St. Louis Likely To Play The Tortoise Role Over NFL

((HT: Fox2Now))

With all the talk of St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke buying his land in Inglewood, California and wanting to build a stadium near Hollywood Park and The Forum, the city who currently hosts the Rams doesn't seem to be in a whole lot of a hurry to talk to the Rams any more.

The city claims that they have been up front and have wanted to negotiate with the Kroenkes, but the family doesn't seem to be interested.

Here's the talk from St. Louis about their confidence of having a tenant for the Edward Jones Dome- even if it isn't the Rams long-term.


This approach has been consistent with the city's approach the whole time- patience and prudence in the face of impending financial doom at the loss of of a primary tenant of their signature building. The city still feels that they may need that new building instead of continued renovation of the "Ed."

Which might be their downfall...

ICYMI: Happy New Year: Doug Marrone Walks Away from Bills

Raise your hand if you thought the Buffalo Bills would be looking for a new coach after their 1st winning season since 2004?

Yeah, nobody else did either.

Now former Bills head coach Doug Marrone took advantage of a 4-day window to opt out of his contract with his team Wednesday night and walked away. He...or his agent had the clause put in his original contract in case the team was sold. Which happened this fall.

It surprised his players, observers and others. But don't expect Marrone, who has been very successful in rebuilding the Bills team in his two seasons as head coach. He'd been trying to negotiate a contract extension with new owner Terry Pegula, but apparently that discussion was not getting very far.

And, despite his choice to walk away, Marrone will still get his $4 million dollar payday from Buffalo whether he coaches or not. And most think that is exactly what will happen. Speculation has already begun he will interview in New York with the Jets, a team he spent time with as an offensive line coach.

As for the Bills, they have plenty of options as well. Already we'd say the leader in the clubhouse would be former Bills QB Frank Reich, currently a quarterbacks coach in San Diego.

But we could be wrong.

Here's coverage from our surprised friends at WIVB-TV

REPORTS: Harbaugh accepts Michigan job

Well, that didn't take long.

OSG sources are reporting former San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has agreed to take over the helm of the Michigan Wolverines. There is a news conference scheduled on Tuesday in Ann Arbor with interim AD Jim Hackett. Harbaugh and his family were scheduled on a private jet from San Fran to Ann Arbor at 10:00am PST this morning, so that's just a coincidence, right? *insert eye roll here*

The details of the deal have not been released, but it was reported earlier that Michigan offered Harbaugh a six-year contract worth at least $48 million. Michigan officials did meet with Harbaugh Sunday night after the embattled head coach and the 49ers organization "agreed to mutually part ways."

Harbaugh played QB for Michigan under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler.

More details when they become available.

Black Monday: Falcons Fire Coach Mike Smith

The Atlanta Falcons have announced they've parted ways with now former head coach Mike Smith.

On Black Monday, the day after the NFL regular season came to an end, Smith became the 3rd casualty.

He coached the Falcons for 7 years beginning in 2008. And during that time, the team had quite a bit of success, recording back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in their history. Smith got them into the playoffs 5 times and helped guide them within a touchdown of a Super Bowl berth.

But the past two seasons haven't been as kind as the Falcons fell victim to bad luck, injuries and problems finding quality linemen. Smith also made some questionable coaching decisions which this past season cost his team two games.

We should add that GM Thomas Dimitroff is not without blame here as the Falcons have severely lacked top flight talent on the line and have not drafted well the past several seasons.

But Dmitroff is likely to stay--though his status is a bit iffy too.

We feel bad about this, having covered the Falcons for 10-years. We were there when Smitty was hired and he was a total class act.

But the team has not produced and ultimately, owner Arthur Blank, with a billion dollar stadium on the way had to make a change. And he made it with the hope a new regime can bring in a winning team to launch the new building.

Only time will tell.

BASTA: 49ers Close Fruitless Season With A Win; Coaching Situation in Question

((HT: BASTA/Baichwal))

This season has been full of ups and downs, with the 49ers showing great promise in some moments but then looking listless in others. Over the past four years, in the Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick era, the 49ers have had great success, except for this year. They went to three straight NFC Championship games, and even made the Super Bowl two years ago. However, this year all of the success that they had built up fizzled, going from a Super Bowl contender to mediocrity. Coming into today’s matchup against their division rival Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers were 7-8. They managed a 20-17 win today, ending their season at an even 8-8, maintaining Jim Harbaugh’s streak of no losing seasons.

The 49ers 2014 season looked promising as the preseason ended, and they continued to look extremely good, starting the season with a resounding win over the Cowboys. However, the 49ers’ hot start quickly ended, losing two games straight for the first time in Harbaugh’s NFL coaching career to the Bears and the Cardinals. Fortunately, they came back after this with strength, as they took their 1-2 record, and then won three straight games against the Eagles, the Chiefs, and the Rams. However, this 4-2 surge was stopped by back-to-back losses to the Broncos and the Rams, bringing the 49ers record to an even 4-4. The 49ers were then able to bear down and battle hard for three straight wins: an overtime win over the Saints, a defensive win over the Giants, and an Anquan Boldin led win over Washington, giving them a 7-4 record and putting them in a tie with the Seattle Seahawks, in the chase for the NFC Wild Card spot. However, the 49ers’ playoff hopes were quickly yet painfully stripped away, as the 49ers lost four straight games, including a blowout by the division rival Seahawks, a stinging loss to the awful Raiders, another bad loss to the Seahawks, and an overtime loss to the Chargers, forming the 49ers’ longest losing streak in the Jim Harbaugh era. With a 7-8 record, the 49ers tip-toed into today’s matchup, and were luckily able to grab a win, to give them a somewhat acceptable record of 8-8.

On Sunday, the volatile 49ers were on one of their good days. Frank Gore rushed for a season high 144 yards on 25 carries, continuing to add onto his franchise leading rushing totals. Some believe that free-agent-to-be Gore will retire after his tenth year in the league. However, Gore prides himself on his determination and resiliency, making it unlikely that he would leave after a subpar season like this one. Furthermore, he has indicated that he would like to continue his career with the 49ers, the only team he has ever known. Whether or not he plays next season, it is highly unlikely that he will remain with San Francisco due to the fact that they have been grooming rookie Carlos Hyde to be his successor. Furthermore, they simply do not have the money to pay him, even though he is still a very reliable running back at age 31.

Even so, in today’s game he set a couple milestones in what may be his last game in Levi’s Stadium. He recorded his eighth season gaining 1000

rushing yards, also becoming the 20th running back to make it to 11,000 rushing yards. Whether or not he retires after this season, he will have left a huge impression on the 49ers’ franchise, as one of the most consistent players to ever step on the field. ((thanks to BASTA for the photo))

In the passing game, Colin Kaepernick threw for 204 yards on 15 of 26 attempts and two touchdowns, including a 76 yard catch and run to Anquan Boldin. The touchdown catch came early in the first quarter, just after the Cardinals had executed a flawless drive to take an early 7-0 lead. This score tied up the game for the 49ers, shifting the momentum back in their favor. It also gave receiver Anquan Boldin a 1000 yard receiving season for the second year in a row, making him the first 49ers’ receiver to achieve this feat in franchise history. Here’s a link to that play, that capitalized on a breakdown in the Cardinals’ secondary:

Anquan Boldin’s 76-yard touchdown catch and run

The 49ers had a field day on defense, coming up with three interceptions off of Arizona’s backup quarterback Ryan Lindley, all of which extremely important in stopping Cardinals’ drives. The first came courtesy of linebacker Michael Wilhoite, who snagged a third down pass and prevented the Cardinals from taking a field goal attempt that could have changed the result of the game. Cornerback Chris Culliver snagged the next interception early in the third quarter on what looked to be a promising Cardinals’ drive, both ending their drive and giving the 49ers great field position for their own, one that ended in their second touchdown. This touchdown came on a play action drag route by the fullback Bruce Miller, for a three yard score. The third and final interception came in the fourth quarter from linebacker Craig Dahl right after a sack that followed the 49ers punting the ball at the two minute warning. This interception sealed the game as it took away the Cardinals’ final chance to come back in the game, and allowed the 49ers to kneel the ball three times for the win.

Today’s win was great, and it served as a reminder that the 49ers are an extremely talented and capable team that had the potential for much better results this season than they ended up with. The 49ers executed very well today, and they showed that they should return to their successful ways next year. However, it is now guaranteed that they will have to do so without the coach that brought them success after an extremely long drought: Jim Harbaugh.

Ever since the 49ers started losing, and especially since they fell out of playoff contention, the narrative of this season has been about Harbaugh leaving. People have been predicting whether or not he would leave, who would replace him if he did (we discussed some options here), and where he will go next. Jim Harbaugh is unquestionably a very talented coach, and even when there were allegations that he had lost respect in the locker room, his players were always proactive in stepping up and denying these rumors, speaking about how they like Jim Harbaugh as a coach and have the utmost respect for him. After today’s game, when speaking about Harbaugh’s departure, quarterback Colin Kaepernick said:
((HT: CSN Bay Area))


Out of the three questions that people have been asking for this season, one has been definitively answered, one has a very strong possibility, and one has yet to be answered.

The first and most pressing question was answered after today’s win: Jim Harbaugh is leaving the 49ers. Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers announced that they have mutually agreed to part ways, and he will either leave the NFL or be traded away to fulfill the remaining one year on his five year, 25 million dollar contract. After the game, Jim Harbaugh said:

“I’m forever proud to have been a part of this. It’s been a tremendous four years, it’s been a pleasure to work and serve for this organization…You work at the pleasure of the organization, that’s what we all do.”
Quote courtesy of ESPN

The second question about his replacement is the one that has yet to be answered. The 49ers organization will have to come up with a decision quickly. However, they would want to give their new coach as much time as possible with the team, especially if they look outside the organization. As it currently stands, there are only a few probable options for the coaching position next year, due to the fact that the 49ers need some resemblance of continuity. In addition, Trent Baalke will want a coach who he can control, unlike the abrasive Harbaugh. Also, the 49ers need a coach who can help Kaepernick develop. Currently, he is the only viable starting quarterback in the system, and he has shown signs that he can succeed at the NFL level, although he still needs guidance from a good coach. The three main options in no particular order are Vic Fangio if the 49ers look inward, and Adam Gase or Mike Shanahan if they look outwards.

Vic Fangio would provide the most continuity, as he has been the 49ers’ defensive coordinator for the past four years, joining with Jim Harbaugh from Stanford, and he has 15 years of NFL defensive coordinator experience. Throughout the past four years, Harbaugh has steered clear of the defense, knowing that Vic Fangio is fully capable of running that aspect of the team. If he is promoted to head coach, he would continue to run the defense, and he would give wide berth to current offensive coordinator Greg Roman to run the offense, and essentially the two would work in tandem. Also, he would nestle in nicely with Trent Baalke, and he is a much calmer presence that would not ruffle the management’s feathers.

Adam Gase would be another intriguing option, the hot name on the market this year after transforming Denver’s offense into a well-oiled machine as their offensive coordinator. Of course he would not have the same offensive tools in San Francisco, especially at quarterback and receiver. Hopefully he would be able to help Kaepernick grow, while also providing a valuable boost to the offense, leaving Vic Fangio to handle the defensive side of the game, as Harbaugh has done for the last four years. Experience coaching Peyton Manning give Gase valuable knowledge about the quarterback position, learning from an all-time great.

Mike Shanahan may be too old for the job at 62, but he has experience with the 49ers as their offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1994, and he also has 20 years of NFL head coaching experience. However, his last season as head coach was with the Redskins in 2013, guiding them to a woeful 3-13 campaign. Shanahan would have been a great option for the 49ers a few years ago, but now he is more of a fringe candidate, due to both his age and lack of recent success. Even so, he would probably provide the largest offensive boost of these three candidates, as he led the Broncos to win the 1997 and 1998 Super Bowls as their offensive coordinator.

Whether the 49ers end up with one of these three candidates or another candidate not listed will be mainly based on how much money they want to spend on a coach and how much control Trent Baalke wants to exert. Each of these coaches comes with a different price tag, with Vic Fangio being the cheapest and Adam Gase the most expensive. The 49ers should probably announce a coaching decision within a few weeks, and they will probably target somebody outside the organization first, and if that falls through, they will be safe with Vic Fangio as a very solid in-house option.

The third question is the one that has not yet been definitively answered, although Jim Harbaugh may have already internally answered the question. He received a quite lucrative offer to go back to the college level as a head coach for his alma mater Michigan, which is looking for a coach with his ability to take a team from rags to riches. He has proven himself extremely capable of raising programs from nothing to instant contenders, first at Stanford and then with the 49ers. However, he has been noncommittal when asked about Michigan, saying that “announcements will be made” about where he will go next year. Unquestionably, Jim Harbaugh is out of the picture for the 49ers, but his next location is still technically up in the air, although Michigan looks to be the destination. From the 49ers’ perspective, it would be better for Harbaugh to stay in the NFL so that the 49ers could trade him either for cash compensation or possibly even players. Either way, Harbaugh should have great success wherever he goes, while simultaneously earning a lofty paycheck.

The 49ers 2014 season is now over, and although it was subpar, the organization still has a bright future. It will be led by breakout rookies like Carlos Hyde and Chris Borland and young veterans Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid. The 49ers have a lot of talent on their team, and they are still very capable of contending next year, especially if they find a coach who can bring out the best in Kaepernick, so that he can finally get the Super Bowl ring that he so badly desires.

DEVELOPING: Black Monday Begins: Ryan and Idzik Fired

((HT: NJ.com/SNY))

Surprising no one, really, Black Monday begins with a dual firing in New York with both head coach Rex Ryan and GM John Idzik being shown their walking papers.

Owner Woody Johnson has long been known for wanting to clean house and he went two levels on a team that seemed ill-fitted to compete in the AFC- until yesterday with their fun performance and win over the Miami Dolphins

Here's his game ball presentation


And his addressing the media after the game


The HQ anticipates their will be further action in Chicago, Atlanta, and the actions in San Francisco

More when we know more...

Marshawn Lynch Wraps Up Crazy Run and Night With Silly Interview

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch IS Beast Mode. And he proved it yet again Sunday night with one of the most incredible 79-yard TD runs you'll ever see.

Shedding tacklers like sand fleas, Lynch isn't the fastest guy on the field, but at times nobody seems able to get him off his feet.

Check out the crazy run along with the highlights of Seattle dismantling the Arizona Cardinals 35-6.



((Note-Lynch is going to get fined, if you notice at the end of his TD run, he leaps in the air and grabs his crotch. That is a no-no and stupid. It should cost him money for that and hopefully will))

But then there is post game. And reporters always want to talk to the best players after the games. However Lynch, he's apparently not a big fan of talking to the assembled media. He's been fined by the NFL for not participating in the post game scrum.

And Lynch, rather than get fined again has participated. But his answers to questions well, they leave a bit to be desired though admittedly at times they are funny.

The other interesting issue to us is the duel between reporters and Lynch. The reporters are genuinely upset "Beast Mode" won't talk to them. And having been on that end, sure, we get it. You want the interview with the star of the day. But we also get Lynch. He doesn't like to talk. He should not be required to.

Yes we know he's a professional, it's part of the job. But it should be his choice whether he talks or not. If he doesn't want to, talk to his teammates. Find someone else to talk to. It should be his choice. (Just our opinion here)

Here's video of the Lynch Post Game interview from ESPN.com--Thanks for asking:



Here's a transcript:

Here's the transcript of Marshawn Lynch's post game interview. pic.twitter.com/aVMlNPIjv0
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 22, 2014

Jay Cutler and The Awkward Post Game Press Conference

As bad as Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler has been the past few weeks, we kind of feel bad for him after his Monday Night Football post-game presser. The Bears were again hammered, this time by the New Orleans Saints 31-15.

Cutler, who usually speaks after Bears coach Marc Trestman, came to the podium first. And there was only one reporter in the room at the time.

Cutler took 3 questions...all from ESPN.com's Mike Sando before a quizzical look at the PR folks. He then left the room before all the reporters, in the locker room at the time could get there.

Having participated in this ritual for many years, the usual procedure for most teams is the coach speaks first, then the locker room is opened. The quarterback for most teams will also speak in the conference room. Team PR generally notifies reporters/camera crews when that is about to happen.

It's a bit of a scramble/dance. Often times during a loss, players will get out of the place as fast as they can. If you aren't there, you miss your opportunity.

In this case, blame the PR staff. Poor Cutler has been under siege from opposing defenses, fans, his own coaches and teammates. This time he did nothing wrong, it just looked silly and really, really awkward.

No, Congress is NOT Canceling the Super Bowl

God bless Cable News. Sometimes they just can't resist trying to scare the living crap out of people. They'll grab an obscure part of a story that has almost no chance of impacting anyone, spin it and make it sound like it could happen at any second.

And the folks at Fox News are experts at it. It never ceases to amaze us how many outlandish, untrue statements their hosts make in the name of fear...and never get called out for making.

Monday morning they were at it again.

Fox Business reporter and noted sports expert (sarcasm) Lauren Simonetti reported that Congress might cancel the Super Bowl if the government stops backing insurance companies who offer terrorism insurance for big events.

Simonetti reported that if there is not a deal by December 31st, the Super Bowl will NOT be played. That nobody will insure it. And the league would have to cancel the game or be on the hook for an incident that is HIGHLY unlikely to ever happen. (You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning, a cruise missile and eaten by a shark--on the same day)



Yes, apparently the NFL is aware of the insurance provision but fear not Fox loving football fan...they have NO intention of letting Congress...or anyone else call off the Super Bowl.

In regards to reports that Super Bowl could be in jeopardy due to expiring terrorism insurance, NFL said, "The Super Bowl will be played."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2014

Sacrilege...??? Governor Christie A Cowboys Fan...???

((HT: Governor Christie his own self))

So, the Governor of the state of New Jersey might be a fan of his Giants, Jets, or both...

But in an interview on talk radio in his home state, he went in another direction...


The HQ is fairly certain of his run for President in the upcoming election, but the Poly Sci Major in us also knows about the electoral clout of the state of Texas and its swing capabilities...

Just thought we would put this out there for your political perusal...

Now, about that sports gambling question...

Morning Wrap: Titans vs. Jets--The Brawl for Last Place (But What An Ending!)

((ht: cbssports.com))

So there weren't exactly a whole lot of highlights late Sunday afternoon when the putrid New York Jets took on the hapless Tennessee Titans.

Outside of the last play of the game, a wild attempt at re-creating the Music City Miracle, perhaps the best video of the game came here.

Jets QB Geno Smith and a slew of Jets lineman exchange some words. One of them slaps Smith's helmet, bringing his teammates out onto the field.

Some more words were exchanged. And that's when the punches flew.

Video from CBSSports.com:

But, just as wild was the end of the game as the Titans- in the first-ever NFL game to finish 16-11 got nine yards away from another Music City Miracle...

Charlie Whitehurst to Dexter McCluster- who lateraled back to Nate Washington. He then found Whitehurst again across the field, who eventually lateraled to a streaking Delanie Walker.

Walker was that close...
((HT: NJ.com/Charles Curtis' Vine))

Cleveland TV Station Trolls Bengals Marvin Lewis at Presser

((ht: fox8.com))

Oh my gawd. This is the funniest thing we've seen all day. And it makes a very strong point as well.

WJW-TV in Cleveland sent one of their on air personalities, 'Lil Jon Rinaldi to Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis's Wednesday press conference.

The reason for Rinaldi being there: Lewis's comments to a radio station on Monday calling Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel a midget.

Manziel we might add; stands 6 feet tall.

The 4 ft 3 Rinaldi, a well know personality in the Cleveland area asked Lewis a couple of questions in the presser, both prefaced by comments about height.

To his credit, Lewis did not bite, answering the question in purely football technical terms.

Wow! Strong statement by the TV station there. And honestly, it's a different perspective coming from Rinaldi.

Mind you Lewis has apologized for his comments and said repeatedly he did not intend to offend anyone with them.

Still, this is a possible "Troll of the Year" candidate...

Cam Newton Out of Hospital

((ht: wcnc.com))

The good news for Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton is that in the long run, he's going to be okay.

But the bad is for the next few weeks, he's going to be dealing with two fractured vertebrae in his back. Those the result of Tuesday afternoons accident that sent his Dodge Ram pickup truck rolling over three times before coming to a landing on an overpass near the Panthers stadium.

Witnesses told police about seeing a car trying to cross the street Newton was driving on when it struck the QB's truck starting the action. The driver of the car was not injured, Newton was transported to the hospital where he stayed overnight.

Newton's status for Sunday's game vs. Tampa Bay is very much in question. The team has been preparing backup Derek Anderson in case Newton is unable to go.

((NOTE--Wednesday afternoon--Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Anderson will get the start))

The injury Newton suffered is very similar to the back injury Dallas QB Tony Romo has been dealing with. Romo has played successfully, but his game is different than Newton's. Cam relies more on a physical running style, Romo does not.

More on Newton from WCNC-TV in Charlotte:

Washington Football Players Fight at Practice

((ht: csnwashington.com))

As of today, we're going to start calling the Washington NFL team the Shleprocks.

Why? Because no matter what they do, things never end well.

The the latest episode, two players, WR Andre Roberts and DB Bashaud Breeland got into a scuffle during practice.

The reason according to CSN Washington; Breeland was covering Roberts too tightly.

And yes punches were thrown before the two were separated.

BREAKING NEWS: Cam Newton Injured in Charlotte Crash (UPDATED: Transported As Precaution, Injury Update)

((ht: charlotteobserver.com))

Uh oh, this doesn't sound so good.

The Charlotte Observer reports Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton was injured around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon in a car crash. Newton's pickup truck and another car appear to have collided on a bridge near the teams offices at Bank of America stadium.

More RIGHT HERE

An Observer photographer was apparently on the scene shortly after the wreck and was able to identify Newton as he was being put on a stretcher. No word on the possible injuries was given. 120 Sports is reporting that Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Police confirm that he was able to communicate afterwards with them.

Cam Newton on a stretcher. Just loaded in ambulance pic.twitter.com/TP7rSRKXua
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 9, 2014

WBTV-TV has a closer photo of Newton:

#BREAKING: @WBTV_News is working to get more answers on the wreck involving Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. pic.twitter.com/FJ6uidwXIC
— Amanda Bazemore (@AmandaBazemore) December 9, 2014

Roads in the I-277/Church St. area in uptown Charlotte were closed at the time of the report and more information will hopefully be coming later in the day.

Video from the Observer reporter on the scene:



1330 UPDATE: Steve Crump at WBTV in Charlotte is reporting, via his Twitter, that Newton was transported as a precaution and that the Panthers QB wasn't injured and didn't want to go, but he did.

1530 UPDATE: From the Panthers via their Twitter:

Further testing revealed Cam Newton has two transverse process fractures in his lower back and no further internal injuries

For those of you not in the medical profession, it's the same inury that Tony Romo had after the game with the Redskins

Morning Wrap: BASTA Bay Area Breakdown: 49ers Loss to Raiders

Kaepernick Awful As 49ers Fall To Raiders And Lose Playoff Hopes

 

By: Apurv Baichwal

Follow me on Twitter: @abaichwal

After watching today’s game, I was quite literally speechless. There was nothing I could say immediately after to explain what had just occurred, and all I could think was: “Was that even football?” The 49ers just lost their seventh game of the season in only thirteen weeks, making them 7-6 and effectively out of the playoff chase. To rub salt in this wound, the 49ers lost to their Bay Area rivals, the Oakland Raiders, and since these two teams will only face each other once this year, the Raiders can now claim that they are the best football team in the Bay Area (impossible, I know). Finally, to not just rub but literally pour salt into the wound, the Raiders just pulled their second win of the season out of thin air. Yes, you read that correctly: the 49ers are only the second team to have lost to the Raiders this season, and wow was this game bad.

After a crushing 19-3 loss to the Seahawks on Thanksgiving Day, the 49ers believed it was rock bottom for their team. How could they do worse than being crushed by their vaunted division rival? However, they astounded everybody everywhere as they reached new lows today in a demoralizing 24-13 loss to the dismal Raiders, effectively ending their playoff aspirations. The Raiders moved to 2-11 on the season with the win, a result that could eventually lose them the number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Ironically, Oakland is suddenly the winner of two out of their last three, even after an abominable 52-0 loss last Sunday to Saint Louis. Today, the Raiders somehow managed to stand up to a physically superior San Francisco squad, and they quite simply controlled the game throughout.

The Raiders set the tone early, intercepting the first play from scrimmage. Kaepernick threw the ball to nobody, even though he was completely unhurried, and this single throw brought back haunting memories of the Kaepernick-of-old who would throw the ball to tightly covered receivers instead of out-of-bounds. Raiders’ safety Bradian Ross snatched the errant throw from Colin Kaepernick, supposedly intended for Michael Crabtree, and he returned it to the Raiders’ own forty-nine yard line. After the quick momentum swing, Oakland’s offense was somehow firing on all cylinders, for really the first time all season, with quarterback Derek Carr leading the Raiders all the way to the 49ers’ twenty-eight yard line. However, an unnecessary roughness penalty on guard Austin Howard stalled their progress, and forced them to settle for a fifty-seven yard field goal from their ace kicker Sebastian Janikowski to give them an early 3-0 advantage. From here, the Raiders never looked back as they continued to look like a really good football team on the field, not at all the way they have looked for most of this season.

Down 3-0 with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers broke through against Oakland’s surprisingly good defense, driving sixty yards on seven plays for a touchdown. Kaepernick connected with fullback Bruce Miller on an eight yard score to cap the drive, giving the 49ers their first lead at 7-3.

After that drive, San Francisco never looked comfortable again on offense, settling for just two field goals in the remaining three quarters. They struggled to convert on third downs, successful on just three of their twelve attempts, an anomaly for this team, and they only gained 248 total yards to Oakland’s 330.

Fortunately, the 49ers did take a 13-10 lead in the incipient stages of the second half, on Phil Dawson’s second and final field goal of the game, but they quickly lost that advantage. The Raiders subsequently marched down the field, going eighty yards on just eight plays to take a 17-13 lead, in a display of strong and swift offensive prowess. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr’s nine yard touchdown pass to fullback Marcel Reese capped the physical drive, the eventual nail in the coffin for San Francisco.

 

Overall, Derek Carr was as brilliant as Colin Kaepernick was awful today, as Carr completed twenty-two of his twenty-eight pass attempts for 254 yards, throwing three touchdowns and posting a 140.2 quarterback rating in the process. On the other hand, Kaepernick 18 of 33 passes for only 174 yards, one touchdown, and an ugly two interceptions. In fact, Kaepernick completed two passes more than 15 yards downfield today, yet both of his picks were also over 15 yards downfield. From this statistic, it is obvious that Kaepernick has not yet matured into a sharp downfield passer, as he still makes mental mistakes, and although he definitely has the arm strength, he does not yet possess the mental strength to consistently throw and complete deep throws. Colin Kaepernick was also sacked five times as the Raiders flummoxed San Francisco’s offensive line, forcing them out of their usual comfort zone and preventing them from adequately protecting Kaepernick.

The Niners finally found an offensive rhythm late in the fourth, when they converted a key fourth and one play at Oakland’s forty-four yard line with eight minutes left. Kaepernick threw a short seven yard pass to receiver Michael Crabtree, and kept both their game and playoff hopes briefly alive. He seemed to be in sync for the first time all game, but things changed quickly, with the Niners holding the ball at Oakland’s twenty-seven yard line down just 23-14. Suddenly, he started to lean on Crabtree more than he really should have, settling for short gains to connect with the receiver, and overthrew him mightily to set up third and long. Kaepernick was sacked by Antonio Smith on the ensuing play, forcing San Francisco to attempt a long forty-seven yard field goal. To make matters worse, rookie center Marcus Martin had to be helped off the field after the play with an apparent injury, hurting the 49ers at a position where they already have very little depth. Adding insult to injury, Phil Dawson missed wide left on his attempt from 47 yards, energizing the crowd at the O.co Coliseum, and completely deflating the 49ers. The Niners wasted five minutes and thirty six seconds on the drive, playing without a sense of urgency and letting the game, and their playoff hopes, slowly yet steadily slip away.

Overall, the passing attack was mediocre today, mainly due to Kaepernick’s ineptitude. Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin had the two highest receiving totals with 56 and 54 yards respectively, but these numbers are somewhat misleading since it took Crabtree nine and Boldin four catches to get there, meaning that thirteen passes only went for 110 yards, a terrible YPC average. With the 49ers playing from behind for most of the game, they also didn’t manage to get their rushing game going, and the Niners’ workhorse Frank Gore only finished with 12 carries for 63 yards. Kaepernick did manage 26 rushing yards on three carries, but this number was not enough to make up for his awful passing. On the bright side, even though the 49ers only managed 97 total rushing yards, this number was still superior to the Raiders’ 85, although Oakland managed to get a win where the 49ers could not.

On the defensive side, the 49ers were serviceable, but they tired due to the offense’s lack of production. Like last week against the Seahawks, the 49ers’s defense did not get ample rest time because their offense could not maintain many drives, and their fatigue showed on the field as they seemed slightly slower to the ball than usual. Even so, rookie linebacker Chris Borland still continued to amaze as he recorded fourteen total tackles, include twelve solo. He never seems to tire with the abundance of energy common to rookies, but also with the football intelligence only usually seen in veterans.

With the Niners’ second straight loss, they move to 7-6, two games out of the NFC Wild Card race with just three games left to play. They are now three games back of the first place Arizona Cardinals in the NFC, making it next to impossible for them to take the division. To do so, they would have to win their next three games, the Cardinals would have to lose their next three games, the 49ers would need to beat the Seahawks next week, the 49ers would need to beat the Cardinals in Week 17, and the Seahawks would need to lose at least two of their next three games. Essentially, the 49ers have no chance of winning the division this year. Even further, they are now in danger of missing the postseason for the first time under head coach Jim Harbaugh, as even a wildcard spot will be hard to achieve. Currently, both the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions are sitting atop the NFC Wild Card race with 9-4 records. The 49ers would need to beat out at least one of these teams to win the spot, meaning that they would need to win all of their games and half at least one of these teams lose two. Once again, the 49ers have a very slim chance of making the playoffs from the Wild Card position, although there is still a shred of possibility, especially if they beat the Seahawks next week.

Overall, the rest of this season looks very bleak for the 49ers, and it is an extremely uphill battle to even possibly get near making the playoffs. With a lot of luck and a lot of great football the 49ers could do it, but right now the odds are stacked heavily against them, and they have a lot of work to do as of now.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN

Panthers And Saints Taking Swings At Each Other

((HT: NFL on FOX))

Let's face it, the NFC South is dirty for the wrong reasons...

And it seems to have taken on a life if its own in today's Panthers-Saints game when Carolina QB Cam Newton went over the top and scored- despite the actions of the New Orleans Defense


In the pile, about 45 seconds in if you missed it, was the Brandon Williams punch that led to his ejection. Cameron Jordan and Ronald Powell are the two Saints that, apparently, were the recipients of the swings.

Expect an envelope from the league to visit Williams' locker

This Is A Downfield Block By A Cyborg

((HT: Cork Gaines Vine))

The HQ has always maintained that Mike Evans, back in his time at Texas A&M, held some very cyborgian qualities as a wide receiver- size, speed, effort. The only thing missing from his HAL 9000-ness was his mental ability to stay locked into a game

Terrence Newman found out the hard way that, when Evans is locked in, he's locked in...


All that did, really, was remind the HQ of this...

Johnny Manziel Finally Gets To Play And Scores Cleveland's Only Touchdown

Johnny Manziel Scores Against Buffalo

Well Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine did it.  Pettine went to the bullpen and pulled
starting quarterback Brian Hoyer after a sub par performance against the Buffalo Bills.

Johnny Manziel came in to give the Browns offense a boost and he did including scoring his first NFL touchdown the way you expect Johnny Football to.

Manziel ran it in to get the Browns to within 10 points.



Of course Johnny Football flashed the money sign after he scored what turned out to be Cleveland's only touchdown of the game.

Manziel's final numbers were 5 of 8 for 63 yards and rushed for 13 yards.

Hoyer's numbers were 18 for 30 for 192 yards and two interceptions.

Needless to say the Buffalo Bills won the game 26-10.

Ray Rice Reinstated, Will Anyone Dare...???

((HT: WJZ-TV))

The HQ saw this coming a while back...

When it appeared that the NFL had gone after now-former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice in a double jeopardy sense after the assault of his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, in an elevator we thought the second suspension constituted what we thought.

Overzealous activity...

So, yes when judge Barbara Jones heard the case as an arbitor, we figured this would be her response:

"In this arbitration, the NFL argues that Commissioner Goodell was misled when he disciplined Rice the first time. Because, after careful consideration of all of the evidence, I am not persuaded that Rice lied to, or misled, the NFL at his June interview, I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated," Jones' decision stated.

"I find that the NFLPA carried its burden of showing that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16th meeting, and therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident and the same known facts about the incident, was arbitrary," Jones also wrote.

"The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline.

"Moreover, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of violence was not due to Rice's description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey the seriousness of domestic violence. That the League did not realize the severity of the conduct without a visual record also speaks to their admitted failure in the past to sanction this type of conduct more severely."

Here's the rundown from Baltimore...


Now, the larger question: Will anyone hire him for the stretch run this season or will there be some kind of collusion/adverse reaction to public opinion that will keep Rice unemployed in the NFL...???

The HQ thinks the latter...

For a while...