Blogs

Santa Clara Breaks Ground on Tasman Garage

Chief Operating Officer Paraag Marathe called Thursday’s ground breaking ceremony in Santa Clara another material sign of progress in the 49ers quest to build a new 68,500-seat stadium in Santa Clara.

The six-story, 1,820 space garage adjacent to the Santa Clara Convention Center is a $25 million dollar project that will be paid fully by the city’s art redevelopment funds that were previously in place. The garage should be ready for use by fall of 2012.

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Key Stadium Milestones Achieved

The Santa Clara Stadium Authority unanimously approved several crucial steps last night that move forward the construction of the San Francisco 49ers new stadium home.  These approvals are key milestones for the stadium and signal the next phase of progress for the Santa Clara venue.

“These decisions trigger preparation for the procurement process which translates to jobs, the final design process, the marketing and sales campaign and the initiation of planning for the food and beverage offerings at the stadium,” said Santa Clara Mayor Jamie L. Matthews.

The Stadium Authority approved the procurement process that will be utilized to hire subcontractors to perform some $500 million in construction trade work for the stadium.  That process, which will result in new jobs for the region, will get underway this fall.

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Report: Kaepernick Had Minor Surgery

According to 49ers beat writer Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, rookie 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a minor surgical procedure on his lower left leg following the 2011 NFL Draft.

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Statement From NFL Executive VP Jeff Pash

NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash issued this statement regarding the current work stoppage:

“We are pleased now to have received a reply to the comprehensive proposal that we made eight days ago. The points made in the players’ letter are precisely the kind of points that collective bargaining is intended to address.  Debating the merits of the offer in this fashion is what collective bargaining is all about. But we would note that three facts we have consistently identified over the past week are ignored and we therefore assume acknowledged. First, the proposal called for player costs of between $19 and $20 billion over the next four seasons; second, the player cost figure in 2011 was above the actual cash spending for 2009 and 2010; and third, the economic offer, combined with other elements of the proposal, was a substantial move by the clubs to keep negotiations going and avoid a work stoppage and related litigation.

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NFL Statement on “Decertification”

The fastest way to a fair agreement is for both the union and the clubs to continue the mediation process.  Unfortunately, the players’ union notified our office at 4pm ET on Friday that it had “decertified” and walked away from mediation and collective bargaining to initiate the antitrust litigation it has been threatening to file. In an effort to get a fair agreement now, the clubs offered a deal that would have had no adverse financial impact upon veteran players in the early years and would meet the players’ financial demands in the latter years.

The union left a very good deal on the table. It included an offer to narrow the player compensation gap that existed in the negotiations by splitting the difference; guarantee reallocation of savings from first-round rookies to veterans and retirees without negatively affecting compensation for rounds 2-7; ensure no compensation reduction for veterans; implement new year-round health and safety rules; retain the current 16-4 season format for at least two years with any subsequent changes subject to the approval of the league and union; and establish a new legacy fund for retired players ($82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years).

The union was offered financial disclosure of audited league and club profitability information that is not even shared with the NFL clubs.

The expanded health and safety rules would include a reduction in offseason programs of five weeks (from 14 to nine) and of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) from 14 to 10; significant reductions in the amount of contact in practices; and other changes.

At a time when thousands of employees are fighting for their collective bargaining rights, this union has chosen to abandon collective bargaining in favor of a sham ‘decertification’ and antitrust litigation. This litigation maneuver is built on the indisputably false premise that the NFLPA has stopped being a union and will merely delay the process of reaching an agreement.

The NFL clubs remain committed to collective bargaining and the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached. The NFL calls on the union to return to negotiations immediately. NFL players, clubs, and fans want an agreement. The only place it can be reached is at the bargaining table.

Since June of 2009, 21 months ago, the NFL clubs have made numerous comprehensive, detailed proposals and counter-proposals; negotiated in dozens of formal sessions and smaller group meetings; and engaged in a series of intensive negotiating sessions over the past three weeks under the auspices of George Cohen, the director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. We have reaffirmed to Director Cohen our commitment to the federal mediation process until an agreement is reached.

The goals of the NFL clubs have been clear from the start. The current CBA is flawed in numerous respects, and the system must be improved to ensure continued growth and innovation and a better future for the NFL, the players, and the fans.

The clubs are willing to make many changes proposed by the union, and they have modified their economic proposals in numerous respects. We need an agreement that – when looking back two, four or 10 years from now – both sides will recognize as fair, smart, good for the game, and good for all involved, including players, fans, and clubs.

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Alex Smith to Start Sunday vs. Seattle

The 49ers will play the Seattle Seahawks for a second time this season on Sunday. And Alex Smith will be under center as the 49ers starting quarterback against Seattle for a second time as well.

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49ers Sign K Jeff Reed

According to 49ers Vice President of Player Personnel Trent Baalke, kicker Joe Nedney will have his injured knee reevaluated this Monday. In the mean time, the 49ers announced the signing of veteran kicker Jeff Reed to a one-year contract.

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49ers Sign K Shane Andrus

After trying out Wednesday morning with two other kickers, K Shane Andrus was signed by the 49ers to a one-year contract. Andrus will step in for 15-year veteran Joe Nedney, who injured his right knee last week against St. Louis. MRI results showed a right knee strain and a bone bruise. Nedney is out this week and will be reevaluated next week.

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49ers Waive WR Hill

The 49ers announced Tuesday morning that they have waived WR Jason Hill. The third-round selection by the 49ers in the 2007 NFL Draft registered 40 receptions for 413 yards and four touchdowns in 34 games (two starts) during his four-year stint with the team.

49ers-Raiders Broadcast Info

The San Francisco 49ers preseason game against the Oakland Raiders will now be broadcast at 9:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, August 28 instead of the previously announced time of 10:00 p.m. PDT. The game will still be broadcast on KBCW/CW 44 Cable 12 as previously announced. Kick-off time remains the same, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PDT.

Fans can also follow the action right here on our Goal Posts Blog or by receiving updates on Twitter.