Situations like that make the rooney rule a complete and total joke. If a team knows which coach they want, why force them to go through the rigmarole just to satisfy an increasingly outdated rule? I understand why minority coaches wouldn't want to bother with the process... would you take an interview knowing there's no way you could get the position?

I liken it to when I was first looking for bands to play in. Just about anyone will tell you to audition and play for as many bands as you can. Even if you walk in and you're 100% positive you're not gonna get the gig, it's valuable experience. Plus, if the musicians are pros, and not complete scumbags, they'll offer words of advice, tips, and maybe even leads to other musicians you might fit in with.

Like Matt said, it's not all about getting the job, it's about exposure, and experience. Singletary has said that he was told a number of things by teams he interviewed for, most he kept in mind for the future should he have another shot.

Shootme, Why don’t you ask Mike Tomlin that very question? If he is hard to get a hold of its because he may be a little busy since he just won the Super Bowl and was the youngest coach in NFL history to hold up that “sticky” trophy. However, he is the poster child for the Rooney Rule: A minority Candidate given an interview with the Steelers when everyone knew Ken Wisenhunt/Russ Grim were getting the job to succeed Cower.

Tomlin was already in the organization and it was only speculated that Wisenhunt would get the job. Everybody and their mother knew Pioli was going to hire Haley, he just had to
1) wait for the cards to finally finish their playoff run
2) satisfy the rooney rule

I fully expected someone from within the Chiefs' organization to interview for it, just for show.

Comment: Tomlin was already in the organization

My response: Mike Tomlin was Vikings defensive coordinator in 2006 before he was hired as Steelers head coach on Jan. 22, 2007. --Matt M.

A little off topic but heard a rumor the Cardinals fired DC Clancy Pendergast. If so I'd like to know the story behind that dismissal!

I'd really like Alex Smith to reach an agreement with the Niners. Matt, does a players agent have serious influence over a players decision? Does an agent have any say in what team the player plays for? I don't have much of an idea of what role an agent plays in the process. Can you enlighten me?

Comment: A little off topic but heard a rumor the Cardinals fired DC Clancy Pendergast. If so I'd like to know the story behind that dismissal!

My response: Yes, it's very interesting that the Cardinals will have two new coordinators next season.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/2009/02/06/20090206spt-pendergastout.html

--Matt M.

My fault. For some reason I thought he was the Steelers' DB coach. oops.

Matt- I hear Stubblfield is naming names regarding steroids in the NFL. Have you heard anything about this? Do you know if there might be any past 49ers getting in trouble? I'm afraid we might go down as the Patriots of 1994-95 in that we cheated to get our trophy. I hope there aren't any 49ers names on his list.

The Rooney Rule and the league's minority intern programs aren't perfect. They're better than the alternative, however, which was next to no minority coaches in a league where the players are comprised of about 70% minorities.

No forced program, Affirmative Action included, will be perfect, but they're an improvement. Maybe you have a better idea?

No one cares about steroids in the NFL, so even if the entire 94 Niners were juicing, it won't be an issue. For goddsakes, Travis Jervey was on the juice, so how much can it really do for you?

Hi Matt, I think the Niners are a less than appealing team for all good/great players and coaches. They are completely off the NFL radar. They are in the bottom 5 as far as respect factor around the league. The ONLY way to get someone here is to overpay. They MUST build through the draft, unfortunately the "build through the draft" guy is not good at his job. I think you have been sugar-coating your reporting. No quality players/coaches want to come here. The Niners have TWO players that are respected around the league, Willis and Gore, that's it!

Hey Matt I was just wondering why didnt the 49ers give Sing a press conference when he offically got the job? Just seemed weird didnt the Raiders give Cable one?

Question: I was just wondering why didnt the 49ers give Sing a press conference when he offically got the job? Just seemed weird didnt the Raiders give Cable one?

My response: The 49ers announced Singletary was the team's head coach just moments after the final game. Usually, Singletary comes to meet with the media 10 or so minutes after the game. In this instance, he showered and dressed in a nice suit. Then, he met with the media after Jed York announced him as the head coach.

With Cable, the Raiders dragged their feet for more than a month. He took part in a press conference to announce he was head coach. So, anyway, my point is that Singletary did have a press conference.

--Matt M.

Matt in SR - If that is the case, then why have we landed the top rated Free Agents the past two seasons? Justin Smith and Nate Clements were courted by a number of teams, yet they chose SF. Add Takeo Spikes to that list. I believe there are only 1 or 2 documented Free Agents that the Niners truly wanted and did not get since 2005. And you think Gore and Willis are the only respected players the 49ers have around the NFL? That’s ABSURD. Guys like Clements, Justin Smith, Walt Harris, Joe Staley, Paryse Haralson, Eric Heitman, Takeo Spikes and Isaac Bruce get their due respect from their peers, just not you I guess.

Matt, what do you Alex Smith's reworked contract should be?

I beg to differ. I think a lot of fans, including myself do not want the players taking steroids or HGH for that matter.

Also, if the 49ers trophy was tainted by a steroids scandle I think it would effect the way I feel about the team. I'm not saying I'd quit being a fan, but it would have an effect on the way I feel about them.

Question: Matt, what do you Alex Smith's reworked contract should be?

My answer: I don't believe Smith should make a penny more than Shaun Hill, who has cap figures the next two seasons of $2.1M and $2.2M. (Hill also can make another $1.8M annually with incentives.)

Therefore, I believe Smith should get a two-year, $4.3M contract with incentives that could bump him up another couple million per season. Seems fair to me, don't you think? --Matt M.

Matt, does a players agent have serious influence over a players decision? Does an agent have any say in what team the player plays for?

Question: Matt, does a players agent have serious influence over a players decision? Does an agent have any say in what team the player plays for?

My response: It depends on the player and the agent. A lot of times, players forget that the agents work for them and not the other way around. --Matt M.

I almost don't want to reply to a comment so silly. But in addition to what Mike in S.F. #2 said I have to point out that Sing is going to draw some people here. People that actually want to win which is the people that we want anyway. And to say that we can't build through the draft then say that we only have two players with respect (Gore & Willis) is just a huge contradiction because we drafted those players. Those maybe the only studs so far but we have a good group of solid players right now and very few, since McG took over, that can be labled as busts. I'm an optimist so I still have Alex in the air on his bust status because of our OC situation the past couple (7?) of years.

Matt, of the three positions you listed which one would you believe will be our biggest priority in FA? OT, S or WR? I'm also not suprised to see a pass rusher (Suggs!!!) on that list.

I would love to see Alex come back and succeed. I would not like to see difficult or public contractual negotiations with him. Matt's suggestion sounds fair. If Alex wants more money elsewhere I say let him go and wish him well. I think in many ways AS is a victim of poor handling by MN.

Bah, typo. I'm suprised not to see a pass rusher on the list of FA targets.

Matt, what are the chances that Singletary looks at free agency for a quarterback? He does not sound high on Hill or Smith, and I would hate to see them burn a high draft pick on a QB like Nolan did with Smith. Matt Cassell will cost 2 number one picks, and I guess McNabb is staying in Philly, who else is out there?

Steroids, just to dispel the idea the NFL was clean. I doubt there was a clean team in the 70's and 80's. Players were juicing up and coaches were looking the other way, famous ones. the NFL didn't start testing until 1987 and then didn't do anything until 1989

It is a sad reality and one that Jim Haslett admitted was popularized by the Steelers Super Bowl Teams of the 70's. It really hasn't been since 2005 that the NFL really got tough during the off season with six tests. I still can't say it's a clean league, but its much better.

There is a lot of water under the bridge, I realize, but now would be the right time to draft Alex Smith -- when he's 24, not 20. When he has an established LT and RB. With Ike Bruce. With Morgan and Jason Hill entering their 2nd and 3rd years. When he has the start of some stability at OC, and with an OC running a run-first offense. The table is really set... but there is so much water under the bridge, and so much of the game is mental, that maybe he can never succeed here.

"--There is no starting quarterback. Mike Singletary said Shaun Hill is the leading candidate, but the coach has yet to say Hill is going to be the man."

Yet, in an interview on KNBR with Singletary.

Q: Is the Quarterback job Shaun Hill's to lose, or will this be a starting from scratch level playing field competition with whomever is in camp next year?

Singletary: "Shaun Hill certainly will start off as the Starting Quarterback and we'll see what happens from there..."

[URL="http://media.knbr.com/knbr/0203singletary.mp3"]Link[/URL]

Singletary says Hill will be the Starting Quarterback going into training camp and you say we don't have a Starting Quarterback going into training camp, so which one is it?

I like the idea of trying to find a RT, WR and S in free agency. There are many good players that fit in who will want to come here. Some won't, but we only need 3 or 4. I believe the Niners have a better success record with free agency than the draft in recent years. When you have major disappointments with high draft picks, it costs big time. ASmith, Baas, Davis and Lawson have made money beyond their contributions. Clements, JSmith, Spikes and Bruce and others have made the team much better.

Just wondering Matt, do the niners not think that Josh Morgan could be their deep threat? I guess I don't understand why a big-name WR would be a bigger need than somebody like Julius Peppers, who's already said that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense.

If they re-sign Bruce and (maybe) Johnson to go along with Morgan, why would the niners need another option on the outside? Are they worried about his injury history?

Hi Matt, There is no way the Niners pick a QB in the draft. Either Stafford or Sanchez will be there, maybe both. The fallout of picking Smith lingers and nobody would pull the trigger. Sing will get a defensive stud. Matt do you think the Niners would take Jenkins with the 10th pick if he were available?

Wow, an Alex Smith post and oneniner is AWOL?! His plane must still be in the air...

Alex Smith picked a gem of an agent - Tom Condon makes Drew Rosenhaus look like Mother Teresa. If Alex is numbnuts enough to turn down the Niners bailout package, on draft day it will be "Hello Mr. Sanchez? Coach Singletary on line one for you..."

Getting a QB in the 1st round would appear as brain damage. Paying Alex Smith more the 1 million a year would be brain damage. Why would you pay 40 million on a QB (Mark Sanchez) who in started 16 college games and look nothing like Palmer, Lienert or Booty for that matter? BRAIN DAMAGE!! I would take Booty over Sanchez in a minute.
As far as this minority crap...isn't it getting a little boring? America is light years ahead of the rest of the world(I have never lived or traveled in South America) when it comes to race. You wanna see a sordid kind of racism. live in Europe. Americans are very sensitive when it comes to race and we wear it on our sleeves and take it very seriously and Americans don't really tolerate it much. Euro nations Asian nations (places I have lived) they hide it. They might say all the right things, but we are talking about out and out distain for minorities. I think Americans should be very proud in how far we have come when it comes to race and how we face it and deal with it. We all should be very proud. Sorry for the long post. And for the record and anybody who wants to jump down this crackers throat about racism I am married to a "minority" who has been and lived with me all over the world.

Cassel or Brady are trade bait now.
The Pats can't afford to keep both.
A debate could be made for Detroit to go for the immediate fix that way as they hold multiple 1s this year and could afford to deal one now and next year.
Brady would be the more attractive option for me since he's a question regarding the injury, but he's carrying a huge contract of course.
One of them is out IMO.

A Smith has not demonstrated that he has what it takes inside to lead a football team. I don't beleive this can be taught. I hope a deal is not done and we release him. I could be wrong but I just wonder if this kid has the gravitas to command men in the face of adversity.

I like Sanchez as a possible roster addition too, no way I'd spend a 10th pick however.
Even if he goes to Rd 2 I'd still have other guys rated ahead of him as bigger needs.
That's the nature of the Draft, priority of needs vs talent available.
Again this is a weak QB class as it was when the choices were Alex and Aaron.
I think the mid tier guys are more attractive this year, and I would agree with keeping Alex at an attractive cap number.
He's had some experience of course and, should have his head screwed on a little more tightly now, having been IR'd and watching from the sideline.
The Norv system, IMO is a direct attempt at keeping continuity for him with Jimmy Raye.
If he moves on, so be it.
Guys like Harrell and Davis (and others), could be around in the mid rounds and we're in need of too many other positions to add a QB who can't step in and play for several years.

hi matt, I think the 49ers would be making a big mistake letting alex smith go. You have to give a first round choice a better chance than he has had, although money is a problem with him but they should do all they can to keep him.
p.s. watch the lady jacks this year in softball Frank has them ready to go again.

Elizabeth Barry?

if this is the raiderette?

matt we should cut him?

S.Hill is a winner and will do just fine for now -I'm with Marc-NJ49er if we can keep Alex at reasonable cost great- otherwise let the chips fall and best of luck!There are several QB's projected to later rounds in the coming draft who show promise and we would be prudent to choose one and start to cultivate! Meanwhile,NT pass rusher or OT anyone?

Matt,
Before reading your post I was not a fan of the Rooney Rule, but you have changed my mind. I have always felt that the Rooney Rule was the NFL's way of giving the impression of caring about minorities without actually having to do anything. However, I failed to realize the importance of media exposure for potential head coaches.

Kudos for pointing out the merits of a rule many of us haven't appreciated.

"--The new offensive coordinator is Jimmy Raye, and Singletary has made it known he wants a tough-minding, physical team that is going to make it a priority to run the football."

I call b.s. matt. In interviews with Singletary and Raye they have made it known that they want to be able to run the ball in any situation. Yet that did not mean they were not going to have a passing game. The point being that they would be able to do whatever it took offensively to win a game.

Raye recently said that he wants to make the defense have to watch the whole field. He and Singletary want a conventional offense with running, play action, and down field Norv Turner style throwing.

This thing with the Chiefs really ticks me off. The NFL has such a double standard when dealing with teams. If the 9ers pulled that crap they'd be fined another draft pick. Stories like these really shows how weak ownership impacts a team. Pioli has proven himself to be a liar and a cheat but everyone respects the Hunts so the Chiefs get away with obvious rules violations. The perception of the Yorks has improved since John hired real NFL people but its obvious the league office has absolutely no respect for him or the team.

You are correct.. Singletary says one thing and Maiocco says something else, and I would really like some clarification on this is discrepancy as well.

Singletary on KNBR:
http://media.knbr.com/knbr/0203singletary.mp3

Q: Do you think your words may have been a little misinterpreted? Because everybody's talking about Singletary wants a guy who is going to be of a like mindset, "three yards and a cloud of dust", "you want us to run all the time", but you made it very clear, I thought, in one statement that it's not necessarily that you want to run an inordinate amount of the time, you want the other team to know your capable of running, so you have the capacity to do that. That's something that I think that almost any head coach would want, and maybe people are misinterpreting your mindset in that regard?

Singletary: "Absolutely. I am glad you called it right. I've never said, "you know what, we're going to come out and we're going to run the ball." I said I want to be able to run the ball. When we want to run the ball, when we need to run the ball, when we need to take over the game, I want to be able to run the ball. That's what I said and that's what I always want to say because that's what I believe."

Exactly. Players have voiced their support for Hill, his leadership and his toughness. I will be worried if Smith is the starter with Hill sitting on the bench this year. It would be like JTO part II.

I don't know what's so hard to understand here. Sure, we're going to run the ball -- sometimes a lot. But there will be plenty of play-action, bootlegs, etc. based off the run, whereas Martz liked to throw to set up the run. If Martz had it his way, he would have thrown 24/7. This offense will probably be a low risk, ball control offense. Long, time consuming drives is what I envision, yet they will have to stretch the field here and there to keep the D honest.

I think Matt M.'s comments of the offense is in line w/ what Singletary or Raye has said. At least he didn't say it's old Bears like some want to lead you to believe.
More from Raye...Link

The problem with letting go A.Smith is that he will probably go to a team within our div. or maybe close to home. He probably wants the best opportunity to be a starter which is the 49ers or SEA and maybe ARI if they dont retain Warner and Leinart keeps floating the ball. To me i think A.Smith is definitely underrated, I think if you let him go out there and sling it instead of listening to 4 OCs telling him who to throw to you would definitely know hes a good QB, just too bad about the shoulder that is what is bringing him down.
The Rooney rule is a good rule, but times are changing and i think its outdated and pretty soon it might be the other way around since its already that way on the field

Alex Smith is a bust. And I don't say that with glee. I wanted him to succeed. I believed Urban Meyer when he said that Smith had the ability to start in the NFL because he had the "right mind and quick learning" to be a starting QB in the NFL. And who am I to argue with Urban Meyer? But I forgot a basic rule about college coaches who talk about their own players who are up for draft, especially QB's. They see things the way they want and most of the time they become cheerleaders for their own players (it doesn't hurt the HC when a guy succeeds.)
I believe that Smith came from the right system for him to succeed in college. The system had those large splits on the O line and is known as the spread offense. But anyone watching the bowl games this year saw the Big 12 QB's that played the spread offense come into their games with huge passing stats, but for the most part these QB's were destroyed by defenses that took advantage of the spread and beat the QB's like a drum.
Now, Urban Meyer has proved in college football that his creativity with offense and ability to make the system revolve around the QB's strengths is one of the areas that make his teams great. I know he is coaching in the center of probably the gold mine of HS football players, but he did succeed at Utah, not known as a gold mine.
I also believe Smith entered the draft to early, something a guy like Teebow has figured out by watching what happens to guys like Smith who enter when not ready according to the standards the NFL expects from a QB. Smith had the stats that made everyones eyes bulge out. But not the maturity. And also, he didn't need that quick release necessary to succeed in the NFL because he was already taking the snap well behind the line of scrimage and was able to have that extra second to look at the defense before passing.
The 49ers should have seen the defects instead of reading the stats. On top of that, they had a defensive minded HC Nolan, who knew poop about offense. And Nolan took it personally when Smith struggled and in his ignorance committed probably the greatest sin of a HC when dealing with a young #1 drafted QB. He played with Smith's mind. He pressured the young guy. Placed a lot of fault at Smith's feet when he should have acted more mature and took the heat himself.
Now the 49ers are dealing with damaged goods! Both physically and mentally! And it's not all Smith's fault. Nolan's imprint is branded on Smith and the kid has to carry that brand until someone digs deep and tears it off. I don't believe the 49ers have that person on the staff right now.
So, I admit I was wrong about Smith. But I also didn't know that Nolan would puke his failures all over the kid. So I hope Smith can go to another team and start over. Maybe he can get a second chance and make Urban Meyer seem like a prophet.

Good points Terry. It was Urban Meyer who also said that Alex Smith will never be a Brett Favre type of quarterback – that is, a leader who can improvise and make plays when things break down on the field. Urban's asterisk on Alex was that he needed to be in a very structured offense in order to succeed. In fairness to Smith, he never had that kind of environment for his NFL inauguration. But by the same token, he could never "improvise" and adapt to the changes in offensive gameplans year in and year out. Look up Brett Favre's early career path with the Pack for sake of comparison.

Smith is a bigger bust than Dolly Parton. Hit the reset button and take Sanchez if he's sitting there by his phone at 10.

Sanchez? Really? The guy was a 1 year starter and his draft stock soared based on 1 bowl game against a defense with a horrendous design. Stay away from Sanchez unless he's still available on the 2nd day. Josh Freeman is worth a late round flyer before Sanchez. IMHO the only qb worth a 1st round pick is Stafford.

Jordan Gross would be an awesome pick up for us and really solidify the line. Marc Columbo would be a cheaper avenue and might be the powerful run blocker we covet.

Not much out there at S in my opinion and the WR interest is confusing to me. Too old and expensive and we have some nice young guys at that spot.

According to the link provided by grumpy_guy in the previous thread, Sanchez and Stafford are the very least likely to succeed in the NFL from among the top eight rated QBs in the upcoming draft. Interesting link. For those who missed it, here it is again:

http://www.ninersnation.com/2008/10/28/648563/a-statistical-look-at-draf

Mike: You sad wannabe, Matt in SR stated, in CAPITALS, that the only way they came is coz we overpaid. We overpaid, dummy.

Now apologize to Matt in SR like a real man would.

"Matt Cassell will cost 2 number one picks, and I guess McNabb is staying in Philly, who else is out there?"

Not too much, unfortunately:

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=QB&y=2009

Comment: I call b.s. matt. In interviews with Singletary and Raye they have made it known that they want to be able to run the ball in any situation. Yet that did not mean they were not going to have a passing game.

My response: I don't believe I ever wrote that the 49ers were going to start running the veer. Of course, they're going to still have the forward pass in the playbook.

But Singletary and Raye have made it known they want to be a tough-minded, physical football team that can run the ball in any conditions and during any situation. In order to accomplish that mission, the offense has to buy into that identity.

But -- as I wrote -- if the receivers did not put up sterling numbers with Mike Martz in control, don't expect those numbers to improve now with Singletary and Raye calling the shots. --Matt M.

Question: Elizabeth Barry? if this is the raiderette? matt we should cut him?

My response: Yes, she's a former Raiders cheerleader. Perhaps, we should applaud him. (Or, at least, congratulate him.) --Matt M.

Comment/Question: "--There is no starting quarterback. Mike Singletary said Shaun Hill is the leading candidate, but the coach has yet to say Hill is going to be the man." Yet, in an interview on KNBR with Singletary. Q: Is the Quarterback job Shaun Hill's to lose, or will this be a starting from scratch level playing field competition with whomever is in camp next year? Singletary: "Shaun Hill certainly will start off as the Starting Quarterback and we'll see what happens from there..."

My response: Isn't what I wrote almost exactly what Singletary said?

Singletary, in essence, said that Hill will be the starter unless the club gets somebody better or unless another player beats out Hill for the job. That's not exactly a huge vote of confidence.

Until Singletary declares Shaun Hill the starting quarterback, the 49ers have an unsettled quarterback situation. --Matt M.

I love the "Bill Walsh Minority Intern Program" which gives minority coaches exposure in the NFL and opportunity, but I think the Rooney Rule is an abomination. To me it smacks of quotas and reverse discrimination. It is based on the false assumptions that all white men are subconciously racist and that there aren't enough black head coaches in the league because the ratio is not the same as the ratio of black players to white players. Hirings in the NFL are driven by one thing and that is the will to win, which transcends race. That is one thing that makes sports great. Only 10% of the US population is black and about 10% of NFL head coaches are black which is about right. To be an NFL player you must be a superior athlete. The only requirement to be an NFL head coach is a great football mind. Are we trying to say that black people are smarter when it comes to football than white people so we should have more black head coaches than white ones? Rediculous! Singletary would have received the head coaching interviews anyway based on his reputation and qualifications which is the way it should always be. Anything else is an insult to everyone involved.

Comment: The only requirement to be an NFL head coach is a great football mind. . . . Singletary would have received the head coaching interviews anyway based on his reputation and qualifications which is the way it should always be. Anything else is an insult to everyone involved.

My response: Thank you for your comment.

It's my impression that a lot of these head-coaching hires are based on previous experience with a candidate.

Mike Singletary said he had a nice interview with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a couple years ago. Jones said he wished he knew Singletary better, but he was going to go with somebody he knew longer. Norv Turner and Wade Phillips were the finalists.

These interviews are a way for people to get familiar with individuals they might not otherwise had met. Again, I believe Singletary getting the chance to interview for those other jobs ultimately helped him nail down the position with the 49ers.

If you get a chance, read this article:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20081121/sports/811210227

--Matt M.

Comment: These interviews are a way for people to get familiar with individuals they might not otherwise had met. Again, I believe Singletary getting the chance to interview for those other jobs ultimately helped him nail down the position with the 49ers.

My response: The purpose of the interviews is to find a qualified head coach and getting to know the candidates is a natural result of that. If you asked him, I am sure that Mike would say he got the interviews because he was qualified and not because of the Rooney Rule.

Yea can you explain why then in college football, which does not ahve the rooney rule, why there are less black head coaches than I have fingers on one hand? that's 3 out of 117 head coaching jobs. you can be as enlightened as you want thinking that the rooney rule doesn't make a difference, but just look at that number 3/117 = 0.0256 so much for 10%. [URL]http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/07/sports/sp-diversity7[/URL].

This is the article

Thats a very interesting article. However, any statistical evaluation that indicates Graham Harrell should be a high draft pick is completely bunk. Graham Harrell and Colt Brennan are very similar qb's. Brennan had over 71% completion rate and started 38 games. He's 6'3 & 210. Unfortunately, he just doesn't have an NFL arm. Harrell is exactly the same. He looks great because of his pass happy college offense but he's not an NFL caliber QB. Statistics are an important piece of the evaluation process but I'd take a talented scout over some numbers any day of the week.

The QB is twice as important as any other player. The remarks @ Sanchez are off the mark. If you watched the Rose Bowl, he hit men down the field in stride. When's the last time a Niner QB played 4 quarters hitting receivers in stride? Most guys on this blog are young enough to say, NEVER.
Agreed a QB is not going to be picked #10, but he probably should be since except for Baltimore, who was lucky, you don't win the Superbowl with an inferior QB.
Addend on Sanchez. USC was a weak running team this year. Third & short and they'd fail as often as not if they ran, despite having good runners. They were a passing team. Again, see the Rose Bowl when they quit passing in the second half. Palmer is the only guy who compares w Sanchez and he wasn't a world beater in his first few games.

Yep, seen that link. But that's taking a 30,000 foot view of quarterback evaluation. What those statistics don't measure obviously are the intangibles, as well as size, arm strength, leadership in the huddle, and heart.

These have been my prophets year in and year out. This report was even after Sanchez laid the egg against the Beavers and before his stellar Rose Bowl appearance.

My thoughts are simply this – this will be the only genuine opportunity for the Niners to take another shot at a franchise quarterback. Count out next year, because I believe the Niners will finish with a record that puts them out of draft range for the McCoy and Bradford sweepstakes.

I'm not asking for the Niners to trade up. Stand pat and if it's meant to be, so let it be written. Take the kid and his Aikman-esque arm at 10. But this could be all moot – the Chefs right now are putting up a huge smokescreen for Everette, but they will do their homework on Sanchez.

I'm a sad wannabe, but what exactly is it that I want to be? Say what you will, but we paid market and I DISAGREE (the all caps was for you) that we over paid. There is ZERO debate that Justin Smith was worth his pay last year and I also feel Nate has lived up to his expectations. He is worth the $54 million he will actually pocket from his deal. With both of those large contacts we still have PLENTY of cap room to spend more and more ($20 million UNDER). Therefore, we didn't overpay as both contracts fit comfortably within the NFL pay scale.

Countdown, I don't know what's worse: Mike in Sr posting that hallucinatory drivel or your actually defending it. You can add the zero to your name now.

I agree, Mike in SF #2, we did not overpay for Clements or J Smith. We overpaid for disappointing draft choices. Build thru the draft only works if you draft really well, which we did not in 05 and 06.

Sorry Matt I have to do it.

Santa Clara 70 St. Mary's 52

Alameda Bill SCU '73

Comment: Sorry Matt I have to do it. Santa Clara 70 St. Mary's 52 Alameda Bill SCU '73

My response: Yeah, I'll bet you're pretty broken up that you had to do that. Thanks for reminding me. --Matt M.

I hope we pass on receiver in free agency .take that money and roll it into jordan gross,a stud at lt as well as rt.iA safety upgrade or leonard weaver would be great too.I would love to draft harvin because his speed makes him a threat in the backfield and as a return specialist,not just a receiver who can turn any pass into a td. Otherwise,receiver should be a third -round priority.Imagine trying to game-plan against gore and harvin.

I think you hit the bell when you intimated Sanchez will be gone at #10 you can bet K C is interested! It is quite possible all four Top OT's(unless Raji is taken early!) and the two top QB's will be gone at first choice.If that occurs where does that leave us-well either E. Brown or B J Raji seem like logical moves...we will see!

Like I've been saying you dont pass on a franchise QB that falls into your lap at pick 10 just like the Steelers with Rothlisberger. If he's not their and the best of the rest are gone I would take Percy,Percy,Percy.

Matt, one (ok a couple) nagging question for you: is there a team which can run at will like Singletary describes - isnt it all about balance, and with balance you need a o-line that can open up holes for a good back, but you also need a qb that can make it happen? when was the last time we saw a football team get to and win a super bowl with the run? maybe the Ravens? sure, the glory days of passing to set up the run (montana/young) may be gone, but maybe so are the glory days of the ravens and bucs as well. back here in nyc, the Giants - with their spectacular running game - fell flat as soon as Plaxico shot himself in the leg. i cant recall the last NFC or AFC Championship game where one side couldnt shut down the other's running game.

alex smith: seems like a great kid. its truly touching to see so much support for him in the bay area, given the high hopes we all had for him. its so much in contrast to the east coast fans, where the rule is generally "boo them on draft day". alas, did he ever string two games in a row where we said "man, this kid can play". even if he gets his head straight, his release was like molasses in january.

Matt,

Singletary just hired an offensive coordinator that has a reputation for falling asleep in meetings. Maybe the other teams that interviewed Singletary and didn't hire him, thought he would be in over his head. I am a supporter, but have seen several situations where he lacks good judgement. I went from optimistic to cautiously optimistic with the Raye hire. Basically, I am back where I was last offseason.

As to the Rooney Rule, I don't think it is a race thing. Herm Edwards and Art Shell both have had several very unsuccessful stints as head coaches. I would bet that we haven't seen the last of Herm Edwards.

dmatt, your statement that Raye has "a reputation for falling asleep" is inaccurate and misleading. You have posted this on more than one blog and it stems from one poster who says he has a cousin who has a friend who knows a practice squad player on the Jets last year. No link, no documentation, no proof - ergo, not a reputation, but a rumor originated by one single poster. So before you launch off into Singletary for several (unmentioned) situations, why not simply ask Matt if he can confirm this rumor first? If it's baloney, you'll gain a whole year back!

Yea can you explain why then in college football, which does not ahve the rooney rule, why there are less black head coaches than I have fingers on one hand? that's 3 out of 117 head coaching jobs. you can be as enlightened as you want thinking that the rooney rule doesn't make a difference, but just look at that number

FIrst of all, College Football does not have a program like the Bill Walsh Minority Intern program which is the correct way to give minority coaches opportunity and exposure. 2nd of all, if you read your own article, more than 10% of all colleges coaches are already black when you factor in coordinators and position coaches. The Rooney Rule is another example of liberal political activists trying to create a crisis where none exists in order to keep thier power base. If racism disappears, they become irrelevant, so they pressure the NFL and other organizations to enact idiotic rules like this one in order to show that they are doing something.

There should be a rule that every team has to have at least one white receiver and/or cornerback. Also, I hardly see any Asian linebackers, that should be mandatory to carry on the roster. I don't think I've ever seen a Jew in the NFL, somebody should make a rule about that. Oh, and women totally get shafted by the NFL. There should be Title IX for the NFL. It seems like African-Americans are about the only group that AREN'T underrepresented in the NFL.

So that was obviosuly tongue-in-check. I'll elaborate a bit. About 10-15% of the US population is African-American. About 70% of NFL players are black, as well as 25 % of NFL coaches. So blacks are OVER represented as players in the NFL by a factor of 5-7 times the rate of broader America, and as NFL head coaches at DOUBLE the rate of the general population.

So the problem isn't enforcement of the Rooney Rule, it's the notion of the Rooney Rule in the first place. People should earn jobs and interviews on merit, not on the color of their skin.