We might even have a few updates here throughout the evening/morning . . .
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The NFL announced this evening that 444 players have become free agents and are now eligible to negotiate with any team in the league.
Those numbers include:
--Nine non-exclusive franchise players (signing team must surrender two first-round draft picks to original team if it decides not to match offer).
Those players are Arizona LB Karlos Dansby, Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs, Carolina DE Julius Peppers, Cincinnati K Shayne Graham, Houston CB Dunta Robinson, St. Louis S Oshiomogho Atogwe, San Diego RB Darren Sproles, Seattle LB Leroy Hill, and Tennessee TE Bo Scaife. The other franchise players have already signed their deals;
--55 players who restricted free agents who received qualifying offers and are subject to the right of first refusal/compensation system;
--336 unrestricted free agents;
--44 players with fewer than four years accrued who did not receive a qualifying offer.
The 49ers have 12 unrestricted free agents: TE Billy Bajema, OT Damane Duckett, NT Ronald Fields, RB DeShaun Foster, LB Roderick Green, WR Bryant Johnson, QB Jamie Martin, QB J.T. O'Sullivan, RS Allen Rossum, TE Sean Ryan, LB Takeo Spikes and DB Donald Strickland.
The 49ers do not have any other free agents who can negotiate with another team.
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Things are moving slowly this season. We're more than 27 minutes into the free-agent signing period and there are no reported signings, unlike last season.
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UPDATE (10:35 a.m.): Still nothing to report. At this hour, the 49ers are not working on getting a visit set up with T.J. Houshmandzadeh. I don't anticipate the 49ers being a major player there, but you never know . . .
The one player I'm confident the 49ers will make an effort to sign is FB Moran Norris. There aren't too many of those "thumper" fullbacks available. One of them, Tony Richardson, just re-signed with the Jets, according to the NFL Network.
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Someone on webzone just said they heard on ESPN radio the 49ers offered TJ Housyourmama 3 years 26 million. No link yet? Have you heard anything? or is it shinanigans?
Matt, Scott McCloughan mentioned its 50-50 that Spikes will resign, that being said what are the chances of them maybe looking at a Bart Scott from Baltimore? Singletary coached him in Baltimore, is younger than Spikes, and be a great tandem with him and Willis?
Given the fact that most of the top would be free agents were hit with the franchise tag, could that be the reason that there's been no signing?
Housh was on NFL live and listed the Eagles, Vikings, Seahawks, and "New York" as the teams he'd want to go to.
On another note, why wouldn't the 49ers consider Derrick Ward? Politics, ie paying him too close to Gore? They certainly have the cap room, and he's the kind of big back they are going to look for.
If Niners Land Hous make sense since he is a west coast guy, and would be ideal for him to sign with the Niners. That would make a great WR corp with TJ, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, and Arnez Battle.
Virus, they probably don't want to give a big contract to a 28 year old with a similar style to Gore's.
A mid round draft pick would make more sense.
I wouldn't be surprised at all to the see the 49ers sign Houshmandzadeh. I think Jed desperately wants people to think of him as the new Eddie DeBartolo and forget about how things were under John York.
I dont know if I am as high on TJ as everyone else, but would be cool with the signing. Just read McCloughans interview and am not excited about this FA. Sounds like they want to sign a bunch of scrubs to compete for roster spots as backups. I hope it is all a smokescreen or else this guy has got to go. He continues to say he wants to get the playmakers through the draft, yet he doesnt seem to be able to draft them. I dont think he even knows what a real NT for a 3-4 is. How can you have a 3-4 for 4 years and not have a dominant NT. A little frustrated but well see.
i'm with "faithful niner" on his comment about the 3-4 scheme. how do you run a 3-4 or as they put it, "3-4 hybrid", and NOT have a dominant NT. get rid of the 3-4 scheme and back with the 4-3 for heaven's sake. its time to dump the scheme or get the NT that can do the job. tire of this BS about the defense being 3-4.
I was not trying to say that I think they should sign Houshmandzadeh just that I thought they would try too. Personally I think that if we're going to be a run heavy team and he stick with the QB's we have I think giving him that much money would be a mistake. I'd like to see them sign Washington from the Steelers.
i'm not that high on Housh, but as a fellow half-persian i've been happy to hear of his success no matter what team he's with. I'd probably buy his jersey if he wound up on the niners, no matter how well he does...
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/real_scouts/entry/view/17520/canty_sets_up_four_visits
Chris Canty is apparently one of the players we're going to pursue.
"Canty has four visits scheduled over the next few days.
He'll kick things off in Washington with the Redskins on Friday.
From there, he'll go to Tennessee on Saturday, Seattle on Monday, and San Francisco some time thereafter. That's provided, of course, that a deal isn't struck first."
Tennessee and Seattle likely see him as an inside player, which I think is a mistake. He's a 3-4 E only. I thought Miami would be interested.
If theres interest in Canty, I guess they want to move Ice to NT
I could dig Canty opposite Justin Smith...he and Balmer could rotate. Houshmandzadeh would be a very nice signing...we'll see what happens. Regarding the comments about signing scrubs as opposed to marquee names...scrubs is the wrong word. There are a lot of quality players in FA...some may not be household names, but that has little bearing on their ability to play. Some of 'em have been part-time starters, or maybe just waiting on their chance to start. I'll give you an example...Ray Willis...a young OT from the 'Hawks. He'd be a terrific signing for us. NE has made signing "under the radar" FA's a science...guys who come in and fill specific needs to upgrade the team. Signing Moran Norris would be another good move. You don't necessarily need big names to make your team better. Quality depth is extremely important...best example of that is the Steelers. You get that by making smart FA acquisitions and nailing drafts. This is Mccloughan's first off-season w/Singletary and Jed York. I'm betting they'll get the players they want/need, and won't break the bank in the process.
How is it that the Redskins, Patriots and Raiders are overpaying for Free Agents yet the 49ers are fiscally conservative year in and year out. Somehow the 49ers constantly have no cap room and those other teams are paying for big time free agents? It doesn't make sense to me. Pats get Randy Moss, Tom Brady, Cassell, Harrison, Seymore,their whole o-line, 2-3 tops RBs, a ton of LBs, tops CBs, etc. Meanwhile we've got 25M in cap room and our biggest move is signing Alex Smith. Are you serious?How is that going to help us compete with Adalius Thomas and the Pats?
Is this post for real?
Why would Whosyourmama want to come to SF? The team is going to a run heavy scheme. It doesn't make sense unless you're gonna overpay him to block. Better to find a Hines Ward kind of player at WR. Canty would be an interesting signing, but where would you play him?
Imo-our money would be best directed in a diversified "portfolio" Maybe p/u Canty ...couple vets -how about Bobby Ingram to bolster the receiving corp maybe talk I. Bruce into staying giving the young guys a chance to mature.
The odds of the 49ers signing Housh are not very good especially from the fact as of yesterday ESPN reported that the Bengals are stepping up with a new contract & Housh is very receptive of staying put. I wasn't that keen on him coming here anyways, but Canty would be very nice & it would eliminate the need for the 49ers to draft a pass rusher in the 1st round. If that were to happen & the 49ers were to somehow address the OT issue in FA then MAN that would really give the 49ers ALL kinds of possibilities in the 1st round. One scenario would be to draft 1 of the top RB's or a WR. I really like the WR Bey from Maryland who can flat out fly! The 49ers have been lacking that type of WR since they drafted Rice in 85' 49er Empire your thoughts?
This just in from the NFL Network...
Haynesworth signs with the Redskins on a 100 Mil contract. WOW! Typical Dan Snider trying to buy a Championship with money that they really don't have. Matt, weren't the Redskins just 8 Mil under the cap? Personally I believe that's wayyy too much money to spend on a player that has yet to play a full season. Don't get me wrong he's the best in the business when he's healthy but that's alot of money to be spending on guy with that kind of history (injuries) Knowing the Redskin Karma he'll get hurt in Pre-season and miss significant playing time. That would be poetic justice!