A word of advice: don't trust San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughlan. Here's Scot two days ago, hours before the free agency free-for-all broke out (via the Sacramento Bee's Matthew Barrows):
Just got off a pre-free agency conference call with Scot McCloughan, who began the session by managing expectations. The 49ers, of course, made a huge splash last year with the first-day signing of Nate Clements, Michael Lewis and Aubrayo Franklin. McCloughan seemed to suggest that this year won't be as flashy. "We want to do most of our damage through the draft," McCloughan said.Hmm, let's see: in the last 48 hours the 49ers have signed Isaac Bruce, allegedly tampered with and then signed Justin Smith, and re-signed defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga. So, yeah, it's not like the first days of the 2007 free-agency season, but I wouldn't exactly call it slow either.
Whether McCloughlan was smokescreening or Barrows just misinterpreted his remarks, the point's the same: for the second consecutive off-season, San Francisco has been pretty active in free agency (maybe McCloughlan meant things would quiet down in 2009).
What does this mean for the 2008 season? Well, if history is any guide, absolutely nothing. The Washington Redskins, longtime off-season Super Bowl champs are exhibit A, and the 49ers are quickly becoming exhibit B.
On the upside, McCloughlan did have the good sense to talk to backup quarterback Trent Dilfer about retiring, a conversation that's roughly three years overdue, I think. Nothing was decided, but the two will sit down with head coach Mike Nolan to discuss his future with the 49ers. (Which should be roughly ten million times less uncomfortable than explaining who thought this was a good idea, two-time naked flag football league champions or not.)
