Dre' Bly Signing Shows SF 49ers Front Office Is Finally Paying Attention

Since the dawn of the new millennium, the one word that sums up the 49ers front office is "ineptitude."

Chasing Mariucci and Garcia away to placate TO, letting TO get away for virtually nothing, hiring Dennis Erickson, drafting Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers, drafting a tight end with a top-10 pick who proceeded to blubber like a little girl (and has played like one).

I could continue, but I feel an ulcer coming on.

So when I read a Bleacher Report piece about Walt Harris being done for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, I thought that the 49ers would rest on their laurels and plug Shawntae Spencer into the starting lineup.

A scary proposition for any SF fan, but the past nine years have taught me to prepare for the worst (it feels longer than nine years, doesn't it?).

Much to my surprise, I was wrong.

The 49ers got intelligently aggressive and picked up Dre' Bly, signing the 10-year vet to a one-year deal Wednesday.

I think my favorite part of this signing is the fact that Bly has a chip on his shoulder. The guy's had a pretty esteemed NFL career, but new Denver Coach Josh McDaniels (who has already shown his ability to make friends and endear himself to his players) let Bly go.

"(I've) never been released. That was humbling to me," Bly said in a San Francisco Chronicle article written by John Crumpacker. "The fact that happened, I'm so hungry. ...At this point in my career, it's not about money, it's about the opportunity to come in and compete."

49ers coach Mike Singletary, seemingly looking to capitalize on Bly's hunger, will not just give Bly the starting corner job when he walks in the door. He basically told Bly that the position is up for grabs between him, Spencer and Tarell Brown.

You have to love the fact that Singletary isn't playing favorites, nor is he just giving the spot to the big name. These are the little things that will make Singletary an excellent NFL head coach.

Before Wednesday, I cynically would have wondered if Singletary would have still been in San Fran when he put it all together.

But with the Bly signing, maybe, just maybe, York and Co. are starting to figure it out. Hey, it only took about a decade.