2014 NFL off-season thread

Unless there are a lot more stories out there that are unreported (very possible) I think that might be overstating things...

Most successful NFL coaches are a pain in the ass to deal with.

As crazy as it is to say, at $5 mil a year, Harbaugh is underpaid. I would bet at least 10 coaches are making more than that. I just hope this doesn't become a "me or him" thing with him and Baalke. That usually doesn't end well for any team. It didn't work out well for the Bucs. It didn't work out well for the Packers.

 

He has been very successful, but he's winning with a team that was loaded when he was hired.
Willis, Staley, Justin Smith, Gore, Davis, Bowman- all excellent players before he arrived.
I am more struck by how truly awful a coach Singletary must have been, than any rare genius Harbaugh has shown.

 

I have no problem with the Niners saying, "We'll give you $7 mil a year and that will go up to $8 mil as soon as you win a title."

The truth of the matter is, if Harbaugh hit the open market, he would get $8 mil a year with no problem whatsoever. It might be with a horseshit team like the Browns or Dolphins, but he would get it.

 

It's hard to have too much faith in an organization that ran off Mooch so it could hire Dennis Erickson and then follow him up with Nolan and Singletary.

 

A fiery style of coaching has a shelf life with a team.
Gruden's act had worn thin by his third season in Tampa.

 

It's a very interesting year for the 49ers. In addition to the Harbaugh who-knows-what, they have to confront the fact that the core of their team is starting or well into the downside of their careers. Gore, Vernon Davis, Justin Smith, Willis, Brooks, Boldin, both starting cornerbacks, and a few other O-line and D-line starters have all been in the league since at least 2008. They aren't getting any younger and they aren't getting any cheaper.

If the 49ers can't get it done in 2014, and with what Seattle is building, that window could close.

 

I'm not even sure it took that long. Wasn't it 2003 when the Keyshawn debacle happened?

 

Yes, 2003.
If you're going to come in and be a hardass you can't let your team be riven by clowns like Keyshawn and Sapp.
There were media reports that the 49ers quarterback controversy in 2012 did in fact divide the team.

 

I agree, but it's pretty rare that this isn't the case with most teams that have had good 2-3 year runs. Seattle should be in good shape for next season and it's hard to imagine they won't be HUGE favorites to repeat, but a year from now Sherman will be a FA, Wilson will be a year away from needing to be paid, Lynch will be a year closer to 30...

What helps the Niners is they have a lot of picks, but I agree that they might have to be all-in for next season.

 

There are always going to be guys who are sympathetic to the guy they've been teammates with for 5+ years when they lose a job the way Smith did. I'm sympathetic to Smith, but I don't think anyone can blame Harbaugh for the way that was handled. They did get to the Super Bowl.

 

Seattle has very few players of consequence who have been in the league more than five years. I think it's Lynch, Cliff Avril, Chris Clemons and that's it.

 

Agreed. I'm just curious if he's asking for final say over the roster.