After last night’s disgusting five interception performance in a 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was fined $20,000. That sentence is a bit deceptive, but it’s true. Jay should’ve been fined $20,000 because of his mistakes. After all, just a couple weeks ago the guy signed a contract extension through 2013—to the tune of roughly $20 million guaranteed and $30 million in new money. The Bears are obviously expecting more.
The truth is, Jay was fined $20,000 for abusive conduct toward a game official in last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals. So, it really …read more

Just because they’re on a bye week doesn’t mean the San Francisco 49ers aren’t busy preparing for their next opponent. And the newest member of their team—receiver Michael Crabtree—is not only present and accounted for, he’s working diligently (as he should be) to make up for the nearly two-and-a-half month absence caused by his rookie contract negotiations (or lack thereof).
According to Niners head coach Mike Singletary, Michael is progressing well:
“Michael’s doing fine. He’s working his tail off. I think every day he gets out here and every rep that he takes, it makes him that much better. He’s been studying …read more

After a three month holdout and the threat that he would sit out the entire 2009 season if he didn’t get what he wanted, San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree has finally come to his senses and signed a contract with the team. It’s a six-year deal that he can void to five years if he meets undefined performance clauses. Translated—but not specifically—if he has great years in two of his first four seasons, his contract will become a five-year deal. If he stinks it up, that means he’ll get “only” $4 million in that sixth year.
The only thing that …read more

The clock is ticking for Michael Crabtree. He remains the lone unsigned rookie from the 2009 NFL Draft and after this weekend’s schedule is complete, he will have missed three games as a part of what appears to be a pretty talented San Francisco 49ers team. Michael’s agent, Eugene Parker, is at an impasse with the Niners and neither side seems willing to budge on contract negotiations. The 49ers have made their offer. And the Crabtree team has rejected it. If the two sides don’t come to some kind of agreement before November 17, Michael will be forced to re-enter …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The opponents for all 2009 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team’s home and away matchups was issued yesterday by the NFL. The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games)
The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games)
The four teams from a division in the other conference on a …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
San Francisco 49ers interim head coach Mike Singletary couldn’t have scripted this Week 17 season finale any better. Moments after his team beat the Washington Redskins 27-24 this afternoon, he signed a four-year, $10 million contract to continue as full-time head coach of the Niners. The ink is still drying as I type this. Kicker Joe Nedney, who won the game with a 40-yard field goal as time expired, was one of many players happy with the not-so-surprising announcement:
“He’s honest, intense and forthright. You have to have those qualities to bring together the chemistry of …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
It appears San Francisco 49ers interim head coach Mike Singletary will be named the team’s full-time head coach for 2009. And that announcement could come as soon as Monday, a day after the Niners’ season finale against the Washington Redskins. Coach Singletary impressed team officials during a meeting a couple days ago by outlining his game plan for the 49ers’ offensive and defensive future. Thus, it would seem that defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would stay and offensive coordinator Mike Martz (whose pass happy philosophy clashes with coach Singletary’s) would not. The 49ers can’t sign coach …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary is an interesting guy. I loved the old school tirade after his first game (a 34-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks) as leader of the Niners. Some felt it came across a bit strong for a debut, but I don’t think so. I think it was necessary. I think it was a lot of pent-up frustration with the team that he wasn’t really able to express previously. Anyway, new developments from that game surfaced today when it became known that coach Singletary dropped his drawers at halftime in …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
On his blog today, San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis posted a response to the stern verbal reprimand he received from his new head coach, Mike Singeltary, after Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks:
“I spoke to Coach Singletary today. We talked briefly. I didn’t really say much to him, I pretty much just listened to what he had to say. I saw the point he was trying to make as far as on the field. He pretty much told me I’ve got to be aware of what’s going on, on the field. If someone …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
After a 34-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks this afternoon, new San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary blasted tight end Vernon Davis (and sent him to the locker room early after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty) — and addressed (emphatically) the need for players who are “solution oriented” in their approach to fixing the many problems of this once-proud franchise:
“Vernon … it’s something I told everyone at the beginning of the week. I will not tolerate players that think it’s about them and not the team. We cannot make decisions that cost the team, and …read more