Why 49ers Have Yet to Earn Respect Back with Free-Agent Picks
Don’t let the San Francisco 49ers’ free-agent pickups fool you—they’re far from sufficient in earning back the respect of this franchise’s distraught fanbase.
The otherwise astute signings of defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, wide receiver Torrey Smith and running back Reggie Bush haven’t erased the memories of this catastrophic offseason. Neither have the additions of receiver Jerome Simpson, offensive lineman Erik Pears, cornerback Shareece Wright or Australian rugby legend Jarryd Hayne.
The same goes for re-signing tight ends Derek Carrier and Garrett Celek, cornerback Chris Cook, long snapper Kyle Nelson or—heaven forbid—quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
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To be sure, Niners general manager Trent Baalke and president Paraag Marathe deserve credit for addressing draft needs while not breaking the bank in free agency. The shrewd overall plan reflects personnel expertise and fiscal responsibility.
That latter part includes lowering Craig Dahl’s 2015 earnings from $1.7 million to $1.3 million and converting Aldon Smith’s one-year, $9.754 million figure into a $1 million deal that could reach that aforementioned total based on incentives, per CSNBayArea.com’s Matt Maiocco.
But said strategy does not account for the unnecessary departure of franchise-leading rusher Frank Gore. It also doesn’t negate starting corners Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox effortlessly moving on to other teams.
Most importantly, it doesn’t make up for the unforgivable mistakes committed by CEO Jed York. In fact, it really doesn’t even come close.
Let’s first break down the 49ers’ free-agent additions and subtractions before concluding with their subversive and egomaniacal owner.
Capable All-Timer, Zero Effort, Questionable Talent
Make no mistake—Gore still has plenty left in the tank.
The backfield stalwart, who at age 31 rushed for his eighth 1,000-yard campaign, will prove it by helping lead the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs and quite possibly the Super Bowl.
Indy doling out $7.5 million in guarantees over three years to a back well past his positional expiration date was rather bold in this cap-conscious day and age. It might even have been foolish.
But lowballing a franchise legend with a measly one-year, $4 million offer and not “[figuring] out a way” to re-sign him, as York indicated the team would earlier this month, was simply bush league on the part of the 49ers. Few would fault Gore for saying no thank you and signing with a championship contender that more readily valued his services. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter:
Now, can San Francisco succeed on the ground with a three-headed monster of Carlos Hyde, Bush and Kendall Hunter in 2015? Absolutely.
But Hyde’s power and abilities in pass protection, Bush’s speed and effectiveness as a pass-catcher and Hunter’s change-of-pace quickness won’t make up for Gore’s intangibles, high football IQ and knack for facilitating this Niners offense.
Plus, history has shown that doubting a man who has already overcome a prematurely diminished draft stock, multiple torn ACLs, hip surgery and numerous other medical issues rarely ends well for the skeptical party.
Moving to cornerback, the personnel turnover at this position isn’t nearly as encouraging.
Culliver graded high up at No. 14 in Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. He limited quarterbacks to the 10th-lowest passer rating (66.5) and seventh-worst completion percentage (50.7). He also ranked second among NFL corners with four interceptions.
Cox, meanwhile, finished at No. 35 after many weeks of occupying a spot in the top 20 for his versatile work in coverage. He manned the slot, outside and sixth defensive back role in dime packages. His positive overall grade included a cornerback-leading five picks.
And with whom did the 49ers replace these two studs?
They did so with Wright and Cook—a corner who rated 105th out of 108 in 2014 and one who has never recorded an interception in 40 career games, respectively.
Despite his deserving worth, letting the Washington Redskins dish out four years and $32 million—including $16 million guaranteed—to Culliver wasn’t something the 49ers could have matched. It just wouldn’t have been prudent.
But making “no effort to re-sign…Cox,” per Maiocco, was not. He was plenty skilled and was certainly more affordable.
Had the Niners' brain trust actually tried showing appreciation for such a valuable asset, perhaps he would have signed for a Tramaine Brock-like $3.5 million per year instead of the $15 million over three years with the Tennessee Titans.
Even though the starting spots will likely go to Brock and Dontae Johnson in 2015, the idea of settling for backups Wright and Cook shouldn’t sit well with the Niners faithful.
Moreover, as great as acquiring the deep-threat Smith was by the front office, landing Simpson was equally poor.
Why bring in a marginal talent who has a history of suspensions and off-the-field arrests? Minimal financial risks or not, why even consider this type of player considering how many problems that similarly shady characters have given the 49ers in recent seasons?
Simply put, why do it?
Oh, yes—we’re dealing with a narcissistic CEO who deflects accountability and increasingly operates with delusions of class.
Jed York—Public Enemy Eternal
Sorry, folks, but this article won’t end on anything resembling a positive note.
York forced out a top-five head coach based on a personality conflict and misunderstanding of his upper-echelon worth—basically, for non-football reasons.
He then employed a failed cover-up, one filled with prevarications and flat-out lies of a mutual parting that reduced this franchise to the laughingstock of the NFL.
By jettisoning Jim Harbaugh for a longtime assistant whom no other team even interviewed for a supporting role, York turned a title contender into the worst team in the NFC West.
Oh, and the 49ers host Super Bowl 50 next February. Good luck getting there.
We give all due respect to Jim Tomsula and the inspiring journey he’s taken up to this point. But unless he’s the second coming of Bill Belichick, a career-long subordinate in the NFL isn’t suited to replace a man who galvanized a talented but perennial loser into an annual powerhouse that advanced to three straight conference championships and nearly secured the Lombardi Trophy in 2012.
Even if Tomsula will become that guy at some point down the line, the toxic atmosphere that York has permeated throughout this organization will prevent him from reaching that potential this season.
Sure, all of the savvy planning and strategic maneuvers York has undertaken to build his un-football-like, corporate retreat of a stadium in time for this year’s Super Bowl were commendable from a profit-generating perspective. Per Mychael Urban of Urbs Unchained:
Yet ruining the 49ers' chances of actually playing in that game on their home turf will forever stain this red and gold franchise.
And no number of additions in free agency will mask the scourge of these indelibly negative moments in Niners history.
It makes one wonder, notwithstanding legitimate health concerns, would Justin Smith, Patrick Willis and Chris Borland have delayed their retirement if Harbaugh were here for the final year of his contract?
All team and player statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Advanced metrics provided by Pro Football Focus. All contract information courtesy of Over The Cap.
Joe Levitt is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, waxing academic, colloquial and statistical eloquence on the San Francisco 49ers. Follow him on Twitter @jlevitt16.
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