It's no secret that there's been no love lost between the San Francisco 49ers fan base and former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman since Sherman's defensive prowess was the deciding factor that prevented the Niners from punching their ticket to a second straight Super Bowl in 2013. Since Sherman deflected Colin Kaepernick's pass in the end zone intended for ex-Niners receiver Michael Crabtree which led to an interception that would stave off a comeback and ultimately end San Francisco's run of three straight NFC Championship appearances, the Niners have been stuck searching for a playoff berth ever since. The game-clinching play by the four-time All-Pro corner was one thing, as San Francisco's memorable run under head coach Jim Harbaugh came crashing down, but Sherman's antics after the game was really what fueled the distaste 49ers fans would have for the former Stanford product as he flashed choke signs at the Niners sideline before yelling at the camera with some choice words for Crabtree. His fan base in the Bay Area would only dwindle from there, thanks to the infamous turkey feast at midfield after a win at Levi's Stadium on Thanksgiving, and who could forget the negative comments made towards Harbaugh who once upon a time coached Sherman at Stanford for all four years before the two made the jump to the NFL. It's no wonder he single-handedly birthed the hatred I now have for the team I've coined the nickname, the Seattle "Seachickens."
Having served as public enemy number one for many years in the eyes of Niner fans, it's time they let bygones by bygones as the guy they loved to hate as recent as last season, will now be sporting the scarlet and gold. Just 24 hours after being released by the Seattle organization which appears to be trimming salary, the Compton, California native agreed to return to the Bay Area just a stones throw away from his alma mater in Palo Alto. A night after a sit down dinner alongside his wife and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Sherman who serving as his own agent, agreed to a three-year, $39 Million contract which includes a $5 Million signing bonus. With seven other teams rumored to have shown interest in the soon-to-be 30 year old Sherman, including the Detroit Lions who had a meeting scheduled after San Francisco, 49ers GM and fellow Stanford alum John Lynch was quick to put the Niners' name in the hat for the Richard Sherman sweepstakes after the franchise lost out on both Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, both of whom were acquired via trade by the division rival Los Angeles Rams. Seattle's decision to cut Sherman came just 48 hours after the team agreed to deal Pro Bowl defensive-end Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles as Seattle appears to be undergoing a complete overhaul on defense.
Though seeing Sherman in a Niner uniform will definitely take some getting used, the move makes sense in several areas. While Sherman is coming off of surgeries to each of his Achilles', one to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and the other to clean up bone spurs in his foot which will keep him off the field until June, the deal helps solve San Francisco's need for a cornerback which could very well make their decision to pass on a corner and address other needs in April's Draft much easier now. Sherman and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh are also very familiar with one another as Salah served on Seattle's coaching staff for three years as the defensive quality control coach from Sherman's rookie season in 2011 though 2013. And it's well documented that Saleh's 4-3 defensive scheme is designed around the defensive system Seattle had in place which made the "Legion of Boom" among the best defenses in NFL history. Before the signing, Sherman opened up by saying he'd prefer staying on the west coast and that he wanted to play wherever he'd feel comfortable and for a contending team with a "great QB" in place which gives you an idea of what he thinks about the Niners' potential and future with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm as the team closed out the season riding a five-game winning-streak.
Since entering the league in 2011 as a fifth round pick, 154th overall, Sherman leads the league in interceptions (32), passes defensed (99) and completion percentage allowed (47.4) with a minimum of 300 targets. Unfortunately, he also leads the league in ruffling feathers as Sherman is a guy well known to get under the skin of opposing players and fan bases alike. But if he can leave the antics in Seattle, stay healthy, produce while on the field and provide veteran leadership to a very young 49ers locker room, Sherman will turn those haters into fans of his real quick. I say this as I've been one of those haters myself. But I accept the fact that it's now time to move on from harsh feelings given Crabtree has been long gone, having signed with the Niners' cross-town rival Oakland Raiders and only two players remain on San Francisco's roster that were part of the 2013 49ers team that suffered that heartbreaking loss to Sherman and the Seahawks in the 2013 NFC Championship game.
The three-year, $39 Million deal which breaks down as follows: $7 Million base salary, $6 Million in incentives, $5 Million in signing bonuses and a $16 Million base salary for 2019 and 2020 if he's named to the NFL's All-Pro team for the first time since 2015, takes just a small bite out of the Niners' $66.2 Million salary cap, which is the fifth-most in the league and figures to make for a busy offseason for Lynch and company. So as if you didn't already think 49ers-Seahawks would be worth watching in 2018, Sherman's move from one NFC West franchise to another might do the trick.
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If you're a long lost relative of Jimmy Garoppolo's, now's the time to come out of the woodwork as the newly dubbed franchise quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers just got paid. After helping turn a struggling 1-10 49ers team into a team that finished the 2017 season riding a league-best five-game winning streak to finish the season 6-10 as Garoppolo remained undefeated in his seven career starts, two things were very apparent following San Francisco's season-finale win over the division rival L.A. Rams on New Years Eve. 1. 49ers GM John Lynch had plans of keeping Garoppolo in a Niner uniform for many years to come and 2. Jimmy G. was due for a big payday. Lynch delivered on a promise he made back on January 2 when he assured Niner fans after the season that Garoppolo wasn't going anywhere, by inking him to a 5-year, $137.5 Million contract. The deal which includes $48.7 Million guaranteed, makes Garoppolo the highest paid player in NFL history on a per year basis as the 26-year old QB who will only be 31-years of age when his contract expires, will earn an annual salary of $27.5 Mil and $86.4 Mil. in the first three years of his deal.
While an extension was rumored to be in the works according to 49er brass, nobody expected a deal to get done this fast as Lynch won over the 49er faithful yet again by wasting little time to lock down their guy through the 2022 season. Lynch knew signing Garoppolo long-term was a huge step in the right direction as far as establishing the groundwork for a team that's been in rebuild mode since the departure of former head coach Jim Harbaugh following the 2014 season, as well as a major selling point in attracting free-agents who are scheduled to hit the open market to the Bay Area. However, he also knows that there's still lots of work to be done to get the team to where it needs to be in order to accomplish their ultimate goal of hoisting that sixth Lombardi trophy.
Despite inking Jimmy G. to his new lucrative deal that will pay him a record $27.5 Million a year, eclipsing the previous mark of $27 Mil. set by Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford who agreed to his deal just a year ago, the signing which will undoubtedly have an effect on the market for QB's moving forward, will likely be a bargain down the road with free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins seeking an expensive contract that is expected to leapfrog him over Garoppolo in dollar signs. And Cousins' deal will likely be left in the dust soon after by the continued QB carousel as Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are all due for new contracts as well. Even after adding Garoppolo's contract to the books, GM John Lynch will still have north of $100 Million in cap space available for this offseason if they choose to bring in a new toy or two on offense for Garoppolo to play with and build around their newly paid franchise QB, or perhaps bolster the offensive-line to keep Garoppolo's jersey clean or some much needed depth on defense. Lynch made it very simple in an interview with Michael Silver of the NFL Network following the team's press-conference as to why free-agents should choose to buy in and join the team, "It's 75 degrees and sunny outside, we got Jimmy Garoppolo, come and join us."
After just seven career starts, all of which were wins including five with the Niners and two in New England, Jimmy G. who dazzled on the field with his new team despite little time to adjust to a new offense, will now get a full offseason to study head coach Kyle Shanahan's complex system. Considering how foreign Garoppolo was to the system and how quickly he was thrown into the mix following the injury to QB C.J. Beathard, I'd say he did a pretty good. After getting the nod to start in weeks 13-17, Garoppolo impressed the coaching staff by throwing for 1,542 yards, third in the league during that span behind only Phillip Rivers' 1,567 and Jameis Winston's 1,584. Though the sample size remains small at just seven career starts, Garoppolo's stats are nothing to scoff at as he's led his offense to the most points per game (28.3) over the last 25 seasons with a minimum of seven starts, edging a former 49er great in Steve Young (27.6) and tying him with his former Patriots teammate and mentor Tom Brady (28.3). In addition to being just one of five QB's to win his first seven NFL starts since the 1970 merger, his 2,038 passing yards in those seven career starts are 4th most since 1970, behind only Kirk Cousins, Cam Newton and Billy Volek.
It seems like just yesterday that San Francisco acquired Garoppolo from the Patriots via trade back on October 31 for a 2018 second-round pick in April's Draft. The deal which sparked growing rumors of turmoil and dysfunction in the Patriots locker room and front-office as to why New England would deal Garoppolo, not to mention for as small a return as a single second-round pick, was praised by many on the 49ers end who went out and grabbed their man while other teams remained hesitant. For what it's worth, San Francisco's odds to win the Super Bowl next season have risen exponentially, having jumped out with the 10th best odds at 20/1. While a lot can change from now until the start of the season, I think it's safe to say the Niner Empire aren't the only ones buying in on Jimmy G.
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Week 10 - For the first time in 2017, the San Francisco 49ers are in the win column. Though it would take them much longer than they had hoped, the Niners were able to claim their first victory of the season and first win under the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan regime against a struggling (1-7) New York Giants team. In an emotional game that featured two teams with the fewest amount of wins this late in a season since 1984, the 49ers would ride a season-high in rushing yards (186) on their way to a 31-21 victory. Despite liking their chances of getting win No. 1 of the season entering Sunday's game, San Francisco would still be 3-point underdogs against a team that had been embarrassed at home by a score of 51-17 one week earlier.
With both teams scoring field goals on their opening possessions, the game would quickly jump out to a 3-3 score as the 49ers benefited from a penalty on New York's special-teams which gave San Francisco the ball at their 40-yard line after the opening kickoff failed to reach the end zone and rolled out of bounds. A 28-yard rush by running back Carlos Hyde on the first play from scrimmage and an extra 15-yards tacked on thanks to an unnecessary roughness penalty called on New York would set the table for kicker Robbie Gould before being answered by Giants rookie kicker Aldrick Rosas. San Francisco's second possession appeared to be heading in the same direction before being halted on a failed 4th and 1 attempt at New York's 36-yard line. After another Giants field goal, both teams would exchange fumbles as another promising 49er drive went up in flames as fullback Kyle Juszczyk fumbled the ball away for the second consecutive week. But the San Francisco defense would respond just three plays later with a forced fumble of their own as second-year defensive-end Ronald Blair's first of two sacks on Giants QB Eli Manning jarred the ball loose, forcing the turnover.
The biggest story of the day for the 49ers, however, would be that of receiver Marquise Goodwin who had received the unfortunate news that he and his wife had lost their unborn child due to pregnancy complications just hours before kickoff. Courageous enough to still hit the field and play on Sunday, albeit with a heavy heart, Goodwin would show up in a big way for his team as he hauled in his first touchdown reception as a 49er on an 83-yard bomb from rookie QB C.J. Beathard. Though it would be his only reception of the game, it would mark the longest pass reception by a 49er since 2005 as Goodwin used his speed coupled with a stiff-arm to break free of the defender as he struck pay dirt before being overcome with emotion as he dropped to his knees and blew a kiss to the sky. Making his 208th consecutive start, Eli Manning would be quick to respond to his 49er counterpart as he connected in the end zone with tight-end Evan Engram. Entering Sunday, San Francisco had led in games for a league-low 29 minutes and 37 seconds before leading in much of this one as Beathard would help the 49ers jump back ahead on their ensuing possession with a lead that they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the afternoon as he found tight-end Garrett Celek for a 47-yard touchdown to give SF a 17-13 lead heading into the half. It would also mark the first time the 49ers would lead heading into halftime this year.
New York would open the second half by marching into field goal range before things went sour after Rosas missed a field goal from 34-yards out. But another 49er turnover would once again put an end to an otherwise nice possession as Beathard was picked off by Olivier Vernon who disrupted a screen pass intended for Matt Breida before tipping it to himself for the interception. It would be the only blemish on the day for Beathard who finally received some protection from his offensive-line as the rookie QB was sack-free all afternoon long, this after taking an absolute beating against the Cardinals a week ago. And on the first play of the fourth quarter, Beathard would rebound from his earlier mishap with an 11-yard touchdown run to make it a 24-13 ballgame for San Francisco's first double-digit lead of the season. That lead would increase one possession later as Breida logged the first rushing touchdown of his career with a 33-yard score to give the Niners a 31-13 advantage. With scoring being a non-factor for the offense on Sunday, San Francisco's punting unit wouldn't be called upon until the 5:46 mark in the 4th quarter.
With the game all but decided, the Giants would get a garbage time touchdown from Manning to receiver Roger Lewis as well as a successful 2-point conversion with just over a minute remaining. But New York's onside-kick attempt would be recovered by the Niners who were able to get into victory formation and milk the clock for the 31-21 win. The victory at home would be San Francisco's first win at Levi's Stadium since their Week 1 shellacking of the Rams over a year ago on Monday Night Football and one that would result in a Gatorade bath inside the 49ers locker room for head coach Kyle Shanahan who was congratulated by his players. Game balls would be given out following the celebration as GM John Lynch personally handed a ball to Goodwin for his courageous efforts and heroics in spite of the family tragedy.
After a career-high in pass attempts (51) in his last outing, quarterback C.J. Beathard (19 for 25) would out-duel Eli Manning (28 for 37) 288 to 273 in the yards department as both QB's threw for a pair of touchdowns and finished with one turnover each. Giants receiver Sterling Shepard would finish with a game-high 142 yards receiving and 11 receptions and Carlos Hyde would lead all backs on the ground, falling two yards shy of the century mark with 98 yards rushing on 17 carries. On the defensive side, 49ers rookie linebacker Reuben Foster tallied double-digit tackles for the second consecutive week with 10 (6 solo, 4 assisted) to lead all tacklers. As for the Giants who dropped to 1-8 on the season for the first time since 1980, New York has now gone 13 games without scoring at least 24-points, the longest active streak in the NFL. The loss also adds some warmth to head coach Ben McAdoo's hot seat as his status to return next season remains up in the air following the Giants' dreadful 1-8 start.
Week 12 Preview - With the 49ers heading into the BYE on a winning note, Kyle Shanahan will look to get his guys mentally and physically ready for their next opponent as the Niners play host to division rival Seattle in Week 12. Since San Francisco's 3-point loss to Seattle in Week 2, the (6-3) Seahawks are looking much better than the team that barely escaped Century Link Field with a win in the first meeting between these two bitter rivals. But after suffering a loss at home just two weeks ago to the Washington Redskins, the Seahawks are still very beatable if the Niners can stick around at home much like they did in their first meeting while applying pressure to QB Russell Wilson. Carlos Hyde will look to add another busy day against the Seahawks defense as his 124-yard performance on the ground in Week 2 remains the only 100-yard performance for the 49er running back this season. Hosting the reigning NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons this week, Seattle currently trails the (7-2) L.A. Rams by a game in the NFC Western Division standings.
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Week 8 - What do you get when you put an 0-7 San Francisco 49ers team that is tied for the worst overall record in the NFL against a 6-1 Philadelphia Eagles team that boasts the best record in the league? How about at a 33-10 shellacking in what is now the first 0-8 start in franchise history for first-year head coach Kyle Shanahan and the woeful 49ers. Entering Sunday's meeting against the Eagles in Philadelphia, the 49ers knew they'd have their work cut out for them matching up on defense against second-year quarterback Carson Wentz who has already surpassed his touchdown total from a year ago (16 TD's) in eight fewer games. They'd also have their hands full against a Philadelphia defense that ranks tops in the league against the run.
Playing on a damp Sunday afternoon, the 49ers would need to play a near perfect game if they had plans of pulling off the upset in rainy Philadelphia. Instead, they'd fall behind 17-0 heading into the locker room at the half as a pair of touchdowns allowed highlighted a dismal first two quarters for San Francisco. The 49ers would manage to stick around for a majority of the first half as Philly hung onto a 3-0 lead entering the 2-minute warning. But things would change quickly as a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight-end Zach Ertz and a pick-six by cornerback Jalen Mills just 17 seconds later would allow the Eagles to take a 17-0 lead into the half. The lead would reach 20 to nothing before the 49ers finally scratched the scoreboard on a touchdown set up by rookie corner Ahkello Witherspoon who recorded his first career interception. San Francisco would capitalize as another 49ers rookie recorded a career first when quarterback C.J. Beathard's shovel pass to backup running back Matt Breida sprung the undrafted rookie from Georgia Southern 21-yards for the first touchdown of his career.
The two big plays by the trio of 49ers rookies would be the lone highlights on the afternoon for San Francisco as the mistakes and wrongdoings far outweighed the good. A week after setting a 49ers franchise record by throwing for the most yards in a rookie debut with 235 yards against the Cowboys, Beathard threw for only 167 yards in his second time around in another tough outing by the San Francisco offense who was stymied by Philadelphia's solid defense. Against the run, the Eagles held both Breida and Carlos Hyde to a combined 42-yards rushing as neither back was able to get anything going on the ground. Veteran kicker Robbie Gould would also see better days as he saw his perfect 91-for-91 mark of field goals from 20-30 yards come to an end as his 27-yard field goal attempt to start the fourth quarter was blocked. It would be Gould's first blocked field goal since 2012 with the Bears, though he would redeem himself on San Francisco's ensuing possession with a successful 50-yard try.
Leading the league in passing touchdowns entering Sunday, Wentz added his second touchdown pass of the afternoon on a 53-yard connection to Alshon Jefferey on the longest play of the receiver's brief Eagles career. A 12-yard touchdown run by LeGarrette Blount would round out the rest of the scoring for Philly who stormed away with the 33-10 victory and improved their league-best record to 7-1 on the year, leading the NFC East over second place Dallas (4-3). As for San Francisco who fell to 0-8 on the year for the first time in their 73-year history, the 49ers were also dealt a blow on both sides of the ball in the injury department as cornerback Jimmie Ward (fractured left forearm), offensive-lineman Joe Staley (broken orbital bone) and receiver Pierre Garcon (neck) were all bit by the injury bug on Sunday with Ward and Garcon's injuries being season-ending. The loss of those players would only add salt to the wound as the 49ers have now dropped 10 consecutive games in the eastern time zone. You'd have to date back to November 16, 2014 against the Giants in New York for the last time San Francisco departed the eastern part of the country with a victory.
Week 9 Preview - Returning home to kick off the first game of a three game homestand, the 49ers will play host to division rival Arizona as the (3-4) Cardinals are coming off a BYE week following their shutout loss to the Rams in London. With an 18-15 overtime win against the 49ers in their Week 4 meeting earlier this season in Arizona, the Cardinals are looking for the season sweep of San Francisco, but will be without quarterback Carson Palmer who is out for the season and is likely to retire after suffering a broken arm. The 49ers will hope to get the first win of the season after nearly defeating the Cardinals in Arizona after taking a 15-12 lead in overtime before Palmer connected with Larry Fitzgerald in the end zone for a walk-off, game-winning touchdown. San Francisco will be met by backup QB Drew Stanton and will also get their first look at running back Adrian Peterson in a Cardinals uniform as the former league MVP who began the season in New Orleans, was traded from the Saints to the Cardinals before Week 6.
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