Golden Nuggets: Congratulations Reuben

I had a brother in law that I had been watching 49ers football games on and off with for over thirty five years. We had seen the 49ers win championships and Super Bowls together. This past Sunday he and my niece watched his last 49ers game together from his hospital room. He managed to watch the entire game before drifting off and losing his battle with cancer a little over an hour after the game had ended. According to her, he was coherent and responsive throughout the entire game.

Her telling me about their last moments together left me thinking, “was that game the last thing I would have wanted to experience in life?” I love football and I have been an avid fan of the 49ers for over fifty year. I have seen good times and bad times and yes, I would want to watch the game even that close to the end of my time on earth. Please, please, I beg of you Shanahan and Lynch, please give me a better product to die with. No one should ever have to go out that way.

OK, let’s talk about something more upbeat like Grant Cohn’s article. I don’t completely agree with Grant and I think he is being more than a little unfair in his assessment of Kyle Shanahan but it is really more about an underachieving offensive line. It drives me crazy every time I see someone talking about focusing on bringing in more running backs and wide receivers in the early rounds of the draft and not drafting offensive lineman until the third round or later. Grant is definitely right about one thing, without offensive line improvements, we really should not have very high expectations no matter who is playing quarterback. Hopefully, Garoppolo can handle getting the heck beat out of him?

Onto the sizzling hot links:

Eric Reid says NFL not committing new money to social causes, shifting from veterans, cancer Curtis Crabtree

Danny Trevathan could return this week for Bears Curtis Crabtree

John Lynch: 'There's no doubt' the 49ers want Garoppolo to continue to start David Bonilla

49ers expect DE Aaron Lynch to play as season winds down Chris Biderman

Transcript: Robert Saleh praises Reuben Foster for winning NFL honor Site Staff

49ers safety Adrian Colbert: 'If it were up to me, I'd play' David Bonilla

49ers' third-string QB impresses in role of Trubisky: 'He diced us up' Matt Maiocco

Garoppolo's ability to read defenses should speed up 49ers' short passing game Kevin Lynch

The 49ers' injured players and where they fit next season Matt Barrows

Reuben Foster becomes fifth 49ers rookie to win NFL award Chris Biderman

'I'm going to be a monster by the time OTAs come' – rebuilt Garnett eager for 49ers' next season Matt Barrows

Reuben Foster: 49ers' linebacker earnes NFL defensive rookie of the month Chandler Wright

49ers notes: Reuben Foster is NFL Defensive Rookie of Month Matt Barrows

Trent Brown: 49ers' right tackle participates Wednesday, Status Up-in-the-air for Sunday Chandler Wright

Jimmy Garoppolo keeping focus on this week's game plan, not the future Nick Wagoner

49ers Garoppolo 'a handsome lad with an unbelievable future' Cam Inman

49ers kicker Robbie Gould not looking for revenge against Bears Jeff Dickerson

49ers putting Jimmy Garoppolo on same path as Brian Hoyer, C.J. Beathard Grant Cohn