Driver's bonus, decisions on Driver and Clifton

[Patler]

All off season so far, I have read and heard that Drivers has a $2+ million bonus due in March. Now, today for the first time that I have seen, the Journal/Sentinel reports his bonuses as including a $200,000 workout bonus and $1.5 million roster bonus not due until the first day of training camp. Depending on what else they try to do with off-season signings, if they don't need cap space for any deals, they might delay a decision on Driver until camp starts, and they might take Clifton into or through camp before deciding because he has no payments due until the regular season. With Clifton have repaired his back, apparently, they might want to see what he has left after virtually a full year off.

[Pugger]

If Cliton's back is repaired I'd rather we keep him rather than Driver. Newhouse can start but who do we have behind him with Sherrod's broken leg? There is a decent chance Sherrod will end up on the PUP list to start the season.

[gbgary]

deleted

[sharpe1027]

I am reminded of a few years ago when Tauscher did not make the team but was then called into action mid-season. The downside is that Tauscher was not able to train with the team.

Hypothetically speaking, what happens if Clifton is hired on as a coach? He probably can't suit up during practices, but would he prohibited from using the team facilities to workout? Regardless, he would be kept up to speed on the offense. If the line falls apart, could they could sign him. Perhaps the best of both worlds. Clifton still gets paid, and he stays with the team without taking up salary cap or a roster spot.

[Smidgeon]

I am reminded of a few years ago when Tauscher did not make the team but was then called into action mid-season. The downside is that Tauscher was not able to train with the team.

Hypothetically speaking, what happens if Clifton is hired on as a coach? He probably can't suit up during practices, but would he prohibited from using the team facilities to workout? Regardless, he would be kept up to speed on the offense. If the line falls apart, could they could sign him. Perhaps the best of both worlds. Clifton still gets paid, and he stays with the team without taking up salary cap or a roster spot.

The Eagles tried that a couple years back with their QB coach (or assistant or something). They got severely chastised by the league and weren't allowed to sign their coach to the roster.

[sharpe1027]

The Eagles tried that a couple years back with their QB coach (or assistant or something). They got severely chastised by the league and weren't allowed to sign their coach to the roster.

Any chance of a link to an article about this? I wonder how NFL was able to ban it under the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

[Smidgeon]

Any chance of a link to an article about this? I wonder how NFL was able to ban it under the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/12/last-word-on-matt-nagy/

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/09/eagles-hire-assistant-whose-contract-drew-league-scrutiny/

[sharpe1027]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-on-matt-nagy/
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ague-scrutiny/

Thanks Smidgeon. It is an interesting theory; however, IMHO, Florio has zero credibility. If there's no rule against it, I don't see how they can block someone from doing it.

[Patler]

I think there is something that prevents it, because it was brought up the year Rob Davis retired. JJ Jansen looked great in preseason but was hurt in the last preseason game, and out for the year. They brought in Brett Goode, and someone (TT??, MM?? someone else??) was asked if Davis could be signed if Goode didn't pan out. They answered that it violated "stockpiling" rules, and it could be done only after the season ended if he started the year as a paid coach for the Packers.

[Smidgeon]

Thanks Smidgeon. It is an interesting theory; however, IMHO, Florio has zero credibility. If there's no rule against it, I don't see how they can block someone from doing it.

Florio may have zero credibility in your opinion, but he wasn't stating his own rumor or impressions. He was passing along what he had been told.

The Eagles had an intern, signed him to the roster, and the NFL stopped it. Facts. You think they'd change their minds for the Packers?

[sharpe1027]

Florio may have zero credibility in your opinion, but he wasn't stating his own rumor or impressions. He was passing along what he had been told.

The Eagles had an intern, signed him to the roster, and the NFL stopped it. Facts. You think they'd change their minds for the Packers?

I disagree. The facts were that the NFL stated that the reason for the denial was because of a contract with the AFL.

Florio's theory was that there was another reason. I've seen too much of his BS to take his word based upon nothing more than an unnamed source. Does that mean he's always wrong? No. But I don't bother giving anything he writes the benefit of the doubt.

[sharpe1027]

I think there is something that prevents it, because it was brought up the year Rob Davis retired. JJ Jansen looked great in preseason but was hurt in the last preseason game, and out for the year. They brought in Brett Goode, and someone (TT??, MM?? someone else??) was asked if Davis could be signed if Goode didn't pan out. They answered that it violated "stockpiling" rules, and it could be done only after the season ended if he started the year as a paid coach for the Packers.

Oh well, it was an interesting idea.

[Smidgeon]

I disagree. The facts were that the NFL stated that the reason for the denial was because of a contract with the AFL.

Florio's theory was that there was another reason. I've seen too much of his BS to take his word based upon nothing more than an unnamed source. Does that mean he's always wrong? No. But I don't bother giving anything he writes the benefit of the doubt.

Because the NFL's stated reason is always the truth...

[sharpe1027]

Because the NFL's stated reason is always the truth...

Certainly not. Florio's explanation was certainly reasonable and according to Patler's memory has some good support and is probably not far of the mark in this instance. I still think Florio's full of crap and don't take anything he says at face value.

This guy sums up my view pretty well:

Mike Florio is liar. I'm not just talking about any kind of a liar either. I am talking about a liar for hire. I am talking about goddamnable liar. I'm talking about a fork-tonged lying asshole. I'm talking about a guy who manufactures false sports stories and publishes them because he knows he can get a rise out of the fans. His street cred is 0.000. I mean to tell you that he has no street-cred at all. He is certainly the child-product of pair of alcoholics, as he lies when it would be easier to tell the truth.

http://logicaloptimizer.blogspot.com/2010/03/mike-florio-lowest-scumbag-in-sports.html

[woodbuck27]

49ers cut Shawntae Spencer

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 15, 2012, 1:17 PM EDT
Getty Images
Shawntae Spencer is out in San Francisco.

Spencer, a cornerback who has spent his entire eight-year career in San Francisco, was released today, in a move that frees up $3.3 million under the 49ers’ salary cap.

“The 49ers would like to thank Shawntae for his eight years of service to the organization and the Bay Area community,” 49ers G.M. Trent Baalke said in a statement. “He has always represented himself, his family and this organization with the utmost class. We wish him, and his family, the very best.”

The 30-year-old Spencer started all 16 games for two straight seasons in 2009 and 2010, but in 2011 he was largely phased out of the defense, appearing in just nine games and starting none. Spencer said late in the postseason that he felt like the 49ers dumped him, and in February the 49ers gave him permission to seek a trade.

Now he’s free to sign anywhere he’d like.

UPDATE: Spencer told Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that he heard from the Texans within minutes of his release becoming official.


Comment woodbuck27: I'm wondering in the near future if we might read the name Donald Driver insertd in this form of statement from the Packers organization:

“The 49ers would like to thank Shawntae for his eight years of service to the organization and the Bay Area community,” 49ers G.M. Trent Baalke said in a statement. “He has always represented himself, his family and this organization with the utmost class. We wish him, and his family, the very best.”