FOXSports.com News for 49ers

AFC, NFC title games were big letdowns

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:06:59 GMT

Finishes to conference title games left me feeling flat.

Marc Cabrera: Celebs puttering around at the AT&T

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:25:54 GMT

Some random observations from a week of celebrity Tweeting at the 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The surprise celebrity cameo was Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. She showed up at Spyglass Hill on the first day of the tournament, rooting for hubby Josh Duhamel.

Bears in a rush to improve defensive line

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:37:53 GMT

Despite all the positive talk about the Bears' defense last season â€” most of it coming from players and coaches at Halas Hall â€” Lovie Smith's team wasn't very impressive on that side of the ball. The Bears were a respectable 14th in points and 17th in yards allowed, and they were stout against the run, finishing fifth in yards and 10th in average gain allowed.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:16:02 GMT

Players are already arriving at the facility for workouts, even those who are unsigned. Guard Adam Snyder tweeted that he is back working out. "We want to out work everybody," Harbaugh said. This is the most solid the team has been in years. It appears the 49ers will only lose one coach, offensive assistant Bobby Engram who left to be the receivers coach under University of Pittsburgh's Paul Chryst. He's the brother of 49ers quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst. Harbaugh said he wants to retain everyone on his coaching staff. The team could lose director of player personnel Tom Gamble, who's interviewing for the Rams' general manager position. MEDICAL WATCH: One reason for the team's surprising success this season is their lack of injuries. Only one starter, receiver Joshua Morgan (broken ankle), was placed on injured reserve, and if he's signed, Morgan should be ready by training camp. The other players of note on injured reserve include blocking tight end Nate Byham and cornerback Curtis Holcomb. Both had knee surgeries and both are expected to ready by training camp. Holcomb said he might be held out of minicamps and OTA's as a precaution. The team has not announced any other surgeries.

NOTES, QUOTES

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:15:57 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO - In a move that seems aimed at securing success in the South Bay Area, the San Francisco 49ers officially named Gideon Yu President and Co-Owner on Friday after he served as Chief Strategy Officer since last April. Yu, the Chief Financial Officer for both Facebook and YouTube before joining the 49ers, is credited as a key in the team securing an $850 million construction loan for a new stadium, reported to be the largest loan of its type in professional sports. Yu is also credited for helping the 49ers get a $200 million financing package from the NFL to help build a new stadium. "Gideon brings us a truly unique set of experiences and talents, and he will be a guiding force in our drive to continue the winning tradition of this franchise," 49ers CEO Jed York said in a press release. York actually tweeted the news eight days earlier from Indianapolis, where NFL owners apparently approved the new ownership. "Congrats to Gideon Yu, the newest co-owner of the 49ers. Glad to have you as my partner," York tweeted Feb. 2. NFL sources say that Yu purchased one percent of the team for $8.5 million and that he has an option to buy up to five percent over a period of time. A spokesman for the 49ers would neither confirm nor deny the percentage of ownership or buy-in details. It also has been reported that Boston Celtics limited partner Mark Wan was buying a one percent interest in the 49ers, but that has not yet been announced. If reports are accurate that Yu bought one percent for $8.5 million, that places the value of the 49ers franchise at $850 million, which just happens to be the same amount of the construction loan Yu helped secure. In a conference call last week, York seemed eager to get the 49ers' new stadium built in the Santa Clara location near the team's current facility. "Ground-breaking will begin soon," York said. "We're doing a lot of site make-ready work now. But now it's the construction, making sure we get shovels in the ground and start building." York was asked when he expects the stadium to be ready. "2015 is definite and we are hopeful if things go well we will have a '14 opening." York also said he saw Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis last week, but they did not discuss the possibility of the Raiders sharing the South Bay facility. But the possibility still remains. York was asked point blank if the $200 million from the NFL included any contingencies regarding sharing the stadium with the Raiders. "There are no strings attached, but obviously the deal that was approved by the city of Santa Clara, the term-sheet that we have with the City of Santa Clara, allows for this to be a two-team building. That has not changed. "We have not had any meaningful conversations with another team about that, but have had high-level conversations with the Raiders just to let them understand what this project looks like." But when he worked out with Davis in Indianapolis last week, York said they did not discuss the stadium "We worked out together at the J.W. Marriot before the meeting, had lunch together. ... It was a very casual conversation, just lamenting the fact that we aren't playing in the game (the Super Bowl) more than anything else." -- The San Francisco 49ers came roaring back to a place among the NFL's best in 2011, and the team took a step Friday toward keeping their resurgence on track. General manager Trent Baalke agreed on Friday to a three-year contract extension with the 49ers that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2016 season. "This is a wonderful day for Trent, his family and the 49ers organization," team CEO Jed York said. "Without question, Trent has distinguished himself as the man to direct our football operations for years to come." This past season was Baalke's first as general manager and his eighth with the 49ers. He was named Executive of the Year by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association after San Francisco went 13-3, won the NFC West, and advanced to the NFC Championship game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants. The team went 6-10 in 2010. "I would like to thank Jed, and the York family, for this great opportunity and show of support," Baalke said. "In addition, I would like to thank Coach Harbaugh, as well as our coaches, players, scouts, and entire football operations staff for their hard work and dedication this season. It is a privilege to work for the 49ers organization alongside this group as we continue our pursuit of championships." Baalke started with the 49ers in 2005 as the team's western region scout. In 2008, he was promoted to director of player personnel, and he became vice president of player personnel in 2010 before taking the GM job in 2011. Since 2010 Baalke has led the 49ers in acquiring 32 players who were part of their breakthrough season this past year. Chief among those was wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr., who came to San Francisco in a trade from the Miami Dolphins in 2010. Ginn was third in the NFL in kickoff return average in 2011 (27.6 yards per attempt) and fourth on punt returns (12.3 yards per attempt). Before joining the 49ers' staff, Baalke worked as a scout with the Redskins and Jets, and was part of two college coaching staffs at South Dakota State and North Dakota State. --Two 49ers have been arrested in the last two weeks. Linebacker Aldon Smith was pulled over in Miami on suspicion of DUI. Then defensive end Ray McDonald was arrested for an outstanding warrant stemming from his DUI arrest in the summer of 2010. McDonald was held for five hours in a San Mateo County jail and then released. Neither Smith or McDonald are considered character risks. McDonald was signed to a five-year, $20 million extension in July and responded with his best season, which he capped with a 2.5 sack performance in the title game. --The 49ers beat the San Francisco Giants in a charity shootout at Pebble Beach two days before the AT&T Pro Am. "It was a great team win," said quarterback Alex Smith who consistently drove the ball well over 300 yards. Current and former players participated. Smith, Harbaugh and former players Harris Barton and Dwight Clark made up part of the 49ers team. The Giants' most high-profile pairing included former first baseman Will Clark and current pitcher Matt Cain. --Harbaugh will play in the AT&T event and Alex Smith will serve as his caddy for at least part of the tournament. Harbaugh said his goal was to beat the rest of the coaches and former coaches in the field including Herm Edwards, Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, and Bob Stoops. Harbaugh is a 12 handicap and is paired with pro golfer Ryan Moore. "(I) want to be first among the football coaches," Harbaugh said. --Harbaugh said he's not going to make golfing in the offseason a regular event. "I don't ever play a whole lot of golf in the offseason. We'll get right on free agency and the draft and find some ways to get better. That's what we are going to need to do," he said. --The team got a huge boost for their stadium drive in Santa Clara when the NFL announced it would provide $200 million through its G4 program for the team's new stadium. The only obstacle for completing their financing is a possible lawsuit by Santa Clara citizens who want to put the financing measure back on the Santa Clara ballot. The city council has so far rejected another ballot measure. QUOTE TO NOTE: "They are doing the blocking and they are doing the tackling. I didn't feel comfortable taking a deep bow for what our players had done." - Jim Harbaugh on why he didn't personally accept his Coach of the Year award in Indianapolis.

INSIDE SLANT

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:15:53 GMT

While playing golf at the AT&T Pro Am in Pebble Beach, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh paused briefly to discuss his team's situation in the offseason. "We are going to need to be better this year. We draft lower; probably (have) a harder schedule and expectations will be higher," Harbaugh said with the Pacific Ocean in the background. "Teams will be coming after us. For a lot of reasons we are going to have to be better." The team has a raft of free agents and chief among them is quarterback Alex Smith, who appears to be the team's first priority. "We're all in lock step that Alex Smith is our guy. It's well documented. You saw the way he played this year," Harbaugh said of Smith, who reached career highs in passer rating (90.7), completion percentage (61.4) and passing yards (3,144). But Harbaugh also said he wanted "our guys" meaning the organization wants to re-sign its own free agents. The team is unlikely to use the franchise tag on any offensive players, but they do have priorities outside of the quarterback position. Starting right guard Adam Snyder is due to become a free agent. Fellow guard Mike Iupati called Snyder the team's secret weapon on the offensive line, and indeed, Snyder solidified the offensive line once he replaced Chilo Rachal during the fourth game of the season. Snyder can also play every position on the line including center. The team is also looking for continuity on the line and signing Snyder would mean the team would return the same starting five for 2012. The other two offensive priorities include wide receivers Joshua Morgan and Ted Ginn Jr. Harbaugh already expressed a desire to have Morgan return, despite the season-ending broken leg he sustained Oct. 9 against Tampa Bay. Morgan has been a three-year starter, but might back up because of the need to find an explosive playmaker at the position. Ginn offers speed and the occasional big play from scrimmage, but his main contribution is as the team's main kick and punt returner. The need to sign him became more evident after Kyle Williams' struggles returning punts in the NFC title game. Who knows where Ginn and Morgan may fit in as well as Williams since the 49ers are likely to push hard in free agency and the draft to improve their receiving corps. Harbaugh said that while he would like to sign his own free agents, the team would make a push to improve through the draft and free agency. The lack of receiving talent was clearly evident in the playoffs when tight end Vernon Davis emerged as the only threat. Top receiver Michael Crabtree dropped several passes against the Saints and the receivers as a whole caught only one pass (Crabtree's three-yarder) in the title game. Running back depth might also be a concern with starter Frank Gore entering his eighth season next year. Gore also struggled with apparent knee, shoulder and ankle injuries in the latter half of the season. Backup Kendall Hunter was a spark off the bench at times, but at 199 pounds he's limited in pass protection. The rest of the offense has fairly good depth.

49ers reward GM Trent Baalke with 3-year extension

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:30:11 GMT

The San Francisco 49ers have confidence in Trent Baalke leading them for the long haul.

T-U 2

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:35:13 GMT

GRADING GENE SMITH'S FIRST DRAFT AS JAGUARS GM It's one of the oldest cliches in the NFL books. They say it takes three years to properly grade an NFL Draft. So, Gene Smith's 2009 draft is open to criticism for even the most open-minded fan. I turned to ProFootballFocus.com, a fee-based website that grades every player on every play for every game. PFF evaluators don't judge technique, just the results of individual plays.

San Francisco 49ers beat Giants to take charity challenge

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:34:50 GMT

Dwight Clark sunk a 2-foot putt on the 18th hole to lead a team made up of current and former 49ers to a victory over a team made up of San Francisco Giant representatives in a golf match benefiting charity at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Tuesday.