Morning Tailgate: July 16
Posted by on July 16, 2012 – 11:12 AM
Expectations are rising around 49ers headquarters as the team prepares for the second season of the Harbaugh era. Veterans report for training camp in 10 days and the 49ers will be back playing at Candlestick Park in less than a month, as they kick off the preseason schedule with an Aug. 10 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
The 49ers added a bevy of talented players to their deep roster this offseason via free agency and through the draft and are expected to be Super Bowl contenders once again in 2012. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee wrote a season preview for Sporting News and predicted the 49ers will repeat as NFC West Champions.
“Experts and oddsmakers see the 49ers making it to the Super Bowl, and the team has been receiving shovelfuls of praise since the end of the season,” Barrows writes. “The truth is that it’s warranted.”
Today’s Morning Tailgate also features news regarding franchise-tagged safety Dashon Goldson on his final day of long-term contract negotiations with the 49ers and more. Check out the latest headlines after the jump.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com discussed Goldson’s contract situation as today’s 1 p.m. deadline approaches. Maiocco: “If no deal is struck by today’s deadline, Goldson will still make more in salary this season than he made during his first five NFL seasons combined. But he would not be eligible to sign a long-term deal with the 49ers until after the final regular-season game.”
Barrows also examined Goldson’s market value by looking at other long-term deals signed by safeties in recent years. Barrows: “Goldson is unique. He’s taller, more physical and more aggressive than most free safeties, who are becoming more and more like glorified cornerbacks in a league which emphasizes the the passing game a little more each year.”
Nolan Nawrocki of ProFootballWeekly.com said the 49ers feature the NFL’s best backfield. Nawrocki: “If you want to break it down in terms of sheer talent, I’ve got to go with the San Francisco 49ers.”
Maiocco handicapped the 49ers quarterback situation and said second-year signal-caller Colin Kaepernick should be the favorite to earn the No. 2 job behind Alex Smith. Maiocco: “Second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick enters training camp as Alex Smith’s backup. And he is the favorite to hold onto that spot.”
Maiocco also writes about 49ers CEO Jed York, who tweeted on Sunday that he hopes Kyle Williams is the team’s breakout player in 2012. Maiocco: “Williams faces plenty of competition from a solid group vying for backup roles. Rookie A.J. Jenkins, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick, figures to get a long look to see if he can work his way into the mix.”
TWEET ABOUT IT
Have a suggestion for a statue outside the new Santa Clara Stadium? Jed York is listening.
Tags: Colin Kaepernick, Dashon Goldson, Jed York, Kyle Williams
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22 Responses
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By bobby on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
we need to sign goldson, we need this guy as per our safety position, he just like a human torpedoout there in field…
By rjdniner on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
There’s only one statue that needs to be out front for the new stadium and that honor belongs to Bill Walsh.
By Ladybug on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
While I agree that Walsh deserves recognition…I still feel that people come and people go…..and putting a statue of someone might not be appropriate.
Why not a wall of bronze plaques around the outside of the stadium…with bas-relief faces of Walsh, Montana, Frankie Albert, Jerry Rice, etc etc…recent high achievers and those of the past eras who played the game with valor.
This way the team gets recognized….not just the coach. And this is a team sport, right?
By raymond on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Absolutely there should be statues. Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Bill Walsh. Reason, any football fan, as soon as you hear those names, right away you think 49ers. What better reason is there? Go 9ers!
By # 1 D-FENSE 2012 on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
man, no long term deal announced for dashon goldson before the deadline,,we might not be able to afford him next year if the front office allows him to become a free agent
By Jon on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Montana at the north end arms raised, rice at the south end looking over his sholder for a catch, walsh at the west end with a closed hand over his mouth looking thoughtful and lott at the east end in position to put a lick on someone.
By rjdniner on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Lady bug I totally agree with you, and to the person who gave me a negative, you are stepping on the legacy of Bill Walsh.
By missouri 9er on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Sorry rjdniner, no disrespect for you or Bill Walsh certainly! But just my opinion that IF a statue is placed outside it should represent the Past, Present, and Future of a GREAT and STORIED FRANCHISE . ALL NINERS ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!
By Terry on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
New Stadium Statue Idea. Replicas of 5 Super Bowl rings surrounding the Vince Lombardi Trophy inscribed with the names of the top 100 Great contributors, Bill Walsh, Eddie D, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, etc. like a living Stanley Cup you can always add more names of prominent contributors to the 49ers, leave room for more future rings too. A “one of a kind” evolutionary statue.
By Hmrhead on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
I’m glad they didnt sign Goldson. He’s an average safety playing in a very good system. Prior to last year, he NEVER made any impact plays.
By gabriel49 on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
I think we should have more than one statue outside the stadium. Definetly Bill Walsh should be there b4 anyone. He turned that organization around & was responsible for drafting guys like R. Lott, E. Wright, D. Clark, R. Craig, T. Rathman & so on. ( not to mention he was the man behind the West Coast Offense ). If anything else I agree with Ladybug that a wall of fame with bronze faces of players, coaches & the great E. Debartelo & C. Policy should b represented in the new stadium. just my opinion boys……
By time2speakup on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
We dodged several bullets last season injury-wise with no long term deals. We cannot expect that this year – we can hope and pray but! So the key will be our depth. With the players we already have on hand, Trent Baalke pulling the trigger, and one or two legit FA’s still out there (think O-Line Jake Scott & Outside Rusher Joey Porter, I believe that we can realistically dream BIG (no predictions or projections from yours truly, just that this will be some kinda year for the Red and Gold)!!! Hang on for the ride!
By Jet on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Life is Good.
Football here.
Olympics here.
Weather here is great in NorCal.
Giants competing.
Hope all is well with LinYan from Guilin !
and to the rest of the world … Peace …
By Jim1946 on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
There have been many great players that preceded the Walsh years who deserve to be recognized and including the 49er Hall of Fame should address the most deserving. If statues are considered for placement outside the stadium, like Willie Mays at Giant’s Stadium, then I vote for Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott. They brought championships to the 9er nation and stand among the NFLs all time greats, not just the 49ers. Just like Willie, the greatest ballplayer I have seen in my lifetime.
By Chris Johnson on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Man a statue outside of the new Stadium, that’s tough. Without the vision of two people our 49ers might have missed out on several key players that made this franchise one of the best teams in all of sports.
Uncle Eddie, Bill Walsh should go right in front and then you have Joe, Jerry and Steve right behind them. You Put Jerry between both Joe and Steve.
By ELEVEN YEARS WITH ALEX on Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
how bout both the QB’s who got us 5 championships …with of course no disrespect to anyone else ..rice ….lott…craige….but these guys were masters and got us our 5 superbowls
By johninchina on Jul 17, 2012 | Reply
I like ladybug’s suggestion – a wall, mural, fresco or whatever you want to call it in bronze with faces of so many who contributed to the 49er legacy . . . BUT, I would also like to see three statues reflecting all three phases of the team: Eddie D for ownership and administration; Bill Walsh for Coaching and Coordinators; and Joe Montana for players . . . these three more than any others stand above, way above any others in the entire NFL, and define the transition from a “storied” franchise, to a “championship” franchise!. This fact will not change, these are the legends of our 49ers! It’s simple, take away any one of these three and you have a good football team; it took all three to put together the GREAT team and tradition that lives today and the glory that is returning to San Fracisco in the NFL. Thanks 49ers, looking forward to the new season !
By okcniner on Jul 17, 2012 | Reply
I vote for a statue of ELEVEN YEARS WITH ALEX so we can all have something to throw eggs at as we go into the stadium……
By # 1 D-FENSE 2012 on Jul 17, 2012 | Reply
I just saw on nfl network that dez bryant of the cowboys has been arrested for hitting his mother and marshawn lynch of the seahawks was arrested for dui in oakland,,,,obviously roger goodell’s message about staying out of trouble is not getting through to these millionaires playing football i see suspenions and pay cuts coming
By rjdniner on Jul 17, 2012 | Reply
I wonder if Lynch was on his way to get some SKITTLES and that’s were the cops got him near the store .
By dave g. on Jul 17, 2012 | Reply
Yeah Eleven Years it is disrespectful to the other players what you saying. I obviously think the best of Montana & Young giving a BIGGER nod to Montana BUT you severly under-estimate what the other guys brought to the table. You SEVERLY miss out on the whole TEAM concept which is very consistant to your “arm-chair QB” and “small mind” outlook on football. Man you miss soooo much by just focusing on the QB. Its a very important position BUT to really think the other guys did not have a huge impact on 5 SB’s is really ignorant. You give the QB waaaaaaay tooo much credit & waaaaaay to much blame. I don’t believe on giving any one guy the nod over the rest for a statue. It sends the wrong message! It takes a TEAM to WIN just like it takes a TEAM to lose (including coaches & owners). You think about that.
By # 1 D-FENSE 2012 on Jul 18, 2012 | Reply
RJDNINER,,seriously?? skittles?? you know,after everyone has made mention of your lame as$,and just plain stupid posts,one would hope that you would think before you make a post or comment,but your above post about marshawn and skittles proves everyone right about you. what are you?? like 8-10 years old??