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Article Last Updated: Friday, November 26, 2004 - 7:50:19 AM PST
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~10835~2559393,00.html
Niners could get relief from cap
Donahue hints S.F. might escape salary woes sooner than expected
By Roger Phillips, STAFF WRITER
SANTA CLARA -- Asked this week to assess the state of the San Francisco 49ers, general manager Terry Donahue had a very straightforward answer.
"We need a win," Donahue said. "That's the state of the team. We need a win in the worst way."
Insert your own punch line when considering Donahue's choice of words, given the fact that the 49ers (1-9) will host the Miami Dolphins (1-9) on Sunday afternoon in a game that may determine which team is the worst in the NFL.
But on to more substantive matters.
In an interview this week, Donahue touched on a wide range of topics:
He suggested that the 49ers may be ahead of schedule in terms of escaping their salary-cap problems.
He said he does not know whether the 49ers will use their high draft pick in April or trade it.
He said he envisions no financial constraints that would prevent the 49ers from paying the necessary huge signing bonus to a high draft choice.
He stated that he fully expects coach Dennis Erickson to return for a third season.
He said that Erickson has complete freedom over the makeup of his coaching staff.
Donahue's statement that the 49ers' salary-cap woes might be easing early is significant, provided it turns out to be the case.
After last season, the 49ers purged numerous veterans from their roster, citing the NFL's $80.6million salary cap as the reason.
At the time, Donahue said the team was taking its "salary-cap medicine" so that it would be about $4million below the cap after the 2004 season, and $14million below after 2005, at which point the 49ers would be better positioned to retain their own players and sign free agents from other teams.
Wednesday, without giving details, Donahue said, "I'm optimistic that we're going to get out of this difficulty maybe a little bit quicker. I'm not in a position today to say anything other than that. I'm just optimistic that we're going to get out of this financial difficulty a little quicker than maybe we anticipated."
Donahue also had a few things to say about the NFL Draft. If they lose to Miami on Sunday, the 49ers could be headed toward owning the first overall selection next April. Donahue said the one positive thing to come out of this season is that by having such a poor record, the 49ers will be rich in "football currency."
But if the 49ers get the first overall pick and decide they want to use it, would they be willing and able to shell out the required signing bonus to the player they select? Quarterback Eli Manning, the first player chosen in this year's draft, received a $20million signing bonus from the New York Giants.
Asked if he could foresee financial constraints that would make it difficult to sign a top draft choice, Donahue said, "I think we're going to be in a much better financial situation next year than we are this year. ... Whatever pick we have, if we're going to want to keep that pick, we'll be able to do that. If we don't want to keep that pick and somebody makes us a good trade and gives us an opportunity to do something else, I think we'll be free to do that."
Donahue acknowledged that most experts see the 2005 draft class as one of the weaker ones in recent years.
"There will be some good players, and there will be some guys that can clearly help our football team and can definitely make an impact," he said. "But I don't think there's a player like (Michael Vick) or (Peyton Manning) or one of those guys."
Donahue also said he believes Erickson, who two years ago signed a five-year contract worth $12.5million, will be back. The 49ers' collapse this season has led to speculation that Erickson might want out, possibly to take the vacant coaching job at the University of Washington.
Erickson, a native of the Seattle area, has denied all the rumors.
There also has been speculation that Erickson might bristle if asked to make changes to his virtually hand-picked coaching staff.
This week, Erickson said, "I'll make the decisions on who is going to coach for me and who isn't."
Donahue said, "He has autonomy to hire and fire his staff. Yeah, he does. I think there's no question about that."
There are still games to be played this season, of course, and Donahue expressed a simple desire when asked what he would like to see over the final six weeks.
"Some wins," he said. "I want to win games for me, for the coaches, for the players, for the ownership, for the fans. We just all want to win.
"This is very painful for everybody that I mentioned in that laundry list. I just want to see us win some games. It would make me so happy if we could just get some wins and finish the season on an up note and not a down note. It would be good if we could do that."
NOTE: Erickson said he does not know whether starting center Jeremy Newberry will play again this season. Newberry played only in the season opener, then underwent knee surgery. Erickson said Newberry's knee is healed, but a back injury is the reason his Pro Bowl center is unable to play.
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~10835~2559393,00.html
Niners could get relief from cap
Donahue hints S.F. might escape salary woes sooner than expected
By Roger Phillips, STAFF WRITER
SANTA CLARA -- Asked this week to assess the state of the San Francisco 49ers, general manager Terry Donahue had a very straightforward answer.
"We need a win," Donahue said. "That's the state of the team. We need a win in the worst way."
Insert your own punch line when considering Donahue's choice of words, given the fact that the 49ers (1-9) will host the Miami Dolphins (1-9) on Sunday afternoon in a game that may determine which team is the worst in the NFL.
But on to more substantive matters.
In an interview this week, Donahue touched on a wide range of topics:
He suggested that the 49ers may be ahead of schedule in terms of escaping their salary-cap problems.
He said he does not know whether the 49ers will use their high draft pick in April or trade it.
He said he envisions no financial constraints that would prevent the 49ers from paying the necessary huge signing bonus to a high draft choice.
He stated that he fully expects coach Dennis Erickson to return for a third season.
He said that Erickson has complete freedom over the makeup of his coaching staff.
Donahue's statement that the 49ers' salary-cap woes might be easing early is significant, provided it turns out to be the case.
After last season, the 49ers purged numerous veterans from their roster, citing the NFL's $80.6million salary cap as the reason.
At the time, Donahue said the team was taking its "salary-cap medicine" so that it would be about $4million below the cap after the 2004 season, and $14million below after 2005, at which point the 49ers would be better positioned to retain their own players and sign free agents from other teams.
Wednesday, without giving details, Donahue said, "I'm optimistic that we're going to get out of this difficulty maybe a little bit quicker. I'm not in a position today to say anything other than that. I'm just optimistic that we're going to get out of this financial difficulty a little quicker than maybe we anticipated."
Donahue also had a few things to say about the NFL Draft. If they lose to Miami on Sunday, the 49ers could be headed toward owning the first overall selection next April. Donahue said the one positive thing to come out of this season is that by having such a poor record, the 49ers will be rich in "football currency."
But if the 49ers get the first overall pick and decide they want to use it, would they be willing and able to shell out the required signing bonus to the player they select? Quarterback Eli Manning, the first player chosen in this year's draft, received a $20million signing bonus from the New York Giants.
Asked if he could foresee financial constraints that would make it difficult to sign a top draft choice, Donahue said, "I think we're going to be in a much better financial situation next year than we are this year. ... Whatever pick we have, if we're going to want to keep that pick, we'll be able to do that. If we don't want to keep that pick and somebody makes us a good trade and gives us an opportunity to do something else, I think we'll be free to do that."
Donahue acknowledged that most experts see the 2005 draft class as one of the weaker ones in recent years.
"There will be some good players, and there will be some guys that can clearly help our football team and can definitely make an impact," he said. "But I don't think there's a player like (Michael Vick) or (Peyton Manning) or one of those guys."
Donahue also said he believes Erickson, who two years ago signed a five-year contract worth $12.5million, will be back. The 49ers' collapse this season has led to speculation that Erickson might want out, possibly to take the vacant coaching job at the University of Washington.
Erickson, a native of the Seattle area, has denied all the rumors.
There also has been speculation that Erickson might bristle if asked to make changes to his virtually hand-picked coaching staff.
This week, Erickson said, "I'll make the decisions on who is going to coach for me and who isn't."
Donahue said, "He has autonomy to hire and fire his staff. Yeah, he does. I think there's no question about that."
There are still games to be played this season, of course, and Donahue expressed a simple desire when asked what he would like to see over the final six weeks.
"Some wins," he said. "I want to win games for me, for the coaches, for the players, for the ownership, for the fans. We just all want to win.
"This is very painful for everybody that I mentioned in that laundry list. I just want to see us win some games. It would make me so happy if we could just get some wins and finish the season on an up note and not a down note. It would be good if we could do that."
NOTE: Erickson said he does not know whether starting center Jeremy Newberry will play again this season. Newberry played only in the season opener, then underwent knee surgery. Erickson said Newberry's knee is healed, but a back injury is the reason his Pro Bowl center is unable to play.