Scot McCloughan held a noon phone conference with writers and indicated he is not necessarily looking for a starting quarterback in free agency -- the period begins tonight at 9:01. If he gets a veteran to compete for the starter job, cool, but it's not necessary. If he takes a QB in the draft he would not expect him to compete.
All of which makes me worry. The Niners can't believe their QBs are good enough. These are their QBs:
JTO -- not on the roster but McCloughan said there's a 50 percent chance he'll be back. Good grief.
Alex Smith -- McCloughan said, "I am a fan of Alex Smith." It is hard to be a fan of Smith who hasn't played in 1 1/2 seasons because of a bad shoulder and wasn't great before the bad shoulder.
Shaun Hill -- he's the frontrunner although Mike Singletary refuses to say he's the frontrunner. Hill has great intangibles but he can't throw long and sometimes you have to.
With these quarterbacks the Niners are limited, have a self-imposed ceiling on their offense. It means they really do plan to be a running team. But even running teams have to throw. What gives?
What gives? Not me...I'm keeping my money in my wallet until I see a product worth paying for.
Mick Vick anyone?
ts, stop provoking Lowell. Vick is not going to be on the Niners. And there is no chance that JTO is returning.
You have Hill as the starter, Smith will probably be signed, maybe pick up Gus Frerotte as insurance. If Smith signs relatively quickly maybe there will be a QB drafted instead of Frerotte. Or maybe if Smith can't make a deal, then Frerotte and a dreftee.
Lowell,
Tell us something we don't know.
Bob in Pacifica- Gus F as insurance? Please! Insurance you want Gus as Insurance, that insures another losing season.
Mike Vick in liberal pet loving California?? Think Not! Next idea please.
Lowell, think maybe you should re-think the whole blogging idea?
They still have morons in this world that think VICK is going to play in the NFL again? The only team that would take him is the RAIDERS and they would use him as backup or safety.--VICK ANYONE--what a moron. Ferotte -yeah right.You guys are about as smart as COHN
I THINK AND KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE DRAFT.
PAT WHITE IS THE QB ANSWER AT THE 10TH PICK AND THEN A PASS RUSHER FROM HELL. THEN OFF LINE AND THE BIG BAD ASS PUNISHER AT RB. I BEEN A MORE THAN DIE-HARD FAN WITH ALL THE SPORTS PACKAGE ON MY DTV DISH AND I WATCH COLL AND PRO GAMES ALL DAY LONG. I TRACK THE PROSPECTS IN COLL TO THE NINER'S NEED, IKNOW THE NINER'S AND BEEN A FAN SINCE 1968.
RC, the Niners need to go into the season with a backup to Hill. I'd prefer Smith, who has more of an upside, along with the team getting a young guy drafted in the middle rounds to sit and learn. If Smith doesn't sign, getting someone like Frerotte isn't a bad thing. He would most likely sit on the bench if all goes well. He's old, his best years are behind him, he'll be cheap to sign. Sort of like Kurt Warner, eh?
BEETLE, I really doubt that the Niners will go for a QB at ten. There are more pressing needs. A pass rusher or a very good offensive tackle is a better guess.
Hey Butch, Nice jab.
In December 1997, facing rumors of an impending federal indictment on fraud, racketeering and/or bribery charges relating to his gambling dealings in Louisiana, Edward DeBartolo, Jr. signed an agreement giving managing control of the 49ers to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, in essence abdicating his rule over the 49ers.
You can have Vick. Federal crimes are part of your teams history, not mine.
Geezo Cohn give it a rest on the Niners for awhile please. I read your column everyday, not sure why exactly, and you bash the Niners all the time. To tell you the truth it's amazing to me that you are allowed in any clubhouse or locker room for any Bay Area team other than the San Quentin Giants. Why don't you report on something related to the season we are in? For example why the Giants would not sign Lincecum to a 20 year deal and lock this kid up forever? They sign him to a 1 year deal worth $650,000...are you kidding me? I hope he has another big year and then he will be in Pinstripes pitching for my beloved Yankees!
Try being nice for a change and right something positive!
I have a great idea for you Lowell. Write a column about a local boy, Skeet Reese, who recently won the Bass Master Classic! Skeet grew up in RP and went to Rancho Cotate. It would be a great opportunity to write a positive piece about somebody close to home who is having a lot of success doing something he absolutely loves to do. His older brother, Jimmy, is also having success fishing the West Coast events. These are 2 great guys who are true professionals.
Great quarterbacks throw intermediate-length passes in a small radius, nearly always leading the receiver. I like Shawn Hill's competitiveness, yet he is ususally throwing within a LARGE 3' radius, often forcing his receiver to turn around for an attempted receptions. (rememb er Jerry Rice RAC's... catching the pass, never breaking stride and going for touchdowns?) Do the niner's seed another QB? Depends. Hill is goood enough to get a winning record on his supurb instincts alone. Cahmpionship play? I don't think so. He would have to tighten up those passes by 50%. That may be beyond coaching and into that rhelm of in tangibles we like to talk about. Then again, I don't expect the Niners to be a championship contender until they fill some big holes, so I'm OK with Hill for another year or 2 while a new guy develops. Hey Scott, how about a new guy to develop? Ain't that your job?
Good Blog Lowell! But what is even worse than the QB situation is the OC and HC who will be dealing with the QB, whomever he is! These QB's in your Blog are from the present era! What will they be able to do with a system that comes out of the mid 80's? But I guess it's easy money when you have nothing to do but handoff! And then the QB will only have to study a playbook of about 4 pages! Maybe Steve Young can come back from retirement to handoff? Or how about Joe Namath?
Its hard to see how this team can compete without a good quarterback