Niners sign return man Rossum; D.Smith signs with Chargers

by Rocktopus on Feb 24, 2008 3:53 PM PST

From Matt Maiocco's blog:

The 49ers have reportedly agreed to terms with a return specialist, and former 49ers linebacker Derek Smith has a new home.

Ten-year veteran Allen Rossum, 32, will get the first crack to replace Michael Lewis as the 49ers' return man, according to the NFL Network. Also, Smith has signed with the Chargers, agreeing to a two-year contract.

This likely signifies the end for feel good story Michael Lewis, a.k.a the Beer Man, who was signed last year to take over returns from Brandon Williams. Interestingly, Maiocco suggests that since Rossum can handle kick returns as well, the 49ers may be anticipating the loss of backup running back and kick returner Maurice Hicks. Personally, I don't know how comfortable I am with Michael Robinson as our primary backup to Frank Gore. We better pray that Gore stays healthy this year.

Also, it's nice to see Derek Smith land on his feet so quickly. I believe the contract is for two years but I will be interested to see the dollar figures when they are revealed.

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.

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Hmmm...

I want to link to the source. How do I insert a link as text?

In the meantime, for anyone who's interested, here is the url:

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=815985

by Rocktopus on Feb 24, 2008 4:08 PM PST reply actions

Great situation for D. Smith

Smith deserves such a move, he's in a great place where he can ultimately win a Super Bowl Ring. On the other hand, I agree with hitchcock this may be departure of the beer man and Hicks, which can only be an upgrade. We need a bruiser type RB to compliment Gore and we all know Robinson is not the answer...

by bayboy on Feb 24, 2008 4:09 PM PST reply actions

Hicks probably won't re-sign

Hicks wants to play more and get paid. And Beer-man wasn't going to return anyway. We picked him up off the scrap heap when Brandon Williams flamed out.

Lott's Prayer: Almost as many words as the Lord's Prayer, but the Lord wouldn't recognize any of them.

by Nosetackle Supreme on Feb 24, 2008 8:25 PM PST reply actions

Re. Niners sign return man Rossum

I think this is a good move. Not that Hicks is a total scrub. It's just that I was tired of watching him dance and hop around on returns.

Bring back the YAC!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 25, 2008 7:39 AM PST reply actions

What was Rossum's original position?

Obviously he has been a return man since he first broke into the league but I can't remember if he started as a CB or something else. I thought he was a CB.

Tom will never be as cool as Joe

by wader251 on Feb 25, 2008 9:58 AM PST reply actions

Yup

Rossum is a CB, but I don't think he's ever gotten much playing time on defense. I wouldn't put it past Mike Martz to give him a try at WR this season. At age 32, he's still fast, and Martz has turned defensive backs into receivers before (see Mike Furrey).

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by sven406 on Feb 25, 2008 1:28 PM PST up reply actions

Truth to tell

I actually think we're going to miss Hicks in kick coverage. his return game was alwasys somewhat below average with the benefit of never fumbling.

Either way, though, it's not like it has a significant impact on the team. Kick returns might be vaguely more interesting.

And good for Derek Smith.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Feb 25, 2008 10:30 AM PST reply actions

Adios Hicks

Apparently the Niners are close to signing Deshaun Foster. I really like the idea, Foster can't stay healthy enough to be an everydown back but I think he could compliment Gore nicely.

Also, I think Rossum can replace whatever we're losing in kick coverage. So I'd say Rossum + Foster is an upgrade over Hicks + Lewis.

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Feb 25, 2008 3:13 PM PST reply actions

I'd be happy with that

When Foster got cut I nearly wrote a Diary to catch the local pulse on that, but it just slipped my mind while I was doing something else.

I think it would be a very good signing. Pretty low risk. Obviously solid reward. Do it!

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Feb 25, 2008 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

front page

Threw it to the front page for discussion. I think it would be a great signing if it does happen.

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by David Fucillo on Feb 25, 2008 7:06 PM PST up reply actions

FINALLY!!!!!!!

iT'S ABOUT TIME WE SCRAPPED OUR INEPT RETURN GAME AND ACTUALLY GOT SOME SPEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!Maybe now I won't treat every kickoff like a foregone conclusion (as every other team has since Dexter"Woops"Carter). If we can sign Foster to back up Gore too, then I'll sit back, crack a smile and actually believe our personell staff is doing their jobs(well!).

Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are the best QB/WR tandem EVER!!!!!!R.I.P. Bill Walsh...you are missed and remembered fondly.

by Adiggity419 on Feb 26, 2008 12:00 AM PST reply actions

Really?

I actually view Rossum as another "safe" return man. I don't see anything special about the signing. He's just another 30-something track-record-never-awesome-but-won't-fumble return man. It always seemed to me that most all of the actual electric return guys are in the first half of their careers. Even Dante Hall, one of the most electric return men in the last two decades, seems to be just short of completely losing that special sparkle, and he's not even on the wrong side of 30.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Feb 26, 2008 9:19 AM PST up reply actions

I agree

If you look at Rossum's average they are actually worse than Hicks and the Beer Man. Rossum may hit a homerun or two during the season but I wouldn't expect much more out of Rossum than we got out of last years return men.

Tom will never be as cool as Joe

by wader251 on Feb 26, 2008 12:50 PM PST up reply actions

rossum

is great on special teams, even when he isnt returning kicks

by sam23 @ Niners Nation on Feb 29, 2008 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

alrighty then...

average schmaverage...a home run or two would be a great deal of improvement over "NO CHANCE!" Kick return averages mean little when comparing return men imo. I want speed, and hands. And Rossum has both.

Joe Montana and Jerry Rice are the best QB/WR tandem EVER!!!!!!R.I.P. Bill Walsh...you are missed and remembered fondly.

by Adiggity419 on Feb 27, 2008 9:39 AM PST reply actions

Hmmm

But isn't return average kind of the name of the job? It's actually much less important to score a TD or two a year returning than it is to consistently put the offense in best field position possible.

And I would think the guy with the better average return is the guy who is going to do that.

Kick return success is obviously dependent on return coverage as much as anything, but you'd think that over a long enough period of time the sample size would even things out a little.

But yeah, if you're returning as many as 50 kicks or so a year, I'm a little more interested in what you do in those 48 that you don't hit a homerun than those 2 that you do. I think 96% of your production is generally more valuable than the other 4%.

He might give us some excitement, but that might not actually mean that he's better for the team.

Which is nothing against Rossum. I think he's a fine return man and a very good bet to be better than Hicks. I just don't believe that the stats bear out that he is a better return man despite the supposed "HR power."

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Feb 27, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions