Category: NFL

Headline Sports Podcast with Tony Renteria: Sherman says NFLPA should strike if players can’t get guaranteed contracts; owners will never agree to it

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AP File Photo: Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman catches at a walkthrough NFL football practice to open training camp on Thursday, July 28, 2011, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

On the Headline Sports Podcast with Tony:

Richard Sherman corner for the Seattle Seahawks says that the players should vote to strike if they don’t get guaranteed contracts much like players in MLB and the NBA receive. This is something that all NFL players want those guaranteed contracts the NFL CBA runs out by 2021.  I would argue that the age of an NFL player is about three and half years. The owners are not going to hand out guaranteed contracts to the players in the NFL.

They make a second contract or a first contract and this is based on if a player sticks around after that amount of time anyway. After these players come out of the draft I doubt your going to be able to get those guaranteed contracts. Maybe on second tier players and their injuries that’s going to be there too. The difference between MLB and the NFL players is MLB has 25 guys on a roster they have a development system they have some history on them.

The NFL doesn’t have that they don’t have a developmental league they come with some character and college before they go out there. A lot of the problem with the NFL players is there are situations that happen off the field. Guaranteed contracts in the NFL just won’t happen.

Catch  the rest of Tony’s headline commentary on today’s podcast and each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Categories NFL

Former San Francisco 49er punter Runager found dead in parking lot

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AP File Photo: Punter Max Runager (4) and kicker Ray Wersching (14) on Tuesday, July 29, 1986 in Rocklin, California. San Francisco training camp. (AP Photo/Al Golub)

By Jeremy Harness and Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA–Former San Francisco 49ers punter Max Runager was found in his vehicle in a South Carolina parking lot with the motor running according to Runager’s father Geb on June 30th. A police officer spokesman told the media that there was no suspicion of foul play. Runager was found dead in a Orangeburg parking lot he was 61.

Runager also was a former punter for the Philadelphia Eagles and was a key part of the Eagles success in their 1980 season drive towards a Super Bowl birth and championship over the Oakland Raiders. Runager won another Super Bowl this time with the 1984 San Francisco 49ers against the Miami Dolphins in a game played at Stanford Stadium.

Geb said that Runager fell off the roof of his home while trying to cleaning the gutters from the fallen leaves in December. Runager refused medical help after it was diagnosed that he had fractured a vertebrae which only got worse and Runager had to use a walker after suffering a fall that resulted in a broken leg.

It can only be assumed at this point from the untreated vertebrae and the broken leg and being in a walker that it might have had some role in Runager’s death but doctors will make that determination at a later date. Runager’s family said they will donate Runager’s brain to science and that it will be examined for CTE like symptoms much like many NFL families who want to find out if their family members suffered from the concussion like syndrome from playing in the NFL.

Runager’s career numbers with San Francisco and Philadelphia was 661 career punts averaging 40.2 per punt. Runager’s father Geb said that when Runager refused medical help for the broke vertebrae that the younger Runager said he was “NFL tough” and didn’t need medical help.

Joe Lami is the 49ers beat writer and Jeremy Harness does 49ers previews and commentaries at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Carr and Raiders agree on 5-year, $125M extension

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AP File Photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — The Oakland Raiders knew they had something special at quarterback with Derek Carr.

Now, he is paid like one.

Carr and the Raiders have agreed to a five-year, $125 million extension, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, noting a source close to the negotiations. Carr’s new contact makes him the highest paid player in terms of average money per year ($25 million per), moving past Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.

Before breaking his leg on Christmas Eve in a home loss to the Colts, the 26-year-old Carr was having an MVP-type of season, throwing for 3,937 yards with 28 touchdowns to just six interceptions. In three seasons, Carr has thrown for 11,191 yards, 81 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.

Carr was finishing up his rookie deal, and was scheduled to make less than $1 million in base salary this season before agreeing to the new deal. According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Carr’s deal includes $70 million in guarantees with $40 million guaranteed at signing.

With Carr’s deal now completed, the Raiders should turn their attention in locking up defensive linchpin Khalil Mack long-term.

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year after an 11-sack season in 2016 that included a pick-6 interception, has a team option through 2018, but you’d think that general manager Reggie McKenzie would want to keep the nucleus of the team intact and Mack is a big part of the Raiders’ future.

Information from this report provided from the NFL Network and USA Today.

 

 

 

San Francisco 49ers Podcast Report with David Zizmor: Santa Clara Mayor says notion that the 49ers have paid all their bills “makes me laugh”

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AP photo file: Inside the disputed Levis Stadium before a game between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers from this Oct 6, 2016 photo as the City of Santa Clara say the 49ers are on the hook for over $2.1 million in stadium construction and parking overruns

by David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–Cost overruns, unpaid parking use on a city owned golf course ($719,000) and emergency services and a beat up fan in the 49ers bathroom during a 2014 game (total $488,000), stadium cost over runs ($894,000) are just a few of the bills the city of Santa Clara are saying the 49ers are in for. San Francisco 49ers media relations manager Bob Lange has said that the 49ers are in accordance with their construction obligation and further that the team has paid all their bills to the city. Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor said that the notion that the 49ers have paid all their bills and that they have met all their all obligations “makes me laugh.”

The dispute between the 49ers and the City most likely won’t reach the inside of a courtroom and that it would settled behind closed doors in arbitration. There are all sorts of issues with the team like the construction overruns, the parking bills, the use of golf course land for emergency vehicles and how the 49ers and the city will address each issue with the scenario of an arbitrator asking for the 49ers to come up with receipts showing they are up to snuff with the City.

There’s more on this issue join Dave below on the San Francisco 49ers podcast below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

FDA approves Radicava, 49ers legend Dwight Clark may try new treatment

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Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark runs onto the field before the start of the “Legends of Candlestick” flag football game Saturday, July 12, 2014, in San Francisco. The game between former San Francisco 49er greats and a team of former NFL stars captained by Hall of Famer Dan Marino is the final one to be played at Candlestick Park. The park, which opened in 1960 and was also the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team until 1999, is slated for demolition in the next year. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

By: Ana Kieu

For the first time in more than two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new drug for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The FDA announced on Friday that Radicava, also known as edaravone, has been approved for use in the United States. The other only drug used to treat ALS is called Riluzone, which was approved in 1995.

Various tests conducted in Japan determined that ALS victims who received edaravone experienced a lower decline in their daily level of functioning compared to those who received a placebo. Edaravone creator MT Pharma said that the drug can reduce the decline of physical function by 33 percent.

Deputy director of the FDA’s neurology products division Eric Bastings said his federal agency learned about the use of edaravone to treat ALS in Japan and filed a marketing application with the drug developer. Bastings also mentioned that his agency was pleased that people with ALS have an addition treatment option.

ALS is often called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gehrig was a well-known baseball player who retired on June 21, 1939, due to the condition. The New York Yankees retired his No. 4 and he became the first player in MLB history to receive that honor. He played for the Yankees as a first baseman from 1923 to 1939. He passed away in his home in the Riverdale neighborhood of The Bronx, New York, on June 2, 1941, at the age of 37.

In 2014, ALS returned to the spotlight, thanks to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The campaign was all over social media. Many people posted videos of themselves dumping cold water on their heads. In just eight weeks, the ALS Association received $115 million dollars in donations. These donations helped fund important developments in ALS research.

The CDC says that 12,000 to 15,000 Americans have ALS. The majority of these sufferers first found out they had the disease between the ages of 55 and 75. For the most part, sufferers live two to five years after discovering they have it. Conversely, ALS is a little more common in men as opposed to women. Nobody knows what causes the disease, but 5% to 10% of all ALS cases emerge within families. People with ancestral ALS live an average of one to two years after symptoms appear.

ALS Association President Barbara Newhouse commended the approval of Radicava. Newhouse thanked the FDA and MT Pharma for working together to speed up the approval of the brand-new ALS treatment. She hopes the announcement can signal the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against the disease.

Radicava is an intravenous infusion that must be prescribed by a doctor. The drug is administered in 28-day cycles and its cost is $1,000 per infusion, which amounts to almost $150,000 a year for ALS treatment. MT Pharma will offer co-pay assistance for insured patients. They also mentioned an unnamed program to help help uninsured patients who meet certain requirements.

MT Pharma announced that Radicava will be available in the United States this August.

There has been no word from Clark yet on whether or not he’ll consider using edaravone. Clark was diagnosed with ALS on March 20. Edaravone can slow down the progression of ALS when started early. He has said in the past that he would fight like hell against ALS so there’s a chance he’ll use this new drug to battle his condition.

Gareon Conley stirs the pot after being accused of rape

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Ohio State defensive back Gareon Conley runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, March 6, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By: Ana Kieu

The Oakland Raiders drafted Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley in the first round with the 24th overall pick during the 2017 NFL Draft.

Getting drafted should be a joyous moment for both the player and his new NFL team, but this wasn’t the case for Conley. Just days before Conley was selected by the Raiders, a 23-year-old woman accused him of raping her at a Cleveland hotel on April 9. She claimed that she met Conley in an elevator at 3 a.m. and he propositioned her and another woman to have a foursome. She also claimed that Conley had sex with her after watching another couple have sex. The case remains ongoing as Conley denied her allegations.

Conley’s lawyer said that he won’t talk to Cleveland police until after the draft. Conley went through an interview and submitted his DNA on Monday, according to his attorney Kevin Spellacy. Spellacy also said that he’s been trying to obtain video surveillance from the Westin Hotel, but his attempts have been unsuccessful so far. Two of Conley’s friends told the police that nothing happened between Conley and the unnamed woman, who got upset when they asked her to leave.

Despite all the negativity, Conley is ecstatic about being selected in the first round of the draft. He sent out a tweet last Thursday, giving shoutouts to his Ohio State teammates, cornerback Marshon Lattimore (New Orleans Saints, first round, 11th overall pick) and safety Malik Hooker (Indianapolis Colts, first round, 15th overall pick).

Conley also retweeted tweets from quarterback Derek Carr and defensive end and linebacker Khalil Mack.

It’s clear the Raiders got what they wanted. They were looking for an upgrade at the cornerback position. Conley’s draft position called for a $5.8 million signing bonus on top of a four-year rookie contract worth $10.5 million. However, his draft value can decrease and that’s not a good thing.

Conley had doubts about his NFL future, but he knows that he must take responsibility for his actions. He said that he didn’t know what he was getting himself into at the time and could’ve used his judgement to make better decisions. When he got drafted, things felt surreal and he felt much more special.

Conley’s storyline doesn’t consist of him being an entitled athlete who vanished in the big leagues. He’s a humble man who attended Massillon Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio. He finished his high school career with 50 receptions, 25 tackles, 16 touchdowns on offense and an interception on defense. He also visits his high school occasionally to tell students about the significance of coaching and doing things the correct way.

Conley initially committed to the University of Michigan, but later switched to the Ohio State University. In 2013, he reshirted his freshman year. In 2014, he played in all 15 games, recording 16 tackles. In 2015, he started all 13 games, recording 49 tackles and two interceptions. In 2016, he was named the Second Team All-Big Ten and Third Team. He forwent his senior year to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

Not many residents in Conley’s hometown of Massillon express doubt in him.

Washington High offensive coach Joe Pierce said that Conley wasn’t the best player in his junior year as he slowed down due to a broken arm, but continued to excel on defense. As a senior, Conley caught 51 passes for 1,095 yards and 16 touchdowns in addition to being a top-rated defensive back.

Former defensive back Dan Hackenbracht said that Conley’s self-discipline and dedication set him apart from others, adding that he also studied film at a different level.

Conley’s stepmother provided a financial incentive to her son to play college football. She has a daughter named Dajia who had a lower chance of attending college at no cost due to the fact that she’s a cheerleader. Conley ended up obtaining his dream scholarship.

Besides, the rape allegation against Conley might not even be true. Both Conley and the female accuser admitted they were in the same hotel room, but he already took a polygraph test and passed it before the draft.

A recent video posted online shows the accuser following him inside and outside a Cleveland bar and even reaching out to touch him.

No charges have been filed against Conley. He maintained his innocence throughout the process. Yes, he could be indicted, despite passing a polygraph test. However, these are two separate issues — whether he’s telling the truth and whether the evidence would allow a prescutor to indict him.

The process demands for a one-sided introduction of evidence with the defendant having no representation. The legal standard for an indictment is lower than the standard required for a conviction. The prosecutor has to convince the grand jury that probable cause exists to believe a crime was committed. The fact that the defendant has nobody arguing the opposite position makes it easy to receive an indictment.

Many people believe that a judge has the most power within the justice system, but the truth is that the prosecutor does. He decides who gets charged, who doesn’t get charged and what they both get charged with. If this prosecutor decides that the victim told the truth and that the defendant didn’t or if he simply decides to turn the defendant’s life upside down, an indictment can be acquired.

Yet, there are two factors that could influence the process, and that’s when the victim was administered a rape kit and Conley has agreed to provide a DNA sample. Nothing happened between Conley and the victim, according to his defense along with the witnesses in the hotel room.

Conley is innocent until proven guilty.

Did Trump play a role to keep Kaepernick out?

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick talks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Los Angeles. The San Francisco 49ers won 22-21. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

By: Ana Kieu

Did the NFL collude to keep Colin Kaepernick out? The obvious answer is that he’s a distraction, but the hardest question is how all of this happened.

Before the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Green Bay Packers in a preseason game last August, Kaepernick refrained from standing up during the national anthem, choosing to kneel on the sideline. His refusal to stand stirred the pot and bothered a lot of people including veterans. However, there are some gray lines when it comes to the idea of not standing because it can signal a lack of allegiance to the nation he currently resides in.

Kneeling wasn’t the only thing Kaepernick has done that generated controversy. He also spoke out about the reasoning behind his protest. A number of African-American athletes have spoken out about the higher rates of police violence in black communities, including Kaepernick. He said that he protested the crimes against people of color in the United States.

Kaepernick doesn’t want to show pride in the American flag because the country oppresses people of color. To him, the protest is more important than the sport of football. He dislikes how there are dead bodies laying in the streets and officers are getting paid leave instead of receiving prison time. He could care less if he receives approval, he just wants to stand up for what’s right.

The 49ers mentioned that the national anthem will always be a special part of the pregame ceremony. It’s an opportunity for people to honor their country and reflect on the great liberties they have as citizens. They respect traditional American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression. That being said, they already said that Kaepernick could make his own choices so his actions are technically not illegal.

As Kaepernick waits for a job opportunity, he’s continuing to do charity work. Shortly after he began his protests, he announced that he would donate $1 million of his salary to help organizations that assist troubled communities. He has a section on his website, Kaepernick7.com, dedicated to the donations he has made so far. He has also donated shirts, hats, shoes and books to men’s shelters and orphanages such as the Know Your Rights Camp.

Here’s the question: Why is Kaepernick still unemployed?

Kaepernick’s inability to get signed during the 2017 NFL free agency has surprised even his own teammates. He has been a free agent since March 3. That’s not good news considering the fact he can play at a professional level. He led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVIII against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 NFL season.

Kaepernick has 72 touchdowns and a 59.8 pass completion percentage along with 12,271 yards gained in 69 career games. He has seven touchdowns and a 58 pass completion percentage along with 1,374 yards gained in six postseason games. These numbers aren’t too shabby. Yet, he remains out of the league while several quarterbacks have found new jobs such as Brian Hoyer, Case Keenum, Geno Smith, Josh McCown, Mark Sanchez, Matt McGloin and Nick Foles.

President Donald Trump criticized Kaepernick last August. He described his refusal to stand for the national anthem as a terrible thing. He also suggested that Kaepernick should find a country that works better for him. Despite the negativity, Kaepernick has continued his protests, which might’ve affected his job search.

Perhaps the government has played a role in telling Roger Goodell and the NFL what to do about Kaepernick. This isn’t the typical case of unemployment. The 29-year-old has made millions in his career. Goodell said that NFL teams just make decisions based on the level of talent a player might have. He respected Trump’s comment because everyone’s going to make comments. There’s nothing he can do about Trump’s comments.

Kaepernick’s not only a distraction, but his play has been questionable in recent years. So he’ll just have to play the waiting game before he receives another contract.

Oakland Raiders 2017 draft report: McKenzie gets his men in the draft

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Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND–All winter long, the Oakland Raiders knew that they would drafting late in the first round and they are happy with their first round.

Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie went defense with his first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and it was a great pick.

McKenzie made Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley was the 24th pick in the first round for the Raiders.

In his career with the Buckeyes, Conley picked off six passes and made 91 tackles in 42 games and was named a second team All-Big Ten in 2016.

The Raiders stayed on the defensive side of the ball with their second-round pick, as Obi Melifonwu was drafted out of the University of Connecticut.

In his four years in Storrs, Melifonwu played in 48 games and was named first team All-American Athletic Conference in 2016, and was also named to the All-ECAC team along with the All-New England team.

McKenzie stayed on the defensive side with his third pick, as they drafted Defensive Lineman Eddie Vanderdoes out of UCLA.

As a freshman, Vanderdoes was named to the First Team All-American Freshman by both the Football Writers of America and Sporting News.

With their fourth-round pick, the Raiders finally took an offensive player, as they took Florida Offensive Lineman David Sharpe, who played with Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio’s son Luke with the Gators.

Sharpe played in 27 games with the Gators, including starting all 14 games in 2016 after playing all 13 games in 2015. As a true freshman, Sharpe played in six games in a reserve role.

Once again, the Raiders returned to the defensive side of the ball with their next draft pick, as they drafted Wake Forest linebacker Marquel Lee.

While with the Demon Deacons, Lee was named First-team All-ACC in 2016 by the Associated Press and named second team All-ACC by both the coaches and media.

In the seventh round, the Raiders once again stayed on the defensive side of the ball with their pick, as they drafted Safety Shalom Luami out of Washington State.

Luami was named First-Team All-Pac 12 in his final year with the Cougars, as he helped lead them to a Holiday Bowl berth against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Prior to playing for Mike Leach in Pullman, Luami played junior college ball at City College of San Francisco, where in his two years with the Rams, Luami earned All-California First-Team All-Region accolades as a freshman and then as a sophomore, he was named First -Team All-American and California Community College Defensive Player of the Year.

McKenzie took North Carolina running back Elijah Hood in the seventh round, just his second offensive player of the draft.

In his three years in Chapel Hill, Hood ended up ninth All-Time on the Tar Heels list in rushing yards, as he gained 2,580 yards in his three seasons.

McKenzie brought in another player for the offensive side of the ball, as he drafted tackle Jylan Ware out of Alabama State.

With multiple picks in the seventh round, McKenzie needed more defensive lineman, and is what he got with Toledo defensive tackle Treyvon Hester.

Summary of 49ers’ moves in 2017 NFL Draft

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From left to right, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch poses for photos with draft picks Reuben Foster, Solomon Thomas and head coach Kyle Shanahan at a news conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, April 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By: Ana Kieu

The San Francisco 49ers obviously made a lot of moves during free agency, but here’s the lowdown on what the team did when they were on the clock in the 2017 NFL Draft in the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the first time the draft was held in Philadelphia since 1961.

The four-day long event was the 82nd meeting in which all of the NFL teams selected brand-new players. The entire draft was held in an outdoor theater on the Rocky Steps for the first time in league history.

April 27, 2017
On the first day of the draft, the 49ers selected Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas in the first round with the third overall pick. Thomas stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 273 lbs.

With this pick, the 49ers chose defensive linemen with their first overall picks for the third consecutive draft. In 2016, they picked DeForest Buckner in the first round with the seventh overall pick. In 2015, they picked Arik Armstead in the first round with the 17th overall pick.

The 49ers took Thomas over LSU running back Leonard Fournette, LSU safety Jamal Adams and Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen.

Thomas was born in Chicago, Illinois. He spent five years in Australia as a child, but ended up returning to the United States. He attended Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas. He finished his high school career with 78 tackles and 12.5 sacks. He was ranked as a four-star recruit.

Thomas committed to Stanford University in 2014. He redshirted in his freshman year. He played in all 14 games in his sophomore year. He started all 13 games in his junior year. He was named to the First Team All-Pac 12 and won the Morris Trophy that year. He finished his college career with a team-leading 62 tackles, 15 for loss and eight quarterback sacks.

The 49ers made a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, upgrading their defense by selecting inside linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round with the 31st overall pick. Foster is six-foot-tall, weighs 229 lbs and has an arm length of 32 3/8 along with a hand size of 10 1/4. He lost 20 lbs last year. He played college football at Alabama as an inside linebacker.

Foster is definitely a star. He was considered the No. 1 inside linebacker of his class. He won the Butkus Award at the end of the 2016 season. ESPN regarded him as a four-star recruit. He finished his college career with 115 tackles, 13 for losses, and five sacks.

Foster attended Troup County High School in LaGrange, Georgia. He played in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game, earning Defensive MVP Honors with six tackles and 2.5 for loss.

April 28, 2017
On the second day of the draft, the 49ers added a new piece to their secondary, selecting Colorado cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in the third round with the 66th overall pick.

Witherspoon played at Sacramento City College in 2013 before transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder. He played at Colorado from 2014 to 2016. He finished his college career with 71 tackles and three interceptions. He also earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Witherspoon attended Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California. He played just one season of high school football.

The 49ers had the next pick, but they traded their 67th overall pick to the New Orleans Saints for a second-round pick and seventh-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Saints used that pick to take Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara.

There was a plot twist that turned a peaceful night into an indecisive frenzy.

The 49ers traded back into the end of the third round, moving up to the 104th overall pick to select a new quarterback. They sent the 109th and 219th overall picks to the Minnesota Vikings.

The 49ers selected Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard in the third round with that pick. He stands at six-foot-two and weighs 219 lbs. He’s the grandson of legendary NFL personnel man Bobby Beathard.

C.J. finished his college career with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed 58.6 percent of his passes last season.

April 29, 2017
On the third day of the draft, the 49ers selected Denver Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick. They also took Denver’s fifth-round selection with the 177th overall pick in exchange for the 49ers’ fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Bibbs carried 29 times for 129 yards last season. He caught two passes for 75 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown catch-and-run against the Oakland Raiders. He wasn’t selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Bibbs contributes to the 49ers’ depth as he joins running backs Carlos Hyde, Tim Hightower, DuJuan Harris, Mike Davis and Raheem Mostert.

The 49ers traded up to the 121st overall pick with the Indianapolis Colts to draft Utah running back Joe Williams. They gave them the 143rd overall pick in the fourth round and 161st overall pick in the fifth round.

The 49ers selected Iowa tight end George Kittle to compliment Beathard.

Kittle played at Iowa from 2013 to 2016. He finished his college career with 48 receptions for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Kittle attended Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma. His father, Bruce, is a former college football coach who also played at Iowa.

The 49ers selected Louisiana Tech wide receiver Trent Taylor in the fifth round with the 177th overall pick. Taylor finished his college career with an NCAA-best 1,803 yards, 12 touchdowns and 136 passes, averaging 10.5 yards on 17 punt returns in his senior year. He ranked fifth in career receptions with 327. He ranked second in college football in receptions.

Taylor attended Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana. He finished his high school career with 107 receptions for 1,650 yards.

The 49ers selected Ole Miss defensive tackle D.J. Jones in the sixth round with the 198th overall pick. Jones started all 12 games in his senior year, finishing with 30 tackles, three tackles for losses and two sacks.

Jones spent his final two seasons at Mississippi after he was listed as a top-five junior college prospect at East Mississippi Junior College. He recorded 40 tackles and four sacks in his first season after transferring to the SEC school.

The 49ers selected Utah pass rusher Pita Taumoepenu in the sixth round with the 202nd overall pick. Taumoepenu recorded nine sacks last season. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection. He tied for third place in the Pac-12 with three forced fumbles and tied for fourth in the conference in sacks.

Taumoepenu was born in Euless, Texas on March 9, 1994. He moved to Tonga with his family when he was three years old. He learned how to play rugby. He eventually went to Provo, Utah to become an all-state pick with 25 sacks in his senior year. The NCAA had some issues with the splitting of his high school career between two countries, but he ended up playing in seven games as a freshman.

The 49ers used their final pick of the draft to select Miami defensive back Adrian Colbert in the seventh round with the 229th overall pick. Colbert played his first three seasons at Texas before transferring to Miami. He finished his college career with 48 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended.

Notes
The 49ers selected 10 players during the 2017 NFL Draft. They have up to seven players to add to the 90-man roster as undrafted rookies.

Aaron Hernandez saga may just be getting started

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In this still image from video, Aaron Hernandez, right, listens beside defense attorney Ronald Sullivan, Friday, April 14, 2017, in court in Boston, as he is pronounced not guilty of murder in the 2012 shootings of two men in a drive-by shooting in Boston. (WHDH-TV via AP, Pool)

By: Ana Kieu

It’s obvious that former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was a criminal who has done a lot of bad things, but the saga surrounding his death may just be getting started. Hernandez was a rather strange man — very talented, yet very secretive and reserved. He was a man of mystery.

Aaron’s two murder trials clearly affected him, but they also affected his family. They haven’t openly commented since his debatable death. They just put up a sign on the door of their Connecticut home that said “no comment.”

Aaron’s older brother D.J. served as a graduate assistant for the Iowa Hawkeyes’ football team. He tried to land a full-time position, but was unable to do so. He was also willing to coach at the Division II level. Many teams were hesistant to hire him because they wanted to avoid the negative publicity. Aaron’s murder trials affected everything from job opportunities to finding dates. Today, D.J. wants a fresh start and now goes by his middle name Jonathan. He currently runs a roofing business named High Rise Roofing in Wylie, Texas.

Aaron’s father Dennis Hernandez passed away on January 6, 2006 after suffering complications from a routine hernia surgery. He was a custodian at Bristol Eastern High School in Bristol, Connecticut. He enjoyed watching both of his sons play sports. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Aaron may have been affected by the sudden death of his father. After all, he was only 16 years old at the time.

Following Dennis’ death, Aaron’s mother Terri Valentine-Hernandez married Jeffrey Cummings, who had a criminal record that included drug charges and domestic violence. He attacked Terri with a knife after a night of drinking. He made cuts on her cheek, shoulder and wrist. He went back to prison. Shortly after the violent incident, Terri filed for divorce.

Terri also dealt with problems of her own. She was arrested for getting involved in a gambling ring when she was simply trying to provide for her family. As a result, no charges were filed against her.

Aaron committed suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, Massachussetts. Kyle Kennedy was Aaron’s alleged prison boyfriend. This controversial statement was released just days after Aaron’s death.

The war of words got quite heated between the two lawyers. Kennedy’s lawyer Lawrence F. Army Jr., said that Aaron knew the 22-year-old man before either of them went to prison. Army also said that Aaron wrote a note that said “I think I’m going to hang it up, lol.” three weeks before hanging himself.

Meanwhile, Aaron’s lawyer Jose Baez said that he never wrote a suicide note to a prison boyfriend. Baez slammed the rumors, claiming that they were just malicious leaks used to tarnish a dead person. He only confirmed the two letters that Aaron wrote to his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez and their four-year-old daughter Avielle.

Aaron’s funeral was held on Monday. The following day, his lawyers asked the court to dismiss the murder conviction. Under the law of Massachussetts, his conviction could be vacated because he died before his appeal was heard. He might’ve killed former Boston Bandits linebacker Odin Lloyd to conceal his bisexuality. As bad as it sounds, it’s understandable if he was bisexual and wanted to hide it from the NFL. It’s arguably the most homophobic sports league among the players, coaches and fans.

Kennedy broke his silence Thursday. He said that he missed his friend Aaron and would like to send his condolences to his mother, fiancee and daughter.

Court records also broke the details on Aaron’s home Thursday. His home in North Attleboro, Massachussetts, is worthless. However, there was an offer made by an undisclosed buyer that was worth $1.3 million. The home includes a pool, a sauna and a movie theater.

Jenkins-Hernandez and Avielle currently live in a condo in North Providence, Rhode Island. It seems like she chose Hernandez over her sister, who dated Lloyd before the time of his death. She’s an unmarried widow now, which is a horrible thing. Her daughter will probably get bullied when she goes to school.

There seems to be no end in sight when it comes to the Hernandez saga.

As of right now, best-selling author James Patterson is currently working on a “true crime story” about Hernandez. Patterson is best known for the Alex Cross series of novels. His upcoming book will be in stores in early 2018.