And there's McCloughan's "Veteran who will not compete to be the starter."

Damon Huard????? Ridiculous!!!

You can keep the sloppy seconds. Oy vey.

He's a camp arm. This doesn't mean they won't draft a QB.

Matt, wasn't Huard with the Chiefs while Raye was there?

I knew not to expect the amazing from the 49ers this year, but I certainly expected more than Moran Norris, Brandon Jones, and Damon Huard (provided he doesn't bail on us).

Nevermind, I'm an idiot, for some reason I thought he spent his whole time with the Chiefs.

We really need to address our weak spots. Hopefully we are still shopping or address it in the draft.

Boy doesn't that upgrade the talent level at QB?! Where are the McClueless apologists on this one?!

Matt,

Any news on any other FA's coming to the facility? I mentioned OT Ray Willis from Seattle. Are the 49ers not interested in him?

Question: wasn't Huard with the Chiefs while Raye was there?

My response. There was no Jimmy Raye-Damon Huard overlap. Raye was with the Chiefs from 1992 to 2000. Huard arrived with the Chiefs in 2004. --Matt M.

Question: Any news on any other FA's coming to the facility? I

My response: I won't keep any secrets from you. When I learn something, I'll report it. --Matt M.

wsmith. McCloughan said they'd like to sign a veteran QB who won't compete for the starting job.

try to follow along.

Why do some of you over react to these types of signings. They need another arm for the mini camps and if hes going to be your 3rd QB what is the big deal ? Its not like they are giving him a huge contract, Im sure he knows what type of situation he is getting himself into. He isnt going to be our starting QB. What other QB do you see out there right now that you would like to bring in? I think some of you are expecting a huge splash in free agency when they have said all along thats not what they are looking to do. If we add the right pieces through the draft and sign the right free agents, not just someone with a name, this team has a chance to compete for the division next year.

Indiana Jim and Edubb7.....I couldn't have said it better

At worst, Huard is a solid backup. I'm ok with it! Matt, Does this signal the end for Alex Smith?

"Shaun Hill is the only quarterback on the 49ers' roster guaranteed of returning next season" - What is wrong with just sticking with HONEST REPORTING?.....Every dick and Harry knows A,Smith is guaranteed to be on the 49ers rosters next season.......especially now that Warner is no longer available......this is why i think the blog has "jumped the shark'.......what is all the double talk for?......When the un-informed finally hear A.Smith has restructured his contract - YOU WANT US TO BELIEVE THIS IS NEWS?....Give me a break- you are trying to fool us into thinking this is a newpaper story...no it is an online blog where 99% of what is reported is already known.....cmon- stop treating us like kids......EVERYONE KNOWS ALEX SMITH IS GUARANTEED A ROSTER SPOT IN NINERLAND - ...just think about the negative reaction the org will endure - no warner, no smith - yes Hill and Huard ...:) its one thing to give us rumors and news but don't play us as kids.

Wasn't Huard the QB when KC shut us out ~40-0 a few years ago?

I rather see JP Losman. Can we please start bringing in some guys that will have a chance to start! Right Tackle, OLB, Corner, WR, RB could all be upgraded.

Are we now back to the days Rattay, Dorsey, and Pickett?

Yes, he was the backup for the Chiefs but played against the 49ers because their starter (Green?) was injured.

why risk getting a proven winner in jeff garica? i mean that would just be too easy right? why sign the last guy to take you to the playoffs

Huard is being used to pressure Smith to get off the pot and make his mind up. Smith is either going to comeback at the 9ers terms or bye, bye! I don't blame the team for needing the decision now! So Huard may stay with the team or not. But most teams need that 3rd QB today anyway.
Smith is damaged goods until proven otherwise. Not only physically is he damaged but Nolan did a job on the kid's psyche (read this Denver & keep Nolan away from the QB!)
Got to have 3 guys to take all the reps or your starters arm turns to paste. Plus carring the 3rd QB is necessary now to give him the opportunity to get into the playbook to be ready.

Why is everyone overreacting to this? We needed a 3rd QB and we got one and that's all there is to it. Mc made it clear the draft is the main thing they build on and theyll try to bring in a few guys they think can help in FA. We addressed a need with Norris (FB) we got a replacement for Johnson (WR)...we re-signed some key guys...A lot of people talk about overspending for clements/smith and then when we take a cautious approach everyone starts criticising. If you think about it not a whole lot was going to change this offseason..Mc and Sing have been saying all along theyve got a solid foundation to win so this doesn't surprise me at all.

Im not sold on Brandon Jones but Im exited about Norris and Gore loves him Im a little confused about this offensive and the players that have been over looked and some that have been courted does anybody know the system and if so the players that will fit into it ? it seems that there is a ouestion about the skill players we need

If we sign Huard and give him guaranteed money, AND restructure Alex Smith with any guaranteed money, then we wouldn't be drafting a QB since we'd then have 4. This makes no sense at all. Go after someone who at least has an upside, or could get better with a change of scenery. I much rather see a young guy like Losman given a second chance. We lost games because of our Right Tackle, we must address that position.

Joel S., Yes indeed that was the man beat us 40-0.

This guy is a rep taker and solid backup. The 9ers are just filling the holes. I'm sure we will see more transactions take place. There main focus should be the O line right now, then pass rush.

The niners whole logic is just blowing my mind lately. I was excited when I saw how committed Jed York was to bringing quality football to the bay. Now we have the amazing Damon Huard. They must really not like any of the QB's in the draft this year. Oh well. I suppose I can settle for 2nd in the NFC West again. Awesome.

Loco, NFLGuy,

Thanks, that's what I thought. I'm pretty sure that was the year Trent took that shot to the head against Cinci. I just brought that up considering all the skepticism, I do recall him doing well enough that season for the Chiefs to trade Trent away (which I thought was rather sleazy considering), including that 40burger he put up on us.

Yes, and what is with the bitchers and moaners?

If this guy was cheap and is a team player, he is a deal. We need an experienced backup, no one has any idea what is really going to happen with Smith, or whether he can really amount to anything, and that 11-to-1 pick ratio says if he has to go in, he won't piss away the game. If you want splash, jump in a lake.

Why are we over reacting? Well, what is the rush to sign a #3 QB? This is the first week of FA. Why waste time talking, negotiating etc with a #3 camp arm. These types of guys will be available for a long time, there is no rush. They should be looking at guys that can impact the game and impact the W-L column. Improving the right tackle and pass rush would impact our win total. But we've done nothing, and, haven't even brought anyone in. That is frustrating!

Are you kidding me?! This is the best the niners can do this off season, another mediocre season in the makings and thats just thinking positive too.

When a piece of the puzzle comes along, you take it. Otherwise, you get misfits.

Wholly cow!! Why in the world would you say something like that to Matt Oneniner? Sheesh, Matt is amazing! Sheesh, it would really tick me off if Matt decided who needs this crap and just shuts down the blog. Why do you attack the messenger? Was there a lie in what he wrote? Emotions are so high on this blog. You must have something better to do with your life Oneniner than to "lay in wait" for Matt to publish something before you chime in. The name calling has really gotten crazy, I don't remember it being this charged up before.
We all are playing GM's here...remember that "playing". We all love this team. And if you put us all in a room together we would all be happy drinking our beers and yelling at the Tube together or at the game, wanting the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I have been guilty of flying off the handle on this blog. But wholly cow some of the stuff has been down right offensive. My "dirty Sanchez" remarks isn't that cool either. But the out and out name calling is just ugly anymore. 90% of the time I am going GREAT POINT FRANCHISE or INDIANA JIM or whoever. Last week and now this week, it's kinda been kooky up here fellas. It's a great time for this stay at home dad to read this. At the same time, it's getting kind hard to read with all the name calling an hate being spewed from the key board.

Getting Huard is a horrible move from a storyline prospective. The main view of this will be "We've gone from Warner to THAT." We are laughingstocks for this, but not in the way you'd think I'm saying it. I'm not saying we shouldn't have went after Huard. We shouldn't have went after Warner. Keep in mind that view is that we've went from Warner to Huard. It's a misleading view, but we know how people love to do that. 80% (a wild guess) of what the Niners has "said" has been made up by the fans and sportswriters. The same writers who think Michael Vick's a good QB.

As for the move itself, I don't like it because I expected more. I don't hate it because I didn't expect much more. The only thing I do like about it is that it ensures JTO stays gone, but I could say that about any QB we got.

Bottom line is that this move changes nothing on where we stand. We just found a replacement for JTO. That's all. Not much for news.

I have never seen so much infantile hysteria going on in one place in my whole life. Wow. What's wrong with you people? The FA period is less than a week old. It goes for another month. You have no idea what players and agents we are talking to or thinking about. We need a camp QB arm in like two weeks. Smith isn't signed yet. This is just a routine signing not worth discussing. Get a grip you silly pseudo adults.

agreed, I don't get why so many people are so worked up over a third string QB.

Huard might have been a solid back-up one day but he is washed up. Im not happy about this at all.

Dude, what is your problem?

What, do you expect a pro bowler to be our #3 QB???

4-6 free agents means a total amount of potential free agents signed too. So it looks like we might be done for the offseason. And counting:

WR Brandon Jones
FB Moran Norris
ILB Takeo Spikes
QB Damon Huard

So, we haven't addressed 3 glaring needs. DE/OLB, RT, and FS. Clearly, FS will be Dashon Goldson's job to lose, right? Then we'll use our #10 pick on a RT, either Oher or Smith. DE/OLB's looks like it'll be Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson. No depth there though.

There is still plenty of work to do with this roster. Extensions for Davis and Haralson are a must in my mind.

I will say it too, dude what the heck is your problem.
You don't go on this blog and then complain to the one who runs it like that. If you don't like it you don't have to come here, but if you are going to keep coming here then stop behaving like a six hear old and learn some respect.

I disagree with Huard. Just pick Sanchez or Stafford. I as a 49er fan am depressed. Life has no meaning anymore.

Has this team really been successful in the draft the last five years? As in, drafting players in the 3rd round and beyond that are potential starters? I suppose Morgan and Haralson, but they really missed the boat in my mind. I know there wasn't a lot out there through free agency, but they need A LOT.

This is a joke...WE are a joke. I guess my only hope can be, once we probably miss the Playoffs again this upcoming year, that McClueless will get blown out & we'll THEN replace him with Holmgren, who's promised his wife he'd "sit out for at least a year." Well, the year will be up by then, and Scot needs to go! We've had how many picks under his watch...35 or so? And he's hit on, how many?!?! 3 of them maybe? Only Frank, Patrick & maybe Staley have been hits...the rest? Sure, some "nice solid" players here & there...but really?!?! I see more of a ton of back-ups, but not a ton of studs. I was stunned Scot & Nolan lasted past year 3, into year 4 of their run. And even more stunned that Scot made it through last year, and is now on his 5th season...WHAT HAS THIS GUY DONE?!?! DAMON HUARD??? Sure, it's not Huard's fault, but is this the best we can do?!?!

I'm sorry everyone, I'm not trying to be a downer here...I'm just crushed, and sick & tired of our team losing. And in the defense of our so-called "leaders," I'm sure it's not from lack of effort on everyone's part...but still, we deserve better than this!

Shaun Hill is nice, I've liked him in the past too, he's been our only glimmer of hope at QB since Garcia was kicked out of town (thanks Donahue!), but is Shaun the answer at that position? I'd like him to be because I do like him, but sadly, I don't think he is. And why Alex is even on our team still is beyond me...he's obviously McCluelesses guy. Jeff Garcia has been to, what, 4 Pro Bowls? 3 at least that I can think of...and we have NO interest in him?!?! Why in the world not??? Sure, he's not the long-term answer either, I get that. And maybe he's not as good as Warner was last year, but Singletary (who I like) is just plain wrong when he says that Jeff isn't "much better than Shaun & Alex." I mean heck, even if Shaun beats him out, wouldn't you rather have Shaun & Jeff, as opposed to Shaun & Alex?!?! I'd certainly rather have Jeff over Damon Huard.

And I'm sorry, but I just don't have any faith in a 28 year old running our team. Granted, he IS better than his parents at it, but that doesn't mean he'll succeed...I'd love to be wrong on Jed, I hope in (short) time that I am.

I admit I got my hopes up at signing Kurt Warner, and now that he did what we all knew he'd do, it stings even more. And everytime I turn around, I see how these other teams like Denver are just bringing in player after player...our activity has been --- resigning KR Rossum (a move I liked, he was productive), resigning LB Spikes (another move I wanted), bringing back FB Norris to block for Frank (good move), and then signing WR Brandon Jones?!?! WHO??? I consider myself a fairly decent football fan, and I wanted to cry when I realized, I had never even HEARD of this guy! I don't hate the kid, I hope he lives up to whatever upside he has, but...WHO?!?! I know we're not going to get Pro Bowl names everytime, but, really?!?!

Oh, & another guy I had never heard of until we hired him --- Jimmy Raye! I've heard he's a nice man...but this guy?!?! He's only had like, one good year as an OC!!! WTF are we doing??? I know if I was below .500 at my job every year, I'd be fired! And I certainly wouldn't be getting any new jobs...and we hire this guy?!?! And is our O-Line really that dominant to where we're going to be a dominant run, run, run team? I LIKE our line, but I don't LOVE our line. Hell, we don't even have a RT! And if we get one in teh Draft, it'll probably be Andre Smith who now has major question marks by his name, so it'll be a rookie and a 2nd year Guard, both on the right side. Yeah, our line's going to be GREAT on that side! Good thing Shaun, Alex & Damon are all right handed, so they'll be able to see the DE from that side come barreling right at them. We'll obviously be running to the left on every play, and gee, THAT won't be predictable.

Sorry guys, we're not just one Draft away...stop saying "wait for the Draft!" No, we need more players in Free Agency. Maybe not super-aggressive like the last 2 years when we got Nate "I've Never Been To A Pro Bowl" Clements & Justin Smith, but we need more than this!

Much more, sadly..........

oneniner, normally I look at you like my crazy little brother who I usually agree with on most things.

But that's just wrong.

Darren11 has it occurred to you that they're not drafting Damon Huard for him to actually play? Practice Squad, anyone?

Everyone wants them to sign name players, doesn't matter if the name is worthless (Byron Leftwich) just as long as its someone who has a rating of 86 in Madden 09. Seriously, people are posting half cocked and not realizing that you can just plug and play people like its a video game. West Coast players cant always fit into Smash Mouth ball, so to think that the big name f/a will fit in the Niners scheme is stupid. Matt needs to repost the stat of New England's 2000 f/a signings and what it did to the team.

From Kurt Warner to Damon Huard? That's pretty rough Matt but oh well, this has been a fun ride for a few days. I was actually checking your blog at 3am for updates. Very Captivating. Thanks!

WOW!!! So far the Niners have done....nothing. More mediocrity this next season. I don't care how fantastic of a coach Singletary turns out to be, he will only be able to coach B class players to beat B class teams. It is obvious the Niners are planning on rebuilding through the draft to obtain a decent team 3 years from now. Unfortunately, their draft selections (with a few exceptions) have also been mediocre. Looks like the Niners will continue to be a sub-par team. Sad, very sad.

Huard isn't a bad backup, but this signing would pretty much assure Hill is our starter Day 1. I still have to think we might draft a QB in the mid-rounds, but maybe not. Nate Davis seemed like a meager gamble in the mid-rounds.

What I wanna know is -- why aren't we initiating talks with KC for THIGPEN?

Sorry, but IMO he is very solid young prospect who had good success with little talent. He would be a GREAT add here.

Shane P, you hit it right on the head!

I can't believe all the emotions over this QB who will be 3rd on the depth chart...good riddance. Brass said they wouldn't make a splash in free agency and that they want to bolster the team through the draft. Chill out and let them stick to their plan.

Shane P, you hit it right on the head

I think you'll find Mark Roman is our starting FS at the start of training camp and it will be his job to lose. Team hasn't said anything to indicate otherwise.

General rule of thumb: anyone that posts here who uses infantile name calling like Nowin or McClueless or Dorks or whatever, is not worth reading and should be skipped.

Why does everyone just assume Huard has been signed to be a backup? Is he that much worse than Hill? This is a pathetic signing. No team goes to the playoffs and wins a Superbowl without a franchise QB, let alone a good 2nd QB at best- and neither will we.

Remember last year when they signed a lifelong backup? Yeah he was our starter for half of the season...

Completely agree.

Not so sure about that...Singletary has already publicly stated that FS is a need right now.

I have a strong feeling we'll draft a FS with hopes of them being a day 1 starter (of course, they might not be.)

I thought we'd be aggressive in talking to Dawkins, but that never happened.

Singletary said he wanted to upgrade that position (Roman) and McCloughan said our starting FS was already on the roster (Goldson). That's how I see it anyway, if Goldson can finally stay healthy....

Oh Josh, tsk tsk tsk. Know your history. Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien, Jeff Hostler, and Jim McMahon were not "franchise" qbs and they "won" the Superbowl. And seriously, get off the Super Bowl talk, this team first needs to make the playoffs and win one game before we have Super Bowl wins dancing in our heads. Hill and Smith, I believe, are more than capable of getting the Niners to the playoffs, from there its up in the air.

You named all names of QBs from 10 years ago... That is not the style of NFL that exists today. Also, Dilfer had one of the best defenses ever winning for him. Well i think you just about named the only 5 qbs that are the exception to my statement.. I cant belive you would even argue that a team doesnt need a franchise QB and that "Hill and Smith are more than capable of getting the Niners to the playoffs"???? Oh Fightin, just so you know, Jeff Hostler never played football.

what did i say something wrong?.....Is MM now the leader on anything niners aka Westcoast RUSH?...we can't critic his work?....nobody is disputing the idea that A.Smith will be a niner next season, can anyone seriously bet he isnt going to be a niner......you guys are mad at me for questioning MM blog skills......are you serious?.....ok...tell me one thing i wrote that isn't true?......Does anyone really believe A.Smith wont be on the roster next year? - NO ....so why is MM writing as if we are fools that can't put 2 and 2 together...i mean who should be insulted here?

What is possibly happening now after 6 straight losing seasons? This is how the Detroit Lions became the Detroit Lions - how the New Orleans Saints became the New Orleans Saints for decades. You keep hiring mediocre coaches and keep signing mediocre players. Green Bay was like this for almost TWENTY FIVE years (can y ou imagine 25 years of mediocrity at QB? They had it after Bart Starr) until Mike Holmgran and Ron Wolfe came there. All those teams had tons of chances to get superior players and they just didn't do it. When you sign and pay a guy like Huard, it makes a statement to the rest of the league about how bold and agressive you will be in getting talent. And the fact that when you DO spend millions of dollars on players, you never REALLY seem to get it right. I WOULD rather have Losman on the team - someone who at least has shown some raw talent.

I want to see what the McClueless apologists have to say when next season ends and we go 7-9. Trying to talk any sense into them now is a complete waste of time.

Jack, I agree that we will draft a safety but he won't get the starting job without winning it from Roman in training camp. I doubt if that will happen because I don't see any safety in the draft good enough to start.

Randy, yes McCloughan said our opening training camp starting safety was on the roster. Roman is on the roster. You might think it will end up as Goldson but the coaches haven't thought he's good enough and what in the off season would make them change their minds?

The "49er Blogger Comedy Show!"

Some of you people kill me (a few make complete sense, however . . . and you know who you are).

You really do. I'm almost addicted to sites like this cause it makes me laugh.

You bitch about Warner, who had an MVP type season. OK. Then, you bitch about Huard, who you say is terrible. OK.

You bitch about the Yorks. You bitch about SM. You bitch about MS. You bitch about the stadium.

Bitch and moan. Bitch and moan. And almost always without an INTELLIGENT thought to support your "bitching and moaning."

Why don't some of you geniuses save your money and buy your OWN team? Or start out at the lowest ranks and learn how to scout? Learn the front office? Coach a Pop Warner team with the hopes of eventually coaching in the NFL?

Too funny!

One simple question to those who think Jed the boy-king, McSpineless, and the reverend Mike know what they are doing: How does signing Huard make the 49ers better?

You named all names of QBs from 10 years ago... That is not the style of NFL that exists today. Also, Dilfer had one of the best defenses ever winning for him. Well i think you just about named the only 5 qbs that are the exception to my statement.. I cant belive you would even argue that a team doesnt need a franchise QB and that "Hill and Smith are more than capable of getting the Niners to the playoffs"???? Oh Fightin, just so you know, Jeff Hostler never played football.

oneniner are you joking or just trolling? i suspect the latter, but the very idea of Matt naming Alex Smith an official 2009 niner goes against being a responsible blogger in the first place. you don't report things until they are confirmed. period. until then, anything can happen.

For starters, Damon Huard is better than Alex Smith. He will be a better backup to Hill. Huard has an 80.6 career passer rating while Smith's is an abysmal 63.5. This signing is definitely not a blockbuster but they did improve the backup qb spot.

how does signing Huard matter that much?

Why are you guys getting so bent out of shape by the (potential) signing of a #3 QB? We need at least 3 QBs, and there is nothing says that Huard can't be cut if we draft/sign another.

I wanna see what the Whiners say when we win the West this year. Although I'm sure they'll be back under a new name... What a joke.

There's still plenty of time to pick up an OT in FA. That being said here are few that are available.

Khalif Barnes from Jacksonville / 4 yr veteran
Elton Brown from Arizona / 4 yr veteran
Britt Wesley from New Englans / 3 yr veteran

Huard is fine. As I noted here ,before Warner arrived,the Warner . deal was a scam.A pact of mutual deception that required no nefarious planning.It was to give Warner leverage and the niners a faux importance as a team willing and and able to spend money in FA.Yes,the same brass who snivelled about Barnes and Willis being too pricey.But,for the optimist,they said the same thing about Johnny Morton,and we snagged that prize after a fough negotiation with,ah,retirement.Keep the passion,you're going to sell lots of tickets to see Harvin,Crabtree,Maclin or,even more exciting,Andre .

Didn't take long for me to proved 100% wrong on Roman. Maybe Singletary was reading this blog.

My friend, you just made a lifelong 49er shed a tear reading such a passionate statement. I too bought into Kurt warner, and sad to say, my reaction earned me a permanent dissolution from ESPN's board. It was probably for the best for you know how many card fans and Hawk fans were providing the crow?

Funny thing out of this is even if Warner gets his way, suppose Boldin doesn't agree to this? What if he still wants out?

I still have some hope for Alex Smith though. I feel we need to see what he can do, without Nolan, without a nit pick OC, without heaving the ball beyond 15 yards...if this plan, though I don't support it, does not work for Alex, then I say he needs to go. But remember, if Alex never had a chance to throw to Bruce, he needs to have achance at this method Sing wants to do. I still feel it's a failed plan, but we have to see what it'll do.

I don't understand, if warner didn't want to be here, but the agent was there, why didn't Warner just tell the agent to forget this whole thing? Why waste our time to come here and break our hearts?

Let's take a look at our opposition:

NFC North: Chi/Min/GB/Det
Out of those teams, Minn is @/GB is @, and we do poorly on the road, so 2 road losses, lose to the Bears, but beat the Lions. Wow!
AFC South: Colts/Hou/Titans/Jax
jax is the legit team we should beat. Everybody else though, losses. If the Bears can find a way to lose to Hou, we're not that far off ourselves. Andre Johnson will roast our secondary.
Lose @ Phi
maybe win Atl
Division
2 losses to Arizona
split Seattle
beat Rams
6 and 10 finish.
And' that's improvement to you. Wow, 6 and 10 instead of 7 and 9 is an improvement. Does that mean maybe we'll go to the playoffs as a #4 seed?

Great perspective on the state of our team.Some people on this blog are so quick to judge how things are within the organization. We haven't even played a game yet and some people are already throwing in the towel. Relax guys.