NFL Offseason

As a sports fan, I have always concluded the best time of the year for sports was September, more specifically the Sundays where you can flip from a baseball game in the middle of a pennant race over to an NFL game – is there anything sweeter?

Well, now, having become such a GM geek that I enjoy the offseason almost as much as the games themselves, I am finding myself enjoying these winter months even more since it has the MLB and NFL off seasons overlap. But while baseball is shifting gears just making the finishing touches on their teams, the NFL is gearing up for a huge offseason.

This has been one of the best free agent classes in recent memory. Just look at a list of some of the elite players out there:

Albert Haynesworth: Possibly the best player on the market, a DT who can stuff the run, occupy blockers, rush the passer, and anchor a defense.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh – The only #1 receiver on the open market (unless Owens or Plaxico become cap casualties), distancing himself from Chad Johnson as more of a receiver and less of a distraction.

Nnamdi Asomugha – He has become a truly dominant cover corner, an All-Pro corner stuck in the Black Hole, He’d be ecstatic to leave (he was one of the more outspoken Raiders when Deangelo Hall was let go), but will likely be stuck there another year under the dreaded franchise tag.

Julius Peppers: He appears as dangerous as ever, posting a career high with 14.5 sacks last year. He is an ideal add for any team trying to generate a pass rush – people have been trying to focus on stopping him since he entered the league.

Terrell Suggs: An excellent “fall back” options for teams searching for a pass rush (Helloooooo Niners!), he can play either OLB or DE, and can align in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. The same cannot necessarily be said for Peppers or Haynesworth.



Ray Lewis: The Ravens heart and soul is a free agent, and while most couldn’t ever see a team like them letting him go, they also have three starting linebackers who are free agents, and Lewis is the oldest of the three. That being said, if he has the gas in the tank, I doubt guru Ozzie Newsome lets the team’s leader depart.

Bart Scott: Scott has also been a force in the Ravens defense, and he is looking for a pay raise. I imagine he will be on the open market, while the team will opt to keep Lewis.

Darren Sproles: Sproles made himself a ton of money during the Charger’s 08 playoff run. I personally think the team should franchise him, then go into ’09 with Sproles, LT, and Jacob Hester, and evaluate if LT is past his prime and if you can run the rock with Sproles and Hester sharing the duties in the future.


Brandon Jacobs: It seems like the Giants would be foolish to let this guy go. He can run against any defense and is a touchdown machine. Unlike other running backs, Jacobs doesn’t have a lot of miles on him, thanks to New York’s perfection of the shared back system. I would bet on Jacobs returning, but if the team doesn’t slap him with the Franchise tag, he should get some interesting offers.

Oshiomogho Atogwe – I have kept an eye on this guy for three reasons – Mr. G’s agency reps him, the 49ers desperately need a good free safety, and when they play the Rams, Atogwe always seems to be making plays against them. Here is OJ making a play that Mark Roman CANNOT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-dEMWJs8h8

Antonio Bryant: He had a breakout year for the Buccs. They have been searching for Joey Galloway’s replacement, and they found him here. Odds are they won’t let him get away.

Channing Crowder: Interesting MLB – had a productive year for the Dolphins, but doesn’t seem to garner a lot of interest. Maybe Joey Porter steals his thunder.

Jordan Gross: A sturdy LT, could solidify ANYONE’S offensive line. The Panthers tagged him last year, but could let him reach the open market in ’09.

DeAngelo Hall: Deemed expendable by Al Davis, Hall went the Redskins and became one of the better cornerbacks on the team. The team could look to keep him, but Hall may look for another big deal.

Dunta Robinson: A very solid cornerback battled injuries. He could be poised for a big return – if he can stay on the field.

And those are just the gems of free agency-and I didn’t include a two time Super Bowl quarterback who is playing this weekend in the NFC championship game, and the starting quarterback for the team with the NFL’s best record...

It will be interesting to see where the dominoes fall. I’ll be talking QB possibilities in another post.

My 49ers Offseason

Every year, when images of free agents dance in my head, I like to overlook the market and project who we should go after. I would say it’s a prediction, but I have no knowledge on what the team thinks, just who I think is A. Attainable and B. fits the team’s needs.

Current roster:

The team will need to be tell some players goodbye. The team should allow Ronald Fields walk as a UFA to make room for Kentwan Balmer on the field, and open a roster spot to draft a REAL NT prospect.

Mark Roman has been the weakest link in the secondary for two years, and with his complete lack of ball skills, should be let go.

Other cap casualties include Jonas Jennings (If you are going to pay someone big money to play right tackle, then he should actually play).

Alex Smith (I would keep him around for a cheaper deal – much cheaper) It appears he could stick around, especially if Scott Linehan becomes the new OC.

J.T. O’Sullivan showed some potential to move the ball – unfortunately, too often he moved it to the other team. He’s probably hoping Martz lands somewhere that needs QB.

Bryant Johnson has some skills, but doesn’t belong higher than 2nd on the depth chart, 3rd if you have a solid core of receivers. He probably walks due to the development of Josh Morgan and Jason Hill.

DeShaun Foster doesn’t fit the team’s secondary back needs and will likely leave.

One year of Barry Sims was enough for me, back up or not.

Last, seeing as he couldn’t keep active, Tully Banta-Cain should probably get cut unless he agrees to lower his salary.

Now seeing as we cut some of the dead weight, I think the team needs to focus on keeping Takeo Spikes around. He did a much better job than any of the other MLB candidates last year, plus helped create turnovers, something this team is starved for. He wants to stay, and I don’t see any reason for the 49ers not to return the favor.

Now – lets take a look at those FREE AGENTS!

Now while there a lot of sexy names out there, I think the team should go after players to solidify them on one side of the ball.

The defense was very solid at the end of the year, and with a few tweaks, the unit could be a dominant force next year.
Two players could help them make that jump:

Suggs: The team is in desperate need of pass rushers. The problem was less glaring this year, with Parys Haralson putting on some pressure and Justin Smith helping fill the hole BY left. A guy like Suggs just puts more pressure on an offensive line, and could be the force this team needs to get the defense off the field.

Atogwe: You can tell from my analysis those were two of my favorite free agents, since I went to the lengths of posting highlight films of theirs. FS has been a hole for the 49ers since Merton Hanks left the team. There has been a number of players to rotate there, and while Mark Roman was a nice player while the team was rebuilding, the talent level has passed him by. Atogwe adds another dimension to the secondary (Most notably someone who doesn’t get easily burnt on deep routes and has enough ball skills NOT to knock the ball away from his own teammates).

Some lesser known players I think would help Singletary make this team relevant in 2009.

FB Leonard Weaver: Hopefully Singletary doesn’t hold any grudges against Weaver for his 114 yards receiving and two scores. If he doesn’t, Weaver can come in an fill a hole the team has had at fullback since Fred Beasley’s play fell off.

RB Correll Buckhalter: Buckhalter would be a nice compliment to Frank Gore. While he is 30 years old, he doesn’t have a lot of miles on him and he can take some of the secondary back duties along with Michael Robinson. This is a position I would like to see the team draft a back in the later rounds with some potential.

RET Justin Miller: Allen Rossum would be fine to keep around, but he’s getting older. Miller was a dynamic return man for the Raiders, and maybe the 49ers can steal him from across the bay.

I think a RT is needed, but there aren’t any names out there that scream to fill the hole. Probably the best fit would be Dolphins RT Vernon Carey.

TJ Housh is very tempting, but I wonder if he'd want to come to a team like the 49ers if a playoff team offered anything close to the same contract.

This type of offseason allows the team to truly draft BPA once the NFL draft rolls around. I think that with the tenth pick, the team will obviously get a talented player, and I think there will be plenty of difference makers to choose from. It would be a shame to overvalue a guy based on need, when that’s the type of thinking that typically gets a team in trouble on draft day (see Alex Smith, Vernon Davis).

Another One Bites the Dust...

Well, so much for continuity...

Mike Martz sleeps with the fishes.

Apparently, Mike Singletary wants his own guy, a smash mouth type offense.

Unfortunately, I don't know that type of offense exists in today's NFL. I hope Singletary has someone in mind - because I think it was wrong to dump him unless he had someone better, and I really don't see anyone out there that excites me.

Lets hope he has a plan - cause for the first time since Singletary has taken over, I'm worried - seventh offensive coordinators in seven years. Seven. SEVEN!

I think Harland Williams said it best in "There's Something about Mary,":

"Hitchhiker: 7's the key number here. Think about it. 7-Elevens. 7 doors. 7, man, that's the number. 7 chipmunks twirlin' on a branch, eatin' lots of sunflowers on my uncle's ranch. You know that old children's tale from the sea. It's like you're dreamin' about Gorgonzola cheese when it's clearly Brie time, baby. Step into my office.

Ted: Why?

Hitchhiker: 'Cause you're fuckin' fired! "

Its official: Singletary is the Head Cheese

The 49ers wasted no time Sunday, naming Singletary the head coach while players were still shaving off their mustaches.

It is a nice change of pace to say, but – good move 9ers!

It doesn’t take a football genius to see the difference in the play of the team once Singletary took over, and it’s good to see the 49ers decided to extend this run for another four years. And I must admit, it is somewhat comforting seeing Jed York, in his first official act as president of the team, retain Singletary in a smart, calculated football decision. Let us hope this is the beginning of a beautiful thing.

Oh sure, he said GM Scot McCloughan had the final say, but I have a hard time believing he didn’t have a little input in that decision.

Singletary has given the organization a purpose, and as funny as it is to say, he runs the exact type of team Mike Nolan wanted – a ball control, move the chain, tough, aggressive defensive squad.

The problem with Nolan is that he seemed to try and out-think everyone else. I remember how frustrating it would be to be able to call out the play – run or pass – solely based on the formation and personnel packages Nolan sent on the field. Sure, whoever was sitting next to me thought I was a genius, but in fact it was the over specialization of players that was blatantly obvious to me – what would great NFL minds do once they broke down some tape?

I always thought this was a problem defensively as well, knowing that every time Rod Green came on the field, that he was the LB that was blitzing.

Singletary has simplified things, allowed younger players to develop, and with such moves has improved the team.

So we head into the Singletary era. After signing for 4 years, 10 million, I think the team has shown they aren’t playing around. They also put it in his contract that he has say over his assistant coaches, which I think reinforces their commitment to Singletary.

Singletary was non-committal about Mike Martz future, which I also like to hear. Long term, I don’t think Martz is a fit, but at this point I wonder what proven commodities there are out there, and more specifically – who is worth making the fifth offensive coordinator in five years? Singletary and Martz seemed to mesh well, with Martz being a little more toned down, but still taking advantage of multiple receiver sets. The fact that Singletary is open to keeping him shows he understands the importance of stability – something this team hasn’t had since the Mariucci years. But at least he seems to have a feel for this team (something Nolan rarely did), and that he is the one who would know best if a change is needed, rather than ownership making decisions from the luxury box.

As a sports fan, you have to love Singletary’s attitude about this job.

"I think all the guys who are happy today are going to regret it," told reporters at the post game press conference, inferring players should expect a grueling training camp.

The team must be thrilled with the product Singletary has brought the field. He took over in the middle of the season and went 5-4. One of those losses came the week he found out, on a

Tuesday, he was the head coach. So if you throw that one out, he really went 5-3. Stretch that out over a full season and its more than enough to win the woeful NFC West.

So settle in. This is Mike Singletary’s team now. He has raised expectations on the heels of 5-2 finish, showing the most promise this current roster has ever flashed. As opposed to past years when expectations were high, this roster is much deeper and has a lot of promising young players (which will be supplemented in free agency and the 09 Draft).

This team very well could be the favorite to win the west next year, depending on what moves the divisional opponents make. But the Rams are rebuilding, the Seahawks look depleted, and the Cardinals barely won the division with a 9-7 record.

Rejoice 49ers fans – this very well could be the rise from the ashes for your 49ers. Only time will tell.