49ers and Shaun Hill agree to 3-year deal

by David Fucillo on Feb 4, 2008 7:06 PM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

Well I know a healthy contingent of this website will be quite pleased with this news. And while some of us are still hoping Alex Smith turns out to be the guy, I think we can all agree it's a good thing the 49ers have resigned Shaun Hill to a 3-year deal. I found out from Matt Barrows Sac Bee blog, and he was confirming Matt Maiocco's report through Hill's agent.

"It's very exciting to be a Niner for another three years and I appreciate the opportunity they're giving me," Hill said today.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to play for coach Martz," Hill said. "He's done some neat things with quarterbacks in the past. And I'm similar to the guys he's had in the past."

Hill said his style is a lot like that of Marc Bulger.

"I play the same kind of game he does," Hill said. "He has a quick release. He doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but he gets the ball out on time and in rhythm."

For those who picked at or around $2 million in our prediction thread, MM is reporting the deal should be around $2 million per year with playing-time bonuses if Hill can win the starting job.

According to Matt Barrows, the candidate for the third QB position is likely to come through free agency. I'm guessing this means we won't be taking a QB in the draft, but maybe we will and go 4 deep.

Obviously there will be a healthy competition this summer, so the question becomes who wins the job and even before that, how will Alex Smith handle this? No contract in the NFL is guaranteed but this is certainly a showing of confidence towards Shaun Hill. I think Alex Smith is mature enough to handle some competition (and if he isn't we don't want him anyways)). So thankfully this has been wrapped up and we can start looking towards free agency, the draft and the 2008 season!

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I'm not sure Hill has the arm

to run the Martz system. Of course, we don't have the WRs for it either, so who knows how they'll change it up.

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 4, 2008 7:28 PM PST reply actions

giovanni carmazzi sure had the arm!

I'm not sure Jeff Garcia has an arm at all, but he turned in a couple probowl seasons here.

Anyway, I'm glad to see Hill back in a niners uniform, and I'm looking forward to seeing an open competition in training camp and the preseason.

Hill's comments make it seem almost as though Martz played a big part in the deal - perhaps swaying Hill with ideas of a system that's geared more towards his style...which would be quite a contrast to something that would more properly fit Alex Smith. In this, it seems to me like Mike Martz has already said who he'd prefer under center in 2008.

by shleckothegecko on Feb 4, 2008 7:56 PM PST up reply actions

Strong arm

Let's not forget the former Niners top draft pick with a cannon of an arm! The guy who used to pull Oldsmobiles across the field to show just how strong he is.

I just wish I could remember his name... What was it...

Thinking of giving up sports and taking up heavy drinking.

by Drunken Miller on Feb 5, 2008 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

Ken Dorsey

Yeah, that's got to be it.

by methodrampage on Feb 5, 2008 2:26 PM PST up reply actions

Ladies and Gents, we have a winner!

Man, Dorsey was built like a horse, wasn't he?

By horse, I mean skinny little dude from Orinda. That's essentially horse-like.

Thinking of giving up sports and taking up heavy drinking.

by Drunken Miller on Feb 6, 2008 9:25 AM PST up reply actions

Pump the Positivity

Oddly enough I am in quite the positive mood. So allow me to defend our receivers, stats, drops and hands of stone aside.

We have some average receivers. And now we have an above average OC. I would like to think that Martz will recognize each guy's skill set:
1)The Disease--a physical beast willing to go across the middle. At the least we can say he isn't scared of taking hits. Otherwis why would he stand upright as long as he does?
2)Frank[enstein's monster]Gore--an awesome receiver coming out of the backfield. Not to mention the guy can run just a wee bit.
3)A. Lelie--this guy will allow Martz to strecth the field. Teams must respect his ability to run the deep route.
4)DJack--well he should be getting smarter as he ages.
5)Battle--well he has cool last name.
6)J. Hill--well at least he and Shaun have something in common besides playing on the same team.

by jfainsf49 on Feb 5, 2008 2:25 PM PST up reply actions

Basically I Agree

Martz has enough talent at the skill positions to make the offense have way decent. Everybody think we're going to draft some stud reciever that's going to make a huge impact in his first year. It ain't gonna happen and history has my back on this one.

Let me reiterate; Nolan and Martz need to win now and a rookie WR drafted in the first round is going to do little to help them win next season.

by methodrampage on Feb 5, 2008 2:32 PM PST up reply actions

Holy Marbles!!!

Did I just see Braekneck and Fains agree on something!?!??!? This is the greatest day of my life!

Re: rookie wide receiver, you're so right it's scary. Rooks at wide receiver and QB rarely make a major impact right away, so to think one will step in and make this team an instant winner is foolish at best. Personally, I have a degree of faith that Martz will be able to properly utilize our receivers, and play to our team's strengths. That's been something I feel we've lacked for years, but I think that could very well change this year.

Thinking of giving up sports and taking up heavy drinking.

by Drunken Miller on Feb 6, 2008 9:30 AM PST up reply actions

LOL

Yea, I know I wanted to comment on that too, but I was speechless!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 6, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions

Well...

a blind squirrel does find a nut every once in awhile.

by methodrampage on Feb 6, 2008 10:24 AM PST up reply actions

LOL

Man, the laughs never stop coming. Good times!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 6, 2008 11:36 AM PST up reply actions

Good move for the Niners

Hill ran the offense best out of all the quarterbacks last season. If what MM predicts is true and the contract only being 2M a year, it's hard to see any negatives to this. One thing for sure, anything is better than last year's brand of 'three and out' offense.

I haven't given up on Alex Smith just yet. Last year is a wash in my opinion. He won his first two games regardless of what the stats says, and played very well against Pittsburgh in week 3. Anything after the injury can be thrown out the window.

Now it gets interesting. Let's see if Alex Smith is as smart as advertised. Both he and Hill will get the playbook at the same time. This QB-controversy will definitely keep Niner-land talking all off-season.

YAHA!

by Eyeshield21 on Feb 4, 2008 7:59 PM PST reply actions

Well said.

"You gotta bring ass, to get ass." --EDDIE DeBARTOLO JR.

by Josh from Hollywood on Feb 5, 2008 12:29 AM PST up reply actions

Awesome

First Darth Belichick's evil empire falls, and now this. Great move by the niners.

How will Smith handle it? Well, he'll either fold under the pressure (a distinct possibility) and we'll be left with a better QB to start the season, or he'll finally have some motivation to play like a number one pick (or at least something close to a number one pick). Either way, this is GREAT news for niner fans.

My dad said something interesting to me after Eli hoisted the Lombardi trophy for the Giants: "This gives me some hope for Alex Smith." Not sure if I feel as optimistic but it is an interesting thought. I had very little faith in Eli going into the playoffs but, after his performance over the last few weeks culminating in a terrific Super Bowl, I have pledged not to trash the guy anymore. The question is, does Eli's performance give you hope for our own underachiever?

by Call It The Throw on Feb 5, 2008 7:08 AM PST reply actions

Does Eli's performance give you hope...

No.

by methodrampage on Feb 5, 2008 7:59 AM PST up reply actions

Despite the fact that I raised the question...

I agree with you.

by Call It The Throw on Feb 5, 2008 8:43 AM PST up reply actions

well said

by shleckothegecko on Feb 5, 2008 11:19 AM PST up reply actions

Rotoworld

Reports that it's a 3 yr $6M (base) including a $2M signing bonus and he can earn $5.5M if he becomes a starter.

by methodrampage on Feb 5, 2008 7:32 AM PST reply actions

Shaun "Suger" Hill

Sugar Hill baby, Suger Hill.

by jfainsf49 on Feb 5, 2008 7:37 AM PST reply actions

Great signing

Either way, this is great news. Maybe Hill wins the starting job and produces for us. But even if he doesn't and Alex Smith wins the job, at least we know we have a decent backup QB for the next few years (and a good backup is more important in this league than ever).

by jaytierney on Feb 6, 2008 3:26 PM PST reply actions

QB next year

I saw Trent Dilfer on the golf course yesterday, and it looks like it's gonna be Smith vs Hill + free agent signing. Trent is still recovering from his concussion and a left hand injury he suffered during the same game. He has limited feeling in his ring and little fingers on his left hand which make it difficult for him to play golf.

I'm sure many of you saw him on NFL Network for the playoffs, and there's a good chance that they would hire him full-time next year as an analyst. So after everything he's gone through this season, he is strongly leaning towards retirement. Not a big surprise, but I thought I'd pass that info on.

by joebirdie3 on Feb 6, 2008 6:47 PM PST reply actions