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Good Morning and Merry Christmas everyone. That wish of course goes out to anyone who celebrates a different holiday as well. It has been a rough year for the 49ers, and most of us are severely disappointed with the way this season has gone. Hopefully for our sakes, we can put any negative feelings aside and enjoy this day with our loved ones.
This week could see the end of Frank Gore and Justin Smith's careers, as well as the end of the 49er portion of several other players. It is also the last game that Jim Harbaugh will coach the 49ers at least in this coaching stint. The decision between an NFL team and Michigan is really interesting to me, despite my feelings of bitterness over this whole situation. Wherever he goes, with resignation over the fact that he is gone, I want two things out of Harbaugh's departure. First, I want draft pick compensation which would have to come from an NFL team. Second, I want him as far away from the 49ers as possible, which would be an AFC west team (we played them this season so it will theoretically be a few years before we play any of them again) or college.
The Cardinals, at 11-4, lost the first seed in the NFC playoffs last week when Seattle beat them and took over first place in their stead. Part of me, with this game close to meaningless for the 49ers, would like to see the Cardinals beat us and have Seattle lose. Of course that would be predicated on Seattle... actually losing. That would take putting my faith in the Rams, and I really don't want to do that. So in the end, even with a last place schedule and a higher draft pick on the line... I decided that I want my favorite football team to win the last game of their season. I know, I'm a fool, but I'm a loyal fool. Merry Christmas everybody! Now let's get to those links!
Frank Gore: I want to be back with the 49ers (Barrows)
49ers' Justin Smith could be playing final game of career (Maiocco)
49ers face a tough and stingy defense in the Cardinals (Gin)
Harbaugh addresses job status with Arizona media (Maiocco)
49ers injury report: Concussed Eric Reid sits out (ESPN)
Notes: After snubbing, Bethea honored by 49ers (Branch)
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians could be example for the 49ers (Lynch)
Crabtree: 'I can't wait to see what's next' (Maiocco)
49ers notes: Arians finds Harbaugh’s exit ‘shocking’ (Barrows)
John Harbaugh: Family not involved (ESPN)
Jim Harbaugh supportive of Colin Kaepernick seeking outside help (ESPN)
49ers’ Anthony Davis seems to have a problem with Greg Roman (PFT)
49ers Announce 2014 Team Awards (49ers)