49ers tumultuous week in review

Ok, so maybe that headline is a bit too much. I'm finally getting back to San Francisco from a fairly long trip to Las Vegas. I finished down for the weekend, but fortunately I had a nice strong finish last night. I hit four 6s at a poker table and the bonus it paid took some of the sting off of the weekend. But now, I'm back and it's time to get into high gear for the draft. Tonight I'll be updating out mock draft database and we'll continue to have plenty of info heading into the draft.

It's amazing crazy things managed to get while I was gone. I was in a poker room at 11pm on Wednesday when I saw the ESPN bottom line mention Maiocco's report that Scot McCloughan was taking some kind of leave of absence. Since then, it's been a mix of all kinds of random information on the topic.  We've heard bits and pieces from all parties, but nothing specific as to why. McCloughan and his agent have made some mention of family. Mike Sando mentioned a pending divorce, so hopefully McCloughan is using this break to save his marriage.

On Friday I posted some info on the guy who appears to be the 49ers new #1 man, Trent Baalke. He's been in the role of Director of Player Personnel up to this point, which was McCloughan's role before he became GM. Maiocco did a rundown of the front office personnel, and it would seem that Baalke has unofficially slid into the GM role. Beyond Baalke, Tom Gamble, the director of pro personnel, would seem to step in as a sort of #2. Maiocco mentioned the idea that Paraag Marathe would take on a lot of roles, similar to 34-year old Howie Roseman in Philly. Who really knows though until we hear otherwise.

After the jump we've got some quick rundowns on Gamble and Marathe, and then look at some other 49ers news in a busy week for the 49ers.

Up until recently, Tom Gamble has filled the role of Director of Pro Personnel. 

In his role, Gamble monitors every NFL roster with an emphasis on scouting talent of upcoming pro free agents. He is also responsible for maintaining continuous depth of personnel on the 49ers roster. Gamble’s extensive NFL resume includes work in both college and pro scouting, contract negotiations, and a stint in the coaching ranks with the New York Jets.

During his time in the NFL, Gamble has helped build nine playoff teams – five with Indianapolis and four with Philadelphia. Prior to his arrival in San Francisco, Gamble served as a college scout for the Colts from 1998 to 2004 under veteran NFL executive Bill Polian.

Gamble originally entered the NFL as an assistant in the player personnel department of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988. He stayed with the Eagles through 1994, serving as a college scouting administrator, area scout, contract negotiator, and later served as the director of pro scouting.

He's also spent some time as a defensive assistant/quality control coach for the Jets, and a part-time college scout for the Panthers.

Paraag Marathe has received plenty of ink, and comments here at Niners Nation. He currently operates as Executive Vice President of Football and Business Operations.

In his current role, Marathe plays a key role in the success of the 49ers both on and off the field. He is the club’s chief contract negotiator and manages its compliance with the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, while working hand-in-hand with General Manager Scot McCloughan on all football operations and player personnel matters. Marathe is also responsible for the management of the club’s salary cap, multi-year forecasting at both the individual club and league level, and the club’s research and development efforts.

On the business side, Marathe is at the forefront of the team’s various business efforts, having a significant leadership role within corporate partnerships, ticket sales and marketing. He works with various departments to evaluate and improve processes and business strategy. Marathe also is a key member of the team’s efforts to build a new state-of-the-art stadium in the Bay Area for its fans.

Prior to joining the 49ers, Marathe worked at management consulting firm Bain & Company from 1999-2001 as a Senior Associate Consultant, where he advised clients in a variety of industries including private equity, venture capital, computer software, retail, sports footwear, consumer products, and health clubs. Before that, Marathe worked in the sports consulting group at the International Management Group (IMG) from 1997-1999, where he concentrated primarily on stadium naming rights deals, corporate sponsorships, and athlete endorsements.

So you've got a guy who has experience in all sorts of areas. Depending on the success of the franchise in the coming years, if Jed York assumed a general manager owner type of role, Marathe could very well end up as team president.

And the most interesting name included among the 49ers front office is their director of college scouting, David McCloughan.  For those wondering, yes, that's Scot's brother.  Will he be sticking around?  He would seem to fill the college version of Tom Gamble's role, so if he sticks around, he's clearly a player in all this.

David McCloughan enters his sixth season with the 49ers overseeing the club’s college scouting department. In 2004, 49ers General Manager Scot McCloughan recruited David, his older brother, from across the Bay where he spent the previous nine years in the player personnel department of the Oakland Raiders.

It seems like David McCloughan and Tom Gamble would fill dual deputy roles to Baalke.  Both are fairly specialized roles and both are necessary, so one would not seem to jump ahead of another.  Of course, given David's relationship to our dearly-departed GM, I'd imagine that could play into things...

Barry Sims/Offensive Line

Given all that's gone down with the front office, it's nice to be able to look at actual football information. According to Maiocco's Twitter page, Barry Sims is expected to make some kind of decision where to sign later this week.  The 49ers and Redskins are in the running, and Sims may mix in a visit to Seattle as well.  I'd imagine he's expecting a backup role, but hoping to be in a place with a weakness on the offensive line.

The 49ers would certainly seem to fit that option.  Guard Chester Pitts has narrowed down his list of potential locations, one of which is the 49ers.  He is looking to go somewhere to compete for a starting position, and it sounds like the 49ers told him he would have such an opportunity in San Francisco.  David Baas, please answer the white courtesy phone!  I don't know if Pitts will win the job, but if the team is committed to Chilo Rachal at one of the guard positions, Baas and Pitts would be doing battle at the other guard position.  And if that was the case, it would seem logical for Barry Sims to think he has a chance against Adam Snyder.  The 49ers would seem inclined to grab a tackle in the draft, but we'll see.

Pac Man Jones

I still don't expect anything to come of this, but it's worth noting that Adam "Pac-Man" Jones reportedly ran a 4.4 40-yard dash during a 25-30 minute workout down south of New Orleans.  Additionally, the 49ers reportedly met in private with Pac-Man before the workout.  Now, maybe this will amount to nothing in the long run, but it's obviously worth considering.  I don't see the 49ers signing Pac-Man, but if he's in shape, just maybe he's worth bringing into camp.  Or maybe not.  I'm sure we'll get plenty of divergent opinions on the topic.