NFL: San Francisco 49ers news...

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:07 am

via Yahoo! Sports:

Update: Lelie has signed a two-year, $4.3 million deal (that includes a $2 million signing bonus) with the 49ers, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Recommendation: The 49ers will give Lelie a chance to be the go-to guy that he has always wanted to be, in an up-and-coming offense. He has failed to live up to his ability in both Denver and Atlanta, but with SF waiving Antonio Bryant, Lelie may get a chance to be the 49ers' No. 1 receiver

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:23 am

Defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, the third free agent in two days to bolster one of the NFL's worst defenses last season.

The 49ers also re-signed Bryan Gilmore, their third receiver last season.

Franklin spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played with 49ers coach Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator for two years. Franklin hopes to be San Francisco's starting nose tackle, and he believes he's joining Nolan's club at the right time.

"I didn't keep up with them last year, but my agent was telling me that Coach Nolan wants to run a true 3-4," Franklin said. "I have a good relationship with Coach Nolan. He drafted me."

Though Franklin has just one sack and 40 tackles in his four-year career, Nolan believes he can be the space-filling nose tackle San Francisco lacked last season, essentially forcing the coach to scrap his preferred defensive scheme.

"Aubrayo is an aggressive, physical lineman that fits the description of a prototypical nose tackle in a 3-4 defense," Nolan said. "He brings tremendous value to our football team."

At the least, Franklin should be a capable replacement for defensive tackle Anthony Adams, who's expected to leave after struggling to fit into a 3-4 scheme.

On Friday, San Francisco signed former Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements to an eight-year, $80 million contract, then signed former Philadelphia safety Michael Lewis to a six-year deal.

All three players should be significant upgrades for a defense that allowed an NFL-worst 412 points last season, leading to defensive coordinator Billy Davis' firing.

Franklin is the latest of several former Baltimore players to follow Nolan to San Francisco. Franklin will play alongside defensive end Marques Douglas, who spent five of his first six NFL seasons with the Ravens.

But the 49ers failed to land Baltimore linebacker Adalius Thomas, thought to be one of their top targets along with Clements. Thomas, a Pro Bowl player last season, signed with the New England Patriots on Saturday.

Gilmore caught just eight passes for 150 yards last season, but San Francisco is short on depth at receiver after cutting troublesome Antonio Bryant on Thursday night.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:25 am

Update: Clements signed an eight-year, $80 million contract with the Niners on Friday, ESPNews reports.

Recommendation: San Francisco has outbid Washington among others for Clements' services, making him the highest-played defensive player in NFL history. He'll start opposite Walt Harris and give the Niners a much more formidable cornerback tandem heading in 2007.

Haggard · Post by **Haggard** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:43 pm

You should change this thread title to San Francisco 49ers (5 Time World Champions) News

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 1:04 pm

I should. But I won't.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:02 am

via Yahoo! Sports:

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) -- The San Francisco 49ers are using the offseason to concentrate on upgrading their defense.

In their latest move on the defensive side of the ball Tuesday, the 49ers signed free agent linebacker Tully Banta-Cain.

The 49ers also signed cornerback Walt Harris to a contract extension and re-signed cornerback Donald Strickland. Financial terms were of each deal were not disclosed.

After allowing an NFL-high 412 points last season, the Niners have made defense a major priority since the free-agent signing period began Friday.

The Niners signed cornerback Nate Clements to an eight-year, $80 million contract, the richest deal for a defensive player in league history, and inked unknown defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin to a three-year deal worth $20 million. They also signed strong safety Michael Lewis in free agency.

Now the Niners have landed Banta-Cain, who saw increased playing time last season in coach Bill Belichick's 3-4 scheme for the New England Patriots.

In 16 games last season, Banta-Cain, 26, registered career highs of 43 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks. The 6-2, 250-pounder has collected 68 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks in 54 career games.

A starter at right cornerback, Harris tied for third in the league with eight interceptions last season, his first in San Francisco.

Harris, 32 has registered 28 career interceptions in 162 games. He also has played with Chicago, Indianapolis and Washington in his career.

Strickland, 26, recorded four tackles in three games as a reserve last season.

WBOB · Post by **WBOB** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:04 pm

I know he coached many other teams,...but He's best known
for the glory years @ the 49er's helm.

A great coach.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070730/D8QN3LK80.html

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:15 pm

Damn, that sucks.

Haggard · Post by **Haggard** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:07 am

Your undefeated San Francisco 49ers!

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:57 am

Bad teams lose to horrible teams.

The Falcons?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Haggard · Post by **Haggard** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:54 pm

I guess my team has to go through years of being terrible (ala the Colts) to build our team through high draft picks.

It's that simple.

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:55 pm

Haggard wrote:I guess my team has to go through years of being terrible (ala the Colts) to build our team through high draft picks.

It's that simple.

It would help if they had Peyton Manning to draft or found a sleeper like Tom Brady in the 6th round... If you don't draft right it doesn't matter how high the picks are - see Detroit Lions recent receiver picks - but when you get good players nobody remembers the bad ones - Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson cancel out Carlos Rogers and Mike Williams.