49ers Trade Rumors

49ers QB Smith on IR, likely ending his tenure with team
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September 10
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Alex Smith was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, putting him out for the season and essentially ending his frustrating career with the 49ers a little more than three years after they made him the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Coach Mike Nolan said he had no word on whether or not Smith would need further surgery on his right shoulder, which he reinjured in practice Friday. Nolan said he didn't know the diagnosis reached by Dr. James Andrews, the Alabama-based orthopedic surgeon who performed Smith's original surgery in December. "All I need to know is if he'll be back on this football team so that I can make an adjustment to our roster," Nolan said. "I don't have any specifics ..."
Nolan might escape the rush
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September 10
Sacramento Bee
 
"Lane Kiffin and Mike Nolan began their sprint to the finish line this past weekend, and if you had to throw some money down on which of the Bay Area's embattled NFL coaches will still be wheezing along by Christmas, go with the guy who wears the tie. Nolan stumbled first - he was hired by the 49ers two years before Kiffin - but figures to have the last gasp, for a number of reasons. His owner (John York) contemplates firing him, but doesn't appear to despise him. His fan base has fewer of those stubborn tree huggers. His offensive system is recognizable, though the failure to use Frank Gore on a crucial third-and-one Sunday against Arizona, along with Vernon Davis' role as gifted invisible ..."
49ers search for quarterback depth
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September 9
Sacramento Bee
 
"The 49ers found themselves in a regrettable but familiar position Monday - setting up visits with free-agent quarterbacks following an injury to Alex Smith. The first - and perhaps only - visitor will be former Rams backup Jamie Martin, who is scheduled to have a physical today in Santa Clara, according to Martin's agent. Martin, 38, has a long history with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, and it wouldn't take him long to get up to speed in the 49ers' offense. Martz was Martin's position coach with Washington in 1997. Martin also spent two stints in St. Louis under Martz from 2001 to '02 and 2004 to '05. Martin started two games for the Rams in 2002 and five games in 2005. Coach Mike ..."
49ers vow not to rush backup quarterback decision
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September 9
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Former St. Louis Rams quarterback Jamie Martin is on the 49ers' short list of potential roster replacements for Alex Smith. But that list will remain untouched until the 49ers can determine how long Smith's injury will keep him off the field. "In other words is it four weeks? Six weeks? Eight weeks? Ten weeks," Coach Mike Nolan said. "Those all make a difference to what we do." Smith, 24, reiterated Monday that he has a shoulder fracture. No one has ruled out the possibility he would be gone for the season. But he and the 49ers were holding off surgery plans until Dr. James Andrews could review an MRI exam and other details of Smith's latest injury. The film was supposed to arrive too late ..."
S.F. on lookout for QB help
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September 8
Sacramento Bee
 
"The 49ers will be shopping for quarterbacks this week after an examination of Alex Smith's right shoulder showed a significant fracture. "I know (general manager) Scot (McCloughan) and I have worked on it yesterday and today," coach Mike Nolan said following Sunday's loss to Arizona. " … We have some names." Smith has a fracture of the coracoid process, a major bone in the shoulder that is rarely broken. Smith had an MRI on Friday night, and the image has been sent to Birmingham, Ala., orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who operated on Smith's separated shoulder in December. Smith, who spoke briefly to reporters before Sunday's game, said the fracture occurred late in Friday's practice ..."
Doesn't look good for Smith; 49ers eye QBs
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September 8
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Alex Smith said he wouldn't know the outlook on his latest shoulder injury until Monday. But so far, so bad. Minutes before kickoff Sunday, Smith did not rule out the possibility that his season was already over. And the 49ers were making plans to get by without him. Coach Mike Nolan acknowledged that the team has identified two free-agent quarterbacks to pursue in case Smith is out. Smith, the 49ers' star-crossed No. 1 pick, felt pain in his shoulder during practice Friday. He recalled that he "let a ball go" on a deep throw and felt an immediate pain. It might be a fractured shoulder. "Potentially. They're trying to figure that out," Smith said. The 49ers sent an MRI exam and other ..."
Smith might be done
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September 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Alex Smith sat out Sunday's game, wearing a red warm-up suit on the sideline. It's possible he has thrown his last pass with the 49ers. Smith confirmed after the game that an MRI exam had revealed a fracture in his throwing shoulder, on which he underwent surgery late last season. The injury was discovered after he complained of soreness after practice Friday. He said he felt something wrong after launching a long pass. He underwent an MRI on Friday night, but the results weren't revealed until Saturday morning. "It's very, very frustrating nine months after the surgery to be dealing with this," he said. The results are being sent to orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who performed the ..."
Norris, Lelie might be cut
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August 25
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"With five days to go before the roster cut-down to 53 players, a couple of intriguing names seem to be on the bubble for the 49ers. One of them is fullback Moran Norris, who has been relegated to the second team with the emergence of second-year player Zak Keasey. Another is wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who has been injured almost all of training camp and who caught only 10 passes last year after being signed with the idea of being the team's home run threat. Keasey ripped off a 16-yard gain against Chicago on Thursday and generally has blocked well in extended playing time. Unlike Norris, he's a demon on special teams. Although he was on the kick-coverage team that was pierced for two long ..."
O'Sullivan looking more and more like 49ers' starting QB
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August 13
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Mike Nolan insists that no decision has been made regarding a starting quarterback. But it's getting to be a little like standing under a downpour and insisting it's not raining. J.T. O'Sullivan trotted on to the field with the 49ers' No. 1 offensive unit for the eighth consecutive time Tuesday, a streak that includes the exhibition game against the Raiders last week. Don't get carried away, Nolan said. What you see might not be what you get. "Until I say differently I'm going to keep all (the quarterbacks) alive,'' the coach explained. "I feel good about all three of them. J.T. is the newest product to what we've got, so I'm getting a longer look at him." Earlier this month, Nolan ..."
J.T. may be looking OK as QB for S.F.
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August 8
Sacramento Bee
 
"It may be a cliché, but a true Cinderella story may be taking place in Oakland. J.T. O'Sullivan, the former Jesuit quarterback, the former UC Davis quarterback and a vagabond pro quarterback, is the starting quarterback in the 49ers' exhibition tonight against the Raiders. It's still an exhibition game, but he has to have made a good impression to be starting the preseason opener ahead of franchise quarterback Alex Smith and wunderkind Shaun Hill. According to our 49ers beat reporter, Matt Barrows, this truly is a quarterback competition. What's helping O'Sullivan's chances is that he has a fan in new offensive coordinator/passing guru Mike Martz, who coached him last season in Detroit. ..."
Allen's status still unclear
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July 22
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Larry Allen hasn't retired yet, and it's unclear whether the 11-time Pro Bowl guard wants to return to the 49ers - but coach Mike Nolan said Monday that Allen has indicated he would like to play this season for somebody. Nolan said he has not spoken to Allen, 36, but said the free agent told offensive line coach George Warhop recently that he would like to play a 15th NFL season. Warhop has been his position coach dating back to their years with the Cowboys. Nolan said he made a few calls to Allen but had not heard from him. "I think that he's just going to leave everything up to his agent," Nolan said. The agent, Marv Demoff, couldn't be reached Monday, but early last month he said ..."
Gore to be core of offense
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June 28
Sacramento Bee
 
"Mike Martz said running back Frank Gore was quick on the playing field and even quicker in the classroom this spring. "He's a one-time guy. You tell him once, and he has it," the 49ers' offensive coordinator said of Gore, who is entering his fourth season. "That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways." The statement is telling. Gore suffers from dyslexia, and entering the 2005 draft, many teams wondered whether he would be able to absorb an NFL playbook."
Free-agent lineman Sims leaves Raiders for 49ers
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June 24
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Offensive lineman Barry Sims decided today to sign with the 49ers, in part because they gave him the best chance of winning playing time. The 49ers won't formally announce the free-agent signing until the ink is on the contract, but agent Ken Vierra confirmed the two-year deal today about a half-hour after Sims made up his mind. "It's a done deal. That's where he's going," Vierra said. Sims, 33, is a 10-year veteran who can play either tackle spot. He started 119 of 136 games during his Raiders career."
Smith earning praise during 49ers workouts
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June 19
San Jose Mercury News
 
"As the 49ers' practices wind down this week, the quarterback competition is only heating up. After the final organized team activity Thursday, the coaching staff will spend the next month or so figuring out a tentative pecking order for when training camp kicks off July 24. All indications are that Alex Smith will get the first crack with the starting unit. He played well during the organized team activities and drew praise from Coach Mike Nolan on Tuesday for his improved ability to handle the blitz. But, at best, Smith's name will be written in light pencil. Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan also have a shot at the starting job."
Smith? Hill? O'Sullivan? Nolan isn't tipping his hand
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June 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Coach Mike Nolan, whose job very well might depend on whom he chooses as the 49ers' No. 1 quarterback, said he's seeing Alex Smith "do things that I haven't seen him do before, in practice or in games." An example is that, during the team's voluntary workouts, he's getting the ball to receivers more quickly in blitz situations rather relying on his protection to save the play. "Alex is very athletic," Nolan said. "He probably has the strongest arm of all the guys. He's really intelligent. Now he's got to go in there and put in four quarters and move the ball consistently and make plays he should make." Given Smith's physical advantages, is it fair to say he has an edge at this ..."
Barry Sims Visit Goes Well
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June 11
San Jose Mercury News
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"A visit Monday by free-agent offensive lineman Barry Sims "went well," but the 49ers won't hear until next week regarding Sims' decision, Nolan said. The longtime Raiders starter is visiting a few other suitors."
Veteran OT Sims to work out for Ravens
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June 10
Baltimore Sun
 
"Veteran offensive tackle Barry Sims will work out for the Ravens on Thursday.Sims, 33, started 119 games at left tackle during his nine-year career with the Oakland Raiders, including all 16 games last season. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman was released by the Raiders on Feb. 29."At 33 years old and knowing you got a couple of years left, you want to go to a place where they are going up and not down," said Sims' agent, Ken Vierra, about the interest in the Ravens.Sims, who nearly signed with the Carolina Panthers in March, met with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday. In addition to the Ravens, Sims will visit the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams this week before making a ..."
He was a fan before being 49ers' first pick
April 29
San Francisco Chronicle
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"The 49ers remain interested in signing free-agent linebacker Takeo Spikes but nothing is imminent. McCloughan said the team's interest in Spikes and Spikes' interest in the 49ers is "50-50.""
Takeo taking time
March 29
Sacramento Bee
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"The 49ers are still in the running for Takeo Spikes, but they are not the linebacker's only suitors. Spikes, who played last season for the Philadelphia Eagles, also is being courted by New England, New Orleans and Cleveland."
49ers sign WR Bryant Johnson from Cardinals
March 14
ESPN.com
 
"Wide receiver Bryant Johnson has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN.com"
49ers cut Dilfer, mull linebacker Takeo Spikes
March 14
Sacramento Bee
 
"As for Spikes, 31, the 49ers are considering whether the Pro Bowler would be a good fit next to Patrick Willis at inside linebacker. The team presumably gave Spikes a physical Thursday, paying extra attention to the rotator cuff injury that ended Spikes' 2007 season with the Philadelphia Eagles prematurely. Spikes had several other visits lined up before he arrived in San Francisco. It is unknown whether the 49ers made him a contract offer."
Offensive-line depth the next priority for 49ers
March 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"With several big-ticket items out of the way, the 49ers will search the landscape for depth along the offensive line. General Manager Scot McCloughan said Wednesday that the team will land "a couple" of under-the-radar veterans within the next few weeks."
Visitors In Denver
March 4
Denver Post
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"The Broncos may have a visit with San Francisco offensive tackle Kwame Harris and are talking with former Broncos and Raiders offensive tackle Cornell Green."
49ers make pitch to Smith
March 1
San Jose Mercury News
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"Bruce did not visit the team facility, which meant most of the day's focus was on the free agent who did: Smith, a defensive end. The longtime Bengal spent the afternoon at team headquarters as the 49ers tried to make a strong enough pitch to prevent him from making today's scheduled visit to the Minnesota Vikings."
Vikings sign free agents Tapeh, Williams; hope to add a few more
March 1
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Aggressive from the outset, the Vikings signed and introduced Johnson High graduate Thomas Tapeh at a news conference Friday afternoon and agreed to a six-year, $33 million contract with safety Madieu Williams. They certainly will introduce Williams today, but the Vikings hope he won't be alone: the club was trying to ensure wide receiver Bernard Berrian didn't leave the Twin Cities without a deal, and they were anxiously awaiting defensive end Justin Smith's arrival today from San Francisco, where he visited with the 49ers on Friday."
Shockey not being shopped
March 1
New York Post
 
"The Saints called and expressed interest in trading for tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Giants ar