I am pleased to see that, although many readers disagreed with me about Jim Harbaugh’s “failure” in getting Peyton Manning — most readers exonerated Harbaugh — very few readers called me an idiot or a hack or a loser, etc., or told me to retire or get a new brain. So thanks for being polite to me in general.
Let me make this quick point. The minute Harbaugh-Baalke went after Manning they needed to get him. Period. They needed to make the correct money offer and the correct offer in terms of play-calling latitude for Manning. Obviously, they failed somewhere because Manning is going to Denver. Now the Niners have a public mess they helped create and they need to clean it up.
Anyway, that’s one hack’s opinion.
Adam W
I agree that it appears the Niners blew it. But there are so many unknown parts of this story…did Payton contact the 49ers first? Did Alex turn down the contract so the 49ers looked for another option?
Also, reportedly Manning didn’t like the 49ers for 2 reasons:
1. He didn’t want the drama of playing his brother during the regular season
2. He didn’t like the idea of the expectation to win a super bowl now (if that report is accurate I’m glad we didn’t sign him)
So my point is even though this appears messy there is much more to the story we are not aware of.
March 20th, 2012 8:57 am
Michael
Lowell – You wrote a few weeks back that “the Niners would be delinquent in their duty not to go after Manning if they are serious about winning a Super Bowl”. They did exactly that and most reports are that Peyton didn’t want to be in the NFC blocking Eli a path to the super bowl (This is also one reason Harbaugh went NFC vs. AFC to avoid his brother). They took their shot and didn’t get him. I don’t blame them for that. In fact, I think Peyton blew it. His playoff record is 9-10 (Hardly a world beater) and I think the 49ers gave him the best chance to get more rings. Again, the Niners took a swing and that’s all I can ask.
March 20th, 2012 8:58 am
Joel
I have a hard time siding with the “they” created the issue logic when Alex was presented with a contract weeks ago. He decided to drag his feet, and then a much better option presented itself.
That’s like separating from your spouse, and then being angry they went on a date with a celebrity they always fantasized about.
March 20th, 2012 9:00 am
apm
I disagree with you. Do you think Peyton Manning is worth $96MM to the Niners? Look how close we were without someone of Peyton’s caliber. I am tired of the sports writers trolling for a reaction by adding fuel to the fire talking about how the Niners blew it, how Alex Smith was betrayed… this is a business and since Alex Smith didn’t sign the contract in the first place, the Niners were absolutely right in exploring their options. Why isn’t anyone talking about how Alex blew it by not signing the offer on the table??? I bet if the situation was different, if Alex Smith signed with another team and we never pursued Manning when he was available, you would be criticizing the Niners too. It must be nice to be you, armchair GM who thinks he knows everything and can easily throw out criticism, but then again, I guess that’s your job.
I think you have a personal vendetta against Harbaugh because of the way he deals with you and the media, and it shows. Harbaugh’s job is to coach the 49ers, not coddle your ego and answer your sometimes ridiculous questions.
March 20th, 2012 9:01 am
RednGold1
I still disagree. And this morning it seems only one team in the NFL (the Niners) are pursuing Alex Smith. ONE TEAM!!!
March 20th, 2012 9:16 am
Frank in Minnesota
…on the hand, a professional athlete should know and expect the team to always try to get better, even if he is bruised by it….hey, they traded Ruth and Mays,right?
March 20th, 2012 9:42 am
Tiburon Dave
They know Tom Condon…they knew what it was going to take to land Manning before they got on the plane for Durham…
If they weren’t willing to do what it took to land him they shouldn’t have gotten on the plane…period…
Now I read they’re looking at Tebow?
They’re just flailing around in a mess they created…
March 20th, 2012 10:03 am
Mark M
I think this statement is overblown. Alex will be in and all will be as expected from a couple of weeks ago. We have new receivers which is what we really needed. Manning was worth the hassle. Alex is used to his ego being bruised. But since he has no where to go, I don’t see how we lost out on anything here. Same QB, unfortunately, and some new receivers to go along with our in tact outstanding defense. Where did we lose something?
March 20th, 2012 10:08 am
Estaban Lipson
There is no mess.
The 49er’s did nothing wrong.
Alex Smith should understand this. He owes Harbaugh the world and should Pay out of his own pocket for the honor of getting to compete for the starting QB position.
March 20th, 2012 10:36 am
gary
i have to disagree with you on many points.
It is a good thing Manning was not signed by the 49ers—he is going to be a “light bulb”, one good tap, from broken.
Howver, at least serioulsy looking at Manning?
Maybe they only wanted him at more $, but only
for 2 years–who knows?
I do not think the Titans, Dolphins, Jets, et al, should be faulted for looking/trying either.
Given Mannings preference for the AFC, the 49ers were always a long shoot.
If Alex SMith has ruffled feathers, too bad.
He could have signed earlier, and now can get a kiss/hug from Harbaugh, and sign now.
Everyone shouhd be adult about this and move on.
March 20th, 2012 11:01 am
Brodie2Washington
The 49ers blew it a little by showing interest in Manning. He is a great QB but a wrong fot for the Harbaugh/Roman offense. And trying to go the other way and change the 49ers offense to fit the Colts Chuck-and-Duck would have been then keepin Alex and having another year for the system to gel.
They blew it even more by not being transparant and honest with Alex Smith.
March 20th, 2012 11:04 am
Neal
You wrote a column Lowell saying if the Niners were serious about getting a Super Bowl, they need to sign Manning. They really tried and Manning chose another team. No guarantees in life, also not a public nightmare, we are talking about Alex Smith, if we lose him, I certainly won’t lose sleep.
March 20th, 2012 12:37 pm
Dennis
“Let me make this quick point. The minute Harbaugh-Baalke went after Manning they needed to get him. Period.”
Easy for you to say.
March 20th, 2012 2:57 pm
Loneraider78
When asked about his neck Peyton responded:
“I’m not where I want to be. I want to be where I was before I was injured. There’s a lot of work to do to get where we want to be from a health standpoint.”
Does that sound like something you want to pay $96M for?
Obviously, time will tell. But if they fail to win a Super Bowl in the next five years people will be talking very differently about this signing.
With Manningham and Moss on board that offense just got a lot better. Even with Alex!
March 20th, 2012 9:35 pm