With the final game of the ill-fated season upon us, I am reminded of Yoda's explanation to Luke on Dagobah about the future. The truth is none of us, even the most sage, can predict the future. And that is a good thing, a necessary thing, because as human beings we would manipulate it to our own benefit. There are lessons in life to be learned that should be passed on to the next generation in the earnest hope that they do not do what we do, and instead, have the temerity to do something better.
Since that s**t won't happen. I will say this instead.
There are many questions looming over this aging, beat up, and fatigued team. This thread is less about predictions, which are sure to go astray, and more about what you think will happen, which is not the same thing as prediction, but instead, more of rumination about the future.
My feeling is this. For months we have heard the same narrative about this being the season that the Niners had to win it because they had to pay Brock Purdy in 2025. That narrative was wrong. Last season was the year for the Niners and they failed to capitalize, though, they got agonizingly close. This season was all about the aftershocks of losing another Super Bowl. You see, we do not arrive at our moment when we want to do so. Some do, but most don't. And even those who do have setbacks. Over the past four years, the Niners have had opportunity after opportunity to win it. They did not. Instead of looking at this thing like a "legendary revenge tour", it might be time to start a new, or at the very least, partly a new.
If it is a new, where do we start? I've made clear my feeling, as have others, that the offensive and defensive lines must be rebuilt. But I want to dive into two players that I think will set much of this offseason in motion. Let's go to the most controversial, or at least, one of the most controversial:
Deebo Samuel, Sr. After the latest Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Is his time in the Bay over or will it continue?
Any discussion about players will be, by their nature, emotional. Deebo, just a couple of years ago, gave everything he had to beat the Rams and it was not enough. Throughout it all, he has flashed incredible talent, but also battled injuries and expectations. Admittedly, it is difficult to determine which limited him more in the eyes of fans: injuries or expectations. Shedding Deebo will come at a great financial cost, but it might be one the Niners will have to bear to get younger. Emotionally, I would hate to see him go. My daughter is eight. She grew up a Niner fan--entirely my wife and I's doing. She loves Deebo because her Dad loves Deebo. She is always asking where is Deebo on the field. So, as you can guess, it will be tough around the house when Deebo inevitably moves on. But practically speaking, with emotion removed, it is hard to justify keeping him at his current wage and performance level.
Either way, love him, hate him, or be disappointed in him. Deebo had a run that endeared him in the hearts of many fans. I am just not sure that is enough to keep him.
Another personal favorite of mine is Dre Greenlaw.
Dre Greenlaw: The Apex Predator of our Defense.
It is well known that I am an Arkansas Razorback. I largely grew up there, and I went to school at Arkansas for my doctorate. And though my state often disappoints with some of its backwards antics, and while it is extremely unlikely that I will ever go back to it, it will forever be my home. I am very proud of Dre, a onetime ward of my home state, that with grit, fire, and decency (especially off the football field) brought himself to the top of his profession and overcame his rough start.
His Achilles injury, more than anything else, cost the 49ers a Super Bowl title. I know it will be regarded as a homer take, but I don't give a f**k. Dre plays that whole game out, we are talking about "7 is Heaven" and not the "Quest for Six." Yet, Dre went down, and the quest continues.
When he came back this year, it was electric. But not sustained. He likely rushed coming back to prove to all that he was still the same guy; and let's not kid ourselves, in a brutal game like this, he had to do it to garner suitors for his services. If there is one guy on defense that we must keep, I would say it is him. If there is one guy that deserves to get paid, it is him. However, objectively speaking, if there is one guy on defense that we have to be extremely concerned about keeping on defense, it is also, regrettably, him.
As much as I selfishly want Dre to stay and retire a Niner, I cannot ignore the injuries. Honestly, I worry that his fate could be that of NaVorro Bowman, one of my all-time favorite Niners, who showed absolute heart when he shredded his knee against the Seahawks. You ask me ten years from now, what moment may have gutted me the most, I would rank Bowman's injury in the top 2. But when Bow came back, he was never the same. He just wasn't and ultimately left the franchise.
Dre showed more, in one game, than most do in their first couple of games, but he also was out of the game by halftime. He then came back for a handful of plays and was out again. Much like Deebo, Dre will not be playing any more ball this season. And that should give all pause.
If the Niners do not keep him, and the debate is on whether we should, I hope he gets an outrageous contract that creates generational wealth for his family. And it would not surprise me in the least if went to the Denver Broncos or the Dallas Cowboys. Let's be clear, I WANT NEITHER TO HAPPEN, but if it does, I want him to make stupid money because he deserves it. He just does.
Okay, I gave you two. But there are many more.
So, who you got?
-FP
[ Edited by fropwns on Jan 7, 2025 at 10:40 AM ]
