Breaking News: Vernon Davis signs five-year extension

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers signed Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis to a five-year, $37 million extension with $23 million guaranteed.

Frankly, I thought that the 49ers would extend Vernon Davis following the season because talks of an extension in the offseason had stalled so much.

It is a great move to have Vernon Davis in maroon and gold for another five years. After a much maligned first few years, he rebounded with an astounding Pro Bowl season, leading all tight ends with 13 TD’s.

Now, the 49ers will have offensive cornerstones, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree through 2015, and Joe Staley through 2018. Defensively, the 49ers also have Patrick Willis signed through 2018.

Having five cornerstones of your franchise signed for the next five years, that is a great way to keep this team going in the right direction for many years to come. That coupled with good drafts in 2009, 2010 and beyond will restore the 49ers to their prior glory throughout the 80’s and 90’s.

Predicting the Future

At this time of the year, many predictions are made and few correctly. I can’t guarantee that my predictions will be correct (if I could I’d be a rich man) but I can predict that they will be subject to change.

Note: These predictions are subject to change (Told ya!)

Season Record: 11-5

Week 1 @ SEA: W

Week 2 v. NO: L

Week 3 @ KC: W

Week 4 @ ATL: L

Week 5 v. PHI: L

Week 6 v. OAK: W

Week 7 @ CAR: W

Week 8 v. DEN (In London): W

Week 10 v. STL: W

Week 11 v. TB: W

Week 12 @ ARI: W

Week 13 @ GB: L

Week 14 v. SEA: W

Week 15 @ SD: L

Week 16 @ STL:W

Week v. ARI: W

I’d like to note that not one but two ESPN experts (Matthew Berry AND Mike Greenberg) picked the 49ers to make it to the Super Bowl.

They do have that potential. If their offense clicks like it should, there is no reason they can’t win at San Diego or Atlanta or against the Eagles and turn out 14-2 rather than 11-5.

I also think that Alex Smith will NOT make the Pro Bowl but be a very, very competent quarterback in 2010. I say he throws 30 touchdowns, with 14 picks for about 3,500-3,700 yards.

Michael Crabtree will catch 10 touchdown passes, for over 1,000 yards and Vernon Davis will catch 10-15 TD’s for over a thousand yards himself.

Frank Gore is easy to predict. He will run for a 1,000 yards and combined for more than 10 TD’s (running and catching).

One thing is for sure, the 49ers will have a winning record and will win the division. Their team talent is so superior to the rest of the NFC West that it would truly be a shame if they didn’t win the division. And after going 7-9 and 8-8 in the last two years, it will be a grave, GRAVE (I can’t emphasize that anymore) disappointment if they don’t go at least 9-7.

Things are finally turning around for the 49ers and heading in the right direction, up. For a 49er fan, there is much to look forward to this season, if nothing more than a little playoff football. We haven’t seen that since 2003.

QB Swap

The 49ers released third-string QB Nate Davis today and in a corresponding move, signed former Baltimore Raven QB Troy Smith.

It has been well documented the issues Nate Davis has had with his preparation. Just two weeks ago that Mike Singletary had harsh words for Davis, attacking his work ethic. Despite the criticism, it’s not unforeseen that Davis might be re-signed to the practice squad.

Today, the 49ers added Troy Smith, formerly the Ravens’ third-string QB. Smith has thrown 89 regular-season passes but moreso,  possesses more inate leadership abilities than Nate Davis.

The swap is a win-win for the 49ers, especially if Davis hits the practice squad. They signed a more experienced backup who started two games, going 1-1, as a rookie in 2007.  As a starter, Smith completed 32 of 60 passes for 370 yards and two TD’s for an 83.3 QB rating. Smith has a career rating of 79.7.

Smith’s numbers don’t jump out at you but he’s thrown 89 more passes in the regular season than Davis (0), has started two more games than Davis(0) , and has a better career rating than Davis (0.0).

Smith also provides insurance behind David Carr who still isn’t 100% comfortable with the 49ers offseason. It could be a shaky transition from Alex Smith at this moment, if it was necessary.

Roster Cuts: Round Two

Here are the second round of cuts, trimming the 49ers’ roster to 53.

K Shane Andrus

WR Bobby Guillory

WR Kevin Jurovich

T Matt Kopa

G Brian De La Puenta

QB Jarett Brown

LB Keaton Kristick

LB Mike Balogun

DL Will Tukuafu

DL Derek Walker

S Chris Maragos

LB Matt Wilhelm

I’m not surprised by 99% of these cuts, except for Matt Wilhelm. Wilhelm’s release opens up a spot as Pat Willis’ backup. It would be asking too much to expect the rookie Navorro Bowman to be the backup to both Takeo Spikes and Willis.

So here’s how the 49ers’ roster shakes out:

QB: Alex Smith,David Carr, Troy Smith Nate Davis

RB: Frank Gore, Brian Westbrook, Anthony Dixon

FB: Moran Norris

TE: Vernon Davis,Delanie Walker, Nate Byham

WR: Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Ziegler

T: Joe Staley, Anthony Davis, Barry Sims, Alex Boone

G: Mike Iupati, Chilo Rachal, Adam Snyder, David Baas, Tony Wragge

C: Heitmann

NT: Aubrayo Franklin, Ricky Jean Francois

DE: Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Issac Sopoaga, Demetric Evans

OLB: Manny Lawson, Amhad Brooks, Parys Haralson, Travis LaBoy, Diyral Briggs

ILB: Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, NaVorro Bowman

CB: Nate Clements, Shawntae Spencer, Tarell Brown, Will James, Tramaine Brock, Phillip Adams

S: Michael Lewis, Dashon Goldson, Taylor Mays, Reggie Smith, Curtis Taylor

LS: Brian Jennings

K: Joe Nedney

P: Andy Lee

I was previously mistaken. Will James was not cut, he is still on the team and figures to be the fourth cornerback for the 49ers. I thought that they

49ers’ First Round of Cuts

The 49ers have announced their first round of cuts today and some the names might surprise you, I know a few surprised me.

RB Michael Robinson

FB Brit Miller

FB Jehuu Caulcrick

WR Jason Hill

WR Kevin Jurovich

C Cody Wallace

DL Khaliff Mitchell

TE Tony Curtis

TE J.J. Finley

OLB Bruce Davis

CB Karl Paymah

Names like Caulcrick, Miller, Jurovich, Wallace and even Hill don’t surprise me. Those guys were a step behind the pack the entire preseason. However, I am surprised to hear Robinson, Curtis and Paymah were cut.

Robinson has been with the team ever since he was drafted in 2006, but he’s had to rely entirely on his special teams prowess. With a new special teams coordinator in town, the 49ers may have been looking for Robinson to be more versatile than just a one-dimensional special teams ace. I don’t blame the 49ers for the move, he was stagnant as a running back.

Paymah’s release confounds me even more. I thought he was having a good preseason and looked to be in line to be the team’s nickel corner, especially after Will James’ release last week.. Those duties will now go to Tarell Brown, who looked shoddy at times playing as the #2 when Shawntae Spencer was the #1 to fill in for Clements. The fourth cornerback on the field will then be rookie Philip Adams. That shows a lot of faith in the rookie to get it done when needed, or maybe it means they’ve got their sights on a free agent corner. We’ll see.

Now onto who is practice-squad eligible:

FB Brit Miller

FB Jehuu Caulcrick

WR Kevin Jurovich

C Cody Wallace

DL Khaliff Mitchell

TE J.J. Finley

OLB Bruce Davis

Those six could likely land on the practice-squad with two more open spots for the second round of cuts in the effort to trim their roster to 53.

Here is a preview of the second-round of cuts:

T Matt Kopa

G Brian De La Puenta

QB Jarett Brown

LB Mike Balogun

LB Keaton Kristick

S Chris Maragos

S Curtis Taylor

All of which are practice-squad eligible, giving the 49ers’ 13 candidates for 8 spots with the practice team.

Who, of the rookies, remains?

RB Anthony Dixon

WR Kyle Williams

TE Nate Byham

CB Tramaine Brock

CB Phillip Adams

G Mike Iupati & T Anthony Davis (That’s Obvious!)

This is may be one of the first seasons in many years that the entire draft class has made the 53-man roster.

Congrats Rooks!! You’re still employed!