HEY FAITHFUL!!!!!!!!! WHAT TIME IS IT????????
It’s time to recognize the official start to the 2010 season. The draft has been held. Minicamps have been held. OTAs (Offseason Training Activities) have been held. Hold on tight because 2010 may be a joyous and wild ride!
It’s time to sit back and ruminate on what has transpired so far and see if any crazy predictions of going deep in the playoffs are even realistic.
It’s time to grab your favorite beverage and settle in for nice long read about everything 49ers.
DRAFT: In an unusual draft format, and, in an attempt to make itself relevant to prime time, the NFL held the first round of the draft on Thursday night, April 22th, 2010. In somewhat of a departure from their usual draft pattern of drafting for the best player available (BPA – no, not Bonneville Power Administration!) the San Francisco 49ers drafted for need instead, choosing two offensive linemen in the first round. We all know how neglected the O-line has become over the years. Fix that and we fix our conservative and near-pathetic offensive game. For an idea of just how glaring the 49ers’ offensive line need was, consider this: over the previous 42 years, we have used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman only four times. On draft day this year, we did it twice in the span of 30 minutes! Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Niners have never used a pick higher than #22 on a tackle (Harris Barton in 1987) and have never gone higher than #33 for a guard (David Baas in 2005). The 49ers had plenty of ammunition entering the draft with 9 picks overall: Two first-rounders (#13 and #17) one pick each in rounds 2-4, three in round 6 and a 7th rounder. Amid fears that Dallas would jump ahead of them at No. 13, the 49ers sent first-and fourth-round choices to Denver (our opponent in the London, England game on Halloween Sunday) for the chance to pick Rutgers RT Anthony Davis at the No. 11 slot. Using the No. 17 pick for G Mike Iupati was mildly questionable considering San Francisco could use a double-digit sack threat – something the 49ers haven’t fielded since Andre Carter had 12.5 in 2002. Second- and third-round picks S Taylor Mays and LB Navorro Bowman are boom-or-bust propositions. The 49ers made it clear in this draft that they are unafraid of character risks. LB Novarro Bowman (3rd round) was arrested for his involvement in a 2007 fight; RB Anthony Dixon (6th round) was arrested for a DUI and T Anthony Davis (1st round) was suspended for a game at Rutgers for violating team policy. If they can pass Coach Singletary’s muster then perhaps their questionable behavior of the past is just that – in the past. Singletary had sit-downs with these guys in Santa Clara before the draft in order to put these issues to rest. I’ll fill out the rest of the draft further down but let’s take a look at each draftee in depth starting with:
First-Round draft pick Right Tackle Anthony Davis from Rutgers University was taken at the No. 11 slot after the abovementioned trade with Denver. Davis (6’5″, 323#) (Holy 49er Socks – I wouldn’t want to meet HIM in a dark alley!), out of Piscataway, NJ, started 32of 38 games for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Davis is regarded as one of the top tackles in this year’s draft class. Davis has a long wingspan (34″ arms), huge hands, balance and body control – ideal traits for a quality pass protector. And with his size and strength Davis was named a high school All-American by USA Today. At Rutgers he was named an All-American first team selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, second team All Big East and third team honors from The Sporting News. Davis will compete with Adam Snyder for the starting right tackle job. Refer back to my last newsletter on Snyder’s performance from 2009. It should make for an interesting training camp but look for Snyder to start the season with Davis replacing him at some point after Snyder allows too many sacks or quarterback hurries. Who knows, if the competition in training camp doesn’t go well, Davis could very well be the starter. Either way, the right tackle position will be better and stronger.
First-Round draft pick Guard Mike Iupati from University of Idaho was taken at the #17 slot. Last year, Iupati (6’3″, 331#) was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman. He is a devastating blocker and he played so dominantly that he was selected to the Western Athletic Conference all-decade team. Iupati did not allow a sack in 2009 and helped lead the Vandals offense to the 12th best passing attack in the nation (286.7 ypg), ninth best in total offense (451.4 ypg) and 20th best in scoring (32.7 ypg). This guy is a polished ready-to-roll hole opener. Iupati will compete with left guard David Baas for playing time which should make both players and the position stronger with a competent backup no matter who is the starter. Could there be more holes for Frankie to punch through this year? Incidentally, both Iupati and Davis are good friends from their college days. Fellow Samoan, DE Isaac Sopoaga should be a good role model for Iupati as he makes his transition from college to the pros. Also of interest, Mike’s younger brother, Andrew, plays defensive tackle for the University of Oregon.
Second-Round draft pick S Taylor Mays from USC (4-year starter) is an explosive safety with incredible size and speed (4.31 in the 40 and 10.88 in the 100 meters). He will add immediate depth and playmaking ability to the 49ers defensive backfield. If he can do nothing but decrease the number of times we got burned deep from last season, this will have been a good pickup. Mays (6’3″, 230#) played high school ball in Seattle (O’Dea HS) where he was selected All-American by no less than 5 publications. Mays earned first team All-American honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and 4 other publications or groups (Football Writers of America). Mays will be especially motivated on opening day (Sept. 12th against Seattle) to show his former coach (Pete Carroll) that he made a mistake by passing him by in the draft. His goal is to be like and play like a former USC alum, Ronnie Lott. If Lott can mentor him from time to time, look for a bright future for this second-rounder. He and S Dashon Goldson could make quite a duo in the secondary.
Third-Round draft pick LB Navorro Bowman out of Penn State is a speedy and athletic defender and has the ability to fly around the field which will add another weapon to the 49ers’ already deep linebacker corps. Bowman (6’0″, 242 #) has had some character issues in his past but under the tutelage of Joe Paterno at Penn State and a 15 minute sit-down with Coach Singletary at the combine in Indianapolis earlier this year the 49ers are content that they have made a good choice. Only time will tell whether or not they are correct. He is no slouch in the smarts department as he graduated in three years with a degree in crime, law and justice. (So why did he make those behavioral choices?) Singletary is a superb judge of character and motivation so let’s hope he’s right on this one.
Fourth-Round draft pick: Traded to Denver along with the number 13 pick in the first round for RT Anthony Davis.
Fifth-Round draft pick: Traded to Miami for WR Ted Ginn, Jr. More on Ginn under the Player Moves section.
Sixth-Round draft pick RB Anthony Dixon out of Mississippi State was surprisingly available at #173 slot in the sixth round. Surprising because he was the best running back in the SEC, arguably one of the best college football conferences in the country. Dixon (6’,0″, 233#) , who had a school-record 1,391 rushing yards last season, was also the Bulldog’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,994) and touchdowns (42). Dixon was delighted to be drafted by the 49ers because he has been a 49er fan all of his life going back to the days of a fellow Mississippian, Jerry Rice. Dixon is a downhill runner who likes to run between the tackles, fighting for yards and falling forward. The knock on him is that he doesn’t have the speed to go around the edge or to run away from anybody so look for him to be used in short yardage situations to give Frankie a break. The Niners were not good in that department last year but that had more to do with our O-line blocking than the runner(s). The running back corps is already well stocked but Dixon may be able to make a difference with his smash-mouth running style. Training camp should be very interesting for the running backs.
Sixth-Round draft pick TE Nate Byham of the Pittsburgh Panthers is considered one of the best blocking tight ends in the 2010 NFL draft. He will be a 2nd or 3rd TE in the 49er lineup but he brings the right attitude and intensity to the position. Byham (6’4″, 268#) has shown an ability to create space and knock defenders off the ball while also serving as a reliable receiver. He has brains, too. He majored in communications rhetoric (high class trash talking) and minored in computer science. He’s got the size to be a big hitter and likes to mix it up on the line. He already has a couple friends and alums on the 49ers in CB Shawntae Spencer and LB Scott McKillop. He wasn’t drafted to be a receiver. Last year the 49ers used primarily two-tight end sets and while second TE Delanie Walker’s speed is a mismatch, blocking is not his strength. With Byham, the running game should be much improved, even if he doesn’t always line up as a tight end. Remember last year when the 49ers took a TE from Fresno State, Bear Pascoe, in the sixth round only to be released and eventually hook up with the New York Giants? Looks like this one might stick.
Sixth-Round Draft pick WR Kyle Williams out of Arizona State is a versatile speed burner (4.30 40-yard dash) who can add depth to an already deep 49ers receiving corps as well as being a playmaker on special teams. Williams (5’10″, 186#) is quicker than fast, gets out of his stance quickly, can stop on a dime, runs good routes and has small but reliable hands. Besides his abilities as a receiver, Williams was drafted in part because he was named second team All Pac-10 as a punt returner which may well be his ticket to the eventual 53-man roster. Williams averaged 10.0 yards per return which is 2 ½ times better than what our punt returners averaged last season. Williams is a life-long 49ers fan having been born in San Jose and still has lots of family in the area. Coincidentally, Williams is also the son of Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams. His stiffest competition for a roster spot figures to come from holdover Jason Hill and Brandon Jones at WR and from undrafted free agent Leroy Vann at returner.
Seventh-Round draft pick CB Phillip Adams out of South Carolina State is another speedster. At 5’11″ and 193#, Adams has the kind of size the 49ers want in their corners and is a hard hitter as well. He is an imposing corner who excels in playing press coverage. The knock on Adams is that struggles when paying off his man due to stiff hips and he is not experienced at all in playing zone. He does have solid ball-hawking skills and he may see time on special teams.
DRAFT SUMMARY: Overall, the 49ers did a commendable job of drafting for need rather than going for BPA (best player available). The sorely neglected O-line got a significant boost but still needs some help next year in either free agency or the draft. I’m not sure we needed to trade away our 4th round pick to get Anthony Davis but I wasn’t in the war room either. As I said earlier, fix the O-line and you fix the offense. RB, WR, TE positions all look as healthy as they have been since the glory years. QB is still a question mark but that could be answered depending on Alex’s performance this season. The defense will continue to improve and it became a bit deeper with this year’s draft. Look for our defense to move from highly competent to elite and perhaps lockdown this year. Special teams (2-3 draft picks were selected for special teams possibilities) can go nowhere but up given their performance from last season. The OTAs did not answer too many questions in that department as several candidates dropped a lot of balls during the offseason training activity periods – and this was without a rusher or three bearing down on them! P Andy Lee and K Joe Nedney remain solid and are the cornerstones of our special teams. We just need to solve the punt and kickoff return problems from last year. With an improved defense, special teams will get more opportunities to field punts but we need to average more than 4 yards per punt return as was the case last year. It is hoped that the three sixth-rounders and the seventh rounder will find their niche on the team and contribute sooner rather than later. None of these four players is a head-scratcher, which is rare considering where they were picked in the draft. From the sound of it they all have the mentality that Singletary is looking for. Now is just a matter of finding out if they have the skills. Any character questions you may have about any of the draftees should be put to rest by the fact that Coach Singletary thinks they are either exaggerated or fixable. (Witness Vernon Davis!). Bring on Training Camp!!!!
DIVISION DRAFT COMMENTS: You have read all the comments about our beloved warriors in Crimson and Gold so now let’s take a look at how the rest of the division fared in the draft. In second place will be Seattle who were one of the most active teams during the draft, immediately filling starter needs with first-round picks Russell Okung (Left Tackle) and Earl Thomas (Free Safety). Seattle then traded for two top-tier RBs in LenDale White (later released) and Leon Washington. They also added Tennessee DT Kevin Vickerson. There are still too many questions at quarterback to consider Seattle a legitimate playoff contender, but new Head Whistle Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider are off to a good start. Just how good a start? That question will be answered in Week #1 when the Niners travel to Seattle to open the season. Arizona lost too many weapons (QB Kurt Warner, WR Larry Fitzgerald) in the offseason to legitimately compete for the postseason. One would think the NFL’s 23rd –ranked secondary in 2009 could use all the help it could get. The Redbirds, however, traded CB Bryant McFadden back to Pittsburgh one year after giving him a 2-year $10M contract last year. What the….? St. Louis The Lambs now have their “franchise” QB in Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford who is lacking the weapons necessary to showcase his talent (Where have we heard this one before?). Even though their WR depth is questionable, the Lambs waited until the fourth-round before selecting a wideout (Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard). The Rams also didn’t select a running back to help spell workhorse (and former Oregon Stater) RB Steven Jackson, who would be even more effective if given a chance to get a breather.
O-LINE COMMENTS: Having said all I have said about the draft I want to make a comment concerning the Offensive Line and why I think they will be noticeably better this coming season. Naysayers like to villify RT Adam Snyder for the O-line troubles last season and, in part, they are justified. However, there was more than just one weak link last season. Both guards, David Baas and Chilo Rachal, had poor season as well and left tackle Joe Staley missed half of the season with a knee injury although Barry Sims played well in his absence. Quite frankly, the O-line could not be trusted to pass block, and consequently the offense was kept as conservative as possible. Alex’s throws were hurried and inaccurate. For you number freaks, Alex had 33% less time to make his reads and release the ball than other QBs with a better O-line in front of them. (The usual time from snap to release is 3 seconds (or more) and all too often, Alex only had 2 seconds.) Snap to release timing drills are a big part of training camp and we can only hope these drills are heavily emphasized this summer. When the 49ers finally did open it up by going to the shotgun/spread offense, they still let defenses dictate their calls, running and passing strictly based on how many men were in the box. Most of us know that Coach Singletary likes to be the one doing the dictating, not the opponent’s defensive sets. He insists he believes in having a balanced offense, but also one that can get a couple yards on the ground even when the defense knows it’s coming. (This may be where 6th round draft pick RB Anthony Dixon comes in.) Singletary wants the 49ers to impose their will on opponents, regardless of whether they’re on offense or defense, whether they are running or passing or whether they’re rushing three or blitzing six. He wants the team to be aggressors, no matter the situation. Drafting offensive lineman Davis and Iupati in the first round may be a step towards that but it remains to be seen whether they were the right choices.
JERRY RICE TO BE INDUCTED IN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: Just a reminder to any of you who may want to witness this in person. On Saturday, August 7, 2010 our boy, Jerry Rice will be formally inducted in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. Rice was a shoo-in on his first year of eligibility (as was Emmett Smith of the Cowpukes). To list all of Rice’s statistics would take up too much space and I will include them in a later newsletter so stay tuned. On another Jerry Rice note he made is professional golf debut on the Nationwide Golf circuit in April. His chances of success were squashed when he fired rounds in the high 80’s and low 90’s in three tournaments and humbly left the tour to better golfers.
2010 SCHEDULE: The 49ers want to be the team to beat in the NFC West. Thanks to the wonders of color TV, we’ll at least be the team to watch. The Niners are getting some love from the NFL by playing FIVE prime time games. Our home opener on Sept. 20 (Week #2) is an MNF game at The Stick against the Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints. On Week #5, we host the McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles on the Sunday night game at The Stick. Even though it’s in a regular time slot (10:00 a.m. Sunday, Oct 31) we “host” the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium in London, England. (BTW, did you know England has a 49er booster club? (E-mail Graham Barford at gbarford@aol.com to show him your support.) Week #12 sees us playing the Arizona Cardinals at The Sandbox for our second MNF game on Monday, Nov. 29th at 5:30 p.m. Our final prime time game is on the NFL Network on Thursday, December 16th at San Diego at 5:20 p.m. I think it has been since the glory years that the 49ers have received this much prime time attention in a season. Incidentally, the Fraiders have NO prime time games this year. It’s a pretty rough travel schedule this year for the 49ers as five of their first eight games before the bye in Week #9 are away from The Stick. After Thanksgiving we play 4 of 5 games on the road before closing the season at The Stick with a victory over Arizona. Here are a few games worth watching during the season: The Brother Bowl – Giants at Colts, Sep. 19; The Payback Bowl – Redskins at Eagles (McNabb was traded from Philly to the Skins); The Turkey Bowl – Saints at Dallas – you may actually have to time your Thanksgiving meal around this one. BTW, one of the 49ers preseason games will be nationally televised on Sunday, August 22nd on NBC at 5:00 p.m. when we host the Minnesota Vikings. This will be our first official game gathering at The Wooden Chicken so mark it on your calendar. Will Brett Farve be under center? Stay tuned.
MINICAMPS AND OTAs (OFFSEASON TRAINING ACTIVITIES): Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same can be said for the 49ers 2010 rookie class. However, both the offensive and defensive coordinators were encouraged and were openly optimistic about the talent level of this year’s class of rookies. However, shorts and helmets are different than full pads. The emphasis on minicamp was on fundamentals and techniques as well as introduction to the playbook. The OTAs that ended just a couple weeks ago revealed a different attitude in the offensive line and the entire offensive unit. New offensive line coaches, Mike Solari and Ray Brown have instilled a new level of intensity in the O-line and, to a man, each said they felt that 2010 was going to be a breakout season, playing with more fire in their collective bellies than last season. The positive thing about the O-line is that everyone was there at the OTAs. Coach Solari sensed that the O-line had listened to and read a lot of criticism and that they were intent on proving themselves in 2010. And that might be the most positive development from the OTAs. The entire offensive unit noticed the sharpness and crispness of Alex Smith’s play execution. Remember, Alex does not have to learn a new playbook or a new coach this year. Crabby spent the offseason working on the playbook and route running. Jason Hill and Josh Morgan, Crabby’s WR partners, feel more comfortable in working together. TE Vernon Davis stayed in shape over the winter and is looking to take a bigger leadership role with the team. Bad weather during the OTAs affected the flight of some balls and there were more dropped balls than were to Singletary’s liking. The last day of OTAs was more calm and crisper execution and ball-catching were the order of the day. All in all, a very good OTA session was held with strengths and weaknesses identified for individual work between now and the start of training camp in late July. Between now and then, most of the players are hanging out in the team hotel and showing up at the training facility for individual workouts with almost all of them hitting the weight room on a daily basis. The offseason conditioning program is in full swing. I am personally very encouraged by what I have heard and read and am already starting to get pumped for the start of the season.
PLAYER MOVES: With every season there are gains and losses on the roster. The 49ers are no different. Let’s start with the players that wore Crimson and Gold last year but will be wearing different colored jerseys this year. For some, perhaps a change of scenery will do them good and for others, we hate to see them go but never forget that professional football is a business. Those wearing different jerseys this coming season will be: WR Arnaz Battle (Steelers), QB Shaun Hill (Detroit); CB Marcus Hudson (Carolina); T Tony Pashos (Browns) and K Ricky Schmitt (Tennessee). Two other players will no longer be active players in the league. Although WR Isaac Bruce is still listed on our roster he is waiting to sign a one-day contract to retire with the St. Louis Rams. And LB Jeff Ulbrich retired (concussions) and is now an assistant special teams coach with the Seattle Seaquacks. We’ll see him on Week #1 at our season opener in Seattle. On the plus side are: Non-49er Free Agent signings include QB David Carr (Giants), DE/OLB Travis LaBoy (free agent), CB William James (Detroit) and CB Karl Paymah (Vikings). The 49ers have also signed rookie free agent WR Bakari Grant and free agent LB Brandon Long to two-year contracts. 49er Free Agents that have signed are:LB Matt Wilhelm, T Barry Sims, K/P Shane Andrus, G David Baas and LB Ahmad Brooks. Other players who have been tendered offers but not yet signed (these guys are expected to sign) are NT Aubrayo Franklin (franchise tag). The remaining free agents are: CB Dre’ Bly, CB Walt Harris and S Mark Roman. None of those three have any visits scheduled with other teams and are expected to sign. RB Thomas Clayton is a non-tendered free agent. In director (now vice-president) of player personnel Trent Baalke’s first transaction, the 49ers landed WR/KR Ted Ginn, Jr. from the Miami Dolphins fairly cheaply by trading our 2010 5th round draft pick on April 16th. Ginn is a playmaker, whether he is catching passes or returning kickoffs and punts. In 2009, he started 12 of 16 games and had one game against Indianapolis in which he recorded a career-high 11 catches for 108 receiving yards. Also, in a game against the Jets, Ginn returned two kickoffs (100, 101 yards) for touchdowns and earned NFL Special Teams Player of the Month (November) honors. Ginn was chosen at the #9 slot in the 2007 draft by Miami. Ginn runs a 4.26 40 so we are also getting a speed burner.
Two days before the draft the 49ers signed free agent DE/OLB Travis LaBoy to a one-year $1.6M contract. As an OLB, LaBoy will be fighting for playing time with Manny Lawson (whose contract expires this season), Parys Haralson and Ahmad Brooks. LaBoy will be out to prove the 49ers were wrong in not selecting him in the 2005 draft as the Marin County native grew up being a 49er fan since his youth. LaBoy did not play in 2009 as he was rehabbing his foot from major reconstructive surgery. He has been running at full speed for about 4 months now. Two rookies have signed four-year deals with the 49ers. Sixth-round pick WR Kyle Williams became the first of eight picks to sign on May 23rd and was followed by 7th-round pick CB Phillip Adams who signed shortly after Williams. Welcome aboard, fellas!
WILLIS SIGNS 5-YEAR EXTENSION: On Tuesday, May 20th, DD (Double Digit) ILB Patrick Willis signed a five-year contract extension through the 2016 season. The heart and soul of the 49ers defense, Willis (6’1″ 240#) is a two-time first-team All-Pro and has been one of the league’s most dominant players since he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007. Since that time, he has become one of the surest tacklers in the NFL, leading all players with 487 tackles (9.7 tackles per game according to league rankings. Willis has not missed a game during his professional career, starting 48 consecutive contests and leading the 49ers in tackles in each of his three NFL seasons. By earning the starting nod on the 2010 NFC Pro Bowl squad, Willis became the first 49er since S Ronnie Lott to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of the first three years of his career. I couldn’t be prouder to wear his jersey!
FRONT OFFICE PERSONNEL MOVES: In what should be a surprise to no one, director of player personnel Trent Baalke was promoted to Vice-President of Player Personnel a few weeks after a largely successful draft. Baalke did well enough in Team President (The Boy King) Jed York’s estimation to get the official promotion (including a four-year deal, and, one assumes, a bump in pay). This was the same title Scot McCloughan had before being promoted to General Manager. The dominoes falling into place behind Baalke’s promotion are: Director of Pro Personnel Tom Gamble (Baalke’s No. 2 man in the draft war room) will be given additional scouting repsonsibilites, while new hire Joel Patten, a longtime scout and colleague of Baalke with the Washington Redskins, will now serve as the Director of College Scouting. Matt Malaspina has been promoted to National Scout and Justin Chabot will be heading up the Southeast Region after handling the South last year. Bob Morris, another new scout, will take over for him in the South. The club also confirmed the promotion of Paraag Marathe to the position of executive vice president of football operations. Marathe has been vice president of football operations the last two years. He is the guy responsible for contracts and salary cap management and has done a good job with both.
TRAINING CAMP DATES: While the dates have not yet been announced, the usual pattern is sometime in the third week of July on through the start of preseason with a road game at Indianapolis on August 15th. The trek to training camp will be sometime in the first two weeks of August. The club has not announced any firm dates for when booster clubs will be hosted at Santa Clara so keep your options open.
TRAINING CAMP FODDER, OOPS, UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNEES: I really shouldn’t make fun of these men as they are pursuing their dreams of one day playing professional football. And maybe even with the 49ers! Besides, they are a lot bigger and faster than I am! Very shortly after the draft ended, the 49ers announced the signing of 10 undrafted free agents on Monday, April 26th. These guys are hungry and will give it their all. There may be a diamond in the rough in this bunch that will make the 53-man roster and some will play well enough to make the practice squad and others will seek their opportunities elsewhere. Sentimentally, you have to pull for Keaton Kristick from Oregon State. They are: LB Mike Balogun (6’0″, 240# – Oklahoma), CB Tramaine Brock (5’10″, 197# – Belhaven – {where the hell is that?}), QB Jarrett Brown (6’ 3″, 224# – West Virginia), WR Shay Hodge (6’1″, 214# – Mississippi), LB Keaton Kristick (6’3″, 234# – Oregon State), WR Scott Long ((6’2″, 216# – Louisville), S Christopher Maragos (5’10″, 200# – Wisconsin), WR Jared Perry (6’1″, 177# – Missouri), CB Patrick Stoudamire (5’10″, 206# – Western Illinois) (Incidentally, Patrick is former Trailblazer Damon Stoudamire’s cousin) and CB/PR Leroy Vann 5’8″, 177# – Florida A&M)
If any of you want a thumbnail sketch on any of these guys, please give me an e-mail shout and I’ll respond to your request.
CRIMSONS AND GOLDS (miscellaneous): Did you know that TE Vernon Davis was the honorary captain of the U.S. Men’s Curling Team at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. this past February?……………………The NFL Super Bowl Advisory Committee has notified the San Francisco 49ers that it supports the plan to build a new stadium in Santa Clara and will support and encourage a Super Bowl bid for a game to be played in the proposed new stadium. Think this will influence the voters in Santa Clara on the stadium vote (Measure J on the ballot) on June 8th?………………………..Think of the possibilities – the dreamiest of which is Super Bowl IL (49) at Santa Clara in 2015 featuring the 49ers as one of the teams!!………………………On Monday, April 19th , Joe Nedney waged a field-goal contest against a robot at Kezar Stadium. It was a tense battle of machine vs. the most accurate kicker in 49er history, a man whose calm under pressure has led to 19 career game-winning kicks. Ziggy, the robot, had nerves of steel (literally!) and a body of military-grade titanium. The contest started at the 20-yard line and if each competitor made a successful kick, they backed it up 10 yards. At 30 yards out both kickers struggled in the tricky crosswinds of Kezar but both succeeded. From 40 yards out, Ziggy couldn’t do the proper calculations and compensations for the crosswinds and, on his third attempt, Nedney knocked it through – Humans Win!!!!!!…………………The 49ers did a magnificent thing for a 15-year old local teenager who is suffering from a rare form of liver cancer. In their own version of the Make A Wish foundation, the 49ers invited the family (sister, Mom and Dad) of Brandon Dale to the facility at Santa Clara to see the Lombardi Trophies and witness a day of OTAs on the field. Brandon was greeted by Coach Singletary and got a picture and autograph from him. Even though it wasn’t requested, Patrick Willis, Brandon’s favorite player, autographed his gloves and wrote “Heart of a Champion” on them and gave them to Brandon. He also posed for pictures with Brandon. Now that’s class!!! Brandon and his family also got to each lunch with the players and coaches. A very heartwarming gesture on the part of the 49ers……………………
Well, Faithful, I’ve about run out of steam and I have finally plowed through the inch thick stack of paper I’ve been accumulating on my desk since my last lengthy newsletter. I’ll take up the keyboard again probably in late July when training camp gets underway. So enjoy the rest of your summer and…….
GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPORTLAND49ERFAITHFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim