Bleacher Report - Articles by Ronald Lipman

49ers Bring More Rings To Frisco, Now How About Another Back?

Ronald Lipman — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:55:38 -0400

Finally a right tackle has come back to San Francisco! A tackle with two recent Superbowl rings and a former Pro Bowler, Marvel Smith.

The nine-year Pittsburgh vet has signed a contract this afternoon that will pay him around $10 million over the next two years. Smith is 30-years-old and a Bay Area native that attended Oakland's Skyline High.

He should be much more than a simple upgrade over the last few years of revolving tackles, ie; Kwame Harris... oh yeah, thank you Raiders for snatching him from the Niners last season (lol).

So now with the signing of Smith does that mean all of these mock drafts out there that have the 49ers picking a offensive tackle obsolete? Well maybe so, but if nothing else it does free up some room to go in another direction.

It would be hard not to find a position of need for the Niners, but the offensive line is less of one now. So whats next on the dinner plate for the 10th pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Majority of mock drafts out there that don't have the 49ers picking a OT or USC QB Mark Sanchez.

If you ask me or Coach Singletary its not going to be a QB. So what comes next? Well its no secret, the Niners need help at receiver, safety, defensive line. Also with Singletary's run heavy offense another back to help shoulder the load off of Frank Gore.

So if certain players like Brian Orakpo or Micheal Crabtree don't fall to number 10... how about one of the top backs? Knowshon Moreno and Chris "Beanie" Wells seem to be great players that could give much excitement and depth at the running back position for the 49ers.

A run heavy system needs to have two good backs and right now the roster has Gore and Micheal Robinson (former Penn State Quarterback). Now dosen't Gore and Moreno or Wells make you feel better?

Favre Vs. the Madden Curse

Ronald Lipman — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:31:33 -0400

Aug. 7, 08

So if you don't know already, you don't know much. Yes, Favre is on his way to New York. The largest media market in the world to go play for the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS. Also near, is the release date of the newest installment of the world wide phenomena... MADDEN 09!

As many know already, Favre was made the cover boy for this year, and yes, he is still in a Green Bay uniform. Aw, will it ever end or is it just starting? The Madden curse has been around since 1999, the first year that someone else other than John Madden started being on the cover.

The curse's first victim was Garrison Hearst. Hearst broke the fibula bone in his left leg on the first play of scrimmage in the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons in January 1999.

Other notable victims of the curse include of course Mike Vick, Vince Young, Donovan McNabb and most recently Shawn Alexander. Who all fell victim to some kind of ill end.

So, does it exist? Well, it seems like John Madden's favorite player in the galaxy has a diffrent kind of curse... the JETS? Or is it all a gift from the football gods to Favre? Either way, all you Madden-heads and Jet fans can all go to the EA sports website and download a new updated copy of Madden 09, with Favre in a Jets uniform, cool.

Ron Lipman

San Francisco 49ers: Niners Penalized—Has the NFL Gone Mad?

Ronald Lipman — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:50:14 -0400

Yesterday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell penalized the San Francisco 49ers for "tampering."

They violated the NFL's anti-tampering policy in regards to Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs.

Now the Niners are without a fifth round pick in April’s upcoming NFL draft. Also, the two teams are to switch picks in the third round, which is a difference of five spots (the seventh for the 12th).

Goodell said the 49ers violated the policy by contacting Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, about his client during the 2007 season.

The front office of the 49ers disagrees with the verdict and they should!

Is Goodell just trying to take the hard-nosed stance a little too much now?

If the Niners get slapped for this, shouldn't most of the other teams in the NFL also?

What team doesn't contact someone before they make a deal? You are telling me that for the last couple of years, at the strike of midnight when free agency hits, that all those players that get signed within the first 24 to 72 hours haven't spoken with any reps for that team?

That is complete nonsense.

The fact is, once again, in sports is…it’s not cheating if you don't get caught.

SEE YA NEXT BLOG...

RAPPIN RON LIPMAN