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Now I need to remember next week to say 2018 instead of 2017. Ugh, I hate the new year.
Remember how dismal the last two years were when we hit the end of the Tomsula and Kelly eras? Not so much now with Kyle Shanahan. It was a foregone conclusion in the last three years people were getting fired and the 49ers would be starting over again and again. Now we’re scared if 49ers front office personnel get hired to better positions with opposing teams.
As fans, we couldn’t have asked for a more optimistic season than we’ve had. Prior to all of this madness, most sane 49ers fans had the team pegged as one that would take some time to rebuild. Now that we’ve seen they can hang with the playoff teams, the 49ers have left fans with the most hope they could ask for this season. Sure the anxiety of a new head coach is gone, but I’m pretty sure Kyle Shanahan was the right hire now after seeing how he’s done this season. He went through an awful winning streak, didn’t lose the team, and is now getting a winning culture back in San Francisco.
Call me crazy, but despite not going to the playoffs, looking back, this season was kind of fun.
Next step for 49ers is to complete the defense (Cohn)
Top 10 49ers to watch in 2017 season finale (Maiocco)
Swan song: 8 key players that could play their last game with 49ers Sunday (Biderman)
NFL Week 17 picks: 49ers, Garoppolo love L.A.; Raiders don’t (Inman)
Impending free agent Eric Reid 'fine' with teams shunning him due to kneeling (Sporting News)
QB coach Rich Scangarello a key to Jimmy Garoppolo's hot start for 49ers (ESPN)
Week 17 injury report roundup (Pro Football Talk)
49ers say rookie linebacker Reuben Foster can be even better (Cohn)
Unlike Rams, 49ers will have all hands on deck for Week 17 (Biderman)
49ers’ Foster seeking technique to match talent (Branch)
Niner By Nature Podcast: Which free agents return with Garoppolo? (Inman)
NFL Week 17 picks: 49ers, Garoppolo love L.A.; Raiders don’t (Inman)
Four teams that had a bad 2017 but have hope for 2018 (USA Today)
Unpopular Opinions: Jimmy Garoppolo deserves even more love (NFL.com)
One potential 49ers free-agent target is off the board (Biderman)