Category Archives: San Francisco 49ers

The fallout from Baltimore’s trade of Anquan Boldin

March 11, 2013 – 5:32 pm

There are trades and then there are trades and then there are trades that are really something.

When the Baltimore Ravens gave up wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a sixth-round draft pick, that was a trade that ranked in the “really something” category.

The notion that Boldin would leave the Ravens was shocking in itself. There is no stronger or more physical presence at the position in the league. The guy plays, he leads and he contributes. His playoff performances as the Ravens won the Super Bowl were outstanding. In four games, he had 22 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns. He also came down with a huge third-down catch in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl that set up a field goal that made Baltimore’s lead five points.

Boldin isn’t the fastest, the biggest or the most polished of receivers.

But he can block, he’s as strong as anyone and most important he shows up on Sunday.

Add him to a 49ers team that already includes Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis and Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick and … well … that’s Super Bowl caliber again.

Even if Boldin doesn’t work out, all San Francisco gave up was a sixth-round pick. Which is well worth the risk.

Meanwhile, the fallout in the AFC North is not insignificant.

The Browns won’t have to watch Boldin beat them up twice a year, nor will the Bengals. Boldin had 32 catches for 488 yards and three TDs against the Browns, and 22 for 264 yards and four TDs against the Bengals.

That mismatch has moved on.

The other fallout could affect the Browns free agent plans. Rumors and logic have the Browns interested in Ravens linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe.

Trading Boldin clears $6 million in cap space for the Ravens. Whether that’s enough to keep Ellerbe or Kruger remains to be seen, but it’s a step.

Finally, Baltimore is not as good without Boldin as it was with him. But it’s hard to think that Ozzie Newsome doesn’t have a plan ready and waiting to replace him. The Ravens are consistent winners for a reason.

By Pat McManamon | Also posted in Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, NFL | Tagged , |


From the NFL Combine: Would Alex Smith be a QB upgrade?

February 21, 2013 – 11:27 am

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Browns won’t reveal their quarterback plans until Friday when coach Rob Chudzinski addresses the media gaggle at the Scouting Combine.

And they may not reveal them then, because Chudzinski may play the “still studying” card.

But the 49ers made it plainly evident without saying it directly that the Browns (or any team) would have to give something up if they want to add Alex Smith. The 49ers plan to take full advantage of the fact they have Smith under contract.

General Manager Trent Baalke said the team has not yet decided if it will trade Smith, who lost his job to Colin Kaepernick last season, but he sure sounded like a guy ready to do so.

And he sounded like a guy who would take advantage of the fact that the draft is not strong for quarterbacks, and Smith is the best experienced option available to a team looking for one.

“Are we going to trade him for sure?” Baalke said. “No, that hasn’t been decided.”

But he also said he had dinner with Smith and his wife shortly after the Super Bowl, just to make sure all parties had an “understanding” of the situation.

He said “all options” are on the table.

And he said: “We are going to do everything in our power to make the best decision for everyone involved.”

He also called Smith “a pro’s pro.”
“I can’t say enough great things about him,” Baalke said.

And he added: “I have nothing but great respect for him.”

Sound like a guy building up a guy for a trade?

Smith is under contract for $8.5 million this season. The 49ers would like to keep free agent safety Dashon Goldson. Having Smith and Kaepernick on the roster would be a sticky situation. So the 49ers could release Smith, which he’d like, or they could trade him. Which clearly seems to be the team’s preference — though they would have to find another team to pay Smith that salary, barring a contract re-do.

Nobody knows if Smith is on the Brown radar, but owner Jimmy Haslam has said there will be competition at quarterback in ‘13. The Browns must decide if Smith is enough of an upgrade over Brandon Weeden to justify a trade. Smith is a former first overall pick, and he’s younger than Weeden.

Smith’s career rating is 79.1, his career percentage 59.3. He’s averaged 179 yards per game passing in his seven seasons.

He started well last season (rating: 104.1 with 13 TDs, five interceptions and 7.97 yards per attempt), but lost his job after being sidelined with a concussion when Kaepernick was so dynamic. Even with the high rating and 70 percent completion rate, Smith averaged just 193 yards per game in 2012. For a team that eventually went to the Super Bowl.

As a rookie, Weeden had a 72.7 rating (thanks to throwing more interceptions than touchdowns) and averaged 225.7 yards per game.

Smith is a decent NFL quarterback. He doesn’t throw as well as Kaepernick, nor does he bring a new dimension to the Browns other than experience.

At this point, if the 49ers insist on a trade, which presumably means a draft pick as compensation, it seems more logical for the Browns to stick with Weeden and give him a chance in the offense directed by Norv Turner.

Unless the Browns want to start over (again) just for the sake of starting over.

By Pat McManamon | Also posted in Cleveland Browns, NFL | Tagged , , , |