49ers add Depth on Offense, re-sign Smith, Ginn & Rogers

After making his long anticipated decision to take snaps for the Denver Broncos last week, the teams who were in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes that missed out on the 4-time MVP are now forced to lick their wounds and find an alternative at the quarterback position. Among those teams were the San Francisco 49ers who following the failed attempt to land the future Hall of Fame quarterback, were forced to kiss and makeup with Alex Smith after flirting with the longtime QB of the Colts. Shortly after the news broke that the 49ers were among the finalists in landing Manning, Smith too was exploring other options just in case Manning chose the bay area, with Miami being the most likeliest of his destinations. But once Manning notified the 49ers and Tennessee Titans that Denver was where he had chosen to take his talent, San Francisco's GM Trent Baalke reminded Smith about the 3-year deal that was still on the table.

After leading the 49ers on a magical run which saw the franchise capture its first division title in nearly a decade as well as a trip to the NFC title game, Alex Smith agreed to return to the organization that will pull the curtain on the 2012 season as one of the favorites to win it all next year. The 3-year deal reportedly worth $24 Million had to be an easy one to agree to for Smith who saw nothing but improvements made on offense this off-season as he'll now have two new weapons to throw to in Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. But the decision to bring back Smith didn't prevent head coach Jim Harbaugh from adding another player at the quarterback position to heat up the competition as former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Josh Johnson agreed to a 2-year contract. Having played under coach Harbaugh at the University of San Diego where the two won back-to-back Pioneer Football League Championships together, the addition of Johnson not only gives Harbaugh a player he's familiar with, but it also gives him a solid backup to rely on if Alex Smith were to get hurt or struggle. After grooming Smith the way he did last year, I'm curious to see what Harbaugh could do with a player he's coached in college.

Perhaps the most overlooked signing of the 49ers off-season so far is that of wide-receiver and kick returner Ted Ginn Jr. Many fans including myself believe that if Ginn was healthy enough to play in last year's NFC Championship game against the New York Giants, it would've been the 49ers who represented the NFC in the Super Bowl. Sidelined with a knee injury, substitute Kyle Williams was called upon to be the backup where let's just say he had a game to forget. Similar to Mario Manningham who last week joined the team he helped defeat in January's NFC title game, former New York Giants running-back Brandon Jacobs followed his teammates lead by signing a one-year, incentive laden deal to serve as Frank Gore's backup in SF. The acquisition of Jacobs bolsters an already dominant running game led by the aforementioned Gore as well as backups Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon.

And the last signing, but definitely not the least was made today as San Francisco and cornerback Carlos Rogers worked out a 4-year extension, meaning the 49ers will have all 11 of their defensive starters in 2011, back for another go around in 2012. With defense being their most strongest asset last season, it was important to re-sign Rogers who not only made his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2011, but also played as big a role on the defensive side of things as anyone. After tying Dashon Goldson with the team lead in interceptions with six, good enough for fourth in the league, it was a no-brainer for Jim Harbaugh and company to reach out and sign Rogers to a long-term deal given the former first round pick out of Auburn finally found the perfect fit on defense in Vic Fangio's system. With all these personnel additions and returns, one thing that's certain regarding the 2012 San Francisco 49ers is that the team should be just as lethal as last year and then some.

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Ramon Sessions fitting in nicely in Lakerland

Since the collapsed trade of Chris Paul to the Lakers back in December, the one thing that has separated the purple & gold from the rest of the top teams in the league has been consistent production from the point-guard position. Though the 37 year old Derek Fisher has came up big time and time again while donning a Lakers uniform, a move needed to be made if Kobe Bryant and company planned on putting last year's crushing sweep to the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks behind them and make another run a title no. 17. And with Thursday's trade deadline looming, it was now or never for the Lakers who were so desperately in need of help at point-guard that they were reportedly showing interest in free-agent Gilbert Arenas, but instead chose to pass on the troubled former All-Star.

Having grown accustomed to seeing the Lakers acquire big name players near the trade deadline in recent years, GM Mitch Kupchak instead decided to steer clear of the sexier trades for a low-risk, high-reward type of deal by landing back-up point-guard Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers along with former first round pick Christian Eyenga. In exchange for the fifth year player out of Nevada, the Lakers sent Luke Walton, Jason Kapono and a first round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft to the Cavs. To prevent a logjam at the point-guard position, the Lakers were forced to bid a farewell to longtime bearer of the purple & gold -- Derek Fisher and another 2012 first round draft pick to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jordan Hill. With Fisher out, backup PG Steve Blake has inherited the starting role with Sessions taking Blake's former role serving off the bench.

Though it may have only been four games since his arrival, the Lakers appear to have struck gold with the addition of Sessions as he's shown more and more of his skills game after game. In his debut Friday night at Staples Center against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, Sessions put up 7 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 19 minutes while showing Laker fans something they haven't seen from the point-guard department in awhile -- speed. In his next game against the Jazz, Sessions would showcase a bit more of his passing ability by logging 10 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists to go along with a steal. After a 14 point, 2 rebound, 4 assist, 1 steal performance in a losing effort on the road against Houston, Sessions would log his best game in a Lakers uni yet. This time it would be his shooting that was put on display as he dropped 17 points while collecting 9 assists to add to his 5 rebounds and 1 block, helping Los Angeles knock off the defending World Champion Mavs for the third time this season in as many matches.

Laker fans might not be used to having a point-guard that can attack the basket with such speed, but one thing that's certain is that they're loving every bit of it. The most valuable asset that Sessions will bring to the table is that he relieves Kobe from his duty of having to be the main facilitator now that Bryant appears to have a true point-guard who can dictate the game and control the tempo by creating plays. In every game he's been in so far, the Lakers have looked like an entirely different team with Sessions on the floor. Having progressed each game and only getting more comfortable the more he plays, I'd say it's only a matter of time before Ramon makes his way into the starting lineup as Steve Blake on the other hand has yet to solidify himself as the starter for the foreseeable future since Fisher's departure.

Currently boasting an overall record of 29-18, good enough for sole possession of the no.3 seed in the West, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to have solved their long standing issue at the point-guard position. At least it seems that way. However, the real test will be whether or not Sessions can go toe-to-toe with All-Star PG Russell Westbrook and Western Conference heavyweights Oklahoma City who the Lakers will most likely get a look at in the Playoffs this year. But before Mike Brown and co. can even look that far, they'll need to solve their woes on the road where they currently own a dismal record of 10-15.

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49ers Sign Manningham, Enter Peyton Manning Sweepstakes

Last Monday, the 49ers off-season would get off to an exciting start after news broke that the team had signed veteran wide receiver Randy Moss to a one-year deal to help upgrade their receiving corps. Just days later, 49ers GM Trent Baalke would follow that up by signing Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham to a two-year pact. The former New York Giants wide-out who's spectacular fourth quarter grab down the sideline to set up the game-winning drive against the New England Patriots, will now be running routes and receiving passes for the team he helped defeat in January's NFC title game. But just when you thought San Francisco's off-season couldn't get any better, the 49ers have reportedly emerged as a sleeper team in the running for one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game in Peyton Manning.

After informing the Miami Dolphins along with division rivals Seattle and Arizona that they weren't among his finalists on Friday, it was learned that in the midst of all the speculation revolving the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans that Peyton Manning had worked out for the 49ers. According to sources, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman flew out and met up with the 4-time MVP at Duke University where Manning has been practicing for the past several weeks. After watching him take part in a throwing session, 49ers officials sent a team doctor to North Carolina where Manning underwent a physical exam. While team representatives for both the Broncos and Titans also met with Peyton, as you could imagine, each franchise has had their fair share of endorsers.

With Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway lobbying for Peyton to land in Denver, the Titans on the other hand not only have team owner Bud Adams on the forefront who has said he'd do anything to make Manning a Titan, including offer him a lifetime contract, but they also have the entire state of Tennessee backing him. Manning is beloved in the Volunteer State for his successful college career at the University of Tennessee so much so that a Tennessee diner has offered him free pancakes for life if he signs with the team. The 49ers might not be able to provide Peyton with free pancakes for life, but something they would be able to provide him with is the best possible chance of making it to and winning another Super Bowl. Something former Hall of Fame QB of the 49ers, Steve Young says could be the deciding factor in where Manning chooses to take his talents in 2012. Of the three teams remaining in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, no team appears to be as stacked on both sides of the ball as the San Francisco 49ers do.

Not only do the 49ers possess a dominant rushing attack led by the tandem of Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, but they also have a wide-receiving corps that just got better with Michael Crabtree and the additions of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. And not to be forgotten is Pro-Bowl tight-end Vernon Davis. Even more deadly is San Francisco's defense which put up record-setting numbers last season as the top ranked defense in the league. Though San Francisco would be the run away favorites to land Manning in most people's yes given the talent they currently have, those closest to the story are calling it a long shot. But until he writes the 49ers off or signs on the dotted-line elsewhere, let's keep the optimism flowing and keep our fingers crossed.

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49ers to pay Randy Moss straight cash homie for 2012

After a disappointing 6-10 season in 2010, the San Francisco 49ers bounced back in a huge way in 2011 under their Rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh, coming within one game of the Super Bowl, falling in overtime to the eventual world champion -- New York Giants. With an already stellar defense in tact which ranked among tops in the league, if there was any one position in need of some bolstering, it was the wide-receiver position. And on Monday, the 49ers did just that. After having little to work with on offense last year outside of Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and the running back tandem of Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh made sure he would provide whoever his quarterback is next year with another target to throw to. That target's name? Randy Moss.

It didn't take long for the reigning Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh and company to make the decision to sign Moss, a 7-time Pro-Bowler, as the two were said to have met earlier on in the day where Harbaugh was seen throwing passes to Moss. After their brief game of catch, Harbaugh had seen enough, eventually leading to 49ers GM Trent Baalke offering Moss a one-year, incentive laden deal with a base salary of $1.75 Million. Just days prior to the signing, Moss had reportedly worked out with the New Orleans Saints where scouts raved about the 35-year old still possessing some of the best hands in the game. But what remains to be seen is whether or not the former Rookie of the Year can still stretch the field. That is something the 49er faithful and Alex Smith who's projected to re-sign with the organization will have to stay tuned to find out.

Coming into the off-season, the 49ers were said to be pursuing a number of big name free-agents to upgrade their wide receiving corps, with the likes of a Mike Wallace or a Vincent Jackson, as well as the possibility of bringing back Josh Morgan who following a promising start, missed a majority of the 2011 season due to injury. Instead they've gone with a much cheaper route thus far, signing Moss for a fraction of the cost it would have been to land one of the aforementioned marquee wide-outs. Not to mention the deal is a low-risk, high-reward type of deal that could do more help than harm opposed to investing a number of years and a ton of money on a top-tier free-agent. I'm not expecting him to evolve back into the Randy Moss of old who we grew accustomed to seeing log double-digits in the touchdown category, but at the same time, that won't be needed. His presence alone should do enough wonders to help ease the pressure put on Vernon Davis.

The signing of a seasoned veteran like Randy Moss could also be the perfect ingredient to help influence a breakout season from Michael Crabtree who should see a lot more windows with both Moss and Davis drawing attention as possible deep threats. Notorious for being somewhat of a cancer on the sidelines as well as in the locker room in the past when failing to see eye-to-eye with his coaching staff and quarterback as displayed during his time spent with the Oakland Raiders from 2005-06, I think we can expect to see a more respectful Randy Moss in 2012 that not only understands his role, but knows that his teammates and coach will be depending on him. After his brief hiatus in 2011 which saw the future Hall of Fame receiver eye a comeback to no avail, I'm sure he's just thankful to be given another chance and knows that bickering like he's done in the past could be his ticket out of the league once and for all. Moss also understands that this could be his final shot at adding that long awaited Super Bowl ring to an already impressive resume.

With the 49ers scheduled to face off against the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots this year, both of whom Moss shared his most productive seasons with, there's plenty of reasons for the receiver who ranks second behind only the great Jerry Rice in touchdown receptions (153), to be looking forward to the 2012 season. But until then, the million dollar question remains: Will Randy Moss revive his career again like he did with the Patriots or will he be 2012's version of Braylon Edwards?

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Peyton Manning, The End of an Era

After 14 long successful seasons at the helm in Indianapolis, the marriage between star quarterback Peyton Manning and the Colts football team is coming to a screeching halt. Just days after a video of Peyton Manning throwing passes at Duke University for the first time since undergoing a series of neck surgeries went viral after being leaked onto the Internet, Colts owner Jim Irsay has made the decision to move on without the most popular figure to ever don a Colts uniform and arguably one of the greatest QB's of all-time. Amid the speculation of keeping Manning in Indianapolis for at least another year so he could show consensus number one overall draft pick Andrew Luck the ropes before taking on the Colts starting quarterback position, Irsay and company has instead invested in turning the page in hopes of starting a new chapter of Colts football.

Only a year into his 5-year, $90 Million deal signed with the team back in July, the soon to be 36-year old Manning who was hoping to end his career in a Colts uniform, will now try to find work elsewhere which shouldn't be a problem given the many teams that have issues at the quarterback position entering the 2012 season. Sidelined by neck problems in 2011, Manning was forced to miss the entire season, resulting in the team's first losing season in nearly a decade at 2-14, landing the Colts the No. 1 overall pick in April's Draft. A pick they used 14 years earlier to draft Manning out of the University of Tennessee which would breath life back into a Colts organization that had made only three trips to the playoffs since relocating from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. Manning would match those three postseason appearances in his first five seasons at the helm before adding eight more trips to the playoffs to his resume, including a Super Bowl title in 2006.

Also following Indy's dismal 2011 season were the firings of Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, general manager Chris Polian, all in an effort to give the team a full makeover. With all of them gone, it seemed almost inevitable that Peyton would be next on the list. But as much as the idea was thrown around during the regular season and beyond, nobody thought the possibility would actually come to fruition. But once again proving that the NFL is a business, Irsay decides to set his cash cow free into the wild where he'll be able to help another franchise vie for a Super Bowl title. Manning, who's the all-time leading passer in Colts franchise history, would've been owed $28 Million in bonus money if he was still on the team's roster come Thursday. But according to Colts owner Jim Irsay, the decision to part ways with the 4-time NFL MVP falls into the plans of the team's restructuring and was not financially driven.

It's hard to put into words just what Peyton Manning has meant not only for the Colts franchise, but also for the community of Indianapolis, which is why I believe if there is a homecoming between Manning and the Indianapolis faithful, it'll be a welcoming one with lots of emotion. Unless of coarse he was to steal a page from Brett Favre's book and sign with the archrival New England Patriots. But luckily for them the Pats already have a guy that goes by the name of Tom Brady under center. Instead of waiting until March 13, when free agency officially begins, Manning can sign with another NFL team now if he wanted. But with lots to think about from now until the start of the regular season for the 11-time Pro Bowler, I think it'll be after the draft if not days before when we find out which team Manning will be playing for. And with #18 now on the free-agent market, I think we'll see a similar lobbying campaign for Manning like the one we seen for LeBron James just over a year ago. However, don't be expecting Peyton to hold an hour long special on ESPN entitled "The Decision Part II" for him to announce his destination.

A few of the early suitors rumored to be interested in Manning include the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. Is there an unnamed team that you think will make a late push to snag the former Super Bowl MVP? If so, who?

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