Golden Nuggets: Yes, Infinitely More Important

by James Brady on Feb 11, 2012 2:00 AM PST in 49ers Links

Yeah, the title today is a reference to yesterday, in that I find Carlos Rogers infinitely more important to the San Francisco 49ers and their success in 2012 than Dashon Goldson. Nothing that was said yesterday was very convincing, not that I have any issue with what was said, I'm just not changing my tune on that any time soon. Rogers had a career year and played like a top-three corner. Goldson had a career year and played like a top-ten safety ... at times.

49ers extend GM Trent Baalke's contract (SB Nation Bay Area)

Could the 49ers survive if they don't get a top wide receiver in free agency? (Examiner.com)

Injury updates: Byham eager to get back in the fold (SacBee.com)

The all-time 49ers-only Top 10 list (CSNBayArea.com)

Bond between Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith carries over to the golf course (MercuryNews.com)

49ers will bring Carlos Rogers back ... or will they? (BayAreaSportsGuy.com)

GM Baalke rewarded for a season of home runs (SacBee.com)

Being a Sheep

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Wrote a piece about my experience working with Baalke

Inspired by Friday’s news
http://butattheendoftheday.com/2012/02/10/my-experience-working-with-san-francisco-49ers-general-manager-trent-baalke/

Giving you all the 49ers info you need at the San Francisco 49ers Examiner

That's my site. Check it out!

by PHUT! on Feb 11, 2012 2:02 AM PST reply actions

Thanks for the additional insight...

The success he has had so far has surprised me and his patience has frustrated me. He has made some great moves and I am excited to know he will be with us for the foreseeable future.

by Chefantone on Feb 11, 2012 2:44 AM PST up reply actions

Good article, thanks.

If I recall, some reporters thought it odd that he took so much time with all of you. Seems to me that watching film with someone with football smarts pointing things out would be more helpful than not. It’s good business to have knowledgeable reporters. Baalke seems like a very down to earth guy. Glad he got the extension.

BTW, do you know if the new co-owner Yu has a 50/50 stake in the organization?

by McTee on Feb 11, 2012 10:12 AM PST up reply actions

Yu has a very very samll stake in ownership.. like 1% I believe

"You have to reinvent yourself each year, ... What helped us was that there was some turnover each year." Bill Walsh...

by AzNiner on Feb 11, 2012 10:54 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks

by McTee on Feb 11, 2012 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

If Rogers is truly backing off the hometown discount angle

And saying he still wants to be paid like an elite corner back then he won’t be back.

After cleaning up so many of the messes of the previous administration, with the biggest one being the Nate Clements contract, there is no way we do a mega deal with that much guaranteed money for a 31 year old corner.

First year and second of the new deal we’ll all love it because he’s still on the team. The next three years we’ll all be bitching and moaning that he can’t cover anyone with anything resembling speed any longer and we are still paying out the nose for him.

Then, just like Nate, we’ll have to cut him and take dead money on the cap.

I don’t see us repeating that mistake so quickly.

I think we can survive without a big name wide receiver in free agency if we truly commit to running the football and bring the pieces in to do it. I don’t think it’s the smartest way to go, the future is in the passing game as more rules will inevitably be changed to favor it. But if that’s what we want to do then get serious about it.

Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.

by Ougadas on Feb 11, 2012 3:15 AM PST reply actions

IMO i think its ok to sign a mid level cb and wr

if they choose not to get vjax or bowe and re sign rogers I think the team would still be fine if they got someone like manningham, meachem or even laurent robinson. Then grab a guy like tracy porter. He gets knocked a little but he played on a team that had ZERO pass rush and teams had to throw the ball a ton against that defense. I think he would look pretty good behind our front 7. Team him with cully, brown and brock and a 2012 rookie 1st or 2nd and i don’t feel that terrible about the defense.

by slim on Feb 11, 2012 6:22 AM PST up reply actions

My thoughts on Rogers, a FA WR and the draft ...

First, Ougadas, you’re right on (as usual) concerning Rogers … too old to be considering a four- or five-year contract … another Nate Clements waiting to happen … I hope that we’ve learned that lesson and do not repeat that mistake. I’m fine with up to a three-year contract … if that’s not acceptable to Carlos, let him walk. So, if that were to happen, what should we do then? Two things. Whether he stays or goes I think that we draft a CB in the first three rounds … if I’m doing the selecting I pick Trumaine Johnson (Montana) in the second round … still raw but has all of the potential that you look for in a corner … size, speed, quick recognition, cover ability, ball skills, even run support. If Carlos walks, I would go hard after CB Tracy Porter (New Orleans) in free agency.

I see the same scenario for the WR position … a draftee AND a free agent signee. Why? Any WR that we are able to draft will need development … adjust to the speed of the pro game, learn the nuances of beating pro corners … will get some modest playing time but will not start in his first season. IMO we MUST sign a #1 WR … Crabtree isn’t and never will be a #1 WR. Obviously a guy like VJ would be great, but WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. I would prefer a younger guy who we can sign for a much more reasonable amount … Dwayne Bowe would fit that description best IMO but we’ll have to see where his ego is … whether he can be a team player even as our lead-WR and whether the required dollars make any sense. Thus, I’d like to see a 2012 receiving corps consisting of Bowe, Crabtree, Morgan, Williams, a big WR-draftee (maybe future #1 WR), and Ginn (but primarily as a returner).

by 49erFanSince1950 on Feb 11, 2012 8:51 AM PST up reply actions

That need to....

Franchise tag Roger for 10mil he is 30 giving him a 4 year deal is to much And sing Goldson for 5 years 30 mil he is 27. That way we have them both for next year. But if they franchise Goldson we may loss Rogers that I don’t like

by senero on Feb 11, 2012 3:28 AM PST via mobile reply actions

It isn't as simple as the argument James is putting forwards.

I think that the career years for both players were largely due to the outstanding play of the front seven. Playing defensive back behind a good pass rush is like running behind a good offensive line so the pay package for Goldson and Rogers should reflect that.

In addition, safety is one of the most talent deprived positions in the NFL, replacing Goldson would be harder than Rogers. This holds true for the 49ers roster as well; Brown, Culliver and Brock are all decent players but we have little depth at safety other than Spillman, who’s really a special teamer.

When you consider that the ceiling of any deal with Goldson is set by the franchise tag at $6 million per year, that Rogers is five years older and will cost much more then I think it’s clear that signing Goldson should be both easier and more of a priority. They offered him a 5 year $25 million contract last year and the most he’ll be offered is a 5 year $30 million deal because they can tag him.

I’d make Ahmad Brooks a higher priority than Rogers and I think that the niners will approach the cornerback position in free agency in a similar manner to last year, they’ll stay out of the silly money bidding at the start and then find a decent veteran when things begin to calm down. If they were to spend franchise tag money on a cornerback then I’d rather have Carr from KC, he’s as good as Rogers and much younger.

by Karl Cuba on Feb 11, 2012 4:43 AM PST reply actions