scot is out

ummm........wow. OK. Well it's been awhile since we first heard the news, but I have a really hard time believing this is anything other than really bad. Maybe he wasn't that great, but I'm not sure this is the best way things could have happened. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

It sure would be nice if this team could go one offseason without having some sort of huge upheaval in some area, though.

I just thought this was funny

the 3 QBs we're supposed to be worried about next year are Charlie Whitehurst, Derek Anderson, and either Mark Bulger or a rookie.

lol

IDGAF how bad anyone thinks Smith is, I'd rather have him than any of those 4 options, and it's not even a competition

For the record

Mardy Gilyard is my Willis/Crabtree of this draft. I want the guy bad, and he'll be a great value.

Seriously, compare him to Steve Smith- both undersized, from smaller schools, ran unimpressive 40 times, projected to go after the "big guys" at WR. But both were dynamic return men and played fast on the field.

Gilyard makes plays happen on returns, and could be had for a 3rd rounder. Use those 1sts for a tackle and maybe a defender. Maybe Haden falls but is actually good. Maybe A. Davis from Rutgers can be an anchor at RT. I'm not sure, but I do know that I love Gilyard, especially given the value that far down in the draft.

The NFC West is ours with 7 wins

It's going to be a very very ugly division next season if the 49ers don't step up. Wow. The 4 QBs in the division will be Leinart, Smith, Hasselbeck (?), and ??. I guess there's always a chance that someone makes a move for McNabb or something, but Jesus. That's ugly.

Karma, bitches

Been warning my viking fan friends all year that this was going to happen. It literally could not have ended better. RELIEF.

Suck it, Favre.

Garrett Gilbert

not on topic, and the guy won't be available for 3 years, but oh my god. Oh. My. God. He's a true freshman and he's doing that.

Just for fun

I was perusing Andre Johnson's rookie stats. It's amazing how similar they are on a game-by-game basis to one mister Michael Crabtree.

I think he might end up being pretty good. Maybe.