Week 15 (Bengals) Link Dump

by sfgfan on Dec 10, 2007 3:11 PM PST

In an effort to get past Sunday's game, I'll slap together this (very bare) link dump for the rest of this week. There should be some news this week on Trent Dilfer's concussion, Alex Smith's shoulder, B.Y.'s possible retirement, and the 49ers possibly bringing in free agent QBs for workouts.

The only link I'll supply (for now) is a link to Matt Maiocco's most recent blog entry. It's a standard summary of Mike Nolan addressing the press. Nothing really new was said about Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer, or Bryant Young.

The interesting tidbit for me was when he asked an official (during the coaches' pregame meeting with officials) if a conspiracy could ever exist:

He went on to relay an anecdote from a recent conversation he had with a game official. Coaches and officials have a meeting 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Nolan asked the official, "Is there any possibility that there could ever be a conspiracy? Just a possibility?"

The official answered, "No way, no chance."

Nolan said he was just "b.s.ing" with the official. But the official asked why Nolan what prompted that question.

"I explained to him that we turn calls in (to the league office) and how many come back and say, 'Bad call.' I gave him our percentages. He said, 'Really? That high?'

"I said, 'Believe me, we send in more than one or two a week.' He kind of smiled and said (jokingly), 'Boy, you've had some bad crews, haven't you?'"

Before anyone goes off and tries to say he's blaming the officiating, he isn't really. The original question posed to him was why he thought the team was struggling. He admits that there are things he sees clearer now than before, and that possibly hints at him knowing how to fix those things. He also went on to mention there are things that happen that you can't explain (or expect). That is where the penalties (and injuries) come in.

It's interesting to see another official concede the 49ers have had it rather rough with officiating.

Feel free to use this space to dump various links you stumble upon during the week that you don't feel like writing the minimum words about.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

0 recs | Comment 66 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I will be there Saturday

So I guarentee a win. Because we all know how well that goes.

On the other hand, I have been notoriously bad luck for game that I have attended. Only 2 Niners games I've been to they've lost, and I believe the last 5 or 6 (at least) Giants games I've been to, they've lost. However, Barry would always hit a homerun when I attended (saw 755!), so something big usually happens despite the team losing. My guess for Saturday is: Hill goes something in the area of 20/26, 250 yrds., 3 TDs, and they lose 34-31.

"If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat."

by UnleashTheGore on Dec 10, 2007 3:24 PM PST 0 recs

Win or lose...

... just don't try to sit on any of the rails.

Like you, I seem to be bad luck for the home team when I go watch games too. The Giants always seem to lose (I don't think I've seen more than three Giants victories in the games I've attended over the past two or three years (totaling probably around 25 games or so). I did get to see 715, though.

I think Hill's line will resemble soemthing more like 15-31, 140 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs. He just doesn't seem to put enough "umph" on the ball to get it where it needs to go, which could hurt him when he plays a team that actually prepares for him and has a whole game against him.

by sfgfan on Dec 10, 2007 3:41 PM PST up 0 recs

girly?

Did it look to you (or anyone else) like he was throwing very...womanly (no offense intended for our female readers)? That's what it seemed like to the UTG family.

Of course, he can't be more feminine than Garcia. Eegads.

"If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat."

by UnleashTheGore on Dec 10, 2007 3:50 PM PST up 0 recs

He DID!

I noticed this as well. Thing is, most of the times I noticed it was during the little dump offs, quick ins, slants and other short routes. I'm under the impression that that's just how he delivers the ball when he has to take a little off of it. In any case, he lacks the arm strength to really muscle up, and he threw quite a few wobbly balls for one half of work.

by sfgfan on Dec 10, 2007 4:00 PM PST up 0 recs

Smith to have surgery

he's out. Mr Hill, here are the keys, don't drive too fast, try not to get in any wrecks.

Not a lot of details here, but it says he's going on IR and will have surgery - should be about 3 months to rehab. My bet is Andrews will do the surgery but it sounds like the specifics haven't been disclosed.

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 10, 2007 10:46 PM PST 0 recs

a little more

a little more about Smith here, but no real details either. It does talk about how Hill will be starting, and about his broken finger (kind of old news). We'll be signing a QB but Olson is the best bet to be the backup this week.

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 10, 2007 10:50 PM PST up 0 recs

Crap

We have derailed:

http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_7689770?nclick_check=1

Bare bones summary: Smith has lost the team. He says because of the way Nolan has spun his injury in the locker room and press. Some anonymous players say it's because of him going public with his injury affecting his play. If I were a better writer, I'm sure I could dovetail that last sentence with HTS's Boy's Club post.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 8:58 AM PST 0 recs

Maiocco talks about it here, touching on Nolan's future in light of this:

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=712326

I guess it really depends on a few things.

Can Smith and Nolan can patch this up?
If they can't, what side do the Yorks choose, Smith or Nolan? Or neither and get rid of both?
If it is patched up, can Smith regain his credibility in the locker room?

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 9:05 AM PST up 0 recs

If they pick sides

And this is coming from a Nolan supporter, but if the Yorks pick sides out of this fiasco and toss one of them aside, I have to believe it ends up being Alex. He was never an elite prospect. He still hasn't proven a lot. He's lost the confidence of his players. He's the bigger target from the fans at large.

Who knows, though? It could end up being both of their heads or neither.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 9:19 AM PST up 0 recs

Or, actually

After actually reading the Maiocco post, it seems a lot worse for Nolan. I take back what I said about Smith being the more likely chop. Maybe it is time to start having that wild coaching speculation thread....

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 9:22 AM PST up 0 recs

Opposite

I went the other way once reading Maiocco's post. The MediaNews article made it sound like Nolan was blasting Alex in front of the team. Maiocco made it sound like Nolan was offering his side of the story to the team, when at the time the media had already spurted out Smith's side.

Maybe that's just me, though.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 9:27 AM PST up 0 recs

Yeah

I'm waffling again. I prefaced my last sentence with "after actually reading the..." and I should probably preface this one with "after actually thinking about the..."

I'm probably somewhere in the middle of the waffle right now. I think Smith obviously has less clout, and the Yorks have previously come out on Nolan's behalf for at least next year. On the other hand, Nolan is really starting to look like the bad guy to the fans. Seeing through the spin of this is the tricky part.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 9:30 AM PST up 0 recs

Media spin

The ridiculous media spin on EVERYTHING is the reason why I tend to ignore ESPN/ABC/CBS/etc. reports until I see a Matt Maiocco report. I know it's kind of dumb to put all of my 49ers news validity on Maiocco, but he hasn't done me wrong with any news yet. He tends to be VERY objective and he hardly puts his opinions on something that is currently happening, waiting until a later time to lay down judgment. The more you read his writing, the more you have to believe he really isn't a 49ers fan (or he does a really good job of hiding it).

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 9:50 AM PST up 0 recs

I wonder what George Seifert is doing these days..

"If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat."

by UnleashTheGore on Dec 11, 2007 9:49 AM PST up 0 recs

Oh dear lord

That would be a train wreck.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 10:16 AM PST up 0 recs

Also

As I pointed out in my response to Bob below, Nolan has earned a whole lot more goodwill for the franchise than Smith has. Nolan, for all anyone knows, is the man responsible for not only bringing talent into the team, but for also finally giving the 49ers a working front office structure. The Yorks will most definitely keep Nolan over Smith, especially with the buyout cut-off looming. They can get rid of Smith without having the rest of his bonus count against the cap for the next few years? Gladly!

This is not to say I don't believe Alex will be a good QB. I think he has all the tools he needs to be just that.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 9:25 AM PST up 0 recs

Bob from Pacifica...

... pointed this article out earlier today in the main section, to which I offer my response.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 9:22 AM PST up 0 recs

Yup

I'm retarded, I missed it AGAIN. I seem to have a problem posting things that have already been posted. I'll go sit in the corner until my timeout is up but I refuse to wear the dunce cap, at least for now.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 10:41 AM PST up 0 recs

Nah.

At least you don't forget to actually hyperlink the words you're intending to link. Unlike someone we know around here...

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 11:03 AM PST up 0 recs

Neuroses(I like neurosii, even if it's not a word)

We could put together an fun set of "issues" some of our posters have. For example:

I have a tendency to post things that have already been said or linked. Sometimes practically verbatim.

You have a tendency to leave out the link you are referring to.

HowTheyScored has a tendency to reply to himself.

One poster had a tendency to not reply directly to comments. I can't remember who that was, but they either got counseling to correct their problem or they left.

There are more that I'm missing if anyone can think them up. Hopefully only fun/light teasing things. Nothing mean please (e.g. so-and-so has a tendency to sleep with post-op trannies).

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 1:31 PM PST up 0 recs

Hey...

I think that last line was a shot at me...but I will let it slide because what you said made me laugh. If it wasn't directed at me then disregard this post.

Hostler the Horrible

by jfainsf49 on Dec 11, 2007 2:05 PM PST up 0 recs

Haha

I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure. I even looked back through some of your posts but I couldn't figure it out. Either way, you're the only one who has overcome, so to speak, you can stand tall (or walk hard if you prefer). Plus you're a good contributor to the site, in my opinion, so please don't take it personally, it was meant as a joke.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 3:33 PM PST up 0 recs

One more...

Fooch in his infinite laziness steals our diaries and turns them into main section posts.

I kid, Fooch.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 2:27 PM PST up 0 recs

Also

Fooch and his tendency to go to Law School. What the heck is that about? Since when is education valuable?

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 3:52 PM PST up 0 recs

law school

After I was accepted but before school started they offered us an accident tuition refund insurance thing where if a person had to leave school for the semester and they were paying for this insurance, they could get a refund on their tuition. The stress of finals makes me think I should have signed up for it and then stick my foot in front of a car :)

I had my contracts final today and now I've only got one final left this Saturday. The 49ers game is the same day but at 5pm. My final ends at noon and the 49ers game is at like 5 I think. The only problem is I might be drunk and passed out by that point!

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on Dec 11, 2007 9:47 PM PST up 0 recs

Some more...

Braekneck and his Michael Bush bandwagon he drives so well (yes, the same bandwagon I hopped on before the draft).

There was also a period of time where most of the outside links being posted on this site were for Matt Maiocco's blog. I always thought that was kind of funny, even if I did have a hand in driving that oddity.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 2:30 PM PST up 0 recs

Bush

That's right. I miss the Bush bandwagon. I'm curious how the Raiders backfield will sort out next year. Fargas has looked good since taking over.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 3:38 PM PST up 0 recs

Fargas

He's a free agent after this season, no?

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 4:00 PM PST up 0 recs

Maybe

I'm not sure. I don't know that that makes the decision easier. If he is a free agent, good for him, he's about to make some good money.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 4:12 PM PST up 0 recs

I think it does.

I think it does make the decision easier. They have so much money pumped into Jordan (two more years after this one) and Rhodes (under contract for next season), it makes little sense for them to pay for Fargas too. This is not to mention the potential-perennial-Pro-Bowl talent they have in Michael Bush.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 4:27 PM PST up 0 recs

True

Although, it's going to suck when they can't resign their most productive back.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 5:44 PM PST up 0 recs

Hey!!!

I do not have a bad habit of replying to myself!!! :(

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 3:22 PM PST up 0 recs

And...

This is where I would make a joke about replying to myself, but it's such an obvious setup I'm only going to bother giving you this general template:

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 3:24 PM PST up 0 recs

A habit you do have...

I habit you DO have is keeping the loyal public waiting for the prediction results!

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 3:27 PM PST up 0 recs

I should be able to get them up tonight

Last night my brain was fried from being out on an interview from 8:30-3 (some of which was driving time), and not being convinced that I kicked ass. I finished up the interview process today for that job, and feel better about it after this morning's rounds, but then I fried my brain trying to play World 8 of Mario 3, which is as brutally difficult as I remember it being.

I think I can get over Mario 3 Brain Fry better than yesterday's brain fry, so I'm shooting for an evening/nighttime posting.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 3:45 PM PST up 0 recs

I was kidding.

You're generally pretty punctual about the results. If I recall, you've said since the beginning results would be up by Tuesday nights, leaning as close to the deadline as possible. You're right on course.

I remember when I was younger, there was one level/stage in world 8 on the original Super Mario Brothers that gave me fits. I'd play until I got there and just say I beat the game. It's the part where you have to make a pretty decent sized leap onto a platform that is one "block" wide. I HATED that part.

Mario 3, was a lot easier, to me. Perhaps it was because I was older.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 4:10 PM PST up 0 recs

For me

The worst jump in the whole of the original Super mario was in World 8. You're standing on top of a tube, and to the right of the tube is a single space pit followed by a single space platform followed by a single space pit followed by a single space platform followed by a long pit.

To get across the jump you have to get up to running speed by the second platform, but to do that you have to run onto the first platform from the tube without falling in either of the pits...

That one still kills me, and I rule Mario 1's ass.

In Mario 3 I went into World 8 with 30 lives, and systematically worked my way through every single one of them without beating the first mini-castle on the third map screen.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 4:25 PM PST up 0 recs

I forgot about that one..

... that jump is ridiculously difficult as well.

Man, this talk is making me want to go get Galaxy. I've made a conscientious effort not to buy games that "end," though. Maybe I'll go rent it instead.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 4:30 PM PST up 0 recs

Oooo

Galaxy is very, very fun.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 4:41 PM PST up 0 recs

Whoops, I was wrong

This results will have to wait for tomorrow. I'll try to get it up before noon. I ended up having a surprise family dinner from early evening until just after 10:00 (oh, goooooood wine!), and now I just don't feel like doing the legwork before bed.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2007 11:31 PM PST up 0 recs

lol

Hostler the Horrible

by jfainsf49 on Dec 12, 2007 8:26 AM PST up 0 recs

Bad?

No one said it was a "bad" habit!

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2007 3:26 PM PST up 0 recs

Yeah

I never said bad, in fact I usually find it funny (or informative if you're adding more to your original though), which in my book is good.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 11, 2007 3:36 PM PST up 0 recs

my secret bad habit

get into a discussion, and then when someone posts a response that's more that one paragraph long, stop reading the thread and completely ignore everyone.

Or maybe my bad habit is posting too many images.

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 12, 2007 8:12 AM PST up 0 recs

No, no

the images are good. I have tried my hand at adding images. Do you have to have a certain program in order to add images? or do you just have to know what you are doing? If it is the latter than I am screwed. At one point I was going to put the Niner's logo on a door mat and post it but I couldn't figure out how.

Hostler the Horrible

by jfainsf49 on Dec 12, 2007 8:33 AM PST up 0 recs

photoshop

and the really good ones, like the colts voodoo, were done by my roommate, who is a trained graphic designer. He also taught me most of what I know about photoshop so I can do fun stuff like add text with outlines, etc.

And give credit to Fooch, as a lot of the images are his ideas or he finds the basic picture and then I mess with it.

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 12, 2007 8:39 AM PST up 0 recs

Aha!

So that's why you hardly ever get into "arguments" with Howie.

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 8:49 AM PST up 0 recs

what can I say

I'm a lover not a fighter

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 12, 2007 9:17 AM PST up 0 recs

Amusing

Ocho-cinco says that Patrick "Bam Bam" Willis is the "truth" during his conference call with the Bay Area media.

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 11:40 AM PST 0 recs

Bam-Bam?

I have mixed feelings about that one, but I can't say I think it's bad. At least it's not playing on his initials somehow.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 12, 2007 11:49 AM PST up 0 recs

I like it

Here is the full quote, which you likely read anyways, but it makes sense to me:

He's playing with a cast, and I started calling him 'Bam-Bam.'

For now, it works for me. Especially since this isn't the first time he's played with the cast.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Dec 12, 2007 1:37 PM PST up 0 recs

Bam Bam did like to hit things...

I'm not very fond of "Bam-Bam," either. It could work, I suppose.

I was amused by his initial response. Expletives are always funny, and it's kind of neat to see Barrows and Maiocco report it as such.

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 2:02 PM PST up 0 recs

Bam Bam

I can't stand about 99% of what comes out of 85's mouth but I do like the nickname.

Hostler the Horrible

by jfainsf49 on Dec 12, 2007 2:12 PM PST up 0 recs

At the very, very least

It sounds like photoshop gold.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 12, 2007 2:16 PM PST up 0 recs

That's gold Jerry, GOLD!

Hostler the Horrible

by jfainsf49 on Dec 12, 2007 2:25 PM PST up 0 recs

ok ok ok

I'll get on it...

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 12, 2007 3:53 PM PST up 0 recs

wow

I just don't know what I could possibly do to this to incorporate willis:

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Dec 12, 2007 3:55 PM PST up 0 recs

I guess

The first step would have to be getting him out of those Bengals colors.

After that... you got me.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 12, 2007 4:08 PM PST up 0 recs

I suppose...

I suppose you could always juxtapose that club on Willis' hand and then put in some kind of caption of him saying "BAM BAM!"

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 4:16 PM PST up 0 recs

Talk about unusual.

Our old pal, TO, has been unusually quiet this year. No "me this" or "me that" at all. None.

So he finally opened his mouth recently, but the words that came out of his mouth may actually surprise. He spoke up against Keyshawn Johnson's assertion that the Cowboys of this year are a Bill Parcells product. T.O. disagrees.

Source: ESPN

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 3:25 PM PST 0 recs

Terrible Owens

We had some good times. We had some bad times.

Terrible did make that one catch in the playoffs against the Packers, I think it was. But he also disgraced the team by celebrating on the Cowboy's star at mid field several years back.

That moment epitomizes much of what is wrong with professional sports today.

Now I'm gonna go have a pitty party.

Hostler the Horrible

by jfainsf49 on Dec 13, 2007 8:36 AM PST up 0 recs

Site slow?

I don't know if anyone else is experiencing this, but is the site loading really slowly? It's like hanging while drying to load that stupid NFL ad at the top of the page and then all of a sudden loads in a spurt.

Not really much of a big deal. Just a minor annoyance, really.

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 4:16 PM PST 0 recs

Actually

I've had that exact experience for a while now. It loads appreciably slower than the rest of the sb blogs I go to, but not eye gaugingly slow so I never thought to make a fuss.

But you're definitely not the only one.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Dec 12, 2007 4:24 PM PST up 0 recs

For me it loads significantly slower...

... than MCC, and any of the other football blogs I've clicked to recently (Bengals, Panthers). It seems to hang for a second at the ad at the top, and then hang again half way through loading the main section, and then again before loading the right side/frame (or whatever it is).

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 4:37 PM PST up 0 recs

Wednesday press update.

Matt Barrows offers a press update for today in his most recent blog entry.

Nothing really new or big. Nolan still envisions Smith as the 49ers QB of the future. Smith addressed the team and apologized for being a distraction before heading off to Alabama to see Dr. Andrews. Weinke was signed because he and McCloughan are old friends and McCloughan always thought Weinke was a smart guy (the kind of guy that can pick up a playbook in a short period of time).

The sad part of the entry is that it sounds like Trent may be nearing the end of his career. Concussions are never a fun topic to discuss, and as 49ers (and maybe Giants) fans, we know them all too well. I hope Trent doesn't have any lasting effects from his concussion, although he is fearing there may be.

by sfgfan on Dec 12, 2007 4:50 PM PST 0 recs