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Team Needs
by Joe Hebert
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Our latest Cheat Sheets updated constantly through September.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">49ers Officially Name McCloughan GM
(1/2 1:19 PM PT)
The Facts:
49ers owner John York has just announced the expected: San Francisco has promoted V.P. of player personnel Scot McCloughan to the position of general manager.
Diehards Line:
Head coach Mike Nolan, taking part in McCloughan's introductory press conference told reporters he was pleased with the move, which will allow him to pay more attention to on-field issues. In case you missed it, Nolan gave up his authority over personnel in Tuesday in order to keep his job. ... Among the issues will be fixing an offense that ranked last in the league in scoring; it's safe to assume McCloughan will have a hand in deciding the team's next offensive coordinator (Jim Hostler was fired this morning).
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Parcells Hires Former Cowboy Exec Ireland As Miami's GM
(1/2 1:10 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Dolphins hired Jeff Ireland to be their next general manager this afternoon. The former Dallas Cowboys vice president of college and pro scouting has been reunited with Bill Parcells, the Dolphins' new executive vice president of football operations, who resigned as head coach of the Cowboys last January.
Diehards Line:
There was no word on what the Dolphins will do with Cam Cameron, who is coming off a 1-15 season in his first year as an NFL head coach. An NFL source told Post staffer Tim Graham that Ireland already is working on determining a course of action for the coaching staff. Ireland will replace Randy Mueller, who was fired Monday along with two assistants.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Nolan Stays; OC Hostler Goes
(1/2 9:27 AM PT)
The Facts:
At this point in the morning, we know that Mike Nolan will be back as head coach of the 49ers next season. We also have confirmed that Jim Hostler is out as offensive coordinator, as expected. Clearly, Nolan saved his job for another season because ownership believed that a lot of what happened this season was out of his control. For example: The club started four different quarterbacks.
Diehards Line:
As Press-Democrat staffer Matt Maiocco noted, Hostler was promoted from QBs coach after Norv Turner left to become Chargers head coach. The transition was not a smooth one. The 49ers, who ranked 26th in the league last season, finished last in most important offensive categories this season -- including scoring. The 49ers have scheduled a 1 p.m. press conference today, during which Nolan will talk about the recently completed season . . . and then the questions will begin. Other staff changes could be announced. It is unclear whether there will be an announcement that VP of player personnel Scot McCloughan has been elevated to GM and Nolan will be stripped of his "final say" powers. The Yorks were expected to offer that position to McCloughan, but the timing of such a move is unclear.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Adrian Peterson Named Rookie Of The Year
(1/2 9:21 AM PT)
The Facts:
Peterson, who set the league mark for rushing in a game with 296 yards in a 35-17 victory over San Diego, also had a 224-yarder in a win against Chicago to lead the NFC with 1,341 yards rushing, second only to San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson in the league. His 78 points on 13 touchdowns were second in the conference.
Diehards Line:
Peterson ran away with the voting the same way he surged past opposing tacklers this season. ... Those numbers, compiled in 14 games, and his overall impact -- the Vikings struggled to pass the ball, yet were in the wild-card race until the final game -- earned Peterson 46 1/2 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas was the only other player receiving votes, 3 1/2.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Lions Fire Martz; Promote 2 Assistants To Run Offense
(1/2 9:17 AM PT)
The Facts:
The Lions have fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz and promoted offensive line coach Jim Colleto and wide receivers coach Kippy Brown to run the offense in his place, a source in the organization told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Diehards Line:
According to Mortensen, Colleto will be named offensive coordinator and remain as the offensive line coach, while Brown is being promoted to assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, and will also serve as running backs coach. ... In other changes, the Lions promoted Shawn Jefferson from offensive assistant to wide receivers coach and fired Martz's son, Tim Martz, as an offensive assistant.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chiefs Fire OC Solari; 3 Other Offensive Assistants
(1/2 9:14 AM PT)
The Facts:
The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday that offensive coordinator Mike Solari was among four assistants fired. Also let go were John Matsko (offensive line), Charlie Joiner (wide receivers) and James Saxon (running backs). "Herm did what he had to do," Solari told the newspaper. "We just didn't get it done offensively. It just didn't work out."
Diehards Line:
In Solari's second season as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs managed just 226 points - their worst-ever showing in a 16-game season. In fact, only the 49ers scored fewer points that the Chiefs this season. And a season after making the playoffs, the Chiefs went 4-12, tying the Oakland Raiders for last place in the AFC West.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Edgerrin James' Future As A Card In Question?
(1/2 12:33 AM PT)
The Facts:
A reporter, noting James wished the Cardinals would have run the ball more, asked HC Ken Whisenhunt if James was "still the guy." Whisenhunt didn't directly answer, preferring to talk of the pros and cons of running vs. passing the ball more often. "We're going to do what's best for us to try to win football games. If that means we have to throw it a little bit more based on what's the best fit for us, we're going to do that."
Diehards Line:
James, who ranked seventh in the NFL with 1,220 rushing yards this season, is starting to feel the speculation about whether he will return to the Cardinals next season. His salary-cap number is $7 million next season. If the Cardinals, who are trying to work other deals to retain players, can find a less-expensive alternative, Tribune staffer Mike Tume believes it's possible James may not return.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Cedric Benson Promises To Return At 100 Percent
(1/2 12:29 AM PT)
The Facts:
Benson got the cast off his left ankle Monday in time for the offseason, and he got some thoughts off his chest about the Bears' broken-down running game. In his first comments since fracturing his fibula, Benson promised he could return 100 percent next season.
Diehards Line:
Benson also debunked the idea he was out of shape when training camp and the season began, and he said it didn't make it any better to see Adrian Peterson struggle after Benson was lost for the season Nov. 25 against Denver. "I didn't need vindication," Benson said. "I knew the type of problems and issues we had on offense. We were all part of it."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Matt Hasselbeck Practices Tuesday
(1/1 7:55 PM PT)
The Facts:
Hasselbeck went through the entire Tuesday practice with his teammates and is expected to play against Washington on Saturday.
Diehards Line:
Hasselbeck injured his wrist in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, but played further after X-rays came up negative. ... News Tribune staffer Frank Hughes asked QB coach Jim Zorn how much concern there was over the wrist, and he said that Hasselbeck is concerned when he has a hangnail. But once he was able to go out on the field and realize that he could throw effectively, any concern evaporated. ... Hasselbeck will play as usual against the Redskins this Saturday.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: 49ers Nolan Gives Up Control; Will Keep HC Job
(1/1 6:59 PM PT)
The Facts:
Mike Nolan will keep his job as HC of the 49ers but will relinquish final say over personnel decisions, Yahoo! Sports has learned. After two days of deliberation, owners John and Denise DeBartolo York decided Tuesday to retain Nolan, who has two years left on the five-year contract he signed before the 2005 season.
Diehards Line:
According to Yahoo's Michael Silver, Nolan, who has also been the 49ers' de facto GM since joining the franchise, agreed to give up front-office control as a condition of his return. The franchise will hire a general manager to assume those duties, and the leading contender is believed to be current vice president of player personnel Scott McCloughan. ... Nolan's 16-32 record over three seasons, including a 5-11 mark in '07, put his job in jeopardy, and Silver suggests the coach will likely make changes to his staff.
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