12
Nov
2011
Watch this Giants-49ers Monday Night Football Game from 1990 … in it’s entirety
(Photo via forums.49ers.com)
In preparation for tomorrow’s game featuring the same two teams, and just because it’s awesome, we bring you this classic 1990 defensive struggle between the 10-1 New York Giants and 10-1 San Francisco 49ers.
In it, we get a brilliant MNF broadcast with Michaels, Gifford and Dierdorf, featuring (among other greats) Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Jerry Rice, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. And although the game didn’t see a lot of touchdowns, you’re watching one of the great offenses of its time squaring off against one of the best defenses in what would be a preview of that year’s NFC Championship game. It just works on so many levels.
So settle in and enjoy the full game … via YouTube user DaveMeggett, in all 13 glorious parts:
[H/T Reddit.com/r/NFL]
9
Nov
2011
Hit Of The Week: Ryan Kerrigan blasts Alex Smith (GIF)
Watch and enjoy as 49ers quarterback Alex Smith gets sandwiched by Redskins LBs Ryan Kerrigan and Rocky McIntosh (over and over and over …):
20
Oct
2011
Patrick Willis might be a better man than he is a linebacker (VIDEO)
(Image via ESPN)
This package about 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis aired on ESPN’s E:60 this week, and it’s likely to change the way you look at the NFL’s most tenacious defender.
In it, we learn of Willis’ troubled upbringing in Tennessee, where he and his three younger siblings were abandoned by his mother, and suffered at the hands of an abusive, alcoholic, drug-abusing father. Forced to grow up too early, Patrick became the leader of the household, eventually standing up to his father Ernest at the age of 17 and getting his brothers and sisters into foster care. All four kids were taken in by Patrick’s high school basketball coach (a story in and of itself), where he was finally able to be a kid for the first time, and get his life on track.
Today, the all-pro with a huge new contract still holds out hope for his father’s redemption, despite his abusive upbringing. It’s an amazing display of forgiveness, and you can’t help but respect the way Willis has dealt with all the obstacles in his life, and the grace with which he has carried himself throughout.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
16
Oct
2011
Jim Harbaugh celebration sparks confrontation with Jim Schwartz (VIDEO)
Jim vs Jim (Photo via Imgur.com)
Today’s marquee matchup (that nobody saw coming) saw the 49ers edge out Detroit 29-24 and hand the Lions their first loss of the season, moving both teams to 5-1. Following the game, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was understandably excited, but his enthusiasm rubbed Jim Schwartz the wrong way, leading to a confrontation between the two coaches and both teams as they headed toward the tunnel.
As the clock hit zero, Harbaugh jumped and celebrated across the field en route to the traditional post-game coaches handshake. The first-year Niners coach bounded toward Schwartz, grabbing his hand and delivering a hearty smack to the back of the Lions coach before continuing his celebration and running toward the locker room. Schwartz took exception to Harbaugh’s over-exuberance and chased him down, delivering a shoulder blow and saying something in Harbaugh’s ear before 49ers players and personell got between the two (Harbaugh can be seen simply saying “Get out of my face”). More players then rushed to their coaches’ defense, nearly igniting a much-larger brawl between both teams that never really escalated.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE SKIRMISH AFTER THE JUMP
21
Sep
2011
NFL Threatens Fines, Suspensions & More for Fake Injuries
(Photo: NYDailyNews.com)
Two days after Giants S Deon Grant was caught diving to the turf in an effort to stop the clock and slow the Rams no-huddle offense, the NFL issued a warning that players, coaches & teams caught faking injuries to disrupt the flow of the game could be punished with fines, suspensions and/or loss of draft picks. Although referees are powerless to penalize players suspected of feigning injury during the game itself, the league sent a memo to all 32 teams saying they would be reviewing questionable plays and handing out disciplinary action where appropriate for “conduct detrimental to the game”.
But several players have indicated that feigning injuries has long been a strategic part of the game, and is something that is even coached in certain circles:
“I’ve been places where it has been (taught),” said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the players’ union executive committee. “They have a name for it and I’ve been places where it’s been pre-called. I’ve been places where it’s one player who has been designated. Maybe I’m getting everyone in trouble, but I’m just being honest.”
“It’s always been in the game,” Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed said. “It’s all tactical stuff you need to use. Whatever it takes. … If you’re tired, you’re tired. You get a break however you can.”
Added 49ers running back Frank Gore: “Hey, I feel if it helps, do it. I’m bound to do it. Whatever it takes to win …”
13
Apr
2011
Remember Giovanni Carmazzi? Yeah … he’s a yoga-practicing goat farmer these days
Carmazzi was the 3rd round selection of the 49ers in the 2000 NFL draft (Photo: NYTimes.com)
One of the big stories this week has been ESPN’s documentary “The Brady 6″, which looks at Tom Brady’s selection in the 2000 NFL draft, and the 6 quarterbacks who were taken ahead of him. After believing he would be taken somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd, Brady and his family had to watch as he plummeted to #199 overall. Based on the teasers, the most newsworthy item from the film seemed to be the fact that Brady choked up when recalling his draft day experience. The blogosphere went wild over this footage of a teary-eyed Brady, but when the program aired last night, we found another nugget of information to be the most enlightening.
Among the marquis names chosen before the 3-time Super Bowl Champion were Chad Pennington (No. 18, Jets), Giovanni Carmazzi (65, 49ers), Chris Redman (75, Ravens), Tee Martin (163, Steelers), Marc Bulger (168, Saints) and Spergon Wynn (183, Browns). As lifelong 49ers fans, the Bradys were particularly upset that their home team had passed on their son, but the San Francisco brain trust – which included Bill Walsh and Steve Mariucci - were more enamored with Carmazzi, a physically gifted QB from Hofstra who had wowed scouts at the combine and workouts.
As we know, Carmazzi struggled with the leap from 1-AA Hofstra to the big time, and retired from the NFL in 2001 without ever playing a regular season down for the 49ers. He had five operations on his shoulder and played two years of football in Canada before retiring from the sport in 2005. And apparently Carmazzi values his privacy these days, because he declined to be interviewed by ESPN for this documentary … which pretty much made him fair game for the producers to paint him however they like. So they decided to depict Carmazzi like this:
“(He) does not own a television and declined to be interviewed. He lives two hours north of San Francisco, and describes himself as a yoga-exercising farmer … He has five goats.”
Ouch. From top NFL prospect to hermit yogi goat farmer in just over a decade. Quite a precipitous fall. Not as bad as Marinovich or Leaf or anything, but still …
13
Mar
2011
TheDarkHorse’s 2011 Mock Draft – Picks 6-10
Colt McCoy needs a dance partner. A.J. Green will do. (Source: BCSknowhow.com)
For picks 1 through 5, go here.
Let’s continue with picks 6 through 10.
6. Cleveland Browns – A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: Cleveland’s in a terrible spot. They’re moving to the 4-3, but have nothing along the defensive line. They have a promising young quarterback in Colt McCoy — and they’re moving to the West Coast Offense — but he’s got almost nobody to throw to. They just cut NT Shaun Rogers along with a flock of grizzled defensive veterans — a fiscally sound move, but one that’s left Browns fans wondering who will take the field next season. Changing offensive and defensive philosophies during a lockout-hampered offseason in which coaches cannot communicate with players is tougher. The free-agency window possibly opening for mere weeks, if at all, is tougher. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have stayed the course. This draft is critical for the Browns, forced to address needs all over the place. Pat Shurmur was brought in to groom McCoy and flip the switch on offense — and Green is the kind of sizzling wideout the team’s been missing since Braylon Edwards broke free in 2007 — and before that, since Webster Slaughter. Still, many could question the Browns passing up one of the blue-chip defensive linemen — but how do you meet two needs at once?
7. San Francisco 49ers – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: This is a tough one for me. In a mock with trades, I see Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers pressing for a quarterback, or possibly even trading down into a spot where they can gather picks and select Florida’s Christian Ponder late in the first. Honestly, how many more coaches can call Alex Smith their starter? That experiment needs to cease. With Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert off the board, the 49ers select Bowers, a defensive end who comes with question marks around the health of his knee, but, if ruled healthy, could serve as defensive stronghold while Harbaugh seeks a quarterback elsewhere. Moroever, there are some promising young passers to be had later in the draft, such as Washngton’s Jake Locker and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick – not to mention the polarizing Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas.
Picks 8-10 after the jump.
26
Dec
2010
Can’t win with ‘em. Mike Singletary fired as head coach of 49ers!
(AP Photo via SFGate.com)
Hours after being eliminated from playoff contention today by the Rams, the San Francisco 49ers have announced that they have fired head coach Mike Singletary. After going 8-8 last year in Singletary’s first full season as coach, the 49ers were the fashionable pre-season pick to win the NFC West. But they started the season 0-5 and never really recovered. And at 5-10, the only reason they weren’t eliminated sooner is because of their awful division. Defensive Line coach Jim Tomsula will step in as interim head coach for the final game of the season, and Jon Gruden & Stanford Head Coach Jim Harbaugh are the early hot candidates for the full-time gig. The Niners will also reportedly be on the hunt for a new GM, so sweeping change is on the horizon in San Francisco.
In his 2-1/2 seasons at the helm of the 49ers, Singletary’s abrasive and unorthodox coaching style found him frequently clashing with his young players … often publicly. And while he made for plenty of great sound bytes, Samurai Mike’s constant demands never translated into consistent wins, and he finishes with an 18-22 records in San Francisco.
So then it seems fitting that Singletary leaves us with one final sideline blowup from today’s Rams game – this time with QB Troy Smith:
This little incident probably hastened 49ers team president Jed York’s decision to fire Singletary, but they really should have let him finish the season out. That would have been the classy thing to do here.
It’s too bad, really. Singletary was an amazing player in his day, he obviously has an incredibly high football IQ, and his passion for the game is unmatched … unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily translate to ability to teach and motivate 53 different young men. But who knows? If he uses this as a learning experience and softens a little around the edges, he could grow into a better coach some day. Or not. Some guys just aren’t cut out to be head coaches, and Singletary may just be better suited to be a coordinator or position coach.
Lastly, we’ll leave you with Singletary’s all-time classic press conference from 2008, after sending TE Vernon Davis to the locker room in the middle of a game … ”Can not play with ‘em. Can not win with ‘em. Can not coach with ‘em. Can’t do it.”
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
5
Dec
2010
VIDEO: Donald Driver makes 49ers defense look silly
Dashon Goldson and the 49ers D aren't going to enjoy film sessions this week (AP Photo via Yahoo.com)
This 61-yard catch-and-run by WR Donald Driver really tells you all you need to know about today’s Packers-49ers game. Aaron Rodgers threw for 298 yards and 3 scores, including 2 to Greg Jennings, en route to a 34-16 Packer win this afternoon in Green Bay. But it was this touchdown by Driver that really broke the game open for the Packers in the 2nd half:
After catching the pass from Rodgers inside the San Francisco 40-yard line, Driver breaks about a hundred tackles en route to the endzone while 49er defenders flail wildly around him. OK, so it was closer to five tackles, but Driver was able to gain 25+ yards after initial contact, and the 49ers’ spirit was clearly broken on the play.
The Packers improve to 8-4 and look poised for a strong run at the post-season while San Francisco falls to 4-8 at the opposite end of the spectrum in almost every way. And one can only imagine the kind of post-game speech Mike Singletary gave to his team after this one.
1
Dec
2010
Boy, the NFC West really sucks, huh?
Are Sam Bradford and the Rams the best of the worst? (Photo: Getty Images via Zimbio)
Heading into the 2010 season, nobody had particularly high expectations for the NFC West. In fact, it was widely identified as the worst division in football. But I don’t think any of us expected that it would suck quite this badly … did we?
Look at it this way: At 3-8, the Arizona Cardinals – who have lost six games in a row – are only TWO GAMES out of first place in their division. The Rams and Seahawks are currently the best of the bunch at 5-6, but with five games left, it’s anyone’s division for the taking. And one of these teams is going to the playoffs … likely with a 7-9 final record, while a 10-6 (or even 11-5) potential NFC wild card team misses out.
So what happened? We kind of knew the Seahawks were going through a transition period with Pete Carroll taking over, and the two-time defending division champion Cardinals lost a lot of their best players in the off-season. But people had high hopes for the 49ers, who seem to have regressed in Mike Singletary‘s second year at the helm. Troy Smith may have brought some spark to the club, but with the loss of Frank Gore for the remainder of the season, I just don’t see this team scaring anyone down the stretch.
