Missed opportunities for 49ers, despite 7-3 lead

AP

On a day full of blowouts, the 49ers and Patriots are playing a tight, if not sharply executed game.

Of course, the 49ers could be ahead by more than their current 7-3 margin, if quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his teammates could hang onto the ball.

The 49ers have fumbled four times, the most recent on a fourth-and-inches attempt they chose over a 43-yard field goal attempt. Then again, David Akers had already missed one on the night, and has struggled this year (7-of-15 from 40 yards or longer this year).

There was also a near-miss touchdown on an overthrown-dropped ball to Vernon Davis, touchdown-saving tackle by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after an interception.

It’s been that kind of night, and after a day of bad finishes, what we needed.

AP

Some players are held up from joining their NFL team until their college class graduates.

But for Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly, the degree he received yesterday is far more important.

According to Chris Roth of WBAY in Green Bay, Jolly was in a Houston courtroom Wednesday, receiving a diploma for completing a drug treatment program, which was the final step in his attempted return to the Packers.

“I know I’ve seen a change, and I know your family has seen a change, and we are just so darn proud of you today just for the progress that you’ve made,” said judge Denise Bradley, who originally sentenced him. “I didn’t know if we would see this day happen.”

Jolly hasn’t played since 2009, when he was suspended for multiple drug arrests. The Packers have been willing to give him a chance, but the progress he’s made off the field is the only reason.

“[Judge Bradley] seen something in me,” Jolly said. “Even though she gave me the sentence, she saw something in me. Today I stand here a free man.

“My life is going great. I’m back with my team, the Packers. I just want to thank her. She’s done a really good thing for me. That was a blessing.”

The Packers sent director of player development Rob Davis and senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith to Houston for the ceremony, another sign they’re backing his attempt.

He’s rejoining the team for OTAs next week, with no illusions about his chances.

“I don’t know anyone who sat out three years and was able to go back to the same team,” Jolly acknowledged. “I met with the Packers a couple of weeks ago. They understand my situation and they are willing to be there for me, so I’m just doing everything I can to be in shape and do everything I need to do for my team.

“They have been there, and I’m going up there to do my best to show them what they want to see this year. So I’ll be doing everything in my power to get ready.”

If he gets back on the field, it will be impressive. But not as much as the comeback he just authored.

AP

Despite a roll back in the amount of offseason work and the amount of contact allowed during OTAs as dictated by the new collective bargaining agreement, the past couple weeks have already produced a handful of serious injuries.

The San Francisco 49ers lost wide receiver Michael Crabtree to a torn Achilles on Tuesday. Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Greg Scruggs tore his ACL during routine drills prior to the NFL Draft and San Diego Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram tore his ACL as well.. Now New York Giants fullback Henry Hynoski is the next up to be dealt a potentially serious blow.

According to Dave Hutchinson of the Newark Star-Ledger, Hynoski injured his left knee during the Giants first OTA workout on Wednesday and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Hynoski collided with running back Andre Brown and fell to the turf during a full team drill before being carted off the field.

“He kind of got (his leg rolled up on) and so we are taking a look at that,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “I said a few prayers and I’ll continue until I hear what it is.”

Hynoski appeared in all 16 games for the Giants last season. He carried the ball five times for 20 yards and caught 11 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Bear Pascoe will likely pick up the duty in the backfield if Hynoski is going to miss a significant portion of time.

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The Carolina Panthers added another linebacker to their roster Wednesday by claiming Ryan Rau off waivers from the Cleveland Browns.

Rau was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Portland State University by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. He was released by the Eagles at the end of training camp but re-signed to the team’s practice squad, where he spent most of the season. He was elevated to the active roster in December and appeared in four games for the Eagles and made three tackles.

He was released by the Eagles in April before being claimed by the Browns the next day. The Browns then placed Rau on waivers Wednesday. The Panthers also waived/injured tight end Logan Brock.

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Back in February, the thought of wide receiver Ramses Barden remaining with the New York Giants appeared to be a long-shot. Barden, a third-round pick of the Giants in 2009, was vocal about his desire to find a different opportunity after four years in New York and still struggling to find a role.

However, the open market appears to have not been as kind to Barden as he may have hoped.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, Barden is scheduled to undergo a physical with the Giants on Thursday. If all goes the plan, he could re-sign with the team by the end of the day.

Barden said “it’s probably best for me to start looking other places” during an interview with Sirius XM Radio in late-February. After limited interest, discussions with the Giants picked up again within the last week, per Vacchiano. Barden has struggled to find playing time with the Giants. He’s managed to catch just 29 passes for 394 yards in four seasons with the team.

AP

With receiver Michael Crabtree out indefinitely due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered on Tuesday, the 49ers now must decide how to replace him.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has opted not to disclose whether they team will consider adding players not currently on the team.

“We don’t comment on anybody but the players that we have here on this team,” Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday, via quotes distributed by the 49ers.

It sounds like the 49ers initially will hope that players currently on the roster will step up.

“You look at the young receivers on our team that will emerge, because they have to emerge,” Harbaugh said.  “So, [I'm] excited to watch them compete for that spot.”

Asked specifically whether Randy Moss could return to the team, Harbaugh reiterated his non-response response.

“We’re excited for the young receivers that we have,” Harbaugh said.  “Really feel that somebody’s going to emerge there because they have to.  And competition will create that.  And we’ll look forward to watching that.”

At least Harbaugh used more than a few words to evade the question.  Asked about the possible return of Moss, quarterback Colin Kaepernick simply said, “That’s not my decision.”

Harbaugh explained how the injury happened, and he emphasized that the 49ers don’t anticipate the injury will end Crabtree’s season.

“He was coming in motion and just was planted and started a route,” Harbaugh said.  “And [it] felt like somebody kicked him in the Achilles, which sometimes people say it feels like.  But, good news is he woke up from the surgery and first thing he asked [the doctor] how it went.  So, he talked about the success of the surgery and that didn’t anticipate that he’d be out for the year.  And his comment to that was he’s got no choice but to be back.  So, every day now is a healing day.  And that starts today.”

The effort to find an internal replacement starts today, too.  And possibly the effort to find an external replacement.

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With defensive back Charles Woodson returning to the Raiders, there’s a minor problem.  Cornerback Tracy Porter had been assigned No. 24, the jersey number Woodson wore during his first stint with the Raiders.

The problem is expected to be solved.

In a Wednesday appearance on PFT Live, Paul Gutierrez of CSNBayArea.com expressed confidence that Woodson will get No. 24 back from Porter.  And in an unverified Twitter account that appears to be legitimate, Woodson declares that he once again will be wearing No. 24.

It’s unclear what if anything Woodson has offered in order to make that happen.

For Gutierrez’s take on Woodson’s return (including video of the fans who turned out in droves to welcome him to the team’s facility), he’s the relevant slice of PFT Live.

AP

Last week, the Vikings unveiled the design for their new stadium.  Since PFT Live was on a temporary hiatus last week, we weren’t able to talk about it.

This week, we’re back, and Vikings president Mark Wilf (pictured with Vikings chairman Zygi Wilf) joined the program to talk about the new venue, which opens in 2016.

The revolutionary design creates a place that fans will want to visit, encouraging other teams building new stadiums to look for ways to create structures that have desirable and unique features, like a transparent roof that Wilf believes will become a common replacement for the more costly retractable roof.

He also touched on the expectations for the team in 2013, a year removed from an unlikely playoff appearance, and whether the Vikings will be attempting to extend coach Leslie Frazier’s contract before the 2013 season.

AP

When NFL spokesman Greg Aiello takes issue with something we write on PFT, he calls us out via Twitter.  When he doesn’t like something written by the Associated Press, Aiello breaks out the typewriter.

Aiello has written a lengthy response to a column from Jim Litke of the AP.  The Litke column is, basically, a sawed-off shotgun blast of various and in spots inaccurate contentions regarding the NFL’s ongoing quest for dominance of the American sports landscape.

Litke’s cynicism is sort of cute, in that it implies he’s only realizing now that the NFL has pitched a tent at the top of the mountain and is building a moat around the perimeter.  That’s what successful businesses do.  They keep looking for ways to improve and to grow.  The improvements are limited only by the ingenuity and drive of the business; the growth is limited only by consumer demand.

Apart from the factual errors in Litke’s column (e.g., he claims Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wants taxpayers to “foot the bill” for renovations to Sun Life Stadium, which as Aiello points out implies incorrectly that the project includes no private money), it arises from the premise that, in a capitalistic economy, it’s somehow wrong for the NFL to capitalize on its success.

At a time when strangers happily are buying up the items on Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III’s wedding registry at Bed, Bath & Beyond, there’s nothing wrong with the NFL doing whatever the NFL can do to take advantage of the enormous power and popularity it has amassed.  As long as the NFL uses that power and popularity in legal and ethical ways, the more power and popularity to it.

Still, Litke whines about the NFL rewarding cities that have contributed public funds to stadium projects with Super Bowls.  Should the cities that have contributed public fund to stadium projects be excluded from hosting Super Bowls?

Litke whines about a potential three-week delay in the draft, and the “scheduling conflicts” conflicts it will potentially create with Mother’s Day and NHL and NBA playoff games.  As to the former, the draft isn’t held on a Sunday.  As to the latter, if consumers choose to watch and follow the NFL draft instead of hockey or basketball playoffs, why should Litke or anyone else (other than hockey and basketball owners) care?

Litke whines about the extra work that the expanded calendar will create for NFL employees.  First, free agency, the Scouting Combine, and the draft will still happen, only at different times.  Second, if more work truly is created, teams can hire more help or pay the current employees more money or risk having employees who don’t want to work a little harder leaving for other jobs.

Litke also whines that “many clubs are likely to cut out minicamps” if the draft is delayed, revealing that he has no understanding of how the NFL works.  The coaches will ensure that every practice permitted by the labor deal is conducted.  Besides, if Litke is worried about people working too hard, shouldn’t he applaud a change that results in less work for players and coaches?

With all due respect (i.e., here comes the insult), Litke just wants to whine about the NFL, and to do so he has slapped together some flimsy gripes and complaints without regard to whether they hold water.

The far better point is that, by constantly expanding and growing, the league risks saturating the marketplace, and in turn seeing its power and popularity diminish.  Moreover, it’s human nature to resent (or at least to be leery of) anything that gets too big, too strong, and/or too rich.

Perhaps that mindset spawned Litke’s column.  Perhaps the league is inching toward the point of diminishing returns.  Even if that’s the case (and we think this could indeed happen if the NFL forces an 18-game season onto the American public), the NFL has every right to keep looking for ways to expand its influence and to enhance its balance sheet.

The NFL has plenty of flaws and problems, and it seems at times to thrive despite them.  But the goal of any worthwhile business is to get bigger, and no company  ever should say, “OK, that’s enough.  We’re good right here.”Those that do risk not being “right here,” or anywhere else, for very long.

AP

Last year, then-49ers quarterback Alex Smith caused a stir by pointing out that stats don’t supersede wins.  While that concept isn’t controversial standing alone, Smith’s decision to point to the Panthers and quarterback Cam Newton gave it a little extra edge.

This year, Smith at least can say he’s consistent.

On Wednesday, the new Chiefs quarterback was asked about receiver Dwayne Bowe’s recent boast that he’ll lead the NFL in receiving.

“I’m not worried about that,” Smith said, via quotes distributed by the team.  “I’m really trying to lead the team in wins.  It would be great, but that’s such a long way off.  I’m not thinking about that to be honest.  Not at all.  Jacksonville is the date we’re all looking at.  It’s all we care about.  We have a lot of practices to get ready, and we need a lot of practices to get ready for that game.  We have to play a lot of catch up.  We don’t have the luxury of having been together for years and been in the same system.  We’re playing catch up right now.  We have to make up a lot of ground.”

It’s the right attitude, and the proper urgency.  Every NFL season is a separate entity, and the Chiefs are trying with a new coach, new G.M. and new quarterback to turn the page on a 2-14 season.  Many assume they’ll improve; what we know for now is that, if the choice comes down to improving statistically or via victories, Smith will take the latter.

AP

The Browns have waived quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, a league source told PFT’s Mike Florio on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Lewis started the 2012 season finale for Cleveland, completing 22-of-32 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

A Duke product, Lewis entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2010 with St. Louis. After the Rams let him go in 2011, he landed with the Browns, who were then coached by Pat Shurmur, the Rams’ former offensive coordinator. Shurmur is now the Eagles’ offensive coordinator.

Lewis’ departure leaves Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer as the Browns’ quarterbacks.

AP

One-fourth of the NFL’s head coaches have salaries of more than $6 million, and coaches in professional football earn incomes that far exceed their counterparts in other pro sports.

That’s the word from Forbes, which is out with its latest ranking of the highest-paid coaches in North American professional sports. As we noted when he signed his new contract in December, Saints coach Sean Payton now makes $8 million a year, making him the highest-paid coach anywhere.

Of the nine pro coaches who make more than $6 million, eight of them are in the NFL: Payton, Patriots coach Bill Belichick ($7.5 million), Chiefs coach Andy Reid ($7.5 million), Seahawks coach Pete Carroll ($7 million), Rams coach Jeff Fisher ($7 million), Redskins coach Mike Shanahan ($7 million), Giants coach Tom Coughlin ($6.67 million) and Eagles coach Chip Kelly ($6.5 million).

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers is the highest-paid coach outside the NFL, at $7 million a year.

Unlike players’ contracts, coaches’ contracts are usually kept private, so it’s possible that some of the reported numbers are off. But suffice to say, the coaches at the top of the NFL pay scale are doing pretty well for themselves. With Payton doing better than any of them.

AP

Jets coach Rex Ryan says quarterback Mark Sanchez made too many mistakes at today’s Organized Team Activities, and he simply must improve.

Sanchez threw three interceptions in his 11 passes during today’s OTAs, and Ryan told reporters afterward that he considers that “unacceptable.” Ryan said Sanchez also made some good throws, but that Ryan feels the need to be candid enough to tell Sanchez when his mistakes are glaring.

“This is OTAs and things, but yeah, that’s going to be the pressure that we’re putting on him,” Ryan said. “He did a lot of great things. It’s not that you try to cover up the fact you had some bad plays — no, no, no you flat tell him. We can’t have these and all that type of stuff. He knows.”

Ryan liked the way his defense played, but he’d prefer not to see his quarterback throwing that many passes to the guys in the different colored jerseys.

“It’s a good thing defense makes the plays, but no, I’d rather him not turn the ball over once,” Ryan said. “He did a lot of great things, and then those negative things, at the end of the day, that’s what gets you beat. And so we’ve got to to do a better job of eliminating those turnovers.”

If Sanchez doesn’t do a better job of eliminating those turnovers, Geno Smith will be starting in Week One.

AP

Rams guard Rokevious Watkins was limited to just one game in his rookie season because of an ankle injury and he won’t be playing all 16 games in his second season either.

The NFL announced that Watkins has been suspended for the first game of the 2013 season. The suspension is for a violation of the substance-abuse policy, although it is not immediately clear why Watkins was suspended for just one game when others like Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon and Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington received four-game suspensions.

Watkins played tackle at South Carolina but the Rams moved him inside to guard after selecting him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. He started the opener at left guard, but got hurt in that game and wound up missing the rest of the year. He was the likely bet to win this summer’s competition for the same job this year, although the suspension could change things.

Rookie Barrett Jones, former Bear Chris Williams and Shelley Smith are possibilities to start the opener in place of Watkins or, perhaps, win the job outright.

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We’ve been reminded yet again that they don’t give out the Lombardi Trophy in May.

Even when things look great on paper, the paper yields to practicality once players start getting injured.  In the case of the 49ers, the favorite target of quarterback Colin Kaepernick could now be gone for a while.

The question becomes whether the 49ers will stay in house to replace Michael Crabtree, who is expected to miss six months, or whether they will add other options to fill the void.  Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the 49ers had not yet contacted Randy Moss about a possible return to the team to which he publicly said farewell, after it became clear that the Niners had planned to say “ta-ta” to him.

The 49ers may now need Moss, who kept quiet about his discontent with a minimal role in 2012 until Super Bowl week.  In 2013, Moss could have a more significant role, given Crabtree’s absence.

There aren’t many other options on the free-agency market.  Brandon Lloyd, a fourth-round pick of the 49ers a decade ago who had 74 catches for 911 yards in 2012 with New England, is available.

It’s also possible, in theory, that the Niners will look at the trade market or, as the offseason yields to training camp and the preseason, the waiver wire.  Either way, the Niners unexpectedly have lost a key piece of their puzzle, which will make it a little harder to put together a successful Super Bowl run in 2013.

AP

Maybe the Jaguars should just draft exclusively from Rutgers, and we can cut out the middleman.

The Patriots claimed journeyman tackle Kevin Haslam off waivers.

According to Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com, that makes Haslam the eighth Rutgers player on the Patriots roster.

Rutgers barely has that many players on its own roster, but it indicates the still-growing bond between Bill Belichick and Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano, who recruited or coached these Scarlet Knights.

Haslam has already played for the Jaguars, along with the Raiders and Chargers, who waived him most recently.