Jason Hill upset with lack of chances
When receiver Jason Hill caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis in the closing minute of the first half, he did not celebrate.
Heck, Hill did not look excited in the least. In fact, he looked downright angry. And that's exactly how he felt after the 49ers' exhibition finale, a 26-7 loss to the Chargers.
Hill, a
But Hill never took that next step this summer during training camp. He turned into the forgotten man, as he was pushed to the back of the depth chart.
"Maybe the coaches don't like me or something," Hill said. "I don't know. I just haven't been getting enough reps. When I get reps, I make plays. I showed it last year when I get reps. When I get in a game, I make plays. I'm proving it on the field every time."
When asked if he thinks he might get cut on Saturday, Hill almost seemed excited about the prospect.
"I think there's a strong possibility," he said. "I haven't been getting any reps. I'll have my phone on high volume tomorrow waiting for the call. All I know is I make plays, and hopefully there are 31 other teams that see that.
"Oh, I'm pissed," he added. "I'm a ballplayer. I make plays. When I get on the field, I make plays."
Hill caught two passes for 33 yards. For the second week in a row, he was interfered with on a deep pass, drawing a pass-interference call. The penalty netted the 49ers 36 yards.
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It still looks as Hill has a strong chance to make the team, as Michael Crabtree is unsigned and Brandon Jones is out through September with a broken shoulder. Dominique Zeigler, who was scrapping for a roster spot, sustained a left ankle sprain that makes his roster spot even more questionable.
Versatile Micheal Spurlock got the starting nod at flanker ahead of Hill. Spurlock caught three passes for 23 yards. He also averaged 25.5 yards on two kickoff returns.
"I got a chance to start," Spurlock said. "Usually I'm working in the slot. I got a chance to start on the outside and show them a bit of versatility. I made a couple play . . . I think they showed the total package."
And what's his feeling about cutdown day?
"I'm going to sit by my phone tomorrow," Spurlock said. "If it doesn't ring, that's a good thing. And if it does ring, Hopefully, I've done enough that somebody else will pick me up. All in all, I think I had a solid preseason."
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Another big competition is going on at tight end, where rookie Bear Pascoe and Joe Jon Finley are fighting for a roster spot.
Said coach Mike Singletary: "We know we have two tight ends. We have Delanie (
Pascoe and Finley are competing for the job to replace Billy Bajema as the blocking tight end to be used primarily in short-yardage situations.
"It was rough in the beginning, being a rookie and all," Pascoe said. "I took all the coaching and critiques, and took it to heart and tried to get better every week and I think I did. I'm looking forward to the coaches' decision and looking forward to moving on with the season. I'm really hoping it's here with the Niners. I think we got a bright future ahead of us."
Said Finley, "I had a great opportunity and I did the best I could. I laid it all on the line from Day 1. They have a decision to make and it's out of my hands now. Ever since the beginning of the offseason, I started understanding the offense and how it all works.
"I think I've gotten 100-times better this year at blocking. We'll see what they think in the end. I'm ready to get in there and give it a try, if they let me."
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Quarterback Nate Davis played all but the first series of the game. The 49ers did not hold back on the playbook with the rookie in the game. For the first time,
"I wore it and it helped a lot. They gave me a wristband for the long plays, which happened at
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Singletary spoke to Deion Sanders a lot leading up to the draft as a character witness for Michael Crabtree. But Singletary said he could not care less about what Sanders is saying now.
"I don't care if it's Deion. I don't care if it's his agent, I really don't care who it is," Singletary said. "I'm going to say what I said before. Crabtree has to do what he has to do. I'm not thinking about what Deion is saying or anybody else about that situation. I have my hands full with these 53 guys and make sure we have the right 53 and we're going to go forward with that and win some football games."
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Veteran cornerback Nate Clements' rough exhibition season continued when Kassim Osgood beat him for a 39-yard touchdown to cap the only series of the game for the 49ers' starters.
"Nate knows he has to get better and he knows he has to be more detailed in what he's doing, and he will," Singletary said. "I'm confident Nate is going to do the things he needs to do to get better. We'll address that going forward."
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I've been thinking about Crabtree and two thoughts come to mind: 1)Why would he sign anytime now if the 49ers are never gonna sweeten the deal? And I'm sure NOT suggesting they do! But think about it. It just makes him look stupid for not taking the deal sooner and 2)Did the 'rookie' front office blow this by not understanding that he wasn't gonna sign and then not either telling him he had to by a certain date or trading him when other teams showed an interest? In other words, should they have been heavier with him or tried to get something for him? I keep wondering what team ownership with years of experience would have done in this situation. If they end up with nothing for this pick (as in not even a trade down the road), then I would have to conclude the 49er's front office blew it.
Who are the other two teams that Sanders claims wanted him for tons more money? I'd be willing to bet one of them is the Cowboys.
If Peyton Manning were the 49ers QB, would he have played any less than Shaun Hill? Given his relative inexperience as a starter, why didn't Hill get more playing time to get in sync this preseason?
If it comes down to one spot between Spurlock and Hill, I really hope Hill gets it. I don't understand why the team pushed him away after such an encouraging surge late last year.
I understand Spurlock's special teams value, but Hill really showed me a lot last year and a lot tonight.
I cldnt agree more.
I dont understand this. Are we seriously considering Spurlock over hill cuz he can run the "taser" thats going to suck anyway. Will this formation (not just for the 49ers) have any success in 2009 who knows. I dont think so, i think that last year was a fluke and opposing D's are going to shut it down this year. This isnt college football. and i been saying this for a year now, Hill has every right to be pissed off. again here is another guy that we wasted a pick on basically. 3rd rounder with a lot of potential when we NEEDED a WR that basically got Nolaned (young guy, rather than developing him he just waited around on the bench. i can stil hear myself yelling just put the guy in nolan you stupid bastard) He is absolutly right when he gets on the field he plays well. Home town kid plays hard, so where do we go from here. even if we want him now does he want us???
You know to me this kinda thing is what prolly makes me the maddest about the 49ers over the last few years....
Im so sick of anything that revolves around hybrid. Our biggest problem is not getting guys to play their postion IMO. and here we go again. Im so sick of guys getting an advantage cuz they are "versitile." since we have been terrible for the last 6 years here is a new idea for the 9ers: how bout getting guys to actually play their position!!! It seems like all we do is draft Cb/S and move them to safty or DE/OLB or DEs that can play DT or visa versa ect ect....
Here is an idea, we need a cover corner... DRAFT A CORNER. you want a safty draft a real safty. we need a nose tackle, draft a real DT or same thing with end. you want a RB dont draft Qbs that we turn into rbs!!! we were drafting Qbs n puting them at WR for a while. what the hell are we doing!! here we go again. we are wasting a roster spot on a guy who can "do it all." you know what they say about a jack of all trades... he is a master at NONE. ok so Jason hill doesnt run some sh*tty verson of the wild cat that sucks anyway, why? cuz he is an acctually real reciever, how bout we work with that! im sick of drafting guys outta position or keeping guys cuz they are versitile when we shld just be filling needs accordingly and keeping the best players at their positon.
I really like the way Sing is dealing with the Crabtree situation. He wants winners and players who want to be a part of the 49ers football team. Crabtree is being offered an ungodly amount of money and still has not signed. He obviously doesn't want to be apart of the 49er organization that bad. It's too bad we didn't fill a more important void with our #1 draft selection. While Crabtree sits out the season holding hands with Neon Deon Sanders, we are still going to be in desperate need of a pass rusher and some offensive line stability. Any chance of a do over...
Don't forget about the former USC receiver Mike Williams who was touted as being the next great wideout and entered the draft early only to be forced to wait a year and then get drafted by the Lions, he didn't set the world on fire. Crabtree's camp should look at that example and how waiting it out will not work.
Hey Matt where is Scott M (49ers GM)? He sure has been quite he hasnt even been on local radio in months. Any way to interview him and get to the bottom of this Crabtree thing cause it is getting old for the fans.
If Deion says there are other teams willing to pay Crabtree double what the 49ers are willing to pay him, how could anybody reasonably know that without some sort of tampering going on? I understand that Deion has a lot of contacts and any conversations with him are unofficial and "off the record" but still. Deion works for the NFL Network. If any official for any team says something to Deion with the possibility that he regurgitates it publicly therefore undermining negotiations between Crabtree and the 49ers, that's tampering.
Of course, if Deion is just speculating publicly, and in fact nobody has said anything, rather Deion just SPECULATES that there are teams that would pay him double what the 49ers want to, then he is running his mouth at the wrong time and place ... only screwing with this young man's head, screwing over the 49ers, and all for no particularly good reason. Roger Goodell should publicly reprimand Deion and investigate this situation.
I wish Goodel would step in and fine Deion for tampering.
Hey Matt, Do you think Deion hates the 49ers so much and loves the Cowboys that he has put in Crabtrees head that if he sits out this year that the Cowboys will draft him #1 and pay him any amount? Why does deion hate the 49ers so much? We gave him a ring! Couple more questions Matt where is Scot Mccloughan at? And will Crabtree ever speak for him self? THIS SOAP OPERA WILL NEVER END!!!!!
Geez! It's already starting to look like football keystone cops again and we haven't even played a game yet. Yeah, right, Mike Martz didn't have the right "philosophy"......yeah, right.
At 58, I was still suckered at getting all jazzed about getting the glamour offensive player in the draft. I should have known better - top ten WRs hardly EVER make it big (or even make it) in the NFL. Try naming a few (or more than one). And now, it looks like he ALREADY has the attitude thing going......without having proven ANYTHING on the field, which at least Owens did. Wasting a top ten pick, when we could have had an extra OL, CB or taken a flyer on a pass rusher at least. Geez! What a disappointment. Let the bum sit out the whole season. trade him as soon as that becomes "legal", start reducing the offer NOW, week by week and don't sign him for anything less than a 6 year contract. DARE him to sit out the whole year. Be kinda fun to see a team actually say, "stick it" for once.
By the way, ShaniO is one smart football dude.
If it's true that two teams contacted Parker and let him know they were interested in trading for Crabtree and pay him $40 million...the 49ers should be able to make a case to get two pretty good compensatory picks out of those teams for tampering.
Sabotaging someone's ability to sign their first round pick for a slotted amount should be looked upon more seriously than the BS Briggs tampering charges that cost the 49ers a 5th rounder.
I'm thinking the 49ers point out that these teams cost the 49ers a top-10 pick and we should AT LEAST get two third rounders in return. That should help lessen the pain of losing him.
And yeah-- Jerry Jones is definitely involved.
Deion's comments were meant to save face for Eugene Parker by revealing a false amount of money the Niners are offering (20m), so that when Crabtree signs this coming week at the 28m the Niners have always been offering, it will look like Parker got more money for his client. Dog and pony show that indicates Parker is ready to cave in. The rest of it (2 teams and 40m) is all BS.
Excellent point, Ron. Matt, could you please comment on the issue of tampering or discipline against Mr. Sanders?
Dude i feel the same way. Im so cobnflicted cuz my hate for this guy just grows everyday, but we have to be reaslistic n hope he signs cuz it cld help our offense long term if the kid pans out. N much like yourself i am sick about wasting a 1st rd pick. Howevere I dont think there is anyone on the earth that believes anything Deon said (well i take that back, Crabtree does) but its nonsense. No one is paying him 40 mill are they high. How does the NFL not step in here n do something. I hate to say this but this isnt looking good.
and thank u for the compliment bro!, i just understand cuz i have LOVED and played the game since i was 6. part of me feels for Spurlock cuz he is the undersized guy as was I. I wanted to play college football bad but at 5'11' 175lbs i wld get killed at saftey so i actually went to class instead lol. and i was a really good high school ball player but i understand that if i got moved from saftey to CB i wld gotta smoked in my backpeddle cuz i wasnt quick enuff. but i loved being a ballhalk and hitting. point being guys fulfill their Max potential when they play THEIR postion....
Go 9ers!!!
ShaneO, I could not agree with you more. Great post; you just saved me a lot of typing.
Jason Hill, You make plays???? That is funny dude, BACK TO REALITY Jason, UNEMPLOYED! I hope you got your college degree, my advice to you RENT don't BUY!
Under Walsh we never had high draft choices but we won. Just like NE, Steelers, Indy, etc. Don't you think it is odd the best teams always draft near the end and continue to win?
Why is that? They are better Managers.
I don't know the inside details and I don't believe the Niners anymore than Sanders. What I do know this team isn't talented enough and the idea they can't sign their very valuable top pick(that everyone admitted was lucky) won't just have bad ramifications for Crabtree, it will hurt the Niners.
Jed needs to step in, call the agent & Crabtree and have a sit down and let the press know. That is how you break a stalemate, not with a take it or leave offer. I hope they really are not concern about saving face in front of the other NFL owners. That isn't the mark of any chamnpionship organization.
You are partially wrong Skeebers, there is only 1 team and it IS THE DALLAS COWBOYS. He will sit out the season.
AGAIN, Why hasn't NATE CLEMENTS been MOVED to SAFETY Yet???????? The team is way deeper at corner than safety!
I disagree. This is a business and not a political chess game. If the Niners made an offer that they really feel is the final offer, and Craptree has refused it, than the hell with the punk. He can take it or leave it. Remember, he is the employee, not the employer. The Niners are not going to be effected by him not being on the team. The only upsetting part is that they wasted a draft pick on a piece of trash.
Marco, great point ... great minds must think alike (I'm originally from Stockton). Good teams draft later ... meaning they do not tie up their salary cap to unproven rookies. It's a cycle that does not break. They spend money on proven commodities who come in and help the team continue to win. Those proven commodities want to come play for the team because they win (and are not obligating big money to high draft picks, most of whom do not work out well)
This is NOT News, I've been writing about this on this board for weeks. Here is what is going to happen. Deion "Suicidal" Sanders has an axe to grind STILL against the 49ers and doesn't want his flavor of the month Crabtree to play for the 49ers organization. Crabtree is NOT and I REPEAT NOT GOING TO SIGN WITH THE 49ers. He is going the re-enter next years draft and YES he will be the 1st selection of the DALLAS COWBOYS where ever that pick may end up being and has been promised via 3rd parties a SUBSTANTIAL CONTRACT in the 40 million dollar range. Hence, the reason he can afford to sit out the ENTIRE 2009 season because he is being BANK-ROLLED by friends in high places. That is WHY I said weeks ago before the trade deadline passed that the 49ers SHOULD HAVE contacted DENVER about trading the rights for Brandon Marshall. Being a ME guy is lonely Crabtree, ask your advisor and TO!
Two Recently: Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald. The difference is that these guys were never labeled as divas. They were football players.
Someone needs to remind Deion "GM" Sanders how great his track record has been like Pacman in Dallas and TO in Dallas???? Not Very Good. For him to say the 49ers "need" Crabtree more than he needs the 49ers is LAUGHABLE! If Crabtree ends up to SUCK the only people who will look foolish is GM Sanders and Jerry Jones.
I think we will have a solid season. I'm not worried about some of the mental lapses and vanilla showing in the preseason. However, I do agree with a lot of the earlier posts about hybrid and versatile players. I hate the fact that Jason Hill is on the bubble. Isn't he like Shaun Hill where he's less of a mystery than Spurlock? I'm also a fan of Zeigler's, when did having excellent hands and running precise routes lose out to running gadget plays. Ten pounds on that guy and he would be a solid #3 in the future. Morgan, Hill, Zeigler, Jones and toss in Crabtree would be a solid WR corp for the future.
Hey guys, this is just a last ditch ploy. Crabtree will sign. The guy has pissed off a lot of us fans. The thing is he is in the Bay area, if this whole Cowboy conspiracy had any merit he would be in Texas. Deion used the two teams interested thing to put the heat on the Niners and turn public opinion back on Crabtree's side by saying that other teams are valuing Crabtree more and the Niner's are lowballing him. Crabtree will sign by week 2.
5niner,
Don't hold your breathe, he will SIT the whole season, he doesn't need the money and the payoff will be bigger for him in Dallas.
The Draft and "slotting" exists for the bad & average teams. Think about it. Why did we have to put up with six crappy losing seasons of bad management?
We the fans get the draft as a bone thrown to losing franchises for parity and so we will buy those tickets.
Sign Crabtree
They will trade his rights for something before letting him walk away to the draft. They don't have to send him to Dallas unless Dallas is top bidder. I'm sure Denver and Arizona will be looking to replace there disgruntled star recievers. Perhaps a 2nd and later round pick will compensate for the 1st rounder lost this year. In reality if he is traded for a 2nd rounder, then it is like we swapped this years 1st and 2nd for additional 1st and 2nd rounders in the 2010 draft... Maybe the lesson learned will be that the best talent on the board is not always the way to draft! Hopefully we will adress position needs next year... OT, OLB, NT, S, QB
We definitely need OT and OLB next year. I hope our top two picks go to those roles. We should have addressed those in the draft at some point this year. However, I see guys bashing Niner management for drafting Crabtree after the diva reports, etc. I remember back in April leading up to the draft guys were wishing and praying Crabtree would fall to us. How many of you would have been okay with the fact that the Niners had passed on Crabtree. Hindsight is 20/20, but let's be honest, most of us were stoked we got Crabtree at the time.
Good Morning Matt,
Do you know if Eugene Parker was with Crabtree at his pre-draft visit to Niner HQ in early April? I'm just curious as to why a player/agent would schedule a pre-draft visit with a team holding the #10 pick if they had no intention of accepting #10 money. Bad faith. Now we have a hostage situation.
We should not release Jason Hill. He is our best deep threat out of the receivers on our roster right now. I'll take those pass interference penalties all day. He's getting by defenders down the field. He's showed a lot of promise, if you ask me.
Also, I like him and want to see him play well and return to Pro Bowl form, but I'm not sure Nate Clements hasn't played his way out of a starting CB job. They probably won't do that because he was paid a lot, but his play has not been that of a # 1 corner this preseason. He's been picked on by every QB we've faced, especially on deeper routes. I think he should at least start at the #2 corner spot. I really hope he hasn't lost a step, and is no longer a dominant CB.
1. Deone is now jut a talking head, no tampering charges can be levied against him. I'm pissed at the nfl network for giving him this stage.
2. Crabtree, Parker, nor 9er management have had anything to say....what we have is merely theater
3. JV, looks like you've got it all figured out, just one question--what axe does Deone have with the 9ers? The team may have the same name but those involved have all changed.
4. I still say this is nothing but negotiating. MC will sign cause it is money that cannot be made up. I don't buy in that Jones woild decide to pay him $40kk today for services next year. Does MC sell $40kk worth of tickets? I doubt it. Heck, if MC re-enters the draft what says the cowgirls will be in the right position.
5. I was impressed with Nate last night, I see the potential and now agree with the release of Huard.
6. Jed, McGM, Paraag, DON'T BLINK!
PHD: There were no other teams that showed any interest by contacting the Niners,ever,according to the Niners.If there were any teams who contacted anyone else except the Niners,they will be in all sorts of trouble for tampering,and so would the agent ,if he talked to them. Nobody in the NFL took the cousins threats to sit out seriously and nobody but the cousin ever said any such thing and the cousin was refuted by the agent and by Crabs himself.(at least other teams didn't take it seriously before the cut off date). Now Deion,(a good friend and client of Parker) is saying the same thing as the cousin,probably as a favor to his friend,to TRY to put pressure on the Niners,but the agent has still not said it and Crabs still has never said it and Crabs is still in the Bay Area waiting.
The Niners and the agent will get the business done sometime. As Sing said,it's time to play football for real now and he has 53 guys who he needs to worry about already.
JVI 1979: that senario of YOURS is just plain silly in so many ways. If any of that were true it would be so easy to prove and the Cowpies would probably lose their next 5 #1 picks for participating in the worst tampering case in League history.And the Agent would never work in the NFL again,ever !
Get real,lol
Have to totally agree with you about Clements. I said it too last year, the Niners would get more bang for their buck by moving him to safety especially now since they seem to have more good corners than safeties. His talents make him more suited for safety just like a guy named Lott who moved to safety. That worked out pretty well. Just get rid of Roman, move Nate and the defensive backfield becomes a whole lot more solid. Also a question I've asked: what is it about Jerry Sullivan that's supposed to make him an exeptional wide receivers coach since he's developed NOBODY since he's been here. Four plus years and the receiver corps is still in major flux!!!!
They are so dumb if they cut hill which they probably will since it's the wrong thing to do, then we can watch him ball on another team just like I watched Harvey Dahl do with the Atlanta Falcons. If Jason Hill gets cut Scott McCloughan should be fired since that would be another of many high pick (3rd round) failures McDummy has drafted.
Yes, Yes Sonoco you are so right!!! Why would you visit any but the first 5 teams in the draft if you are SURE you are first 5 material and will not except less than top 5 money, theirs no point.
Hey, Reggie, the Pats just cut their 3rd round pick from LAST year. Are they dummies, too? The Colts and the esteemed Bill Polian have only 3 of 9 picks from the 2007 draft still on their roster. Dummies. How about the Steelers? They just cut their 2008 3rd round DE pick. Your knowledge is on a par with the career of your screen name.
The NFL is goig to lay "tampering" charges on the Dallas Cowboys because of statements made by a guy that isn't part of their organization? I doubt it, this is Jerry Jones we are talking about, not John York. The NFL will not make an example of Jerry Jones, way too risky to do that.
At the beginning of every week the Crabtree backers say he'll sign by the end of the week. I'm to the who cares point! What's he going to do with this team? It has no QB who can get the ball to an outside receiver. Only Davis can do it. But he won't start until the middle of the season at best. And they let Huard go who was the other QB who could get the ball to an outsid receiver.
Besides this team will need 250 rushing yards a game!