Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
There is a lot of speculation right now that Antonio Brown could meet with quarterback Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. The veteran wide receiver played a game last year with Brady in New England and even dragged in a touchdown for the Patriots. Of course, that story has already been disputed.
However, if Brown lands with an NFC team like the Buccaneers, some believe it might be enough to change the balance of power within the conference. A former NFL executive-turned-analyst Michael Lombardi believes that if Brown landed with a team in the NFC West, such as the Seattle Seahawks, it would shift the balance of power within the division away from the San Francisco 49ers.
Lombardi joined 95.7 The Game on Tuesday and was asked if he could see the Niners getting involved in watching Brown.
“I think Antonio Brown changes the balance of power in the West (if he signs there),” Lombardi said in the Joe, Lo and Dibs show. “I think if Seattle catches it, they will become the favorites. I think if the 49ers get it, they keep the favorite. Remember, we are six inches from the Seattle host [a playoff] game.
“There is that line of balance. Even though the Niners dominated playoff time, I think that little bit of balance that is in that conference will change. Antonio Brown would make Seattle, for me, a Super Bowl contender in the NFC right away, and he would make sure the 49ers had their place. “
Lombardi believes that any contract offered to Brown would be loaded with incentives, as the Patriots did with quarterback Cam Newton. However, the talented receiver may not be suitable for San Francisco. The 49ers had a chance to chase Brown last year, but chose not to. That decision turned out to be the right one at the time.
“We took a quick look, and then we just said, ‘Hey, we’re not interested in that for our team,'” general manager John Lynch said in March 2019.
Lombardi also feels that despite the team’s confidence in the 2020 season, the 49ers could see some regression.
Lombardi said: “Now I know that John Lynch says [the 49ers are] better than ever, but I think they will have to prove, losing (DeForest) Buckner, that (Javon) Kinlaw can go in and do what Buckner can do because what Buckner did was really important for what they do defensively. “
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lombardi below.
Continuing with Nick Newman’s power ratings on Wide Receiver, this is how the 49ers defensive linemen compare each other. Level 1: Superstars 1. Nick Bosa Hard to discuss this one. Just take a look at the compliments for the rookie sensation: AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year PFWA Rookie of the Year 9 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT, 16 TFL Most rookie pressures (69) # 41 in the Top 50 PFF Players No. 41 at PFF50: Nick Bosa
The San Francisco 49ers and George Kittle, or their representation, at least, are struggling to agree on the value of tight end. The team would like to lock the versatile All-Pro into a long-term deal, but it’s that versatility that has complicated matters. Kittle is the 49ers’ most valuable receiver. He is also one of the best blockers on the team. Just looking at the tight end market would be an injustice. He is much more. Kittle’s agent Jack Bechta described his client as a “unicorn”. “He’s one of a kind,” Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area told Will Brinson on CBS Sports’ Pick Pod NFL Podcast. “And the thought is that although
The San Francisco 49ers have a not-so-simple goal for the 2020 season: to return to the Super Bowl and emerge as champions. I label it “not so simple” because doing it will be a very difficult task, and head coach Kyle Shanahan knows it. But it is the Super Bowl or the fall of the 49ers, as was the case in the heyday of the team. Shanahan made a rather innocent comment this week during the conversation with Greg Papa after he was asked to describe the status of the franchise. “I know we were good enough to win that Super Bowl, and we didn’t,” Shanahan replied. “And that’s something we have to live with. And that’s why the franchise status, correct
