Lights Out! Ravens, Flacco Sends Ray Lewis Out On Top

It’s no better way, as a champ, to go out on top and ride off into the sunset. It’s a refreshing story for the greatest middle linebacker of all time, Ray Lewis, who will leave the game in style. He finally gets to the Super Bowl after winning a championship ring 13 years ago as a Raven. He finally rejoices in a gratifying moment, only to be part of a team that has a gifted quarterback.

The folks in Baltimore won’t ever forget Joe Flacco’s fantastic postseason run. From zero to hero, he’s on the rise and stole the show on Super Bowl Sunday, completing a postseason of perfection and competence. He won the game, as well as the MVP award, which was well deserving considering that he was flawless and at ease on a night that much was on the line, on a night that meant so much to Lewis.

“It’s simple: When God is for you, who can be against you?” Lewis said, grappling the Lombardi Trophy. “It’s no greater way, as a champ, to go out on your last ride with the men that I went out with, with my teammates. And you looked around this stadium and … Baltimore! Baltimore! We coming home, baby! We did it!”

The story of Ray Lewis and a clash between John and Jim Harbaugh have been remarkable tales all week at Super Bowl XLVII, a couple of feel-good narratives of a vocal leader and the first ever brother vs. brother coaching duel in Super Bowl history. There is a lot more to John Harbaugh, the strategist who coaches the Baltimore Ravens, and to Lewis, the authentic, enthusiastic, intense demigod who pumps up his teammates. That much came to light when he energized and encouraged his team during his pregame speech before the game. And the fact John built a perennial winner in Baltimore and beat his little brother to capture his first Super Bowl title is a great feeling to him, and even though Jim couldn’t beat his big brother, he’s a winner, too, as he can celebrate and enjoy the night with his family.

For the last time, Lewis gathered his teammates around in a huddle and gave his usual inspirational speech. For the last time, before he walked off the field permanently, he stood on an elevated stage at midfield and lifted the Lombardi Trophy with grace and satisfaction, as the confetti poured onto the artificial turf from the roof of the Superdome in the Big Easy. The last we’ve seen an overjoyed Lewis, a 25-year-old at the peak of his game, was when he led Baltimore to Super Bowl triumph, bringing home the stainless steel to a population of Baltimore faithful.

It was fitting — amid the dominant storylines told all week — witnessing O.J. Brigance being escorted onto the field and celebrating from the confines of his wheelchair. The former Ravens linebacker, who is now the Ravens’ senior advisor on player development, is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and has been a source of inspiration throughout the team’s improbable run to the Super Bowl.

The Ravens clobbering and beating down the 49ers early had reached insanity with Flacco’s Ravens vehemently controlling the momentum, a look at Baltimore’s offensive juggernauts, a look at the far more superior team. The score was 28-6, all Ravens, followed by a blackout and the 49ers’ 17-point rally to show resilience, and they nearly pulled off the sweetest comeback in Super Bowl history. For a surging run that appeared to be impossible to stop, the Ravens ended the 49ers’ night at their own goal line. In the end, although the power outage might have disrupted and shifted the game’s momentum, the Ravens, as a whole collectively, survived a rally and preserved a lead to hold on and secure a flourishing win. Over on the sideline, John, the older brother, yelled at an official during his outburst and was irate over the fact a long delay could have killed momentum. Across the way, Jim, the younger brother, screamed at the officials and argued a pass interference no-call. Maybe receiver Michael Crabtree was bumped in the end zone on the 49ers’ last offensive play.

Where there’s agony, there’s also happiness. The Ravens, with a number of players who’ve been yearning for Super Bowl titles over the years, are still smiling about the ride to a tremendous sense of greatness. So it seems natural that, in perspective of this game, Lewis would break down into tears emotionally and shout, “We did it!” in response to his teammates, and that veteran safety Ed Reed would watch the confetti fall from the ceiling with his arms extended.

“How could it be any other way? It’s never pretty. It’s never perfect. But it’s us,” John Harbaugh said after winning the brother vs. brother clash with younger brother Jim. “It was us today.”

When it was over, Jim walked to the middle of the field to meet his brother, briefly shook hands and kindly exchanged words. The inaugural Harbowl — in a delayed game — was suspended more than half an hour because of a power outage following Beyoncé’s halftime show that consumed more and more electricity, using thousands of blue lights that some think turned off the lights and left thousands in the dark. The Ravens, the unified, cohesive darlings when it comes to America embracing a team since Lewis announced he will be calling it quits at the end of the season, simply are treating this victory like it was the last football game ever played.

“It’s no greater way, as a champ, to go out on your last ride with the men that I went out with, with my teammates,” Lewis said emotionally. “And you looked around this stadium and Baltimore! Baltimore! We coming home, baby! We did it!”

Every so often, in America’s most popular sport, we are coerced into worshipping Peyton and Eli Manning, the sons of Saints legend Archie — applauding two iconic quarterbacks who won Super Bowls and became the ultimate megastars as advertised. All week, though, the Manning family wasn’t a bittersweet tale of Super Bowl XLVII. The central theme of this particular game was the Harbaughs, and after the Ravens beat San Francisco in a 34-31 thriller, Flacco was an unsung hero throwing a record-tying 11 touchdowns in the playoffs, with no interceptions. That’s what wins championships. That’s what solidifies legacies and allows a player to earn a raise or a megabuck deal with a team, desperately undaunted enough to spend millions as a way to lure pro athletes.

On greater imports, Flacco stepped into his role on offense and carried a team that had a veteran, aging defense. For perspective’s sake, he’s won Baltimore a Super Bowl — and because of his accuracy, arm strength, guts and self-assurance — the Ravens can touch the glittery trophy and Lewis seizes the moment. With Lewis’ NFL career proudly drawing to a close, Flacco, who quarterbacked the Ravens to sheer greatness and delivered when it mattered the most, is gradually becoming a dictator of a well-executed passing game and is becoming a franchise quarterback. It ended, at last, in New Orleans, with a fledged, poised individual, the 28-year-old who was — including this season — viewed as a polarizing figure as many believed Flacco was unfit for greatness. The run is not over, and as it turns out, he’s quickly emerging into a superstar in pro football.

“I’m a Joe Flacco fan. I’ve been a Joe Flacco fan,” Lewis said. “For him to come in and do what he did today, and made some of the throws he made, that is what we’ve always seen. We’ve always said that when you win a championship, one man won’t win the ring. It will be a complete team. We won as a complete team.”

The debates and doubts ended when he connected with Anquan Boldin 13 yards for a touchdown and when he flipped a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dennis Pitta. Nobody has had a more humiliating week than 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver, from his anti-gay comments to getting beat twice, particularly on an electrifying 56-yard touchdown catch by Jacoby Jones in the first half. He also missed a tackle on Jones’ record-setting 108-yard kickoff return that gave the Ravens a 28-6 lead. Having a breakout performance in the most meaningful game, Flacco has certainly wedged himself in elite company and contract talks are now heavy, and he’s likely about to get paid.

How good was he? He was super.

And having said that, Flacco was 22 for 33 for 287 yards and finished with three touchdowns. It was one shinning moment, and it was a moment that he went from low-level to top-notch by standards, impressively dominating and outdoing 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. It was an eyebrow-raising moment, a game where he was unruffled and didn’t throw a pick, moving the ball and delivering scoring passes. It’s about Lewis, but this particular night was more about Flacco.

In Flacco, we trust.

Agree or Not, Colin Kaepernick Looks Super for Near Future

Who knows what will happen on Sunday at the Superdome to add to a challenging week for Colin Kaepernick. It’s the biggest week for the 25-year-old man, a moment that he can prove that he’s tried, true and tested to handle the demands as a burgeoning quarterback. In a few days the man with the goatee and tattoos will step out of the tunnel to take on the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. His voice is heard in a room of fiery and raucous teammates.

He is a kid from an adoptive family — a good human being — the household name and the ultimate hero for the San Francisco 49ers since taking over at QB position. They believe it gives them a chance to win. They believe Kaepernick fits the read-option that Aaron Rodgers calls likely a fad. They believe the decision was made because of his excellent blend of height and throwing mechanics. They believe he’s far more efficient with his arm strength and flashes of elite accuracy, a flame-throwing quarterback who adds danger to the Niners offense.

Almost everybody knows that he can beat you with his feet, just as he can exploit his rifle arm, his mobility and his athleticism. The team’s confidence is the highest it’s been in a long time and people can’t believe that Kaepernick has maintained a congenial demeanor, his composure through 60 minutes of thrills and warmth. The starter Alex Smith was concussed, but now that Kaepernick has convinced Niners coach Jim Harbaugh that he’s present and future, it looks like he will never look back and bench him in favor of Smith.

The reality has kicked in, a glaring dichotomy was in full effect and the insanity of a quarterback controversy quickly dwindled once he validated Harbaugh’s notion. When he named Kaepernick the starter back in November when Smith was out with a concussion, it was strange and cynics weren’t too sure about the QB switch, since Smith was on a roll at the time of the change of direction.

It came with a risk, but in the end, it worked in the team’s favor, as the 49ers are just one win away from dancing and celebrating all night long in New Orleans while hoisting the hardware at the center of the field inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome — where the Super Bowl festivities are happening three nights from now. I don’t know about you, but I believe in Kaepernick and everybody back in the Bay Area is probably bringing their best “Kaepernicking” pose and set to cheer the 49ers late Sunday evening. When he regularly made it a habit to kiss one of his biceps in celebration, a trademark that made him famous among fans nationally, it became a mantra that everybody tries to emulate.

Even I’m “Kaepernicking” now!

Everything you need to know about Kaepernick’s future could be seen wonderfully in the most important game of his young career. Basically it boils down to how well he performs in the Super Bowl. If he can manage to lead and deliver another triumphant Super Bowl victory for the first time since 1995, suddenly anointed like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, Kaepernick becomes the face of the celebrated franchise. As Steve Young, the last 49ers quarterback to win a Super Bowl pointed out, quite frankly he’s capable of bringing home another trophy to add to the team’s precious collection.

“He’s answered the bell with whatever’s been asked of him to do,” Young said Thursday. “You keep waiting for the shoe to drop because of the experience, and it hasn’t dropped.”

Young, not surprisingly, has praised Kaepernick late all season, a firm believer in him — having a real understanding of what it takes to win a Super Bowl. He’s been there, he’s done that and can now do his very best to give Kaepernick unsolicited advice that may very well benefit his game in the future as he’s still growing into a franchise quarterback, on the cusp of becoming the first starting quarterback of African American descent to win the championship game in almost half a century.

“He’s doing great, they have a lot of weapons and the best offensive line since the 2000 Rams and ’92 Cowboys,” Young said. “That line dictates the terms on everything.”

The truth of the matter, and we must accept, is that Young has a championship ring from a game that he set a Super Bowl record with six touchdown passes for the 1994 49ers in their blowout 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers. Young, an ESPN analyst, believed in Kaepernick ever since his impressive performance against the Bears, a 32-7 win Nov. 19.

The apex of his career as a quarterback, the toughest assignment someone can take on in America’s most popular game, was reached prematurely when he developed into his role and had rapport with ride receiver Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis. Beyond all of that, he’s greatly needed in this game if the Niners are hoping to raise the prize by the time the night is over, by the time the confetti falls from the concrete roof and by the time everybody leaves New Orleans happy and smiling like silly kids begging to visit Disney World.

He’s vital to the Niners revolutionary offense, he’s working out of a clever scheme for which offensive coordinator Greg Roman is a creative genius when it comes to calling plays. Harbaugh and Roman both need no reminding of this when it is apparent that Kaepernick fits perfectly, transcending by playing in the Pistol formation, which contributes to the team’s offense. It’s a very simplified and effective offense that has worked in his favor, and even more so, it has been a factor as the team advanced to the Super Bowl.

There were no flukes here, only a new formula to positive outcomes and an avalanche of repetitive runs to raise a nation’s consciousness by pulling out three consecutive victories and getting hot at the right time. It took a calm, cool and collective guy as good as Kaepernick to lead a stunning rally, the largest comeback in an NFC title game. Kaepernick is a smart, humbled person. His chances of becoming a Super Bowl champ are great, too, because he’s a respectable voice in the locker room and response to adversity.

His chances of celebrating with his team and likely becoming the Super Bowl MVP are great, too, because he’s a tremendous leader and remains unflappable and focus no matter what obstacles stands in his way. If he turns it over, well, then, he works diligently after a mistake that will make up for his early turnovers. He’s not one to easily collapse after one bad throw, but standing on the sideline with a glare in his eyes and with a positive attitude, he’s shown resiliency.

Had it been Smith, and nothing against him, there’s no way the 49ers would have rallied from 17 points down in the NFC title game to the Atlanta Falcons, just no way. But right now, the irony is that he’s rise to stardom, and maybe even a champ by Sunday night or early Monday morning. He’s not someone who response to a bevy of questions from the media and will keep it vague and concise, short and sweet, with his focus strictly on football and nothing else at this point.

And, at the moment, he’s not paying the media any mind and has sights set on leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl victory in just his 10th career NFL start. He’s becoming a legend before our very eyes. It’s happening right now. The numbers speak loudly. The wins speak clearly. The 49ers have become a better team with him as the starter, and center Jonathan Goodwin began to see a difference for which he deserves a badge of honor, transforming the 49ers offense into a dangerous, more dynamic unit.

The other day, while reporters gathered around Ray Lewis’ table, Joe Staley, a 49ers offensive lineman, poked fun at Kaepernick, just as he’s done a terrific job protecting his star quarterback. A sturdy offensive line is a quarterback’s best friend, and the installation of the Pistol formation is the 49ers workable game plan.

It’s also easy to tip your Kaps to Kaepernick. Look what he’s done. The 49ers, just to refresh memories, are in the Super Bowl.

San Francisco 49ers Embarrassed in Seattle: What Was Learned From This Ugly Game

This was the year the San Francisco 49ers were supposed to take the NFC West by storm. Alex Smith finally had an offensive coordinator around for a consecutive season and big things were going to be coming from the offense with Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Josh Morgan, and the addition of Ted Ginn Jr. The drafting of Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati were supposed to help the suspect offensive line for the 49ers.

On the opposite side of the ball, the defense was supposed to be the strongest for the 49ers, even though the secondary was suspect and so was the pass rush.

But if the first game is any indication, the 49ers have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball. First off the offense was in disarray. There were too many false starts in the first half not getting the call in fast enough, which led to the 49ers using timeouts and, at the one yard line, taking a delay of game call instead of going for the touchdown. In turn, settling for a field goal by Joe Nedney.

Besides the false starts, as the game progressed, Chris Clemons caused plenty of havoc and Aaron Curry, the Seahawks first round pick from a year ago, also was in amongst a number of plays. The offense did not do a good job of protecting Smith and it caused him to rush his throws or throw the ball away.

The big headscratcher though was the playcalling from Jimmy Raye. Specifically when calling a running play and using Gore. Coming into the game, whether it was in Seattle or San Francisco, Gore carved the Seahawks defense up.


Another questionable play call was when the 49ers were at six yard line with 4th and one, and they threw to Moran Norris. Yes, Norris was wide open, but it was strange he was in the game when he isn't normally used in those type of situations.

Gore had stayed into block and the play would have worked, but Smith threw the ball a little high for Norris. If it was caught it would have been a touchdown. In that situation the 49ers should have at least tried to run for the first down or rolled Smith out and tried to find Davis, Crabtree, or Morgan.

Yet, the running plays that were called by the 49ers were easily diagnosed and Gore didn't find much success running the football. His longest run of the day didn't come until the third quarter and it was for 10 yards.

On the day Gore carried the ball 17 times for 38 yards, good for a 2.2 yards per carry average, the 49ers only scored six points and, of course, no touchdown from Gore. On third downs the 49ers went just 1-for-15. Along those lines, penalties on both sides of the ball hurt the 49ers as well.

It gets worse for Crabtree, who had two catches for 12 yards. Morgan had three catches for 32 yards, Davis had the best day with 8 catches for 73 yards, Gore had six catches for 45 yards, Walker had three catches for 27 yards, Ginn had a catch for 19 yards, Dominique Ziegler had a catch for 10 yards, Norris had a catch for 2 yards, and Nate Byham had a catch for five yards.



Those numbers specifically by Crabtree and Morgan aren't going to cut it. A team with playoff aspirations needs more production than five catches for 44 yards between their two wide outs.

There was one penalty that shouldn't have been called on the 49ers and it was what turned the momentum of the game around for the Seahawks, and the NFL should definitely punish Mike Carey's crew for it.

Nate Clements made an outstanding play on a route that Deion Branch ran. Clements stepped in front of Branch for what should have been his second interception of the game, and most likely ran back for a touchdown, but Branch held onto the right arm of Clements denying him the opportunity of intercepting the pass.

The yellow came out and what should have been offensive holding at the very least was instead a five yard penalty on Clements for holding. That call makes you wonder exactly what was the official looking at? Clements had the right to the football, he jumped the route and he never made any contact with the receiver. The only contact that was created was by Branch who did his job of not allowing Clements to intercept the pass.



Although, that drive changed the complexion of the game, giving the Seahawks a new set of downs, it also led to the first score of the game. Which meant the 49ers went from up 6-0 to 7-6.


Even though Smith had a bad day being chased out of the pocket by the Seahawks defense, it was Crabtree who had an even worse day. The two interceptions that were thrown by Smith were both passes attended for Crabtree.

The first interception, which was returned by Jonathan Babineaux for 20 yards, led to the second score of the game, a touchdown pass to Deon Butler. Smith rolled to his right and made the throw to Crabtree, who had worked to free himself from his defender, but the ball hit him right in the chest bouncing up into Babineaux's arms.

Smith's second interception came when Smith thought that Crabtree was going to come back in and threw to a spot instead of realizing that Crabtree had run an out. This led to Marcus Trufant picking off the pass and returning the pass for a touchdown.

After Trufant's return it meant the 49ers were trailing 21-6. The offense couldn't get in gear from that point on settling on punting the ball even though they were trailing at the time. The Seahawks had two more scoring drives.

One ended up in a touchdown by Deion Branch on a three yard score and the other was a field goal in the fourth quarter to make the final score 31-6.

Defensively the 49ers, typical of a Greg Manusky defense, stopped the run. Seahawks running back trio of Justin Forsett, Julius Jones, and Washington ended with 21 carries for 73 yards.


It was against the pass that the 49ers struggled. Matt Hasselebeck had all day to throw and it showed with his 18-23 performance for 170 yards and two touchdowns to one interception. The 49ers defensive pressure produced only one sack, and it came when the game was already out of hand.

Clemens got burned by Mike Williams, after buying a fake by Hasselbeck, which led to the Seahawks first touchdown, the second play after the holding penalty called on Clements. Shawntae Spencer got left out to dry on the pass to Branch. Dashon Goldson had a unncessary roughness penalty called on him for hitting a defenseless receiver even though the receiver John Carlson wasn't going to catch the pass to begin with, since it was overthrown.

The next game for the 49ers is against the New Orleans Saints. What looked like an intriguing matchup in the second game of the season will be a game where the 49ers are going to be searching for their identity on both sides of the ball.

If the 49ers want to beat the Saints and win the NFC West division Crabtree has to play better, Morgan needs to be involved more, the offensive line needs to block better, running plays can't be so predictable, the secondary has to step it up, and the 49ers need to find a pass rusher or two otherwise teams are going to burn the 49ers secondary for huge chunks of yards.

Niners Hit Jackpot With Crabtree After All: Needed Attraction

Alright, gambling is when individuals are usually found in casinos, squandering large portions of earnings invested from tedious and draining weekdays of hard labor in the office. But now, half of us are tempted to take a risk, wastefully throwing away valuable profit to a slot machine that is rigged.


When someone wins the jackpot, a dense mistake is inserting millions back into the machine. Just like it was surprisingly an unexpected and wealthy treat, the wealthiest offer vanishes, making it discouraging for average gamblers, hammered with financial disasters.

That’s a better understanding of what almost happened to the San Francisco 49ers, fortunate to hit the NFL jackpot in the draft when notably selecting the compelling Texas Tech product, Michael Crabtree with the 10th pick in the first-round. He was rated as the uttermost talented receiver to come out of college. That being said, he was a comparison of the long-time and former wideout Jerry Rice, and some optimists even claimed that he was going to be the fastest rookie receiver in ages.

But if that's all true, why was he the last first-rounder to get signed?

The Niners almost lost the jackpot and missed out on Crabtree, which clearly would’ve been another unfulfilling letdown, provoking long-suffering fans to wait and withstand inferiority. Not much seemed as fitting, with history advertising a franchise missing a sense of direction or assurance. Mired with ongoing quarterback instability, in recent years, excelling to win enough regular-season games to qualify for the playoffs wasn’t even part of an indefinite culture.

Mike Nolan’s reign marked a stint, when ownership appeared to be disgruntled after poorly accumulating losses. To resolve endless dreary that gradually started reducing presumptions of developing youth. Aiming for the better, the Niners were gifted with potential and young stars, but suddenly found themselves, hopelessly declining as a perplexing franchise without any structure.

As the unforeseen dismissal of Nolan occurred, critics bashed general manager Scot McCloughan for mishandling the situation, and needed time adjusting to interim coach Mike Singletary. Admittedly, critics offered honest advice and said he was inexperience as a head coach. But of course, McCloughan made it clear, and trusted that he was ready to solidify coaching assignments, removing the interim label and officially named him head coach.

A week later, Singletary foolishly humiliated himself when he dropped his pants in frustration during a halftime speech, trying to make a point to his heedless players. He simply illustrated what it’s like getting a butt whipping, but more so, it softened his credibility. The foolish antic and a frivolous rant at a press conference evoked discussions and criticism on whether or not he was actually a suitable coach for conveying charisma and inspiration.

His old school coaching method has changed the complexion in the Bay Area. Seemingly, the Niners play with more urgency and hard-driven mindset, removing all the chaotic diversity and burdens, which has delayed grandeur for years. But now, the Niners are establishing and moving down the right path under Singletary’s coaching system, slowly growing into a fairly immaculate franchise.

And after suffering from much disappointment, they were granted the rights to Crabtree, who shockingly sat patiently in the draft as the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders—two anticipated teams—passed on the well-advanced receiver.

The Niners though, almost missed out. They failed to reach a deal until early Wednesday, when he signed a six-year contract that can turn into a five-year deal if he matches his potential and has a Pro Bowl-type season as the 10th pick in the 2009 draft.

According to multiple sources, Crabtree’s contract is worth $32 million, and depending upon achievements, the deal could reach $40 million. To start off, he’s guaranteed $17 million, still enough to feed the family and spend his riches. An issue occurred that prolonged an agreement between his agent Eugene Parker and team officials.

Whether it was because of ego or welfare of Crabtree, negotiating with Parker wasn’t at a halt. They would’ve been less of an organization to not negotiate and would’ve faced steep ramifications, as to which the tough-minded receiver nearly approached ineligibility to play this season. In all likelihood, the Niners could’ve considered trading his rights before the seventh week.

Otherwise, Crabtree was set to re-enter the ’10 draft. But if McCloughan failed to hold on to the NFL’s rookie magnet, he clearly would’ve taken heat from critics for not completing a deal. They decided to pick the most interesting and next receiver to emerge in the league. But there are still some clauses in the contract, which might shorten his stint with the Niners

If he’s selected to the Pro Bowl in his first four years, and takes 80 percent of the offensive snaps—according to sources—the contract will void in the fifth season.

For now, Crabtree is the best big-name player to land on the Niners. He’s a true top-notch receiver that was needed to uplift aspiration that was missing, until Singletary took over. He’s a big-name star and certainly can contribute to a manageable offense.

After holding out for months, missing mini-camps and training camps, including four regular-season games, Crabtree is welcomed to obviously solidify vitality on offense. One thing certain is that he cannot mend quarterback woes, which is a work in progress under a much-improved Shaun Hill.

Even the defense is more efficient, with a defensive unit that bull-rushes, creating a compelling pass rush.

An improbable start is happening, even without dangerous running back Frank Gore, who suffered a sprained ankle. That being said, who thought the Niners would be 3-1 to start the season?

For now, the Niners will likely be without Crabtree until Week Seven. So, perhaps, they’ll rely on a matured and tough-minded tight end Vernon Davis, who feuded with Singletary when sent to the locker room for an early shower a year ago, as if he was a troubled teenager.

With Crabtree, who is confident he’s a big role receiver on offense after finally signing, a receiver tandem could emerge creating offensive threats. Known for his late-game heroics, Crabtree is the most-beloved rookie arriving to the Bay Area, inspiring a hapless town to appreciate football like most did in the '80s era.

He won’t make an impact immediately, as it will take time to grasp the playbook and blend in with teammates after not having much practice. But he can play a huge role in the near-future, and isn’t a wasteful pick or bust like the injury-prone Alex Smith—a fluctuant quarterback many think should be traded or cut.

Either way, the Niners finally used their pick wisely and took Crabtree. But more importantly, they’ve signed him to a contract before it was too late, finally bringing in "the main attraction."