Reid Gives Alex Smith An Opportunity

If Alex Smith waited to see where his next destination would be for a starting QB job, he won’t have to wait much longer and was finally given a chance. After waiting patiently, he finally checked out of San Francisco, boarded a flight and landed in Kansas City. The pressure is right on Smith after the San Francisco 49ers agreed to send the quarterback to the Kansas City Chiefs, with newly hired coach Andy Reid surrounding himself with someone who has mobility and intelligence.

He did the right thing for the Chiefs by grabbing an unwanted quarterback from another franchise, realizing Smith has the intangibles and potential to turn around a dismal 2-14 season in a weak AFC West, as the Denver Broncos are legitimately the real test.

And as results of the trade, Kansas City traded its second-round pick in the 2013 draft and a conditional mid-round pick in 2014 to acquire Smith. The best option available for the Chiefs to rebuild, obviously, was Smith who had been an attractive name for hordes of teams to add, and sure enough, Reid took a risk he felt was worth taking. It’s fairly obvious, considering the fact that it’s a fragile free-agent market — for veterans especially — as to why Reid made the trade and finalized the deal fast. Not that he was desperate to get someone. The perception of this deal is that Reid believes in Smith enough to make him the Chiefs franchise quarterback.

What is Smith good for? Absolutely something — considering the way he played last season until suffering the concussion. Reid, who had success with Donovan McNabb in his long tenure in Philadelphia, was determined to mend, first and foremost, the QB woes and end controversy between Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn.

There has, quite honestly, never been a quarterback unappreciated as much as Cassel in Kansas City. Four years ago when the team turned to Scott Pioli to refurbish things, the Chiefs acquired Cassel for the 34th draft pick. Before he was traded to Kansas City, Cassel had played one season for the New England Patriots, replacing an injured Tom Brady. By the end of that season, he had a 63.4 completion percentage, 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 7.16 yards per attempt.

He and the Patriots fell short, missing the playoffs that year. But with Smith, the idea is to build something that lasts. If he’s lucky, Cassel will wind up as a backup elsewhere, but considering that the Chiefs have Quinn, he won’t be back in KC and will be a free agent. At the beginning, Cassel finished 9-7 with 27 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his second year as starter.

Most of the population, it seems, wants Cassel out, who is unproven — the Chiefs are expected to release him soon. Suffice it to say, thousands of Chiefs fans cheered loudly when Cassel was drilled and left a 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion. For purely insensitive reasons, some celebrated Cassel’s injury after the quarterback committed three turnovers against the Ravens. Before he rose to his feet, before he walked off the field under his own power, heartless fans roared with glee.

The stupidity reached a boiling point when Chiefs tackle Eric Winston, who was angry and disgusted with the hometown crowd for such ruthless, childish behavior, scolded and ripped fans by publicly sending a message through the media when a reporter interviewed him afterwards in the locker room.

“It’s 100 percent sickening,” Chiefs Winston said. “I’ve never, ever — and I’ve been in some rough times on some rough teams — I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there. I get emotional about it because these guys, they work their butts off. Matt Cassel hasn’t done anything to you people.

“Hey, if he’s not the best quarterback, he’s not the best quarterback, and that’s OK, but he’s a person,” Winston continued, the big offensive lineman’s voice slowly rising. “And he got knocked out in a game and we’ve got 70,000 people cheering that he got knocked out.”

There have been a lot of unhappy fans in Kansas City with a long history of failures in recent memory. But maybe Smith, who, and it should be stated, led the NFL in completion percentage (70.0) and ranked fifth in passer rating (104.1), can change that. It would be the moment of a lifetime, a moment of gaiety if he can reproduce something identical to his 20-5-1 record as a starter, including the playoffs over the past two seasons in San Francisco.

He’s a good but not great quarterback who goes into another environment, giving the Chiefs a chance and could be the cure to a hapless football franchise. He’s a suave quarterback who is walking into unfamiliar territory, absolutely offering the Chiefs hopefulness, even though he’s good or bad, consistent or inconsistent.

The likelihood of having a good quarterback is not necessary, and from what was discovered in San Francisco, he completed just enough passes and managed to lead the 49ers to the NFC championship game two years ago, but lost to the New York Giants. He surely had no intentions of being the backup in San Francisco and finally has a chance to start elsewhere.

But, with quarterback Colin Kaepernick handed the keys to the driver’s seat, a concussed Smith was benched for the rest of the season, even when he was cleared to return to the game and, in essence, it was time for Smith and coach Jim Harbaugh to part ways. And someday, the Chiefs may just become good, under the presence of Smith and Reid. Having self-control, staying calm and sane, Smith stared from the sideline disappointed, but as mature as he is — mind you — he never complained or confronted Harbaugh when he was benched.

It is the oldest cliché in the sport, older than the Golden Gate Bridge or the Liberty Memorial. The NFL, like the rest, is a business, and a cruel one — to be exact. Nothing is guaranteed, except Bill Belichick’s coaching gig in New England and the cut-off hoodie he sports. But now, Smith got his starting job back, and he loves Reid by now. With a tinge of success, Reid knows what he has in Smith, who is a reliable quarterback, even on his worst days.

The 49ers, for the most part, also moved him clearing $8.5 million in salary, and Harbaugh and the team knew he wasn’t going to stay and remain No. 2 behind Kaepernick, who locked up the starting spot and led San Francisco to the Super Bowl. He was trade bait, and Reid went fishing for him. It will take a while for the Chiefs, who had the worst offense in the NFL, to rise to the top — but with Smith coming to town — it’s a start.

He was, in his own eyes, useless and unwanted, left on the sideline as another quarterback who was his backup earned the nod. And simply, whether it was the right choice or not, he won’t hold a clipboard and watch Kaepernick run for 40 yards. Nothing personal to Harbaugh and the Niners organization, but Smith couldn’t stay much longer. There’s no doubt that he’s a winner, maybe not a superhero, but he’s not a loser either.

The 29-year-old leader at one time just wasn’t good enough to convince Harbaugh that he was certainly a starter. The team that takes the field in September after upgrading and finding a quarterback to fill in the holes will be a different team, much different. For years, Reid has worked with an average quarterback and turned him into a top-tier passer, such as McNabb.

And most of all, he knew McNabb better than anyone else. Reid, who replaces coach Romeo Crennel, drafted McNabb in the first round in 1999, selected quarterback Kevin Kolb second in 2007, took a risk signing Vick when he was released from prison and developed sixth-round pick Matt Hasselbeck while an assistant in Green Bay.

When it comes to quarterbacks, Reid is a genius and teacher, which means Smith will be a student. And his philosophy could work.

The trade, which won’t become official to early March, has given Smith an opportunity and a shot at leading a team to a significant amount of wins. So he will be playing for a coach who can strengthen his quarterbacks’ capacity and reduce their weaknesses.

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.

Step Aside Mannings, Harbaugh Family Tree Far More Fascinating

There will be no Mannings, not at Super Bowl XLVII.

It’s brother vs. brother, certainly, a historic Super Bowl tale of opposing coaches. You could say it’s brotherly love, a moment when John Harbaugh, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, will stand across the field from Jim Harbaugh, coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday to fight for possession of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a 22-inch glittering trophy made of stainless steel. It’s the inaugural Harbowl, the first brother vs. brother coaching duel in Super Bowl history, and having watched NFL for years, I believe we are witnesses of the most heartwarming story.

The brothers are drawing most of the attention this week, and amazingly the Harbaughs are a more compelling story to tell here in America, than the Mannings. No disrespect, but folks are delighted and amazed that two brothers will be coaching against each other Sunday. So John and Jim have inspired fans, embarking on a journey to try to win their first ever Super Bowl as two perennial head coaches in a cruel business of headaches and heavy burdens. It’s a business where if coaches are inept and can’t produce a certain amount of wins to qualify for the postseason or even make a deep run during the playoffs they get canned.

But they have not done a disservice to the franchises that employed them, giving both men a shot to expose their competitive nature and coaching acumen, which they’ve done so well by changing the culture and leading Baltimore and San Francisco to the Super Bowl. Winner takes all, and either way — that is — both will walk off the artificial turf winners come late Sunday night early Monday morning. Win or lose, the Harbaughs are victorious. If Jim’s 49ers don’t win — and trust me — he won’t jump up and down like a silly kid, he won’t charge across the field, he won’t pull his shirt up and chest-bump his brother. Hello, his brother is not Jim Schwartz.

This is family and brotherhood grows stronger every day. So whoever wins, the Harbaugh family, either way, will be celebrating on Bourbon Street as one of the brothers will be boarding the flight with the Lombardi Trophy when it’s all finished. Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, parents of the opposing Super Bowl coaches, raised their boys the right way and both men are defying every law of game planning and intensity, all the reason they’ve made it to the peak of their careers.

The Harbaughs, raised in a house by their parents to be respectful and hard-working kids, grew up around the game of football, played it and traveled around America with their father, Jack, who knew his sons had a knack for coaching and saw both of his boys nurture their talent as coaches. It’s a remarkable family reunion, a gathering among a proud family the NFL has rarely experienced. The only other family who comes to mind is the Manning family.

As unique stories, the first-time Bro Bowl is astounding enough, making America smile and rave endlessly about a sibling rivalry of two brothers who fans have grown to admire deeply, similar to the way everybody became infatuated with the Mannings. With the Harbaughs, who will likely be around the league for a long time, the Mannings are becoming have-beens and fans are speaking highly of John and Jim. The one thing all of this reveals, of course, is that football runs strongly in the family. The Harbaughs, from the father to the mother to the brothers all have fond memories of football, but the Super Bowl is more than just a family affair. It’s another football game, just like all the rest, and come Sunday the Harbaughs will be partying like Lombardi Gras.

It’s the Harbaughs’ turns to catch our attention, preach the importance of teamwork and competitiveness, the framework for winning multiple Super Bowl titles and launching a celebration of gratification and glimpsing at the beginning of an era of great promise. In the last couple of years, we’ve been glorifying Peyton and Eli, two brothers who are star quarterbacks in the National Football League. The Mannings, particularly this decade, are the sons of football while the Harbaughs are a fraternity of NFL coaches.

And as much of a cliché’ as it sounds when it comes to two brothers who fans are madly talking about, the Harbaughs have become coaching royalty in the NFL. It’s gracious and humbling, fascinating and touching, each on the brink of validating sheer greatness and on the cusp of writing the sweetest NFL family story. They are not, just because they are brothers, a mirror image. In many ways, John, 50, Jim, 48, are different, very different. As the NFL’s first coaching family, a sibling rivalry news conference Friday revealed the Harbaughs’ personality and what makes these two brothers different. They were born 15 months apart and both have proven to be elite coaches.

And to an extent, that’s about the only thing these brothers have in common. Beyond that, the other thing they obviously share is a last name, but as for their coaching styles, it is as if the Harbaughs are not related. It’s one that nobody can argue and it became clear after watching them coach their teams. This is not only as far as coaching but personality-wise and by appearance even.

In their time spent with the media on Friday, when they stood on the glittery stage and captivated our awareness with their disparity in perception and personality traits, John wore a smile while Jim stared angrily. The older brother, John, is outgoing and is gracious. The younger brother, Jim, is brusque, haughty, and snobbish and seems aloof from a large crowd. He is, however, a great guy, just like his brother, John. It’s just the way Jim carries himself, and apparently it’s good enough to make it to the Super Bowl.

He has flair and spunk, a mental approach that has turned the 49ers into an elite NFC team. These 49ers have come along way on defense under Jim and suddenly are en route to a potential Super Bowl victory, and they might be the most compelling team. When he arrived, when the York family took a risk by hiring Jim to be a savior in San Francisco, the 49ers adapted to his system and became used to his fiery, winning attitude. Long before this Super Bowl clash between these brothers, he was a famous quarterback at Michigan and greatly idolized legendary coach Bo Schembechler. Long before he began his NFL coaching career, Jim spent 15-years in the NFL as a quarterback, and then became a head coach at the University of San Diego and Stanford. And John, the older one, played defensive back collegiately at Miami of Ohio and later began his coaching pursuit, serving as an assistant at five schools before his first NFL job came as the Eagles’ special-teams coach for nine seasons and spending one season coaching the secondary.

Standing across from him on Sunday, will be his brother, John. That’s a good thing about the Harbaughs; they both are winners and were taught the importance of hard work, determination and coaching. Thanks to their father, the Harbaughs are devoted to their players and have been mentally and physically attached to the game. It’s simple to recognize that their achievements rank them among the greatest coaches of the modern era, and having experience from watching their dad as kids, helped the Harbaughs hone their craft, leading two teams that consistently play smart and tough. It’s not easy turning unpopular quarterbacks into skilled passers or taking two uninspired teams to Super Bowl XLVII, with singular stories to tell and legends being born.

And, ultimately, we’ve never seen anything like it. The Manning name, for a long time, floated around the NFL, and America celebrated the megastar quarterbacks. Both brothers, Peyton and Eli, the sons of Saints legend Archie, won Super Bowls. But at this time, I’d like to direct your attention to the Harbaughs.

When the news conference finished Friday, after holding a joint press conference at the New Orleans convention center to address the media, the Harbaughs’ parents and grandparent stood together for a family portrait, one the family will remember forever. There’s never a shortage of storylines when the Harbaughs are in the conversation, and the time would be now that everybody talks about John and Jim, who have stolen the limelight for much of the week.

Step aside, Mannings. Welcome, Harbaughs.

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.

Randy Moss Declares Himself Greatest Receiver of All Time: Not Even Close

There were times, such as 10 years ago during his prime, when Randy Moss was unstoppable and capable of putting fear in every opponent and stretched the field so deep and beat a defender in coverage. He reminded us that he was respectively one of the greatest deep-ball receivers of our generation. But when Moss candidly was asked about his place in football history at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday, he went a bit too far. Moss, 35, declared himself as the greatest wide receiver of all time, and certainly is taking a beating by some while others have let it slide.

“I do think I’m the greatest receiver ever to play this game,” Moss said.

Is he the best receiver of all time, or is someone else just that much better? The answer is surely not a brainteaser but a no-brainer, and even if he claims he’s the best ever to play the game, he’s way off the mark. Not to break Moss’ heart, but it’s not even close. Just a decade ago Jerry Rice, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers and the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, touchdowns and yards, awed fans by his brilliance and magnificent performances on the field. So it was just the sort of remark Moss should not have made, and must take heed that Rice is widely viewed as the greatest wideout.

If somebody does surpass him in every category, it won’t be for a very long time. Moss or anybody else won’t break his unreachable, untouchable records. Maybe years from now a crafty receiver will come along and shatter Rice’s records, as records are meant to be broken. It’s not happening in this generation, even when Moss considers himself the most superlative talent to emerge in the league, even when he’s a genuine prodigy and even when he has the pedigree to be a primary target.

“Now that I’m older, I do think I’m the greatest receiver to ever do it,” Moss said, as you can see in the NFL Network clip above. “I don’t think numbers stand. Because you can talk about this and this, I think I’ve had … this year has been a down year for me statistically. The year before I retired was a down year, and Oakland was a down year. I don’t really live on numbers I really live on impact and what you’re able to do on that field.

“So I really do think I’m the greatest receiver to ever play the game.”

What he’s created in Super Week is nothing more but publicity only surrounding him and nobody else, and he’s done exactly that throughout his career of turbulence and monumental achievements, the one man who is hated or loved by his peers, fans and coaching staffs, the one man who is not fitted to play in every city around the league. While it is true that he’s an otherworldly talent and frequently speaks without thinking clearly before he utters something foolish that catches folks off guard, at a time when he has set sights on his first Super Bowl victory in Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, Hall of Famer Michael Irvin insisted that there is no argument about who holds the greatest of all time title.

“Randy’s done a wonderful job in the NFL. He’s done some wonderful things,” Irvin said. “Numbers do count and especially when they lead to victories. That’s why I think everybody has to capitulate when it comes to talking about greatest receiver. Bar none, nobody’s having a conversation. It is Jerry Rice, period.”

Let’s look at the numbers shall we?

Numbers don’t lie.

As things stand, Rice completed his 20-year career with 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdown receptions. That alone is the best among all receivers in NFL history in all three categories. And really, to be a realist and speak the truth regarding an unnecessary debate, there is no argument, especially when the facts speak louder than Moss’ loud mouth. In contrast he’s definitely tallied the numbers to be mentioned in the same breath as Rice, but he’s not even in the same conversation when it comes to greatness and likely won’t ever be eulogized like the undisputed receiver in the history of the NFL. It’s been something of a roller coaster throughout his erratic career, which Moss has been known for quitting on teams, walking out on his teammates and not having the same kind of work ethic as Rice.

You can easily make the case that he’s been an asset in his first season with the 49ers (28 catches, 434 yards, three touchdowns), but he’s never done it consistently and has had flaws in his game because of his badass attitude and cockiness that ended his brief stints nearly everywhere he’s played. But over the last decade, when he was a star in Minneapolis and continued the Moss Tour of America by making himself feel right at home in two other American cities, he’s compiled impressive numbers no one ever imagined. This might explain why he avers that he’s better than Rice: 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns. More recently, Moss is ninth in NFL history with receptions, trailing — among others — Hines Ward, Isaac Bruce and Tony Gonzalez. At this time, as well, he is third in receiving yards behind Terrell Owens and Rice.

I wouldn’t call that great.

Sorry, Moss. That’s not good enough, not to surpass the rightful emperor of all receivers, mind you.

And while he’s no longer a defiant individual who was a toxic waste on nearly every team he’s played for during a rebellious period in all cities that gave him a shot to be the best receiver all time, his persona and Hall of Fame status remains the same. For someone who won’t stop whining and gripping, he has not changed a bit and is unhappy with his role in the 49ers offense. But he is, no matter what a person thinks of him making these statements, standing by his claim that he’s the greatest to ever play in the National Football League.

“What I said is what I felt, and I don’t want to get into a shouting match with Jerry Rice or anybody,” Moss said Wednesday during the 49ers’ media access for Super Bowl XLVII. “It’s my personal opinion. (Rice) has the numbers but I don’t believe in numbers.”

The hyperbole is just now heating up in New Orleans, and Moss is spewing not only trash talk but that he’s the great one. Moss is a man of prestige and has a certain cachet, who in 14 seasons has spent time in Minnesota (twice), Oakland, New England and Tennessee, before calling San Francisco home where he’s finally the happiest he’s been and not turning his back on the 49ers, a team that is well-coached by Jim Harbaugh. He is, as a disciplinarian, intolerant and doesn’t take kindly to players who are not on their best behavior, and Moss knows his limits and how far he can take his coach. It was arrogance, as we all know by now, that delayed success and nearly doomed his career and defiance recklessly bruised his reputation, before he finally matured into a man and settled down in the late stages of his career.

It’s OK, Moss — really — to tell America how you truly feel and give your honest answer. He isn’t, without much thought, shy to boldly lash out and alienate his ex-teammates, a defiant trait that has led to trouble over the years with prior teams he’s played for during the course of his magnificent but cancerous career. If he can disagree with a man who ridiculously thinks he’s not the best wideout to ever play the game, just so he could draw attention to himself, it would be the time to beg to differ with his bold statement — one that stunned the world.

It shouldn’t surprise no one that Moss is so cocky and self-absorbed, that he would make a loud proclamation to raise many eyebrows. By now, you and I should know the way he behaves and thinks — too much of a big-headed know-it-all and an egotist, foolishly sometimes not realizing that football is a team sport.

He isn’t just valiant and undaunted, he is misinformed and way off on this one. As he could possibly win his first Super Bowl ring, maybe he can go down as one of the instant heroes in this particular game. You never know. After all, that would make more sense. Hey, as long as Rice is not on the field.

Dear America: Don’t Ignore the Niners

There’s much noise or certitude in the air from the contrived framework, just a renaissance era to focus on, surprisingly as the San Francisco 49ers own the spotlight in the NFC West.

More impressively, after a hard-fought 27-20 win over the Giants in the Bay Area to complete a late Sunday afternoon meeting, the Niners improved to 8-1 and control their own destiny.

It’s evident enough that the Niners, favored to clinch a playoff berth when they eventually will win the NFC West, could be on the verge of possibly flourishing as Super Bowl contenders like how the flowers bloom at Golden Gate Park – the haven of sculptures and bridges.

Hey, you. Yes, you. The Niners are real, as scary as it gets.

There’s no overkill in romanticizing the Niners. As of now, the Niners are more impressive than visiting Lombard Street, which is one of America’s crookedest streets with a steep, hilly street of sharp curves. But nothing is sharper than the Niners themselves, the hottest team in the league, hotter than the slew of women walking the pier to sight-see, dine and shop.

And, then again, maybe Pier 39 is not as crowded with much activity, at least on Sundays when the Niners have been the talk of the town, the social attribute of a town that prides itself on football given the many legends and mystique. This fascinating view comes from the recent success that the Niners have shown amid the emergence of reinstalling the good flashbacks of history, defining the nature of an adroit franchise.

It’s not in the Niners’ best interest to miss the playoffs, not unless a fatal collapse occur weeks from now, haunting them, leading to the craziest debacle in sports -- how the Niners could be attacked harshly from criticism. Just so you know, as of now – with emphasis on the resurgence of this team – it’s not a mirage if the Niners test wills and advance in history with an improbable Super Bowl appearance, all of the sudden bound to reach a crescendo on the national stage very soon.

It would be a surprise, for those who only glance at teams on paper and not legitimately, if the Niners shimmer on the biggest stage — on America’s national holiday — win it all and celebrate in glee. This means, if we examine this team closely, the Niners are not the underdogs or sleepers but maybe a Super Bowl contender.

But, really, no more are the Niners a pushover or the flukiest team, returning to the old times when San Francisco would purely dominate the NFC West, if not the league with the plentitude of weapons from offense to defense. There’s no need for excuses, no need to dwell too much on the fiascoes in the past, now that the post-Singletary era is behind them, relieving themselves of misfortunes for a once flawless franchise that spiraled out of control under former head coach Mike Singletary.

His successor, Jim Harbaugh, has embraced his role since his arrival in San Francisco for this season. He’s hardly an underachieving coach with traits that benefits his team’s effort and growth this season under his tenure.

It’s been a while since the Niners have had a coach with a fiery and fervid demeanor, and even though he’s slightly cocky or self-indulgent, Harbaugh is installing motivation and intimidation. That being said, his players are bullying and putting fear on team’s minds, unafraid to alienate and neutralize opponents as we’ve seen Sunday when the Niners squarely defeated the Giants, who entered the game with the NFC’s third best record.

For it turned out to be no fluke, but a game where San Francisco validated its league’s place rising into a championship-caliber unit each week. Never before have the Niners been so fantastically hungry, forceful and sentimental in pursuit of greatness – and so wonderfully delivering near-perfection. It’s good to know Harbaugh’s hiring, not only produced a quality of wins but also revitalized the culture, persuading folks now to think largely of the Niners and the hurried resurrection.

Their fairy tale ended in a blink, a hallucination that no longer exists, justifiably identified as one of the deepest, if not the favorable contenders in the meantime come playoffs.

The Niners, however, are fully aware of this, building a potent passing game around the much-improved Alex Smith, who had driven his team in a comeback after Giants quarterback Eli Manning tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham late in the third quarter.

Though he is not always consistent, his opportunity to validate years of doubts ended and Smith had completed at least three passes to four different receivers, not having trouble with ball security or ill-advised throws for turnovers.

He has remarkably matured, which is not so surprising in a way, knowing he was sent to the showers early by his former coach for his defiance. That alone, with his stellar size and speed, has turned Vernon Davis into, by far, one of the elite tight ends in the game today.

That’s very true. It was his goal, at the very least, to become a dependable tight end. He is, however, fun to watch and dances through the defense of his young career, catching three passes for 40 yards with a touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Giants. He was targeted, the first of which he emerged into the go-to receiver directly contributing to his team’s restoration this season, and amazingly leaped over safety Kenny Phillips into the end zone to finish a 31-yard touchdown catch that gave the Niners an early fourth quarter lead.

Can anyone stop the Niners?

It doesn’t seem that way.

This time, in another celebration, Harbaugh was polite in his postgame handshake, and then stared into the crowd pointing and waving to his cheerful fans while leaving for the exit at Candlestick Park.

On a sunny afternoon, on a day when it wasn’t gloomy or overcast, it was just perfect for football. Near the end, as the clock trickled, Justin Smith swatted down Manning’s pass, and only moments later, he excitedly pumped his fist after his game-saving play defensively. If indeed the Niners can hold on to a five-game cushion in the division, for what it seems now, then San Francisco could actually be the team to beat, particularly if they possess Frank Gore, one of the finest running backs in the league with a franchise record streak of five consecutive games with 100 yards rushing that ended.

Looking like a speedster, faster than the Road Runner utters his obnoxious “beep, beep,” he has had a singular season – accomplishments like no other but he sustained a knee injury and his first game of his outstanding career with minus yards. This time around, Kendall Hunter ran the ball for a 27-yarder in the fourth, feeding on the opportunity from Carlos Rogers’ momentum booster when he caught an intercepted pass and danced afterwards. So, it would be about place kicker David Akers, for who booted four field goals that kept the Niners in the game.

“It was a big win for us. As we continue to win we’re getting on a bigger stage, and that’s exactly what we want, we want to continue to climb and get on bigger stages,” Smith said. “That’s it. You’re as good as your record, and you’re as good as your last game. And we beat a really good football team.”

Yes sir. But realize it would be unwise to underestimate the Niners.

It is getting to be nice, if you like the Niners.

Harbaugh Rubs Another Coach Wrongly, but Alters Niners’ Mentality

By now, his purpose should be precisely clear. He was brought to the 49ers to serve a purpose and walk into the footsteps of Hall of Fame predecessors Joe Montana and Steve Young. His coach was brought to the Niners to accomplish the same.

There's a hunch swirling around, bringing a sense of hope, the kind of humanity to cure all souls as Alex Smith is more impressive than he's ever looked in the past, of the Niners evolving into an elite powerhouse in the NFC West all because of Harbaugh. It's been a long, a very long time since the Niners felt a pile of joy, cheering and applauding the acclaimed franchise in the Bay Area bearing the circumstances of widespread calamities and unworthiness.

But this time, without much debate and politics firing up absurdity to initiate national disturbance for the reformed football team under much pressure and scrutiny, Smith discarded any political arguments. The politics and bad publicity faded out of conversation when he ran a well-executed scheme, eluded the pocket from a swarming Lions defense with his stylish footwork, scanned the field and released a 6-yard pass to Delanie Walker that gave San Francisco the clinching touchdown with 1:51 left, piloting the Niners to a 25-19 win.

The Niners are worthy, friends. Harbaugh is worthy, my friends. Smith is worthy, friends. The dubious assumption, which gave San Francisco a bad name for the mediocrity and separation in a dispirited locker room with no discipline or continuity, is that the Niners have implanted a bonded relationship and wholeness under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. When he arrived to finally coach his first ever pro team, he brought largely a fiery and stimulated attitude.

But maybe sometimes he's overzealous, such as after Sunday's game when Lions coach Jim Schwartz chased Harbaugh and shoved him for what he seemingly felt was an exuberant celebration. With the Niners roaring over on the sideline, completing another victory that silenced the sellout crowd at Ford Field in Detroit, he rejoiced with his players as he jumped wildly like a kid and crossed the field to meet Schwartz.

As a push-and-shove match escalated eventually, a fierce confrontation after successive chest bumps, Harbaugh shook Schwartz's hand firmly and backslapped him, and then continued to celebrate. It's time to take the Niners seriously, no longer a pushover, no longer intimidated or vulnerable, so assertively dominating top-notch opponents on the road and relishing the victories as exultant afterglow.

The good vibes were observed heavily when Harbaugh filled the coaching vacancy to become Mike Singletary's successor, and unlike the ones before him, he believed in Smith while few others refused to adore the sputtering quarterback. Harbaugh, a quirky and well-focused coach, is credited greatly for uplifting the franchise's culture. It ended with Harbaugh, a new NFL coach who played for Michigan, having to be restrained from Schwartz as emotions broiled for a pair of turnaround teams.

"That's totally on me," Harbaugh said. "I shook his hand too hard."

Certainly, it is on him. His players, and again, his players knew the significance of professionalism, sportsmanship and dignity by gathering around their ill-tempered coach to restore order when the Niners were tired from the penalties in a four-lead changing game.

"I went to congratulate coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way," Schwartz said. "I didn't expect an obscenity at that point. Obviously, when you win a game like that, you are excited, but there is a protocol that goes with this league."

It seemed all so familiar that the Lions, which have won a few games in their improbable season by rallying from behind, would come back and defeat the Niners with a game-winning touchdown. When he tried to drive the Lions, and couldn't convert on a first down against a blistering defense, Matthew Stafford was hit and sent directly to the ground. The rushing Niners' defense delivered a hit on the last drive and sacked a baffled Stafford to suddenly end the game -- setting off an overzealous celebration.

"It fires me up a lot," Harbaugh said. "If that offends you or anybody else, then so be it."

Either way, that is, the Niners are well en route of punching a ticket to the playoffs, if they continue to believe and finish with a winning record for the first time in eight years. So far, as we speak, San Francisco is 5-1 with a three-game lead in the NFC West, arguably the best team in its division. This team is really good under Harbaugh. Really good.

He has turned around the culture for many of whom are talented players with the most productive skills on offense and defense, and with harmony finally erasing the mess that plummeted the fun-loving mood of an eminent franchise because of its legends and world championships, Harbaugh is the savior for a successful turnaround. This year alone, the Niners have won five of their six games for the first time since 1998.

"He loves football," Smith said. "He's an emotional guy, and it's showing up on this team."

It never took long for Harbaugh and his staff, directed by offensive coordinator Greg Roman and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, to drastically modify the mentality or psyche. Through it all, surrounded by a crafty coaching staff, Harbaugh and company are devoted to creativity and psychological approaches. Much is expected of his players as they demand rigid preparations during workouts and drills, emphasizing the significance of all details and critical mistakes.

Surely, for losing his mind, he is perceived differently, but he is still described as one of the greatest rookie coaches, if not one of the best to begin a regime in San Francisco for successfully making an instant impact. The demands are highly stressed each week and now the players have gradually improved to string together a functional nucleus.

As a result to all this, speed racer Frank Gore is more offensively proficient, pleasing his bosses every time he quickly storms past defenders, find the openings and race down the middle of the field pushing to the end zone. It is notably visible that tight end Vernon Davis has not been sent to the locker room for an early shower as if he's a mischievous teenager but has had the willfulness and driven mentality to score touchdowns.

In his first season, Harbaugh has brought the Niners together, although he may have acted like jerk and had a confrontation with another coach. It's a rarity whenever a rookie coach uplifts the culture and produce wins instantly.

For Harbaugh rather, he became the fifth 49ers coach to begin his career by winning five of his first six. Despite his chest bumps and backslaps, which was unnecessary and unacceptable, he is the main reason why the Niners are elite, and so is Smith becoming a quality quarterback

Frankly now, Harbaugh and Smith gives Niners' faithful every reason to believe.

Jim Harbaugh Speculations Emerge Into Next NFL Commodity

Sometimes in this business the best job opportunities come along. Sometimes an enterprise, such as the NFL or an enormous corporation, is interested in the hottest name mentioned, eager to incorporate the noteworthy employee. And sometimes an employer is the talk near the water cooler at workplaces.

They are talking about Jim Harbaugh, a thriving head coach who is charmingly the ambassador for Stanford with his fiery and aggressive practices, admirable tactics that has defined the representation of a traditional program, particularly when the Cardinal thrashed Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. That alone, in which the speculations increasingly stems as franchises flirt with the possibility of hiring Harbaugh to renew a brand of sensation in the future, makes it vividly clear that he's the hottest commodity throughout the NFL.

His name has become as much a part of football's realm as the concerns of a potential lockout.


When Harbaugh, a favorable target for NFL executives as well as general managers, ended his season the other night with a remarkable win that heightened his job prospects for vacancies in the National Football League, he dilated his fame and his availability widened the smiles of many fans, general managers and owners. Is he ready to take on a new task and accept a job in the NFL?

Certainly.

Years from now, Harbaugh may be the subject of a book about prospering in a cruel business such as the NFL, a league in which owners refuse to hesitate releasing a floundering head coach if a woeful season dooms the franchise.

Now that he's willing to attempt a tougher affair, ready to coach on Sundays and rebuild a mundane franchise into a competitive one, he verifies bravery and guts by stepping into an unfamiliar landscape. The sharp-minded coach, another name well-deserving of job opportunities, is a strong candidate as the Harbaugh sweepstakes is generating conversation after conversation, and for the most part, he's ready to make the transition to the pros.

His brother, John, is the head coach for the Baltimore Ravens, and has had success grooming Joe Flacco and emphasizing the importance of defensive tactics. It was bound to happen, eventually, and now is the moment Harbaugh meets and negotiates with teams. Of course, it would be nice if Denver Broncos' newly minted CEO John Elway interviews Harbaugh to be his guy in the Mile High City, when he was impressed with his role as the coach and watched his alma-mater Stanford in the Orange Bowl.

It was a recruiting trip for Elway, with a mini-reunion, flashing back to his playing days at Stanford. The admirable elegance of Elway, a classy individual with the intent to rebuild the Broncos, is a way to release stress off owner Pat Bowlen. And because of his presence, the Broncos will probably be willing to meet with Harbaugh.

But then there are the Miami Dolphins, the frontrunners in conversations to hire the attractive name. If he turned around Stanford, a slumping program and converted it into one of the most prestigious hallmarks in college football, indeed he can orchestrate excellence by his tough-minded and talented ways. He could bring his talent to South Beach, as LeBron James brought his talent to Miami and respectively seize authority with the Dolphins.

Though coaching college football is less tedious and demanding, he fittingly is a suitor for the pros. The expectations are higher, no doubt, but he can manage and may even have an immediate impact on whatever job he decides to venture in. On Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers met with Harbaugh for five hours, but in the end, he walked away without a contract sheet.

The priority in the Bay Area, is that owner Jed York was in the middle of hiring his new general manager Trent Baalke, to roughly ensure that Harbaugh is still in consideration for the vacant coaching spot. In short, pitifully, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon's strategy backfired when he delayed firing Rich Rodriguez. In all likelihood, Harbaugh won't express interest in the Michigan job, simply because he would rather coach in the pros, even though he has glorified history with the university.

However, on Tuesday, hints were given as to what Harbaugh's next possible job could be, as Dolphins owner Steve Ross—a Michigan man who realizes that he is stealing Michigan's dream coach following the firing of Rodriguez—traveled to the West Coast and roughly convinced Harbaugh to become his next head coach, bribing the famous coach with money. The owner is obsessed with the adorable coach, even though Tony Sparano is still the head coach and hasn't been terminated.

No matter what, Ross is engrossed with Harbaugh and willing to make him the highest-paid coach in the NFL, a paycheck worth $7 million to $8 million a year. And maybe Carolina, a fallen team in pursuit for Andrew Luck come the 2011 NFL Draft, is likely to involve themselves in the sweepstakes, knowing the ties Harbaugh had with Luck at Stanford when he was a great mentor to the exalted quarterback.

Prior to the Orange Bowl earlier in the week, he emerged from the team bus, was chased down by sideline reporter Michele Tafoya and was asked the query everyone is curious to know. Everyone is curious to know the status of his feasible departure, anxious to know where he plans on coaching next season, whether it's on the collegiate or pro level.

It's not hard to assume that he is chasing a Lombardi trophy, not a crystal ball. Those days are done for a man who desires leading a money-making franchise, and adores the professional life more than the campus life.

He is certainly NFL material, I dare say.

Mike Singletary Experiment Crippled The Niners, Now Jed York Could Use a Cure

On Monday, he arrived in front of the press with a helpless look on his face, unsure how to amend the downcast era of woeful collapses in a year the San Francisco 49ers were forecast to win their attenuated division.

There he was, Jed York, the president of the Niners, an undisciplined and defenseless executive who sadly doesn't have the knowledge or motivation for running a storied franchise. For all the flaws in the past, he stood in a news conference speechless and uncertain of his next direction to cure inefficiencies that have dismantled the beauty of football in the Bay Area.

In order to restore buoyancy, York vividly had no choice and decided finally to salvage reliance -- something that was almost lost -- and then he realized that he had to fire Mike Singletary, after he wasn't an inspirational or experienced voice for the daunted Niners. When Eddie DeBartolo, 64, owned the team years ago, now 10 years removed from the ownership role, he was fearlessly devoted and keen to solidify a crippled roster and happened to win multiple Super Bowl titles because of it.

And in the meantime, Eddie D has faith in his nephew. But if he wishes to follow his uncle's footsteps, Jed needs to boldly restore goodness for one of the most popular franchises in the NFL. It's nice to know that he made considerable changes to erase one of the most embarrassing memories in a disconcerting ending, finishing 5-10 in a season the Niners were favorites in the mediocre NFC West, but sadly missed the playoffs for the eighth-straight season.

It came hours after the 49ers charter plane landed in San Francisco, when York readily dismissed Singletary and told reporters the next day that he never intended to make any emotional decisions. And yes, as it happened in the wee hours, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was named interim coach for the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

"We're going to win (Sunday)," Tomsula said. "Let me make that clear. We're going to prepare to win a football game."


It is, ultimately, a cruel business for the average coach and can be very difficult to secure jobs in a complex profession such as the NFL, rather than it is to protect a status of employment, once someone flounders and uncovers blemishes and diplomatic issues. And for good reason, although he had a decent 18-22 record, he was canned following the painful 25-17 loss in St. Louis that smeared the Niners postseason quest and bruised Singletary's stint.

This after the Niners lost the nucleus of their team and couldn't even advance to the playoffs, unable to capitalize in a sloppy and agonizing defeat, an anticlimax very hard to swallow given that the Niners were close to clinching a playoff berth.

In such a brief stint, he was anointed and fulfilled the role serving as the Niners head coach, but then he suddenly fizzled and never had the mental capacity to maintain patience or enlighten his players, without verbally abusing them on the sideline or uttering impolitely in the locker room from his unbearable rants. Maybe he lasted as long as he did because of his inspirational and fiery nature, fueled by his competence at getting his point across, once he accepted the coaching responsibilities from the Yorks, who truly believed he was the answer to eliminate the dreary era.

For now, as a disappointing season comes to a closure, the Niners are eager to finish strong. And now, the Niners are ready to move forward without Singletary's weird methods throughout his coaching days, a point of his career that he was volatile, brusque and inexperienced. As it stands, he simply is a Hall of Fame linebacker, but won't ever be defined as a Hall of Fame coach.

The recent distress is created from the repetition of losses, even if Singletary had an impressive resume and had the Niners riding on a good start earlier in the regular-season. But he couldn't instill or implement a sense of urgency and steadiness for the Niners, a team in need of communication and instrumental principles.

And there's much pressure on York, the 29-year-old inheriting the family legacy in his second year as President/CEO. Within his term, he designed the 49ers Cafe located at the player's complex, but screwed up by hiring a cryptic Singletary. The story this winter in San Francisco has been Singletary, but now he's faulted for diagramming a resemblance of the West Coast offense from the 1985 Bears and installing hilarity for pulling his pants down in the locker room as a way to state a point.

He was also criticized for yanking the best quarterback or firing coaches on his terrible coaching staff. He was not parallel to the late Bill Walsh, the brilliant mastermind who led the Niners' dynasty back in the '80s. At this point, for the most part, the priorities are hiring an experienced NFL coach with an attractive resume, and eventually investing in billions for stadium creations in the Bay Area. He is definitely ready to hire a general manager, to fortify the challenging position since the departure of Scot McCloughan.

"It's important to me to get a general manager and have the general manager get the head coach. It's important to get someone who is the right fit for the 49ers," York said. "It's about time."

Yes, it is time...

The understanding of releasing Singletary, even though he clearly wasn't the suitor for the Niners, is that he had two years remaining on the $10 million, four-year contract he signed in 2008. It wasn't what the Niners had in mind, but after a 0-5 start, they were still in contention and almost survived in the substandard NFC West, considering that San Francisco had the most talented team in the division.

However, the Niners were shellshocked, pummeled and faltered for the lack of stability in a weakened offensive system, ruptured by the 49ers quarterback issues with Alex Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall pick who turned into an absolute bust. The likelihood is that the Niners are proudly flirting with the availability of Jim Harbaugh, and this alone, is a golden opportunity for Harbaugh if he's willing to leave Stanford for San Francisco. Before Walsh died, he lobbied for Stanford athletic director to hire Harbaugh and ever since, the Cardinal has been a premier program in collegiate football.

The rest of the sports world clearly knows this is a time for York to prove he's worthy of reforming the Niners. This is essentially when we'll learn the true colors of Mr. York.

We Should All Learn All a Lesson from Glen Coffee's Retirement

Glen Coffee seemingly had it all.

He had a successful career at Alabama playing for the Crimson Tide as their starting tailback. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, and made a pretty impressive debut playing behind San Fran’s starting tailback, Frank Gore, and his future in pro football looked bright.

In his rookie season he rushed for 226 yards and one touchdown. Although his yards per carry weren’t all that impressive (2.7), there were still enough bright spots in his first year that gave the 49ers coaching staff and fans reason to believe he could develop in his second year with San Fran into a solid running back. There was every reason to believe that he would form a nice one-two punch along with Gore in the 49ers backfield this year.

As training camp began for the 49ers, the first significant news coming out of camp was the dismissal by the team of Defensive End Kentwan Balmer.

Balmer, a former first-round pick (29th overall) by San Francisco in the 2008 NFL Draft out of North Carolina, was dismissed after not reporting to practice for five straight days. Considered a bust by many, the 49ers had high hopes when they drafted him, hoping he could fill a need on the defensive line.

Originally drafted as a DT, Balmer was moved to DE due to the 49ers going with a 3-4 defensive scheme last year. Late last season he was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury, and never regained his spot, which had been taken over by Baraka Atkins, whom San Fran signed to replace him in the lineup.

Balmer’s dismissal was met with little attention, though.

However, the next piece of news coming out of San Fran’s training camp was far more newsworthy. Coffee, who everyone believed would be a part of the 49ers future, suddenly and unexpectedly announced his retirement from the 49ers and pro football.

“We just respond to this and move forward,” Coach Mike Singletary said. “We’re dealing with this in stride and continuing to have our best practice. The thing that we’re trying to do as the 49ers is that we’re trying to find 53 men that love the game of football.”

Coffee only played in the National Football League for one season and could have had a bright future there.

“I feel it is best for me that I move on from football,” he said.

Coffee was battling for the back-up spot against sixth-round pick, Anthony Dixon. Coach Mike Singletary said that he was doing fine in camp and was working well and there was nothing wrong with him. He didn’t report to practice on Thursday and informed Singletary of his decision on Friday.

“I appreciate his honesty and I appreciate him not coming out here and going through the motions,” Singletary said. “He said his heart isn’t in it. It’s his decision. He is a man, and the last thing that I’m going to do is disrespect him and try to drag something out.”

With Coffee’s retirement, the 49ers are left with Michael Robinson, Gore, and Dixon.

“We had no indication this was coming,” Robinson said. “Glen’s a good friend and it’s like I’m losing a brother. With Glen not being here, there is a void. But I’ve been here five years and I’ve seen backs come in and I’ve seen backs leave. We all have to elevate our games now.”

Dixon now doesn’t have as much pressure put on him anymore to compete for the back-up spot.

“This puts no more pressure on me than there already was,” Dixon said. “I knew they were going to call on me, and now it’s time to step up. This is what I’ve been waiting for, and I’m definitely out to show some people what I’m capable of.”

There’s a lot fans can learn from this situation. Many people might believe Coffee is being stupid. They may believe his decision isn’t wise, considering how well things were going for him, and because of the financial benefits he’d have from playing professional football.

However, Coffee’s decision clearly shows that you can be very talented at something, yet still not really be interested in doing it.

I believe he’s setting a good example, especially for other athletes. If your heart’s not fully in the game, I believe you shouldn’t try to make a career out of it.

I’m confident Coffee will find new employment soon, and if things change for him, and his desire to play football returns, he might even make a return to the pros if he wanted to.

There was a similar situation to this I remember.

Back in 2007 Indianapolis Colts’ defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock called it quits. He’s now trying out for the Seattle Seahawks.

And if Coffee never returns to football, that doesn’t mean he will have been a failure in life. Sports are not the only path to success in this life, and Glen seems to fully know that. He says he has many opportunities ahead of him.

There are many examples of professional athletes who either gave it up, or were considered busts, who went on to successful careers outside of sports.

Remember Heath Schuler?

Sure, he was a huge bust as a QB for the Washington Redskins. Yet, now he’s a successful politician serving as a congressman and working with the White House on important national matters.

When you really think about it, Coffee’s decision might end up being perfectly rational. Fans sometimes forget that sports are not the be all and end all in this world, and that there are many important things outside of sports.

I have to admit I myself was a bit surprised by Coffee’s decision, but who’s to say it’s not the perfect thing for him. Sometimes sports aren’t always the answer for some people.

As much as it seems a bit crazy, because of the money involved, we should all respect Glen Coffee’s choice, and wish him the best in whatever endeavors he pursues in the future.

Who knows, he may be our president one day.

When it comes down to it, people, sports can’t always be the answer to everything. Sometimes, you have to step away from sports and look at life without them. Sometimes you have to think about other things.

Doing so can actually make your life more meaningful.

Just ask Glen Coffee.

Above All, Jerry Rice Was The Best Player Ever As Perfection Ballooned

It was a moment of fulfillment and elation on a night the humblest and well-deserving class assembled as the newest NFL Hall of Famers, enlightening our hearts with inspirational and eloquent speeches. All of the inductees were greatly honored and thrilled to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and bestowed with a lifetime feat for their devotion as the hardest working men in professional football.

But no player accepted a rigorous challenge, worked harder, and withstood laborious drills as effectively and fervidly as Jerry Rice, the finest receiver to ever sprint routes in professional football. Not surprisingly, he was a beloved athlete during a remarkable career in the NFL for uplifting the culture in San Francisco, a town that espoused and welcomed in an unparalleled receiver, with the artistry and equilibrium to rise as the best receiver ever.

It may now be commonplace to acknowledge that he’s worthy of being referred to as the perfectionist of his fascinating game that he brought on the field each Sunday. In a community where the sport was a customary trademark, Rice was considered the greatest and most admirable icon. He was the standout superstar on the triumphant San Francisco 49ers, a franchise where he accumulated unbreakable records and traditionally renew the traces of excellence in the Bay Area.

As anticipated, Rice was admired as the best player in the history of professional football and he reminisced and talked much about a stellar career, which imprints an untouchable legacy. In honor of his extraordinary enshrinement, before a feverish crowd of Niners’ supporters, he walked to the stage nervously and appeared a bit nervous. But when he stood acknowledging the accomplishment in his precise and emotional acceptance speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the Niners faithful greeted the all-time receiver with applause and screams that echoed throughout Canton, Ohio.

“I’m here to tell you that the fear of failure is the engine that has driven me throughout my entire life,” Rice said. “It flies in the faces of all these sports psychologists who say you have to let go of your fears to be successful. But not wanting to disappoint my parents, and later my coaches, teammates and fans, is what pushed me to be successful.”

So in every way, there’s no better player than Rice. There’s no other player with the same type of intensity or hard-driven mentality in today’s game. And even though he’s retired and no longer active, he claimed all-time greatness, strongly desiring to be the best to go along with his coveted work ethic and ambition that propelled him to climb and embrace a superlative ending to a productive career in the NFL.

It’s amazing that one receiver is incomparable to any other player in NFL history. As maybe the greatest football player to race and accelerate untouched to the end zone, he perfectly fitted into a mustard yellow jacket and finally had the opportunity to celebrate a perfect moment, appreciated for all his impeccable numbers on the field. He is, without argument, the greatest receiver, and defined perfection by corralling at least one reception in 274 consecutive games.

Nearly as impressive as his work on the field, Rice painstakingly performed intense pattern of workout drills and endless practices, all to enrich his performance and mount beyond, not only the average receiver, but the average player in the game.


By reaching an agenda and capitalizing on the Niners standards, he was mostly imposing for putting in extra time on the field in the offseason, and he was utterly devoted to solidifying his talent and becoming the best all-time. For mastering and treasuring the game, Rice had the drive and effort enduring offseason preparations by running routes exceptionally, without missing a practice.

He considerably changed the landscape and drove the Niners to wondrous heights, unselfishly becoming the centerpiece to an electrifying dynasty and had the singularities and natural talent as the best player, simply for relishing the game of football. And better yet, he was the most exquisite player ever affiliated with the Niners, a franchise profoundly built to produce championships, an intrinsic ritual in a winningest organization.

Was he the greatest of all-time? Yes.

Finally, he was enshrined into the Hall and acknowledged for holding sole possession of almost every receiving record. It was expected to happen for a man who respects the game and his righteous talents. It was expected to happen for a man who has tremendous dignity and understands the significance of integrity, and it was expected to happen for a man who scored more touchdowns than any other player in history.

To his credit, as a veteran receiver, he left the game atop all receivers with 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and cultivated idealism whenever he took the field on Sundays, having an incredible performance while defining all the intangibles of a gifted athlete.

In the Bay Area, he was the San Francisco treat and enjoyed more heavily than Rice a Roni.

And there’s no one greater, not even close.


In every game he ever played, Rice approached it like it was his last time steeping onto the field or as if there were many implications and he vastly stood as the instrumental piece in the Niners swaggering postseason surges, bolstering the abilities of two Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. As he excelled on consistency, Rice’s explosiveness, quickness, crafty hands and determination, improved the abilities of his performance and led to rare record-setting landmarks.

When he arrived to the Niners 25 years ago, he was doubted to ever emerge as a prolific receiver and wasn’t as explosive or fast as other guys, but in the end, turned out to be the unique receiver by becoming the NFL record-holder for the most NFL records. Even now that he’s retired, he still finishes atop the league and came in first on the voting ballot. It was a unanimous vote, obviously. That’s because Rice is endeared and revered of sacrificing and evidently fortifying his weaknesses with his demanding and consistent work habits.

It was beneficial that the Niners ran a brilliant West Coast Offense, installed by the late and legendary coach Bill Walsh. Either way, Rice was a gifted receiver and would have fitted in with any team. He was really that damn good. He caught more touchdown passes than Tim Brown and Andre Reed and still holds the NFL records, unless Marvin Harrison returns to the Indianapolis Colts and be a go-to receiver for Peyton Manning.

In all likelihood, he may shatter the record, but as it stands, Harrison is 447 catches shy of breaking an unbreakable mark. It’s a league developing profoundly around sturdy receivers, such as Randy Moss, one of the finest receivers in this generation who could average a convincing total in catches each season, but still wouldn’t shatter Rice’s record.

The dedication of hard work paid off in such a gratifying way, culminating an accomplished career and lifting the game of football. Every time he competes in a sporting event, he thrives to reach unbelievable heights and tries to reduce failures by working out and sprinting in drills as much as possible.

He learned how to be a better player by taking advice from his father who instilled the importance of responsibilities and discipline. He was an aspiring receiver that applied the standards and roles of a productive wideout. And eternally, he has written a chapter in the record books that will never be erased.

Apparently, he stands alone in the NFL.

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."