Nnamdi Asomugha to retire as a Raider

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha enjoyed his best days in the silver and black of the Oakland Raiders. Even though he departed the team for greener pastures ( five-year, $60 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles), Asomugha will sign a one day contract with the Raiders and retire a Raider.

Asomugha also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, but only appeared in three games before being released by the team in November.

Asomugha was once the premier cover corner in the NFL during his days with the Raiders. After signing his big money deal with the Eagles, Asomugha struggled in a different scheme and eventually slowed enough where he couldn't keep up with the league's elite receivers.

 He earned three Pro Bowl selections in eight seasons in Oakland and was a first-team All-Pro in 2008 and 2010. Asomugha finishes his career with 407 tackles, 15 interceptions, 72 passes defended, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one touchdown.

He will be joined at Friday's press conference by Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson and former Raiders defensive backs Willie Brown and Lester Hayes.

Panthers' Mike Mitchell tells Drew Brees to 'stop being soft'

Carolina Panthers safety Mike Mitchell has found himself lighter in his wallet because he feels the league is targeting him. Based on what he had to say about New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Mitchell might find himself with a big bullseye on his back when the Saints and Panthers square off.

Mitchell went on Fox Sports L.A.’s FnA podcast and explained why he thought Brees was soft and accused Brees of flopping after being hit by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks.

“The thing that I hated about the play, the whole thing, and this is what these offensive guys are doing, they’re kind of running with it,” Mitchell said.  “Drew Brees is throwing a fit in the post-game interview saying how he got hit in the chin and he was dazed, and all this other stuff.  And it’s like, dude, the replay clearly shows he did not even touch you in the chin.

“Stop being soft, get up off the ground,” Mitchell said.  “You fumbled the football, that’s why the only reason you were acting like you were hurt, is so you could draw a flag.”

How are you gonna tell another player how he feels after being hit? Was the hit clean? In my opinion yes it was, by the rules no,but Brees did get his bell rang on the play. Did you see how his neck snapped? Someone is gonna feel a some pain after a hit like that. So I don't see how Mitchell accuse Brees of flopping.

Mitchell had more to say.

“He did not get hit in the chin.  He got hit hard, which he should have got hit hard because we are playing full speed tackle football.  And he fumbled the football.  And I think that’s really was the reason he was down so long.  He was really trying to sell that and trying to get a flag.  And obviously it worked, and their team was able to steal a win because of that play.”

The Panthers are chasing the Saints in the NFC South. The teams will face off twice in the next four weeks. Mitchell’s comments make an already interesting pair of games between the Panthers and Saints even more compelling.

I'm sure Brees will be eager to show how "soft" he is.

Jerry Rice says Calvin Johnson has work to do to be the greatest ever

Is the Detroit Lions’ Calvin Johnson the NFL’s greatest receiver ever? He might be, some say.

But the guy who holds most of the career records, Jerry Rice, said Megatron will have to get a lot closer to them before he gets in the conversation.

“I think it’s great that they’re still talking about me after my career’s over,” Rice told USA Today. “He still has a ways to go.

“We’re just going to let this guy continue to develop, and if he should break the majority of my records or break all my records, I’ll be the first one to congratulate him.”

Rice, 51, holds the NFL career receiving records of 1,549 catches, 22,895 yards and 197 TDs over 20 seasons. Johnson, 28, has 541 receptions for 8,740 yards and 63 TDs in seven seasons.

To some Rice may sound like a bitter old man, but he is correct. Johnson will have to perform at a peak level to put up the numbers Rice did when he was playing. In all fairness Rice always had John Taylor on the other side of the field to draw coverage away from him, played on a dominant San Francisco 49ers team and had Joe Montana throwing him the ball.

If Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy and productive, Johnson might be able to achieve the stats that Rice built up during his career.

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.

Nate Montana gets invited to 49ers minicamp

Nate Montana, son of San Francisco 49ers legend Joe, has received an invite to the 49ers rookie minicamp according to various reports. 

Montana had a journeyman career in college that started at Notre Dame and included stints at Pasadena Community College, the University of Montana and West Virginia Wesleyan. At the Division II school last season, Montana threw for 2,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in both categories.

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks sees Montana as a long shot at the NFL level.

"It's going to be hard for him to transition to the next level," Brooks told Around The League before the 2013 NFL Draft. "His passes don't have zip. He has difficulty making pro throws."

Montana attended the 49ers pro day last month but is viewed as someone that won't be making an NFL roster.

Terrell Owens eyeing the Chicago Bears for a possible comeback

The last time we saw Terrell Owens he was trying to latch on with the Seattle Seahawks. He didn't make it but Owens has had lots of time to keep himself in shape with the hope of catching the eye of another NFL team.

A report by David Kaplan from CSNChicago.com says Owens has an eye on the Chicago Bears for a possible comeback. Owens is hoping that his past with Bears coach Marc Trestman will help him get a job in Chicago. Owens has been working out with former NFL linebacker and Illinois State Senator Napoleon Harris.

Owens is reportedly in great shape despite not playing since 2011.

"I played my first early years in San Francisco with [Bears head coach Marc Trestman] and shortly after that, he left to do some things," he said. "I haven't talked to Marc in a long while. I know he's gone on and done some things, now he's back in the NFL. So, I never really thought about it until myself and Napoleon were talking about it earlier, but I would definitely welcome it if they would give it some serious consideration. To think about [Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall] on the other side and me on one side, that's really dangerous. I'm keeping myself in shape just for any opportunity that may come about."

Being in shape has never been a problem for Owens. In the past it's been his mouth and attitude. Nowdays it's his hands that are betraying him.

"The guy was a great player and he is in tremendous physical shape," Harris said. "We worked out this morning and after we ran five miles, he did sprints and lifted and he looks great. The Bears would be smart to give him an opportunity. He is motivated and ready to play."

Even though Owens played in Trestman's system when both were with the San Francisco 49ers, there's no guarantee that Owens will get a call from the Bears coach.

Owens is doing his best to sell himself to the Bears but with Alshon Jeffery looking like he might be ready to come into his own I doubt the Bears will give Owens a chance to prove he has something left to give.

Roddy White: "It's Super Bowl or nothing"

The Atlanta Falcons were damn close to playing for a Super Bowl this past season. Going into the upcoming season the Falcons will be one of the favorites to be playing on the final Sunday. The team signed running back Steven Jackson from the St. Louis Rams and will have a lot of key players returning. Making the playoffs isn't good enough for this team according to receiver Roddy White.

White has said it's "Super Bowl or nothing" for the Falcons. When Whits spoke about the teams past playoff performances he stated that the Falcons were happy to be a the party. Now there is a sense of urgency after the NFC Championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

“I think that the first three we were getting there and were just having fun being there. And then we turned a curb, and we said we have to stop just getting there and we have to win games,” White said. “We’re ready to take that next step. We know how good our football team is and the players we got, so it’s either Super Bowl or nothing for us right now.”

Jackson also said that he came to Atlanta to go out on top. Sounds to me that this team is hungry. But will they be able to beat out the other top contenders in the NFC?

Former 49ers kicker Mike Cofer has Super Bowl rings stolen

Former San Francisco 49ers kicker Mike Cofer had two Super Bowl rings stolen out of his Las Vegas area home last Thursday. 


 Authorities say burglars made off with two Super Bowl rings from the Las Vegas-area home of former San Francisco 49ers kicker Mike Cofer.

Cofer told Henderson police he was watching his son's high school baseball game when the break-in occurred Thursday at his four-bedroom home.

Cofer's ex-wife, Lisa Cofer, told the Las Vegas Sun the thieves also took a coin collection, an Xbox game console and several games. She says they left a diamond ring.

I hate to be somewhat critical, but when will these athletes put their championship rings on lockdown?

Washington State assistant Jim Mastro declines to help NFL teams defend the Pistol

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a great deal of success in his first year as a starter. He led the 49ers to within a whisker of the Super Bowl title. NFL teams are still trying to figure out a way to contain Kaepernick after he excelled in the 49ers version of the Pistol offense.

The Pistol is generally was the formation Kaepernick played in while starring at Nevada. Former coach Chris Ault is thought of as the inventor of the Pistol. Former Ault and current Washington State assistant, Jim Mastro, is the godfather.

With the knowledge Mastro possesses, NFL teams have come calling. Mostly to get some insight and some knowledge on how to stop it.

Mastro has declined NFL offers due to his loyalty to Kaepernick.  Mastro told CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman, as long as Kaepernick is in the NFL he won't help teams with ways to defend the Pistol.

"As long as Colin [Kaepernick] is in the NFL, I'm not going to do that," Mastro told CBSSports.com Monday. "He is like a son to me.

"There are plenty of people they [NFL teams] can get ahold of that can help them."  

I'm wondering if the Green bay Packers were one of those teams. Kaepernick single handedly destroyed the Packers, running for 181 yards in the process.

Matt Ryan has a sprained AC joint

After playing up to their history and blowing another big lead in a playoff game, the Atlanta Falcons received a bit of bad news on top of today's loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game.

After being hit by San Francisco's Ahmad Brooks, quarterback Matt Ryan looked in a bit of pain. A report by ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that Ryan suffered a sprained Ac joint. The team believes that surgery may not be needed.

I'm sure this isn't the way the Falcons or their fans envisioned the season ending.

Patrick Willis comes to Alex Smith's defense

When San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said that winning trumps stats in the grand scheme of things in the NFL, he cited Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton as an example of a player who puts up monster stats but the team had a losing season.

Upon hearing about what Smith said, Carolina linebacker Jon Beason stepped in Newton's defense. Now 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is standing up for his man. Willis took to Twitter to defend Smith in this he said/he said debate about stats and winning.


“Wins are Wins I stand with My Qb Alex Smith and all my teammates. I can’t wait for the season,” Willis wrote.

All in all both have valid points. The 49ers win in spite of Smith, how do you describe their flirtation with Peyton Manning. And once the Panthers get a few more pieces around Newton (a defense) they will be a force in the NFC.

Brother of Vernon and Vontae Davis declared incompetent in murder case

The younger brother of San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and Miami Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis has been declared incompetent to stand trial in a murder case. 19 year old Michael Davis is charged with first-degree murder in the April death of 66-year-old Gary Dederichs.


Police say Dederichs was walking alone in a residential neighborhood when he was struck on the head with a hammer or similar weapon.


Davis has also been charged in two nonfatal attacks and is suspected in two additional assaults. All occurred over three days less than a mile from his home.


D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Morin declared Davis incompetent to stand trial Friday based on a psychiatrist's recommendation. Davis will be treated at a psychiatric hospital in hopes of restoring his competency.

Aldon Smith Charged And Arrested With DUI

San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested and charged with a DUI in Miami Beach Friday night.


San Francisco 49er Aldon Smith was arrested in Miami Beach Friday night and booked into the local jail on DUI charges, according to information from the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department website.


According to records, the 23-year-old rookie linebacker was booked into jail at 9:32 a.m. EST Saturday morning after being charged with driving under the influence. The bond amount listed was $1,000.


You always hate to hear news like this and be critical about it. But when will some of these athletes and entertainers realize that they should invest in a cab after getting loaded up after a night of partying. There have been past incidents where the worse has happened.

I look for Smith to get off relatively easy in this case. Probably some AA classes, community service, and a light form of probation.

When will they ever learn?    

Cowboys Kicker Says They Need To "Hit Ted Ginn In The Mouth"

When there's some trash talk going on in the NFL it usually isn't the kicker being the player doing the talking. Dallas Cowboys kicker David Buehler doesn't follow that unwritten protocol.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ted Ginn singlehandedly saved the 49ers in their season opener with a kick and punt return for touchdowns. Buehler seems to think that if Ginn getys his hands on the ball, the Cowboys need to hit him in the mouth.

"If the wind is at my back, hopefully I'll get the green light and be able to kick a touchback and keep it out of Ted Ginn's hands because he is a dangerous returner," Cowboys kicker David Buehler said. "As long as you hit him in the mouth earlier, I think he might give up."


Considering that Buehler only had one touchback in five attempts last week, the Cowboys might get that chance.


 
 

Harbaugh Wants More TV Time For The 49ers

Jim Harbaugh might want to "win with cruelty" while he's with the San Francisco 49ers if he's going to serve notice to various media outlets.

Harbaugh was a little miffed when he noticed that there weren't too many Niners highlights while he was doing a little channel surfing.

“Kind of flipped through the channels, the NFL Network, the highlight express, and the ESPN blitz, and never caught one highlight of the 49ers on any of those,” Harbaugh said today.



Harbaugh said the lack of 49ers highlights on TV demonstrates the perception that the 49ers aren’t a good team.


“I mean, just kind of documents what you know. What the perception is of our team around the league and around the country,” Harbaugh said. “It’ll be up to us to do something about that. We can take control of that and that’s something we need to do.”

I can't blame network execs for the lack of 49er highlights. They've been borderline horrible for the past decade. Besides, the only highlights they had yesterday were the Ted Ginn kick and punt returns. Other than that there wasn't too much to recap. Harbaugh should worry more about winning games rather than how many highlights get on television or risk being shown the door like his predecessors (Mike Nolan, Mike Singletary)



  

Braylon Edwards Signs With 49ers

After being shunned by the New York Jets, wide receiver Braylon Edwards has signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Edwards signed a one year, $3.5 million dollar deal with the 49ers.

Edwards announced the deal on Twitter.

“It’s official #Team17 we have moved to the bay. I’m a proud member of the San Fransisco 49ers,” Edwards wrote.


Last season with the Jets, Edwards had 53 catches for 904 yards and seven touchdowns. I would expect that he will be named the number one receiver in San Francisco unless Michael Crabtree steps it up. On an unrelated note, Crabtree just became a fantasy sleeper.

This could turn out to be a good move for the Niners. It all depends on Edwards and quarterback Alex Smith. If Smith can actually get his game on track, it could make the 49ers a darkhorse for the NFC West title. Edwards could help him immensely, only if he can hold on to the ball. After his breakout season in 2007 with the Cleveland Browns, he has been plagued by drops. If he can be cured of that problem and steer clear of any off field drama this signing will look like one of the best bargains of the free agent period. 

Former NFL Player, R.W. McQuarters Shot

Former NFL player and vetran of many teams, R.W. McQuarters was shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma early Saturday morning.

McQuarters was visiting a friend and as he was leaving saw a man in a ski mask. McQuarters got into his car and heard several gunshots. He realized he was hit and drove himself to Hillcrest Medical Center. McQuarters had been shot in the back. The reports say the injuries are not life threatning.

McQuarters played for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and New York Giants.

Here's to a quick, speedy recovery for McQuarters.

Roddy White Rips Alex Smith

A player from another team doesn't rip an organization's personnel decisions. They keep to themselves (not literally) and often wonder about management making their team better.

So why did Atlanta Falcons wideout Roddy White take it upon himself to rip San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. I guess that's something we'll never know. White decided that he should be involved in the discussion of keeping Alex Smith around. White sounded off on the defacto athlete website, Twitter.

Why is the 49ers wasting their time with alex smith they need to move on better yet try to get luck next year would be good for them

There's more where that came from.

2 coaches have been fired for tht mans performance
Those are thoughts you keep to yourself or to teammates.

When someone responded to him on twitter saying that Smith will outplay Matt Ryan next season and called White an "ignorant prick", White responded with  "lol son your praying for a miracle."

After all that he apologized for his remarks and trouble he caused.

Ok 49ers fans I’m sorry I take tht back alex smith is a great players and the 49ers should sign him to a 5 year deal btw I don’t have anything against alex smith wht so ever he is a great guy


Sounds like that apology was forced. Maybe someone in the Falcons organization made him do it and told him to keep his mouth shut. The problem in all this is that it's pretty much true.







 

A Microcosm Of The Mike Singletary Era

This seems to represent the Mike Singletary era in San Francisco.