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Antoine Bethea News & Rumors

49ers Notes: Tomsula, Kaepernick, Bethea

October 23rd, 2015 at 6:48pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 49ers became a big talking point for media outlets today after an embarrassing 20-3 loss on Thursday Night Football. Here are some notes about the team:

  • The loss to the Seahawks last night put a spotlight on the problems the 49ers have, and head coach Jim Tomsula was put on the defensive. He said despite evaluating everything in the organization, he would not consider a change to the offensive coaching staff in season, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).
  • Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was particularly bad on Thursday night, but coach Tomsula insists there will be no change under center in San Francisco, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). “Colin’s our quarterback,” said Tomsula. “No controversy.”
  • Antoine Bethea was placed on injured reserve today, with what was originally reported as a shoulder injury. Barrows reports that it is actually a torn pectoral muscle that will force him to miss the rest of the season (via Twitter).

49ers Place Antoine Bethea On IR

October 23rd, 2015 at 3:29pm CST by Luke Adams

The 49ers have ended the season of safety Antoine Bethea, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, who reports that Bethea has been placed on the injured reserve list. The move clears a spot on the roster for wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who is returning from a six-game suspension.

Bethea, 31, hasn’t missed a regular season game since 2007, playing – and starting – an incredible 146 out of a possible 151 games over the course of his 10 NFL seasons. However, he’ll be sidelined for the final nine games of the Niners’ 2015 campaign due to a shoulder injury.

Bethea left Thursday night’s game against the Seahawks with the shoulder issue, and was having an MRI conducted today, so we can assume the results of that MRI weren’t great. Safety Jaquiski Tartt looks like the best bet to take over for Bethea’s job for the second half of the season, assuming the leg injury he sustained on Thursday isn’t serious.

As for Simpson, the Niners had been granted a roster exemption for the suspended wideout, allowing the team to keep him on the reserve/suspended list for an extra few days, following his six-game ban. Now that he’s on the 53-man roster, the ex-Viking will be eligible to play in San Francisco’s next game.

Colts Sign Mike Adams

June 18th, 2014 at 8:58am CST by Matt Feminis

WEDNESDAY, 8:58am: Adams’ minimum salary benefit contract includes a $65K signing bonus and an additional $100K in guaranteed money, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

SATURDAY, 9:06am: A day after placing veteran safety and special-teams standout Corey Lynch on injured reserve, the Colts announced they have agreed to terms with another veteran safety: 33-year-old Mike Adams, who spent the last two years with the Broncos. With Antoine Bethea now in San Francisco, the Colts’ safety depth now consists of LaRon Landry. . .and the rest, including Adams, Colt Anderson, Sergio Brown and Delano Howell.

Adams, 33, started seven games last season and totaled 64 tackles, six passes defended and an interception. According to Pro Football Focus, Adams rated as a middle-of-the pack safety (-1.0 overall grade), though he had career highs in tackles (80) and passes defended (11) in 2012.

Before his two years in Denver, Adams played five in Cleveland and three in San Francisco. He entered the league in 2004 as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware.

Extra Points: Phillips, Lions, Tate, Ducasse

March 12th, 2014 at 10:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent defensive end Shaun Phillips tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (on Twitter) that as much as he wants to return to the Broncos, he knows it’s not in the cards with the signing of DeMarcus Ware. “It’s definitely not mutual now just because they found a baller and we play the same position. DeMarcus (Ware) is a baller. He’s a great player and a great pick-up for them. More than likely I won’t be back there. You never know, but more than likely I will not be there.,” the veteran said. More from around the NFL…

  • The Lions officially signed unrestricted free agent Kevin Ogletree and exclusive rights free agents Kris Durham, Julian Stanford, and Matt Veldman, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
  • Golden Tate took to KJR Sports Radio in Seattle to discuss free agency and his decision not to return to the Seahawks (via Todd Dybas of the Tacoma News Tribune on Twitter). He spoke fondly of his time with Seattle, but also mentioned that the team “didn’t reward (him) enough.” He said that he gave the team an opportunity to offer a lesser contract, but the team didn’t bite. He also mentioned the 49ers interest, but claimed he “couldn’t do that to Seattle right after winning.” Tate signed with the Lions earlier today.
  • Free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who is meeting with the Vikings today, also has visits scheduled with the Jets and Buccaneers, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
  • Free agent offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse is expected to visit with the Vikings next week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Ducasse started off his Jets career as a skilled athlete with little polish, but he was able to round out his game over time.
  • Antoine Bethea told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that the interest between himself and the Colts “wasn’t mutual.” Before he signed with the 49ers, he says that he got some contact from the Packers, Chiefs, and Lions.
  • Cornerback Chris Cook will visit the 49ers tomorrow, a source tells Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (on Twitter).

49ers Sign Antoine Bethea

March 12th, 2014 at 2:57pm CST by Luke Adams

2:57pm: Bethea’s physical has been finalized and he has officially signed his contract with the 49ers, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

WEDNESDAY, 2:22pm: A source tells Chris Biderman of NinersDigest that only $6.5MM of Bethea’s total $23MM salary will be guaranteed.

TUESDAY, 5:36pm: The contract for Bethea is reportedly worth close to $6MM per year over the four years, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Bethea will fill in for Donte Whitner alongside last year’s first-round pick Eric Reid.

3:15pm: The 49ers have reached a four-year contract agreement with safety Antoine Bethea, reports Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter).

Bethea, who will turn 30 in July, has started 123 of 128 possible games for the Colts since entering the league in 2006, earning two Pro Bowl nods during that span. In 2013, he recorded an impressive 124 tackles and grabbed a pair of interceptions.

Defensive Back Rumors: Tillman, Bethea, Mitchell

March 11th, 2014 at 2:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest secondary news..

  • The Buccaneers are interested in acquiring cornerback Charles Tillman, two sources tell Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. The Bucs are preparing to part with star cornerback Darrelle Revis and Tillman could come and reunite with coach Lovie Smith.
  • Antoine Bethea is a possibility for the 49ers at safety, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
  • It sounds like the Redskins are now a longshot to land free agent safety Mike Mitchell, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Mitchell is picking up interest after having a solid year with the Panthers on a one-year, make good contract. Diana Marie Russini of NBC Washington (on Twitter) hears the same thing and says that Jairus Byrd is even less likely.

NFC East Rumors: Ware, Redskins, Giants, Eagles

March 10th, 2014 at 11:20am CST by Luke Adams

Free agency officially gets underway at 3:00pm central time tomorrow, and there could be resolution on DeMarcus Ware‘s situation in Dallas by then, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. Archer reports that the Cowboys have had “consistent negotiations” with Ware on a reworked contract that would reduce his 2014 cap hit. If the two sides can reach a compromise, it sounds like the standout pass rusher will continue his career in Dallas. Otherwise, he may be cut by tomorrow afternoon.

Let’s round up a few more Monday rumors from out of the NFC East….

NFC Notes: Suh, Bethea, Ware, Graham

March 2nd, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is going to be the next player to break the bank, writes Joel Corry of the National Football Post. Suh is under contract through the 2015 season; however, that year is a player option, which Suh will likely decline. 2014, then, is effectively the last year of his current deal. If the Lions do not sign the star lineman to a new contract before next season, the franchise tag will probably not be an option, as his tag figure would be an untenable $26.87MM.

Suh has restructured his contract twice in as many years in order for the Lions to gain more cap space. An extension would serve the same purpose, as well as lowering Suh’s cap number, which is second in the league at approximately $22.4MM. The Lions are still feeling the effects of selecting high in the draft under the previous collective bargaining agreement, when rookie salaries were much higher. The rookie deals of Suh, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and receiver Calvin Johnson have put the team in an unenviable position. Extending Suh, as the Lions did with both Stafford and Johnson, would help to alleviate some of that cap strain.

More items from the NFC:

  • Safety Antoine Bethea could be an option for the Falcons, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. The team is expected to release Thomas DeCoud, and has been linked to free agent Louis Delmas. Jairus Byrd could also be intriguing, but both he and Delmas might be too expensive for Atlanta’s tastes.
  • Demarcus Ware, due $26MM over the next two seasons, is too expensive to be traded, but he could brought back to the Cowboys at a lower salary, argues Todd Archer of ESPN.com in a recent mailbag.
  • Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes the Saints’ Jimmy Graham is a tight end, writing that lining up in the slot is simply part of that position’s job description in today’s NFL. Triplett thinks the murky situation could be resolved with a long-term contract in excess of $10MM annually.
  • The Rams could add two quarterbacks to backup Sam Bradford, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Kellen Clemens could return, and the team figures to draft a quarterback somewhere in the third-to-fifth-round range.
  • In a mailbag segment, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com says receiver will be a priority in the draft for the 49ers, and singles out Oregon State WR Brandin Crooks as an option. He also writes that running back LaMichael James could be used more in the slot and on screens as the teams aims to get the speedy back more touches.