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Jim Tomsula

Reactions to Aldon Smith Release

August 8th, 2015 at 11:15am CST by Ben Levine

Following linebacker Aldon Smith‘s release from the 49ers yesterday, some of his former teammates voiced their concern for the 25-year-old. Still, consider all the turnover this offseason, the players know it’s best to look forward, and they made that clear in their comments to Eric Branch of SFGate.com.

“It’s a tough loss for us,” said wideout Anquan Boldin. “Aldon’s a great football player and it’s tough to replace someone like that … As a team, we have to move forward. We have no choice. And I think we’ll get over it. We’ve got some guys behind him that are capable of getting the job done.

“I think everybody was shocked. I wasn’t here the entire offseason, but from what I’ve gathered he’s worked his butt off. And it looked that way when I got here. So I think it was just a shock to everybody.”

Let’s check out some more reactions to Smith’s arrest and subsequent release…

  • The 49ers deliberately protected themselves when they restructured Smith’s contract in March, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The writer reports that the team had previously considered releasing the embattled player, and they were leaning towards not picking up his fifth-year option for 2015. When the sides restructured, Smith signed a deal that would only guarantee his salary if he was on the roster for the whole season. “It wasn’t like they said, ‘If you don’t do this, you’re cut,’” said Doug Hendrickson, one of Smith’s representatives. “The thought behind it is that Aldon realizes he’s been his own worst enemy. He has come a long way since he was suspended. Ultimately his goal, my goal, and the team’s goal is for him to sign a long-term contract with the Niners.”
  • Smith was “poised for a revival,” says Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, and the writer believes coach Jim Tomsula‘s comments following the linebacker’s release echoed that sentiment. “You saw a man fighting and working and trying, and I think, to a man in this building, and you’ve been to practice to watch him, the energy about him,” Tomsula said. “Once again, real life. Everybody has struggles – they’re just in different ways.”
  • Despite the Raiders‘ clear need for a pass-rushing defender, Steve Corkran of Raiderbeat.com doesn’t believe the team should pursue Smith. While the team is in “dire” need of an impact defender, Corkran says the embattled linebacker “isn’t worth the trouble.”
  • Smith’s issues are a reminder of what Broncos linebacker Von Miller could have become, writes Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. Both players were 2011 first-round picks, and they both battled substance abuse issues earlier in their careers. However, Miller has managed to stay clean over the past couple of seasons. “He was there for me and I’m going to be there for him—wherever that may be,” Miller said. “He’s just going through a tough patch right now. We all go through a tough patch. I have full confidence that he will be able to get out of it. We’ll see the same Aldon Smith that we saw his first two years in the league. It’s just tough right now. People go through tough times. I’ll be the first one to tell you. I’ve been through a lot of stuff and I’m going to be there for him however long it is to get him back right.”

West Notes: Wilson, 49ers, Raiders, Thomas

July 1st, 2015 at 8:13pm CST by Ben Levine

As the NFL world awaits the outcome of the Seahawks/Russell Wilson extension negotiations, the quarterback sat down with ESPN.com’s Marty Smith to discuss the offseason.

Among the topics of discussion, of course, was Wilson’s contract situation. As he previously stated, the former Super Bowl champion isn’t concerned about money:

“Ultimately, it comes down to the play. Let my play speak for itself and let the rest take care of itself. Continue to love the game for what it is and continue to fight no matter how much I’m getting paid, whether it’s $25 million or $1.5 million. I’ll be ready to go.”

Wilson also seemed to squash any doubt about his relationship with the Seahawks, saying the two sides don’t have “a bad relationship by any means.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the NFL’s western divisions…

  • ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner compares the 49ers signing of head coach Jim Tomsula to the Rams 2006 signing of Scott Linehan. The Rams had opted for a completely different personality following the firing of Mike Martz, and Wagoner believes the 49ers are doing the same thing following the firing of Jim Harbaugh. Linehan ended up coaching two-plus seasons in St.Louis, compiling an 11-25 record.
  • Hope for a Raiders stadium in Oakland is “dim,” according to ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson (via Twitter). Meanwhile, the writer says the proposal for a stadium in Carson “continues to have steam.”
  • In an interview on Broncos.com, 9 News’ Mike Klis says Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas will play for the team in week one, but how he gets there remains a mystery. Klis believes that a contract will be finalized prior to the July 15th deadline, but he also notes that the franchise tag isn’t necessarily a bad deal for Thomas.

NFC Links: Romo, Davis, Seahawks

June 6th, 2015 at 5:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL nixed next month’s inaugural National Fantasy Football Convention headed by Tony Romo due its proximity to casino property. The event was set for July 10-12 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

Romo and other players who planned to participate could’ve been fined or suspended by doing so since it’s been a long-held league policy that players and personnel cannot hold events at casinos or participate in those connected to them. The sessions, however, were going to ensue at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, which doesn’t have gambling on site.

Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray and others were set to join Romo at this event. The contingent of players was reportedly due more than $1MM in appearance fees.

“NFL has canceled our fantasy football convention this year in Vegas and that is disappointing. I’m sad for the fans and players,” Romo tweeted.

Here are some other late-afternoon notes from the NFC.

  • Jim Tomsula learned of Anthony Davis‘ plans via text message before Friday’s OTA practice, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News reports. Inman notes some 49ers players likely knew of Davis’ intentions, but when one overheard it from a staffer, he replied, “Are you serious?” Inman designates Trent Brown as the primary successor option on the right edge.
  • In light of Junior Galette‘s recent pectoral injury that has him seeking additional opinions before committing to a recovery course of action, the Saints may further limit their top pass-pursuer to pass-rushing situations only when and if he returns this season, Nick Underhill of TheAdvocate.com reports. Anthony Spencer will have more of a certain role now, and Cameron Jordan may have to rush mostly from the outside on passing downs instead of taking on guards from a defensive tackle slot as he did at points last season.
  • Of the Legion of Boom bastions that reportedly needed offseason surgery, only Earl Thomas underwent a procedure, while Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor are now fully healthy despite avoiding operations, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Jeremy Lane, however, likely won’t be ready for the start of the season with knee and arm maladies. Will Blackmon as a result has the inside track on the Seahawks‘ nickel spot.
  • Down about 30 pounds to 320, Alvin Bailey will almost certainly be the Hawks’ new left guard, replacing the departed James Carpenter, notes Condotta in a series of observations from Seattle’s OTA sessions.

 

West Notes: Manning, Knighton, Tomsula

February 15th, 2015 at 10:16pm CST by Rob DiRe

Peyton Manning faded down the stretch in 2014, and many may have forgotten that he threw for over 4.700 yards and 39 touchdowns, leading a 12-4 Broncos team to a first round bye. Granted, I won’t argue that he was spectacular at season’s end, but he certainly represents the team’s best chance of success in 2015. Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post writes that while Manning needs to come back, he also needs to take a pay cut. Even carving $5MM off of his cap number would give the team the flexibility to invest in the offensive line, which could be worth more to Manning than the money at this point.

Here are some other notes from our two West divisions:

  • Demaryius Thomas would like to come to an agreement with the Broncos on a long-term contract, but it is more likely that he has the franchise tag placed on him, writes Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com.
  • The Raiders are bereft of talent, but new coach Jack Del Rio could look to bring an important piece to the middle of the defense, as the team is expected to pursue defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, according to CSNBayArea.com. Del Rio drafted Knighton when he was with the Jaguars, and the pair traveled to Denver together when Del Rio received the defensive coordinator job with the Broncos.
  • The 49ers were reportedly close to hiring former Broncos offensive coordinator and current Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase. However, Gase turned down the job after he was told he would have to promote defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to defensive coordinator, according to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News. Gase turned down the offer, and Tomsula was hired shortly after.
  • 49ers running back Frank Gore is looking for a commitment from the team as free agency looms, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Barrows writes that while Gore is committed to returning, he is unsure of his future with the team with Carlos Hyde emerging as a playmaking running back.
  • Inglewood mayor James T. Butts is confident that football will return to Los Angeles, writes Josh Peter of USA Today. “Let me put it to you this way, buddy: It’s going down,” says Butts. “This is a happening thing. As far as everybody being all in, everybody’s all in.”

NFC Notes: Harbaugh, Suh, Rams

February 13th, 2015 at 8:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh shared some thoughts about his former employer on the Tim Kawakami Show, telling the San Jose Mercury News columnist his parting with the 49ers “wasn’t exactly mutual.”

“I didn’t leave the 49ers. I felt like the 49ers left me,” Harbaugh told Kawakami. The successful coach quickly exited San Francisco for Ann Arbor, Michigan, just after his fourth season as an NFL head coach concluded.

Mired in what appeared to be a consistent struggle with upper management, Harbaugh left despite taking the 49ers to three straight NFC title games, a destination the franchise hadn’t seen since 1997. Harbaugh also confirmed he was told he wouldn’t be back with the 49ers after a Week 15 loss in Seattle. The current Michigan coach, who will work for $5MM this season, didn’t deny then-defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was campaigning for his old job before getting it in January.

“There was definitely a point where you walk down the halls and you … I wasn’t reading anything that was on the Internet, I was really focused on doing my job … but definitely walk down the halls and people look away or they look at you and you know something’s going on,” Harbaugh told Kawakami.

On to those who plan to be paid by NFL franchises this season …

  • If franchised, Ndamukong Suh‘s salary will balloon into the stratosphere reserved for baseball players and Roger Goodell, but Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin doesn’t care at this point, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. He plans on the free agent defensive tackle returning for a sixth season in the Motor City. Of course, there are other deciding voices on this expensive matter. Suh would draw a staggering $26.9MM should the Lions franchise him. The former No. 2 overall pick’s cap number was north of $22MM last season, according to OverTheCap.com. The near-$27MM figure would represent more than 19% of the Lions’ overall salary cap if they exercise this option. The team has 23 free agents and only $14.5MM worth of cap space, so some major restructuring would be necessary to make Austin’s ideal vision come to fruition.
  • Rams coach Jeff Fisher shed some light on his recent offensive coordinator hire, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter, saying it was going to be an in-house candidate. Fisher also noted he had only one in-person interview — Nathaniel Hackett — and a couple of phone conversations with Kyle Shanahan and Adam Gase (via Wagner on Twitter) before promoting quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti. Jeff Garcia was interviewed for the quarterback coach job on Thursday and Friday, but more interviews are coming (Twitter link).
  • Amid another contract renegotiation, Larry Fitzgerald could finally enter the free agent market, but Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic explains why the 31-year-old Fitzgerald departing would not be the right move for his own sake. Fitzgerald is due $8MM if he’s on the roster when the new league year begins March 10, but that contract carries a $23.6MM cap charge, which is probably a non-starter for most players, let alone a one who hasn’t topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2011. The Cardinals need to slash more than $10MM, according to OverTheCap.com, to move under the salary cap by March 10, and Fitzgerald’s deal is front and center.

Minor Notes: Tomsula, Rivera, Ravens

February 8th, 2015 at 8:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

New 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula will bring Adam Henry back to the Bay Area after he mentored two of the NFL’s most explosive rookies while at LSU the past three seasons, reports Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Henry will coach the 49ers’ wide receivers alongside Ronald Curry after coaching Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in 2012 and 2013 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Beckham earned offensive rookie of the year honors last season, and Landry came on strong late last season in Miami. Prior to re-entering the college ranks — Henry coached at Division I-FCS McNeese State for 10 years — Henry worked as a Raiders assistant from 2007-11, the last three as the tight ends coach. Curry, who the 49ers recently denied permission to follow former offensive coordinator Greg Roman to the Buffalo Bills, served as an offensive assistant the past two years under Jim Harbaugh. A former Raiders wide receiver, Curry’s final two years as an active player overlapped with Henry’s initial two seasons on the Raiders’ staff.

In other NFC coaching news…

  • The Panthers made a legacy choice as their latest assistant-coaching hire, bringing in Cam Turner as assistant wide receivers coach, the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person notes. The nephew of Norv Turner, Cam Turner spent the past two seasons coaching at Florida International under his father, Ron Turner. Cam Turner will assist Ricky Proehl on Ron Rivera‘s staff.
  • The Ravens have formed an extensive pipeline into the small-school ranks and may continue to do so, writes Bo Smolka of CSN Baltimore. In addition to selecting Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco out of Division I-FCS Delaware in 2008, the Ravens drafted four small-school prospects in the 2013 draft — including defensive tackle Brandon Williams (Division II Missouri Southern, Round 3) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (Harvard, Round 4). Last year, they nabbed backup running back Lorenzo Taliaferro in the fourth round from Delaware. Both Williams and Juszczyk played extensively in 2014.

    “We’ve tried to find value by more closely looking at small-school players,” assistant general manager Eric DeCosta said to Smolka.

49ers Coaching Notes: Lewis, Pendergast

January 31st, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Rob DiRe

As the Patriots and Seahawks are readying themselves for the big game tomorrow, a former Super Bowl hopeful is prepare to build on a season that crashed down in flames. The 49ers had a disappointing 2014 season, involving injuries to key players, regression from others, and a huge coaching shakeup that leaves them filling out a new staff after missing the playoffs.

Here are some notes surrounding the 49ers’ coaching staff:

  • After Jim Harbaugh and his staff were among the highest paid in the NFL, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com looked at whether or not the organization was being cheap in hiring the new staff. New head coach Jim Tomsula will make $1.5MM less than Harbaugh would have had he kept his position, and his assistants were among the highest paid in the league. Maiocco writes that whether they were being cheap or not, the 49ers were unlikely to pay any assistant approaching the $2MM Vic Fangio made last year.
  • According to sources, Harbaugh was told by the organization that he would not be welcomed back as head coach of the 49ers following a December 14th loss to the Seahawks, writes Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News (via Twitter).
  • Clancy Pendergast will likely be hired as the 49ers inside linebackers coach, reports Alex Marvez of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter). Pendergrast was formerly defensive coordinator in Arizona and Kansas City before taking jobs at Cal and USC. He had been interviewing for defensive coordinator positions with LSU, Utah, and under Jay Gruden in Washington D.C. (via Twitter).
  • Marvez also reports that former Falcons defensive backs coach Tim Lewis will be taking the same position in San Francisco (via Twitter). He will be replacing Ed Donatell, and has spent time as a defensive coordinator with both the Steelers and Giants (via Twitter).
  • The hiring of both Lewis and Pendergast means that 49ers coach Tomsula has four former defensive coordinators working as assistants on his staff, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. Eric Mangini will serve as the team’s defensive coordinator and Jason Tarver has been named the outside linebackers coach.
  • While the coaching staff has not been officially announced, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has put together a list of who has been named and expected to be on the staff.

Coach Updates: Texans, Tomsula, Bears

January 19th, 2015 at 3:45pm CST by Luke Adams

The case of Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn exhibits a need for the NFL to change its rules when it comes to head coaching hires, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Because Seattle is playing in the Super Bowl, no team can officially hire Quinn as a head coach until February, at which point most top assistants will have found other jobs. The Falcons still appear willing to wait on Quinn, but it would’ve been much more of a sure thing if Quinn were available immediately.

Here’s the latest on a few more coaching openings around the league:

  • Within La Canfora’s piece, the CBSSports.com scribe notes that the Texans could be in the market for an offensive coordinator since the team didn’t have one under Bill O’Brien in 2014. Doug Marrone is a good bet to resurface in Houston, according to La Canfora.
  • Jim Tomsula‘s salary as the 49ers‘ head coach is believed to be about $3.5MM per year, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter). That would put Tomsula amongst the bottom five head coaches in the league in terms of annual salary, which isn’t a huge surprise since he wasn’t a high-profile candidate.
  • The Bears have put in an interview request with the Colts in the hopes of speaking to assistant Rob Chudzinski about their offensive coordinator opening, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).
  • Bears general manager Ryan Pace said today that the team has not made a contract offer to defensive coordinator candidate Vic Fangio, but that doesn’t mean Chicago isn’t interested, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Fangio is also considered a strong contender for the same job in Washington.
  • Former Bears special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis is interviewing with the Raiders today and has two other stops lined up after Oakland, per ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright (via Twitter).
  • The Browns‘ offensive coordinator interviews for Anthony Lynn and Al Saunders are expected to take place this week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.

49ers Notes: Tomsula, Smith, Harbaugh

January 15th, 2015 at 7:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have a new head coach in Jim Tomsula, but he’d rather not be compared to his predecessor, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.

“For whatever reasons, the job was open and I interviewed and that’s where it is. I get that. In terms of the fan base, I don’t believe I do anybody any good trying to justify anything. I’m not going to do that. I don’t have a bad word to say about anything that’s happened in the last four years. You can’t. We won a lot of games. We didn’t do what we were accustomed of doing (this year). I got it.”

“I’m not Jim Harbaugh. And Jim Harbaugh is not Jim Tomsula. I’m not trying to be that guy, and that’s no disrespect to him. I am comfortable with who I am. I’m very comfortable and I’m convicted in what I believe. I’m excited about it,” Tomsula said.

More from today’s presser in San Francisco..

  • 49ers defensive end Justin Smith is reportedly set to retire after completing his fourteenth NFL season. GM Trent Baalke would ostensibly like to have him back in the fold, but he won’t start a full court press right away. The GM said that he plans to give him several weeks after the season ends before calling him to see if he wants to play, according to Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • It sounds like Baalke will have a big hand in the hiring of assistants, referring to it as “our staff,” as Maiocco tweets.
  • “[The] job was offered to one person and one person only, and that was Jim Tomsula,” Baalke said, according to Maiocco (link).
  • Team CEO Jed York said Tomsula is the head coach not just for one specific reason, but for his body of work and all he brings to the table, Maiocco tweets.
  • When asked if he has spoken with Harbaugh, Tomsula said “No, I haven’t. I have not,” according to Branch (on Twitter).
  • When he heard speculation in 2014 that he could be the next head coach of the team, Tomsula said it was “terribly uncomfortable” for him, according to Maiocco (link).

49ers Hire Jim Tomsula

January 15th, 2015 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 12:10pm: It’s a four-year deal for Tomsula, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 6:10pm: The 49ers announced that Tomsula has been hired to become the 19th coach in franchise history.

“After conducting a thorough coaching search, and meeting with a number of outstanding candidates, Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team,” said 49ers CEO Jed York. “Jim is a great teacher and a tremendous mentor who conducts himself with great class and integrity.”

4:06pm: The 49ers didn’t have to go far to find their man. San Francisco has tapped defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to be their new head coach, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The two sides are still ironing out contract details, but Tomsula will ultimately be the hire. Jim Tomsula (vertical)

The Niners came close to hiring Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), but ultimately they decided to stay in-house. As the PFR Head Coaching Tracker shows, the 49ers conducted an exhaustive search to find their next coach. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and Mike Shanahan were among those interviewed. Their own defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, also got heavy consideration prior to the hiring of Tomsula. Fangio remains under contract, but it’s not immediately clear if he’ll stay in SF to serve on Tomsula’s staff.

Tomsula, 46, served as the 49ers’ interim coach for the 2010 season finale before Jim Harbaugh was hired five days later. Now, Tomsula steps in to take over the role after Harbaugh vacated it to join his alma mater.

The 49ers make up Tomsula’s entire NFL resume, having served as their defensive line coach since 2007 under two different coaches in Mike Singletary and Harbaugh. Before the 49ers, all of his coaching experience was in NFL Europe.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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