49ers start to make cuts
The San Francisco 49ers are not waiting until the deadline to start making roster cuts. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter via Twitter, the San Francisco 49ers have released RB Michael Robinson and CB Karl Paymah.
Michael Robinson was entering his 5th season in the NFL. The 6’1″ 220 pound quarterback out of Penn State has played his entire career with the 49ers, listed as a running back and featured on special teams. Selected in the 4th round, #100 overall in the 2006 NFL draft.
CB Karl Paymah is entering his 6th season in the NFL, drafted in the 3rd round, #76 overall in 2005 by the Denver Broncos. Paymah spent 4 seasons with the Denver Broncos and last season with the Minnesota Vikings. In his career, he has recorded 128 tackles and three interceptions. Paymah was signed to a one year contract with the 49ers on March 17th of this year.
San Francisco 49ers find gold in Dixon
This preseason the San Francisco 49ers acquired free agent RB Brian Westbrook but they had already found gold in the draft when they selected RB Anthony Dixon. Anthony Dixon was the 173rd player chosen, selected in the 6th round out of Mississippi State. The 6’1″ 230 pound back have been impressive to say the least for the Niners this preseason. He’s recorded a 4 yard per carry average, 74 carries for 300 yards and scored 4 touchdowns.
Last night, Dixon carried 12 times for 80 yards, and 46 of those yards came on an impressive run where he took the ball to the left, then cut back to the right on the line and took it the distance, stiff arming a defender before crossing the endzone.
49er’s starting RB Frank Gore has a history of missing a couple of games a year with injuries, and the Niners won’t have to wonder if Brian Westbrook will be able to shoulder the load if Gore misses time now. Of course Westbrook comes with his own lengthy resume of injuries. Anthony Dixon should be able to fill in as needed for the Niners with his hard running style.
A very nice pick up indeed at number 173.
Would 49ers swap Michael Crabtree for Chargers Vincent Jackson?
Given the events which came to a head yesterday between San Francisco 49ers WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis, could you see a scenario which would prompt the San Francisco 49ers to trade Michael Crabtree to the San Diego Chargers for WR Vincent Jackson? I realize that head coach Mike Singletary told reporters this morning that everything was fine in the clubhouse and this situation with Michael Crabtree would not be a distraction, but you never know what happens behind closed doors. Not to mention NFL coaches and teams lie to the media.
So how would 49ers fans feel if that happened? Trading away a young player with a lot of upside but a crummy attitude that has yet to play in a pre-season game in his young career, for a talented veteran receiver who has already shown what he can do on the field.
Jackson is a huge target and a physical receiver at 6’5″ 230 pounds. Last season he had 68 receptions for nearly 1200 yards and 9 touchdowns. He will be suspended for the first three games of the season regardless of what happens by the Saturday deadline. If Jackson isn’t traded by the final 53 man roster cutdown deadline on Saturday, he will be suspended for the first 6 games of the 2010 season and his trade value plummets.
I doubt the 49ers would execute such a move but I know that Mike Singletary is not going to put up with much of Crabtree’s attitude, period. Jackson has made bad decisions off the field, with two DUI’s but in an interview on NFL Network, he vowed that drinking would never be an issue with him in the league again and he’s never been reported to have a detrimental locker room presence. Just something to think about, there are always last minute surprises in the NFL as teams adjust their rosters to get to the required 53 men.
Is Michael Crabtree the problem in San Francisco?
Yesterday at practice, an on field spat occurred between San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree. The players were escorted off the field by 49ers head coach Mike Singletary. Singletary told reporters after the incident “(Davis is) one of the captains. He did the right thing but he did it the wrong way”. Is this a problem for the San Francisco 49ers heading into what many think will be a season the Niners are poised for a return to the playoffs?
Michael Crabtree had a protracted holdout last season, not joining the team until week 7. He has missed an extended period of time this off-season and has failed to play in any pre-season games as he is dealing with a stiff neck. Perhaps the locker room is considering Crabtree now more of a pain in the neck.
Crabtree has been known for his diva-like behavior and now fans have to be wondering if he is going to cause more problems for the Niners during the course of the season. Crabtree appears to be believing all the hype surrounding his potential and has simply assumed the role of elite receiver and that behavior might be rubbing his team mates the wrong way.
I believe that Crabtree is poised for a huge year, but before you start acting like a top 5 receiver, perhaps you ought to get on the field and produce something first. I can guarantee you that Mike Singletary will not put up with this act for very long. Crabtree will either buy into what Singletary is selling or he will find himself watching from the sidelines. Singletary will not let one player think he is more important than the team as a whole.
San Francisco 49ers Davis and Crabtree have dispute
All was well in the San Francisco 49er Nation, the Niners are 3-0 in pre season and now all of a sudden there seems to be an issue between two key players which figure to be important pieces to the Niners success in 2010. TE Vernon Davis and second year receiver Michael Crabtree got into a heated exchange of words, and the exchange was so forceful that Niner’s head coach Mike Singletary took both players off the practice field and into the lockerroom.
Both players declined comments to the media after the event, but coach Singletary told reporters after returning to the field after speaking with the players, “There is no more elephants in the room. The elephant was exposed.”
Well, there obviously seems to be some bad blood between these two players, both of whom have not seem the field during the pre season game the Niners have played this season.
San Francisco is poised to grab the NFC West title this year, there is no reason for all of this to be happening so close to the start of the regular season. The trio of Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore could propel the 49ers deep into the playoffs and something like this, doesn’t need to be happening now.
