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The 49ers have released 26-year old WR Dominique Zeigler. He played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Niners last year and he caught 9 passes for 98 yards (10.9 avg). Zeigler played in 19 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Niners and he caught 14 passes for 195 yards (13.9 avg). This is absolutely no loss to the 49ers.
The 49ers have finally found a taker for 23-year old safety Taylor Mays. They have dealt Mays to the Cincinnati Bengals for an undisclosed late round draft pick. Mays played in all 16 games as a rookie for the 49ers last year and he had 38 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes defensed and 1 tackle for a loss. This is addition by subtraction as Mays has been a pain in the butt for whoever has been coaching the Niners.
The 49ers have signed 27-year old punter Sam Paulescu. Paulescu played in 3 games for the Redskins last year and he punted the ball 17 times for 700 yards (41.2 avg). He also had 1 touchback (5.9%) and he placed 2 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line (11.8%) last year. Paulescu has now played in 20 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has punted the ball 102 times for 4,306 yards (42.2 avg). He also has 11 touchbacks (10.8%) and he has placed punts inside the opposing 20-yard line 25 times (24.5%) in his NFL career so far. 49ers’ starting punter Andy Lee has a hip pointer so Paulescu is likely only going to punt for the 49ers until he is healthy.
The 49ers have signed 32-year old QB Josh McCown to battle it out for the #3 QB job in 2011. McCown did not play at all last year. He has played in 49 games (31 starts) in his first 8 years in the NFL and he has completed 610 of 1,058 passes (57.7%) for 6,584 yards with 35 TD passes and 40 INTs (71.3 QB Rating). McCown has also carried the ball 127 times for 569 yards (4.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his NFL career. McCown is 12-19 (38.7%) as a starting QB in the NFL. I like this signing for the Niners as McCown should easily be able to win the #3 QB job in 2011.
UPDATE: (9/4/2011) – The 49ers have released Josh McCown.
The 49ers have waived 23-year old OLB Thaddeus Gibson. Gibson played in 3 games for the 49ers last year and he had 3 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. This is no big loss for the 49ers as they have more than enough depth at linebacker to cover for Gibson being let go. He won’t be missed in 2011 or down the road.
The Niners have re-signed 26-year old safety Dashon Goldson to a 1-year deal. Goldson played in all 16 games for the 49ers last year and he had 80 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 5 passes defensed and 1 interception (it was returned for a TD). Goldson has now played in 51 games in his first four years with the Niners and he has 210 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 14 passes defensed and 5 interceptions (1 returned for a TD). It was a good move for the 49ers to bring back Goldson for 2011.
The 49ers have signed 28-year old WR Braylon Edwards to a 1-year, $3.5 million dollar deal. Edwards played in all 16 games (15 starts) for the Jets last year and he caught 53 passes for 904 yards (17.1 avg) with 7 TD grabs. He has now played in 90 games (84 starts) in his first six years in the NFL and he has caught 326 passes for 5,142 yards (15.8 avg) with 39 TD grabs. Edwards is a good WR when he focused and motivated. Alex Smith will like having a big target to hit down the field and Edwards will certainly be one of those. This was a good signing for the 49ers.
UPDATE: Edwards’ contract is essentially a 1-year, $1 million dollar deal. He can earn $3.5 million bucks in 2011 if he catches at least 90 passes and makes the Pro Bowl. While the Niners hope he will earn the extra $2.5 million bucks, they have to think that he won’t.
The 49ers have signed 26-year old safety Donte Whitner to a 3-year, $11.75 million dollar deal. Whitner played in all 16 games for the Bills last year and he had 140 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1/2 a sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 7 passes defensed and 1 interception. Whitner has now played in 69 games in his first five years in the NFL and he has 451 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 19 passes defensed and 5 interceptions (1 returned for a TD). Whitner will bring toughness to the back end of the Niners’ secondary. The 49ers hope he won’t have to make near as many tackles as he did with the Bills last year. This was a good signing for the 49ers.
The 49ers have signed 32-year old center Jonathan Goodwin to a 3-year, $10.9 million dollar deal. Goodwin played in 16 games (all starts) for the Saints last year. He has now played in 133 games (60 starts) in his first 9 years in the NFL. Goodwin was signed to replace David Baas (signed with the New York Giants) as the starting center for the Niners. His play is starting to decline a bit but he should still be a solid starter at least for 2011.
The Niners have signed 27-year old linebacker Blake Costanzo. Costanzo played in 10 games for the Browns last year and he had 7 tackles. He has now played in 45 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has 42 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. Costanzo is a special teams ace and he will improve the Niners in that area. I don’t see him getting much P.T. at linebacker. If he does get a lot of P.T. at LB, the Niners’ D will be in trouble.