49ers sign Blake Costanzo for special teams work, waive Al Netter

Earlier this afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers made the Blake Costanzo signing official. The team announced that Costanzo signed a 1-year deal, and AP writer Janie McCauley is reporting he signed for the veteran minimum, $855,000. If the deal includes no more than $50,000 in bonus money, the team can use the minimum salary benefit, cutting the cap hit to that of a second year player. The 49ers waived Al Netter to make room for Costanzo.

Costanzo is listed as a linebacker, but as we discussed earlier, it sounds like he will compete almost entirely on special teams:

After speaking with #49ers Blake Costanzo, it sounds as if he was brought in strictly for special teams, not to compete at ILB.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) June 3, 2014

This is not a shocking revelation, but it's still helpful to know for certain.

While all that was known, we did learn something a bit more significant during Tuesday's post-practice media session. Scout.com writer Chris Biderman got this little nugget from Costanzo:

Blake Costanzo has taken up gardening headed by his love for HGTV. #hardnews

— Chris Biderman (@ChrisBiderman) June 3, 2014

Chris got some additional quotations from Costanzo, and it's safe to say comments like this will keept he fans in his corner. Gotta love it!:

“I’m a pro. I watch HGTV for hours. I’m more like the raking, doing the mulch. But I planted some flowers. I did my first tile job in my bathroom too. So I was able to do that. Just learning some things as I go. That is true blue collar right there. No doubt. Hands and knees getting dirty. I can do anything…comes with the special teams stuff."

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