Seneca Wallace says he was used by the 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers waived quarterback Seneca Wallace amid reports that Wallace had planned on retiring. That's the way the 49ers tell it.

Wallace tells it a different way. He says that he wasn't a fit in San Francisco and that he's still willing to play if a team takes a chance on him. He also told reporters that he was used by the 49ers to get Colt McCoy to take a pay cut.  

“I have not retired,” Wallace said in a phone interview with the Des Moines Register. “I have just removed myself from the San Francisco situation because it wasn’t a perfect fit for me.” 


“I’ve been around this game long enough where I can see what’s going on,” Wallace said, “and I realized right away the reason they brought me here was to get Colt to take a pay cut.” 

“San Francisco wasn’t the best place for me,” Wallace said. “I have no hard feelings toward San Francisco. It’s just the nature of the business.” 

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh had announced that Wallace was retiring before the team's final preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. Wallace did not travel with the team.

“It’s something that was his decision,” Harbaugh said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “He felt strongly about it. I don’t talk people out of that. I’ve never seen it done on game day, but I wish him well.” 

Wallace seemed to be caught off guard by Harbaugh's assumption that he was retiring.

“For him to come out and say that, ‘Hey, Seneca’s planning on his retirement’ ... I don’t think that’s even 100 percent fair for him to come out and say that because I don’t even know him,” Wallace said. “I think that should be my decision.” 

In the meantime Wallace wii take a  wait and see approach with his future. He still would like to play and with the way quarterbacks get injured nowdays he could find himself back in the game.

Gary Payton says he nearly quit basketball as a rookie

It's hard to picture Gary Payton wanting to quit playing basketball early in his career, but it almost happened. Payton says that he was so down during his early years with the Seattle Supersonics that he contemplated giving up the game. 

Payton admitted that he struggled in his first two years under coach K.C. Jones, that if there wasn't a coaching change he might've quit playing. In his third year George Karl replaced K.C. Jones and Payton became one of the top guards in the NBA.

 “I was thinking about it,” Payton said in a phone conversation from his home in Las Vegas. “I was like, ‘What am I out here for? This isn’t even what I want to do. I’m not happy.’ I didn’t want to do anything….

“If we wouldn’t have changed coaches (from K.C. Jones to George Karl),” Payton said, “I would have probably said, ‘Yo, you know what? I want to end this. I don’t want to do this anymore because I’m not happy.’ If they would have stayed with the same coach, I would have probably just shut it down. They would have tried to trade me or I would have told them I don’t want to play there anymore.

“I went to my agent, I went to my father, I just said, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m good enough to play in this league. I’ve got a coach who wants to play me in the first and the third quarter. He has no confidence in me.’ They told me the same thing. ‘You’ve got to stick it out. You’ve got to be the guy who you’re supposed to be. You’re tough. You’re this.’ My father was like, ‘Are you crazy? If you quit, I’m gonna get in your (body).’ Stuff like that.”

I remember Gary’s struggles. He was on the brink of being labeled a bust then Karl got hired and his career begin to take off. He clearly wasn't the player he was at Oregon State until he was able to play in a system that fit his talents.


 

"It Girl" of the week: Dana Lee

This week's "It Girl" of the week is Dana Lee.

Deion Sanders is unhappy about Johnny Manziel's suspension

Today Texas A&M quarterback received a half game suspension from the NCAA for the autograph for pay allegations that had been floating around for the past few months.

The NCAA released a statement saying "that there is no evidence that quarterback Johnny Manziel received money in exchange for autographs, based on currently available information and statements by Manziel.”

Nice job with the swift punitive judgement. I don't know how others feel but former NFL All-Pro Deion Sanders isn't happy at all with the NCAA's decision.

If you can recall Sanders had dinner with receiver Dez Bryant when Bryant was at Oklahoma State. Bryant lied about it and was suspended for an entire season. So naturally Sanders voiced his displeasure with the NCAA.

1. DeionSanders ‏@DeionSanders2h

   Can we investigate the investigators? @DezBryant got suspended a season 4 lying about a dinner that wasnt a violation & Manziel gets a half.

   Expand
   

   •  Reply 
   •  Retweet 
   •  Favorite 

Maybe someone should ask A.J Green how he feels about the non suspension that Manziel received. I bet the Miami Hurricanes wished the NCAA would act as swiftly as they did for Texas A&M and Manziel.

The punishment is toothless and the NCAA rulebook is outdated. Sanders might want to be careful before the NCAA drops the hammer on his son and his SMU teammates.   

Report: Tigers could be a player for Yankees' Robinson Cano

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has a pretty hefty payroll. But he has shown that he's willing to spend to get that elusive World Series trophy.

The Tigers are contenders this year and might be in the market for a second baseman if Omar Infante leaves in free agency. One player that has been mentioned is New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano.

“Owner Mike Ilitch is aggressive and wants to win a championship, and while the team's priority must soon be about signing Miguel Cabrera to his next contract, Ilitch has shown he's willing to expand his budget,”ESPN's Buster Olney wrote.

Olney looked at the market for Cano and says that he expects the Yankees to be major players, the Tigers, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants might be interested in the 30 year old All-Star.

I don't see the Phillies getting in the Cano sweepstakes since they just signed Chase Utley to a contract extension. I also can't see Cano leaving the Yankees but that team is getting older and I don't know if Cano wants to play his remaining years on that might not be a playoff contender.

I don't see the Tigers spending big for Cano, but who saw the Prince Fielder signing coming. I'd love to see Cano sporting an Olde English D, but I'm afraid it won't happen. If it does happen expect the price of Hot n Ready's to go up.

Ex-Michigan State recruit Jay Harris will embark on a football career instead of rap for now

Former Michigan State football signee, receiver Jay Harris will give college football another shot. Harris left the Spartans earlier this year to pursue a rap career as "Jay DatBull".

Harris has resurfaced at ASA College in Brooklyn. The school has added Harris to the roster under the name James Harris.  Harris plans on coming back to the major college scene in his sophomore year, but he'll continue to earn his stripes in the rap game while playing as a freshman.

Glad to see he has priorities.

Harris was all in with pursuing a rap career, but the former Downington (Pa.) High School East star had a change of heart and will try to make a name for himself on the gridiron.

Bills will sign QB Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart's NFL career has reportedly has new life.

With injuries to rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel and backup Kevin Kolb, the Buffalo Bills have signed free agent Matt Leinart. The Bills were left with undrafted free agent Jeff Tuel on the depth chart.

Leinart, 30, spent last season as a backup with the Oakland Raiders after two seasons with the Houston Texans and four with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him No. 10 overall out of USC in 2006.

Manuel has a minor knee injury and Kolb suffered concussion like symptoms in Saturday's preseason game against the Washington Redskins. Bills head coach Doug Marrone is hoping that Manuel will be ready to return for the team's season opener against New England in two weeks.